The Ministry of Health Research Seed Grant Program provides funding to universities in British Columbia to produce research that responds to the Ministry of Health’s research questions.
CALL FOR PROPOSALS
In partnership with the Ministry of Health, UBC Health is offering funding to researchers from UBC Vancouver and UBC Okanagan to address specific research questions identified by the Ministry of Health.
HOW TO APPLY
The call for proposals for the latest grant program cycle is closed and the funded projects have been announced. UBC Health will provide updates on future opportunities in Summer 2025.
See the Call for Proposals section below for more information
INFORMATION SESSION
An Information Session was held on Zoom on Friday, September 13, 2024.
If you have any questions, contact Lindsay Burton, Coordinator, Interdisciplinary Research Initiatives, UBC Health at lindsay.burton@ubc.ca.
Program Goals
- Generate new research that responds to the Ministry of Health’s current needs
- Produce research proposals that are informed by policymakers
- Build a knowledge transfer pathway from researchers to the Ministry of Health
- Build relationships between Ministry of Health staff and researchers and between BC’s research universities and the Ministry of Health
- Increase transparency of how the Ministry of Health uses research and evidence
- Increase exposure and understanding of research and the research process across Ministry of Health staff
Program Benefits
- Ministry of Health program areas gain evidence to use in policy and planning
- New relationships between researchers and the Ministry of Health
- Researchers gain an understanding of Ministry of Health research needs, and Ministry of Health staff gain an understanding of the academic research environment
- Researchers can access funding and support for existing or new research projects that are in alignment with Ministry of Health interests
- Researchers can launch research that can then be leveraged to support larger funding applications and projects
Researcher Opportunity
Participating researchers will have the opportunity to:
- Receive funding from their institution to carry out a research project over 12 months that responds to a Ministry of Health research question
- Work directly with Ministry of Health staff to learn more about their specific research interests and how resulting evidence will be used
- Share research directly with end-users in the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions
Researcher Commitment
Participating researchers will:
- Meet with Ministry of Health staff a minimum of three times during the research process (from proposal planning to final report)
- Complete the research project within 12 months of receiving the funding
- Upon completion of the research project, provide the Ministry of Health with a final research report
- Upon completion of the research project, submit a financial and impact report and return any unused funds to UBC Health
- Alert the Ministry of Health and UBC Health about and acknowledge both organizations in publications and other outputs produced as a direct result of the research project (e.g., conference papers, presentations, knowledge translation activities, etc.)
Call for Proposals
In partnership with the Ministry of Health, UBC Health is offering funding to researchers from UBC Vancouver and UBC Okanagan to address a research question identified by the Ministry of Health.
If you are interested in applying, complete the Notice of Intent (NOI). The NOI submission form will be available starting on September 5, 2024, and must be submitted by September 27, 2024. Shortlisted project leads will consult with the Ministry of Health regarding their research question and proposed project. Full applications from invited applicants are to be submitted by November 27, 2024. NOIs and full applications must be submitted through the application portal (SM Apply).
Timeline 2024-25
| Date | Activity |
| September 5, 2024 | Call for proposals (Notice of Intent) opens |
| September 13, 2024 | Information Session |
| September 27, 2024 | Notice of Intent submission deadline |
| October 14-25, 2024 | Consultations between shortlisted project leads and the Ministry of Health |
| October 30, 2024 | Shortlisted project leads invited to submit a full application |
| November 27, 2024 | Deadline for full application submission |
| December 2024 - January 2025 | Adjudication |
| January - February 2025 | Notification of competition results |
| February - March 2025 | Public announcement of funding recipients Research projects begin |
| March 2026 | Deadline for final deliverables |
Eligibility
For an application to be considered, the proposal must meet the following minimum requirements:
- The principal applicant must be a faculty member at UBC Vancouver or UBC Okanagan (see the FAQs for more information).
- The proposed project must directly address one of the Ministry of Health research questions.
Selection
Applications that meet the above minimum eligibility requirements will be evaluated based on the following differentiating criteria:
- Demonstrated research experience and expertise of team members
- Quality, excellence, and rigour of the proposed research
- Feasibility of the proposed research
- Alignment and responsiveness to Ministry of Health questions
- Capacity and preparedness to collaborate with Ministry of Health knowledge users
- Capacity and planning for health research knowledge translation (including the likelihood of generating post-funding outcomes)
- Evidence of equity, diversity, and inclusion with respect to the research design and research team
A review committee convened by UBC Health will evaluate the proposals and recommend proposal selection and prioritization to the Associate Vice-President, Health. Upon approval, the Ministry of Health will review the recommendations and make the final decision.
2024-25 Research Questions
For the 2024/25 funding round, there are two funding streams
- General Stream
- Smoking Cessation Stream
The application and review process are the same for both streams. However, there is separate funding available for the Smoking Cessation Stream.
Additional context has been provided for some research questions and can be viewed by expanding the accordion drop-downs.
General Stream
The Ministry of Health has prioritized the following research questions.
- For the General Stream, researchers can apply for up to $50,000 in funding.
- Proposals for the General Stream must specifically address one of the following questions or sets of questions. Where multiple questions are included in a set, proposals must address all components.
1. Can we enhance population grouping and segmentation for obstetrics using provincial data, to differentiate healthy pregnancies and births from those with higher service needs?
Population grouping and segmentation includes developing methods to assign each person to a group/segment based on their overall health status. Most groups include sub-categories to differentiate relative needs and distinguish between healthy users of the system (e.g., healthy newborns) and users with higher service needs (e.g., newborns with an extremely low birth weight). However, for mothers in the obstetrics group/segment there are no sub-categories.
2. Besides a coverage wait period, are there other tools or mechanisms to prevent misuse/ ensure appropriate use of the provincial health care system by eligible beneficiaries?
No additional content
3. What factors are causing the increase in referrals to the BC Autism Assessment Network annually?
No additional content
4. What are the best practices and key cross-sectoral collaboration efforts needed to build provincial capacity to maintain pharmacy supply and distribution during disasters and emergencies? How should British Columbia build and implement a provincial disaster and emergency management plan to ensure continuity of pharmaceuticals and patient care?
No additional content
5. What are the attitudes of community pharmacists towards providing care to people with opioid use disorder in British Columbia? What are the barriers and facilitators in the work environment that play a role in pharmacist care of people with opioid use disorder?
No additional content
6. How can the Health in All Policies methodology be adapted to measure the ratio of provincial social spending to medical care spending across British Columbia’s government portfolios? How can this be used to reconcile the different approaches to categorizing medical, education, and social spending in the province?
No additional content
7. How effective are existing communication and education methods/approaches in supporting British Columbia’s diverse populations and communities to understand and protect themselves from the health risks of climate change? How can these methods/approaches be improved to be more culturally safe, trauma-informed, and inclusive?
No additional content
8. What frameworks or tools exist that would support the evaluation of climate-health adaptation measures and how can they be modified and/ or utilized for a British Columbia context?
No additional content
9. Using population-based estimates of the complex care housing (CCH) population, what is the demand for CCH services across the province? What are the demographic characteristics of the estimated CCH population? What are the service access patterns of the estimated CCH population?
Complex Care Housing (CCH) is intended to serve adults nineteen and older who have significant mental health, substance use, or concurrent mental health and substance use issues, as well as functional needs related to acquired brain injury, chronic illness, or physical, intellectual, or developmental disabilities. Due to concurrent health needs, these individuals often experience homelessness, are unstably housed or at risk of homelessness, or are “living” in acute care or transitional bed-based services without a home to go to.
10. How do joint mobile crisis response models compare to civilian models at appropriately and effectively managing crises from perspective of 1) people seeking help with a mental health crisis and 2) caregivers seeking help for a person with a mental health crisis?
No additional content
11. Can contingency management be used to increase retention on Sublocade® in incarcerated populations and those being released?
Sublocade® is a slow-release injectable form of buprenorphine administered monthly that has been shown to be more protective against overdose than other forms of Opioid Agonist Therapy. However, uptake of the medication has been low in correctional settings and following release to community. Contingency management is a type of behavioral therapy that offers rewards or reinforcement for positive behavioral changes. Contingency management has been shown to be highly effective in substance use settings.
Smoking Cessation Stream: Enhancing the quality of BC PharmaCare's Smoking Cessation Program (Plan S)
This research will help identify opportunities to enhance the quality of BC PharmaCare’s Smoking Cessation Program (Plan S) by improving access, adherence, and/or equity. It will also identify opportunities to enhance the role of community pharmacists in supporting British Columbians who smoke and/or vape with nicotine cessation.
- Proposals for the Smoking Cessation Stream must specifically address one of the following sets of questions. Where multiple questions are included in a set, proposals must address all components.
- Maximum funding amounts are specified for each set of questions, and applicants may request up to the specified amount.
Please expand the accordions to view the questions.
S1. Exploring the Role of Community Pharmacists in Non-Pharmacologic Nicotine Cessation Support in British Columbia (up to $55,250)
- How do community pharmacists in British Columbia deliver non-pharmacologic nicotine cessation support to individuals who smoke and/or vape?
- What factors hinder or facilitate their ability to provide this support to those who wish to stop or reduce smoking and/or vaping?
- How do these factors vary across different client groups, including Indigenous populations, vulnerable populations (e.g. those living with mental health and substance use disorders), and people residing in rural communities?
S2. Barriers and Facilitators to Accessing and Adhering to Nicotine Cessation Support in British Columbia's Community Pharmacies (up to $72,250)
- What factors influence the utilization of community pharmacist support for nicotine cessation among people who smoke and/or vape in British Columbia? Specifically, what factors hinder or facilitate:
- access to pharmacologic (e.g., nicotine replacement therapy, varenicline, bupropion) and non-pharmacologic support (e.g., direct counselling, referral to other services); and
- adherence to pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic support?
- How do access and adherence to BC’s Smoking Cessation Program through community pharmacy differ among different populations (i.e. Indigenous clients, vulnerable populations, and those residing in rural communities)?
Frequently Asked Questions
APPLICATION
Who is eligible to apply?
Faculty members who hold a tenure-stream position at UBC, including Professors, Associate Professors, Instructors, Senior Instructors, and Professors of Teaching, are eligible to apply as the primary applicant. Those with term appointments or affiliations with UBC (including Professors, Associate Professors, Assistant Professors, Instructors, Senior Instructors, Professors of Teaching, Adjunct Professors, Clinical Faculty, Honorary and Partner Faculty, and Research Associates) are also eligible to apply, provided that they have written approval from the appropriate UBC Department Head and Dean. Written approval must be submitted alongside the application. Students and visiting scholars are not eligible to apply.
Do I need to include a reference list with my application?
Consistent with the character limits, extensive referencing is not required for the application. Key references may be cited within the character limits or be included as in-text citations in APA style (i.e., first author last name, publication year). While this is not an expectation or requirement, applicants may submit a reference list by email as a PDF before the submission deadline.
Do I need to complete a Research Project Information Form (RPIF) before I submit my application?
No. This process will begin after the review committee funding recommendations are approved. However, funds will not be distributed until research ethics approval is granted, if required.
Can the funding be used to fund an existing project, or must the research be entirely new?
Funding can support the addition of a new piece of work to an existing study or project, such as adding a new module to a pre-existing planned survey. However, it cannot be used to fund a piece of work that was already funded and/or in progress but contains no new components.
When will the Full Application Form be available?
The Full Application Form will be accessible through the SM Apply portal once applicants are shortlisted. Applicants will then be able to view, complete, and submit the Form. The 2023 Full Application Form can be viewed here. Please note that there may be updates or changes to the 2024 Form.
SELECTION
If invited during the Notice of Intent stage, what specific information are project teams expected to bring to the consultation with the Ministry of Health?
Teams should be prepared to provide a high-level description of the project they are proposing, including highlighting if they suggest any deviations from the topic or scope proposed in the question or set of questions. They should also include any questions for the Ministry and an outline of any key supports they will require from the Ministry to complete the project.
Is the selection process different if I have an existing relationship or collaboration with the Ministry of Health?
No, all eligible applications will be considered regardless of prior relationships or collaborations with the Ministry of Health. An existing relationship or collaboration does not guarantee project funding. In past competitions, both new and existing collaborations have been funded. Capacity and preparedness to collaborate with Ministry of Health knowledge users will be assessed alongside other criteria during the review process.
PROGRAM
What kind of support will the Ministry of Health provide during the research project?
Typically, the Ministry’s role is to explain how they hope to use the research and, therefore, what aspects of the question(s) they hope it will address. However, additional support may be requested or provided. Some examples include helping to connect researchers with health authority or agency contacts and facilitating connections with other teams and resources doing related work.
What are the expectations of knowledge mobilization activities related to funded projects?
Applicants will be assessed on their team’s capacity and planning for health research knowledge translation, including the likelihood of generating post-funding outcomes. The Ministry and UBC Health are supportive of external knowledge mobilization efforts. Teams can contact UBC Health to coordinate. Internal (Ministry-focused) knowledge mobilization activities may include presenting to the Ministry’s knowledge exchange (a large group of Ministry staff from a variety of areas), presenting to specific groups within the Ministry, or developing resources to help policymakers understand and use the results.
APPLICATION PORTAL (SM APPLY)
Why does the application portal and application correspondence refer to the UBC Faculty of Medicine?
The application portal for this program (Survey Monkey Apply) is hosted by UBC's Faculty of Medicine (FoM) Digital Solutions, and you may receive automated emails from them. However, this program is administered by UBC Health. All correspondence should be directed to Aoife Tierney (aoife.tierney@ubc.ca).
Can I view or edit my application after submitting it?
Once an application (including the initial Notice of Intent) has been submitted in SM Apply, it is locked from further editing. You can view your submission, but won’t be able to make any changes. You can view the submitted version in SM Apply. Please refer to SM Apply’s FAQs for further instructions on the application process.
Can I add collaborators to complete part of the application process?
Yes, you can add collaborators in SM Apply to help complete the application process or review the application content. To do this, go to the application form and find the option to invite collaborators. Each collaborator will need to create their own SM Apply account. Only the primary applicant can submit the final application.
Can I view the NoI questions before I begin my application?
Yes, you can find a word document here which outlines the questions asked on the NoI form. Please note, NoI’s must be submitted through the Survey Monkey Apply portal – word document applications will not be accepted.