February 22, 2006

Update on CIHR/CFI Clinical Research Initiatives

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) have put on hold, indefinitely, their call for proposal process for their second Research Hospital Fund competition.

An agreement between Industry Canada and provincial government representatives was reached last fall on the first Research Hospital Fund (RHF) competition. Part of this agreement was to have further discussion on the future of the RHF. In November, CFI and CIHR proceeded with a consultation on a draft Call for Proposals, with the intent to contribute to the ongoing dialogue on the second competition, in parallel with the discussions to be held between Industry Canada and provincial representatives.

The CFI has now received a letter from provincial Deputy Ministers responsible for Innovation indicating that there is unanimous agreement among provinces that they will not participate in the second RHF competition until federal/provincial agreement has been reached. Given the position of the provinces, the ongoing discussions between the provinces and the federal government, and in the interest of goodwill on the part of all involved, the CFI will not proceed at this time with the launch of a Call for Proposals under the RHF, including the collaboration with CIHR on the Clinical Research Initiative.