Canada Biomedical Research Fund
Stage 1—Research hubs selection


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Selection criteria descriptions

The following descriptions are intended to assist applicants and committee members to further elaborate the selection criteria specific to the Stage 1 CBRF-BRIF scientific review. These descriptions are not exhaustive. There may be additional elements of expertise or infrastructure, or other factors, that address the selection criteria listed in the CBRF-BRIF funding opportunity description. The onus is on the applicant to provide sufficient and appropriate information to enable members to scientifically assess their application according to the selection criteria.

Building on existing strengths, where Canadian research is cutting-edge, and addressing critical gaps in the Canadian biomanufacturing and life sciences ecosystem, each hub will present a high-level program of research that describes the overarching objectives, priorities and research themes to be addressed for the duration of the hub. Hubs must consider a multidisciplinary approach that integrates different disciplines, understanding that not every objective or theme within the program of research will cut across mandates of the three agencies.

The hub governance structure is composed of representatives from all major partners, who are actively involved in hub governance and jointly responsible for executing the hub’s high-level program of research. There is no prescribed limit to the number of positions or form of the governance structure. It is expected that steps were taken to apply equity, diversity and inclusion principles to the composition of the governance committee and related management committees.

The scientific team is a group of up to 10 individuals named by the hub who are responsible for ensuring the alignment of applied translational research, training development and infrastructure projects with the hub’s high-level program of research. There are no requirements or restrictions on the distribution of these positions among the hub partners. It is expected that steps were taken to apply equity, diversity and inclusion principles to the composition of the scientific team.

Hubs are expected to mobilize a diverse and inclusive research community by bringing together partners across multiple sectors, leveraging existing partnerships and collaborations, and expanding to include new ones. Hubs must identify any barriers in accessing their project selection and endorsement process, and then implement specific measures to remove these barriers.    

For the CBRF-BRIF program, highly qualified personnel (HQP) refers to students, research technicians, postdoctoral researchers, research associates, and other technical or research personnel.

Scientific and Technical Review

Capacity
Hub’s response to the Strategy’s priorities and emerging public health threats
A program of research, including objectives, priorities and research themes, that articulates a clear and ambitious vision in support of the Strategy
(also assessed by Strategic Review Committee)

There is significant alignment of the hub’s objectives, priorities and research themes with the Strategy and the strategic objectives of CBRF-BRIF. The vision of the program of research is ambitious. Medium- and long-term objectives of the program of research are clearly defined and will:

  • increase specialized infrastructure and capacity for multidisciplinary, applied research
  • support training and development to expand the pipeline of skilled research and talent
  • accelerate the translation of promising research into commercially viable products and processes
Ability of the hub to lead and mobilize a diverse and inclusive research community to pursue a program of research and research training in alignment with the Strategy

The lead institution and hub partners have the capabilities to administer and deliver large-scale, high-risk projects. The demonstrated strengths of all hub partners are clearly presented relative to the role they will play. The hub has the appropriate leadership and a well-defined plan to engage with and mobilize a diverse and inclusive research community.

The hub’s program of research, including its objectives, priorities and research themes, is designed from a multidisciplinary and multisectoral perspective to:

  • increase the capacity of academic and research institutions to work collaboratively with industry, not-for-profit organizations and public sector partners
  • attract and develop HQP
  • enhance Canada’s pipeline of bio-innovation talent by creating opportunities for HQP, with a focus on skills applicable to the biomanufacturing sector, as well as professional skills such as leadership, communication, collaboration and entrepreneurship
Existing critical mass
Opportunity to leverage existing and planned expertise, training capacity, infrastructure and investments
Description of existing capacity, infrastructure and investments

Availability and accessibility of facilities, infrastructure and other financial and/or in-kind contributions required to support the hub’s program of research include, but are not limited to:

  • existing and planned biomanufacturing infrastructure or investments aligned with the Strategy and strategic objectives of CBRF-BRIF
  • regional and/or national assets (existing research facilities operated by government and/or non-governmental organizations)
  • identifying and addressing critical gaps that limit biomanufacturing
Description of training programs that support the Strategy

Hub partners provide enriched training experiences, including industry training, that lead to skills appropriate to the life sciences and biomanufacturing sector, for all levels of HQP, which significantly advances the Strategy and strategic objectives of CBRF-BRIF. Trainees include HQP and early career researchers across all disciplines, and technicians with industry-relevant skills and training in the life sciences and biomanufacturing sectors.
Total research funding in the area and track record of research outputs/outcomes

Hub lead, institution and partners have strong track records of past research activities (quality, quantity and value), and resulting outputs and outcomes, in disciplines related to the life sciences and biomanufacturing sector.

Scope, composition, excellence and diversity of the scientific team

The hub scientific team collectively brings the diversity, breadth and depth of expertise and perspectives required, from all appropriate sectors and disciplines, to pursue the hub’s identified priorities and themes of research. The collective expertise and experience of the scientific team is significant and is suitable to ensure coherence between the hub’s program of research and future proposals submitted to CBRF-BRIF Stage 2.
Description of the technology transfer environment and the industry engagement effort, including information about past record in technology transfer, commercialization and other knowledge translation initiatives

Hub partners collectively demonstrate a record of relevant past and continuing effective multisectoral partnerships (with industry, not-for-profit organizations, public sector partners) resulting in technology transfer, commercialization and other knowledge translation initiatives, which demonstrate the environment and industry engagement needed to support technology transfer   

Cooperation
Degree of existing and potential collaborations among hub partners
Description of the governance structure

The proposal describes a robust and inclusive governance and management model appropriate to its size, with a clearly defined mandate and a structure to address:

  • policy development, strategic planning and stakeholder engagement
  • inclusion of members from underrepresented groups and early career researchers
  • equitable and inclusive process for the endorsement of projects at Stage 2 that align with and advance the hub’s program of research
  • sound plans related to management of hub activities, performance measurement and data management, and the demonstrated capacity to execute them
  • sound plans related to financial and resource management
Description of the collaborative, multidisciplinary approach, including existing and potential partners/collaborators and the strength they bring to the hub

A clear description of how different disciplinary and sectoral perspectives, methodologies and techniques are integrated includes, but is not limited to, the following elements:

  • existing partners and collaborators from various disciplines and sectors (as appropriate), which demonstrates the diversity of the organizations involved
  • potential partners and collaborators from federal government research facilities, industry, academic, private and/or not-for-profit sectors (as appropriate)
  • complementarity of strengths and capabilities brought by existing and potential partners and collaborators
  • diverse partners have been involved in and were essential co-developers of the hub’s multidisciplinary, multisectoral approach 
Track record of productive collaboration between partners and researchers within the hub

The hub demonstrates existing and ongoing co-creation among its partners from across sectors (academic, public, private, industry and not-for-profit) to increase the translation of promising discoveries into product/service development

Outreach plans for new partners, researchers, end users

The proposal presents an effective plan to facilitate linkages with new partners, researchers and users of the research outputs and outcomes, including academic, public, private, industry, not-for-profit, philanthropic or other organizations, to further leverage research, resource and knowledge mobilization capacities of the hub
Receptor capacity
Ability of the hub to support public and private vaccine, therapeutics, and diagnostic developers, and develop commercially viable vaccines and therapeutics
Track record in translational R&D (such as patents and licences, drug approvals, vaccine or diagnostic tools developed, clinical trials, new practices, contracts with non-academic partners)

The proposal clearly describes a record of targeting applied research and talent investments toward developing emerging vaccine, therapeutic and/or diagnostic technologies, with a focus on knowledge mobilization, translation and commercialization, including, but not limited to:   

  • vaccines developed
  • clinical trials undertaken
  • licensing of patents
  • entering into contracts with non-academic partners
  • licensing of approved drugs
  • development of new practices, including new services
  • technology transfer, including specialized infrastructure
  • commercialization, with economic impacts
  • knowledge translation initiatives, including those impacting public policy
Partnerships with industry and commercialization organizations

The proposal clearly demonstrates a record of past and current co-creation with partners from across sectors that increased uptake of vaccine and therapeutic-related research results

Multidisciplinarity
Value of a multidisciplinary approach to the program of research and how the disciplinary expertise will be included
Ability to support research projects under the mandates of the three agencies

The multisectoral partners identified (academic, public, private, industry and not-for-profit) will work together toward the objectives described in the proposal, supporting multidisciplinary projects under the mandates of CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC
Inclusion of different disciplines and the added value to the program of research

The multidisciplinary and multisectoral approach provides added value in addressing the research themes and priorities, as described in the program of research. Various approaches and perspectives are included in the program of research and go beyond an amalgamation of discipline-specific approaches

Demonstration of the required expertise to deliver on the proposed program of research
(also assessed by Strategic Review Committee)

The collective expertise of the participants within the research hub is highly appropriate to successfully carry out the hub’s multidisciplinary approach.
EDI and ECR
Degree to which the hub and its partners demonstrate their commitment to EDI and support to ECRs
Description of how EDI principles and support to ECRs are embedded in the hub’s governance structure and in the project selection process

Demonstration of active and rigorous measures implemented to support ECRs and eliminate or prevent systemic barriers that may result in individuals from underrepresented groups having unequal access to, or being excluded from, participating in opportunities related to the hub’s activities includes, but is not limited to:

  • best practices and/or active measures implemented in the composition of the governance committees and scientific team
  • process used to identify and select projects endorsed by the hub, including best practices and/or active measures to ensure barrier-free access to the selection process
  • best practices and/or active measures implemented in HQP recruitment and selection processes
  • best practices and/or active measures implemented to specifically support ECRs
  • antiracism best practices and/or active measures implemented institution-wide, which have not already been discussed in the context of committees/teams, recruitment and hiring, and mentoring 

Strategic Review

Capacity
Hub’s response to the Strategy’s priorities and emerging public health threats
A high-level program of research, including objectives, priorities and research themes, that articulates a clear and ambitious vision in support of the Strategy (also assessed for scientific and technical merit)

There is significant alignment of the hub’s objectives, priorities and research themes with the Strategy and the strategic objectives of CBRF-BRIF. The vision of the program of research is ambitious. Medium- and long-term objectives of the program of research are clearly defined and will:

  • increase specialized infrastructure and capacity for multidisciplinary, applied research
  • support training and development to expand the pipeline of skilled research and talent
  • accelerate the translation of promising research into commercially viable products and processes
Multidisciplinarity
Value of a multidisciplinary approach to the program of research and how the disciplinary expertise will be included
Demonstration of the required expertise to deliver on the proposed program of research with a multidisciplinary and multisectoral approach (also assessed for scientific and technical merit)

The collective expertise of the participants within the research hub is highly appropriate to successfully carry out the hub’s multidisciplinary approach.
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