Clinical Research Scholars –
Junior 1 and 2, Senior

Pierrette Morvan
(514) 873-2114
Ext. 243

Eligible applicants

-Applicants who hold a professional university degree in the health sciences at the doctoral level (M.D., D.D.S., etc.), a valid license to practice, and at least two continuous years of additional research training, with at least 50% of time devoted to research.

The license must remain valid throughout the duration of the award.

-Canadian citizens or permanent residents (as defined in section 1.1 of the Common Rules and Regulations) domiciled in Québec at the time the award comes into effect.

Applicants may apply:

-A maximum of three times in the four years in which they are classified Junior 1 (0 to 3 years’ experience).

-A maximum of twice in the four years in which they are classified Junior 2 (4 to 7 years’ experience).

-A maximum of twice in the four years in which they are classified Senior (8 to 11 years’ experience). See the Research experience section.

Not eligible:

-Directors or associate scientific directors of research centres funded by the FRSQ or senior managers in university-level teaching institutions (unless permission in writing has been obtained from the FRSQ)

-Applicants holding an award with more than 18 months remaining as of April 1, 2011.

Terms and conditions

-Must be working in Québec as a clinician in a health-care institution in the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (MSSS) network

-Must have permission from the clinical director and research director of an institution recognized by the FRSQ to conduct research activities (see Research location)

-Must have a commitment from the university that the applicant will be named to a university position as soon as the award comes into effect

-Must devote at least 50% of his or her working hours to research while carrying on clinical activities at a level satisfactory to the FRSQ (at least 25%)

-Must demonstrate the capacity or potential to be a competitive researcher at the national and international levels

-Must have supervisory privileges, directing students engaged in a research training program

-Must demonstrate to the satisfaction of the FRSQ the capacity or potential to collaborate with researchers from other disciplines

-Must comply with the provisions of the Québec Health Insurance Act (section XII, articles 95 to 104) regarding research scholarships, as the budget for clinical researchers’ programs comes from the Québec health insurance board. Specifically, all applicants must agree to comply with the provisions of the Act regarding the awarding of research scholarships (article 96):

Basic training in research ethics

Basic training in research ethics is compulsory for all FRSQ awardees when their research project involves human subjects.

The term "research project involving human subjects" applies when the research project involves:

-living human subjects

-cadavers, human remains, tissues, biological fluids, gametes, embryos or fetuses, cells or genetic materials

-personal information on file. Personal information is defined as information that enables a person to be identified.

This basic training consists of successful completion of Levels 1 and 3 of the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux On-line Tutorial in Research Ethics.

Awardees must complete this basic training within a year of receipt of a positive response concerning the FRSQ award.

In addition, all career researchers must attend a Research Ethics Board (REB) meeting as observers. The REB must be affiliated with a university or with an institution within the health and social services network. Participation must occur within two years of receipt of a positive response concerning the FRSQ award.

Clinical Research Scholars – Junior 1 and 2, Senior

All applicants are required to choose one of the following research areas:

Basic science

This includes the basic biological mechanisms of health at the molecular, cellular, tissue and integrative levels, including all research that uses intact animal organisms or their cellular components, cellular descendants, or human cells and tissues. Research that involves the participation of human subjects is included under this heading as long as it involves basic mechanisms.

Clinical and epidemiological science

In general, this includes all biological, medical and epidemiological research that involves the participation of human subjects.

Health and society

This includes research on individual, social and cultural factors and interactions among them that are linked to health status or behaviours. There are many social and cultural factors that are relevant to health: the organization and provision of health care, social and health-care policy, education, economics and employment, the media, ethical issues, the environment in which we live, and so on.

It is possible to combine two areas of research; for example, basic science and clinical and epidemiological science may intersect in research projects that involve human subjects.

After reviewing the Letters of Intent, the FRSQ may recommend that an applicant redirect his or her application to the research area in which the Review Committee possesses the most appropriate expertise for reviewing the file. When in doubt, applicants are invited to contact the FRSQ.

Clinical Research Scholars – Junior 1 and 2, Senior

e-documents

Please make sure to transmit your e-documents to the FRSQ.

Applicants

-Letter of Intent form compulsory

-The Letter of Intent is used to:

-Canadian Common CV (full CV)

The FRSQ will confirm applicants' eligibility by e-mail in early September.

Only those applicants who are deemed to be eligible and have been approved by the university may submit applications.

Clinical Research Scholars – Junior 1 and 2, Senior

e-documents

Please make sure to transmit your e-documents to the FRSQ.

Applicants

-Canadian Common CV (full CV)

-Application form entitled Chercheurs-boursiers cliniciens

Directors of university research centres or departments

-Form entitled Section du directeur du centre ou du département universitaire / Annexe à la bourse de chercheurs-boursiers ou de chercheurs-boursiers cliniciens

Paper documents

The post office stamp or fax transmission date is proof of the document filing date.

Mailing address

FRSQ
500, Sherbrooke St. West
Suite 800
Montreal (Québec)
H3A 3C6

Applicants

-copies of notices of awards and grants received, other than FRSQ awards and grants, during the past four years

-an official copy of the degree establishing the applicant's eligibility for this program (MD, D.D.S., etc.), bearing the official seal of the university, or a copy certified by a notary or commissioner of oaths, except for the applicant who are already FRSQ's Research Scholars or Clinical Research Scholars

-a copy of the applicant's highest specialized certificate (C.S.P.Q., FRCP, etc.) or second degree (M.Sc.), if applicable

-proof of application to the program if M. Sc. or Ph.D. is in progress and diploma or proof of fulfilling the eligibility requirements for the degree no later than June 30, 2011

-proof of membership in a professional corporation certifying that the applicant will be entitled to practice in Québec by June 30, 2011

If the license is to be delivered after June 30, 2011, the applicant must notify the FRSQ in writing prior to that date.

-a copy of the applicant's permanent resident's card, if applicable, before the award comes into effect or by June 30, 2011

Respondents (for Junior 1 applicants only)

-Two letters of recommendation written by two respondents who are familiar with the applicant’s work. One of the respondents must have participated in the applicant’s most recent research training period.

-1 letter from the applicant's mentor. The letter includes the mentorship plan for the first year of the award with a four-year perspective (maximum of 2 pages)

Application update

Applicants may update their award notices and list of publications only, up to January 17, 2011, in a list form

Please include confirmations of article submissions (do not include print article) and confirmation from publishers regarding agreement to publish.

Please include four series of each. Applicant's application number, research area and name must appear on all documents. Other documents will not be accepted.

Junior 1 applicants may update their applications at the interview.

After January 17, you can send the FRSQ the results of the funding competition only. They will be forwarded to the evaluation committee.

Confirmation

Applicants will receive e-mail confirmation of receipt of application in November.

Clinical Research Scholars – Junior 1 and 2, Senior

Choice of research location

-at an FRSQ group or centre, an institution administered by the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (MSSS) or a Québec university

Applicants may conduct their research outside the MSSS network or outside the FRSQ network of research centres if they belong to a team or laboratory working on health-care issues recognized by the FRSQ.

-in an industrial setting

An agreement may be signed between the FRSQ, the host company and a university, depending on the applicant’s particular case. Under such an agreement, the applicant will conduct an innovative research program and train graduate students.

Change of research location

The FRSQ presumes that the Clinical Research Scholar will work at the institution or university that approved his or her application throughout the award period.

Awardees wishing to change their research location must send the FRSQ a written request detailing the reasons for the change and describing how it could affect their research project.

University authorities must give the FRSQ written notice that they have approved the change.

The director of the new research centre or university department must give the FRSQ written notice that he/she agrees to host the applicant.

Clinical Research Scholars – Junior 1 and 2, Senior

The FRSQ will classify the applicant as a Junior 1, Junior 2 or Senior Researcher and notify the applicant of his or her classification. On receiving such notice, the applicant has 10 business days to request a review of his or her classification, specifying the reasons for the claim.

Classification is based on a given reference year as of which applicants demonstrate their capacity for independent research. Within the meaning of the FRSQ, this capacity is demonstrated or should have been demonstrated:

-At the time when the application for the Junior 1 Research Scholars is filed,

-When applicants obtain a career award comparable to a Junior 1 Research Scholar award or a grant awarded by an organization recognized by the FRSQ for a project in which they were the principal investigator,

-Or no later than 6 years after applicants have obtained their most recent university degree (Ph.D., MD, D.D.S., etc., or an M. Sc. as a second degree by June 30, 2011) or since qualifying as a medical specialist (C.S.P.Q., FRCP).

When one of these conditions is met, applicants are classified Junior 1 with 0 years of experience, and, as of this point, the number of years of experience is updated annually. Applicants with 4 to 7 years’ experience are classified Junior 2, and those with 8 to 11 years’ experience are classified Senior. For the FRSQ, each year of experience is calculated from July 1 to June 30.

In calculating years of experience, the FRSQ may take into account particular situations that may cause applicants to temporarily put their research on hold (e.g. pregnancy, illness, professional activities not involving research: clinical, treatment, management, etc.) and may subtract such years when calculating years of experience.

Clinical Research Scholars – Junior 1 and 2, Senior

Effective starting date

Between July 1 and September 30, 2011

Duration

Junior 1: 4 years for all candidates

Junior 2: maximum 4 years

Senior: maximum 4 years

The duration of Junior 1 awards, regardless of the level of experience calculated at the time the award is received by the applicant, is 4 years. At the end of the 4 years of the Junior 1 award, awardees are promoted to Junior 2 status with 4 years’ experience in research. The number of years of experience is updated annually as of this new reference year.

For the Junior 2 and Senior classification level, the duration of the award is a maximum of 4 years which decreases with the number of years of experience. For example, the duration of a Junior 2 award is 4 years if the number of years of experience is deemed to be 4, 3 years if there are 5 years of experience, 2 years for 6 years of experience, and 1 year for the Junior 2 level (with one year credited towards the Senior level) for awardees with 7 years’ experience.

For the Senior category, the FRSQ undertakes to remunerate the applicant in decreasing amounts. (See Amount of Award)

Parental leave

Awardees are entitled to take parental leave (maternity, paternity or adoption leave). The award may be deferred for a maximum of two years.

The awardee must give the FRSQ written notice of his/her intention to take parental leave.

Sabbatical leave

Clinical Research Scholars will receive their full stipend during a sabbatical year as long as they meet the following requirements:

-Be a Senior or Junior 2 Clinical Research Scholar with six years of experience based on the FRSQ classification

-Send the FRSQ a request for a sabbatical of up to 12 months

-Send the FRSQ a complementary training program or program of activities that will advance the research project

The program must be accepted in writing by the FRSQ at least 60 days before the starting date of the sabbatical.

-Send the FRSQ a copy of the sabbatical approval signed by the university authorities or by the administrators of the institution where he/she works.

-If applicable, send the FRSQ official notice that laboratory has agreed to host the Clinical Research Scholar.

Sick leave

The awardee may defer the award in case of serious illness (his or her own or the illness of a close family member) upon presentation of a medical certificate that includes the precise length of leave prescribed by the physician. Payments will be suspended during that period.

Clinical Research Scholars – Junior 1 and 2, Senior

Amount

From $18,003 to $53,082, including benefits of 12%, based on years of experience.

This award corresponds to 60% of the award for Research Scholars in the Research Scholars – Junior 1 and 2 and Senior program.

The pay scale for Clinical Research Scholars is set by the government of Québec and appears in article 52 of section XVI of the Bylaws to the Québec Health Insurance Act.

This amount must be supplemented by the university (see University authorities’ agreement).

University share

For the Senior category, the FRSQ undertakes to pay the applicant in decreasing amounts:

	8 years of experience	100 %
	9 years of experience	100 %
	10 years of experience	75 %
	11 years of experience	50 %

This policy is designed to ensure that the host institution agrees to supplement the applicant’s salary and offer him or her a position (see University authorities’ agreement).

Parental leave

See Duration of award.

Clinical Research Scholars – Junior 1 and 2, Senior

Concurrent funding

See Common Rules and Regulations, art. 6.13.

Clinical Research Scholars – Junior 1 and 2, Senior

Objective

The peer-review committee will interview Junior 1 applicants (only) before the committee meets in plenary session.

The interview gives the applicant an opportunity to:

-demonstrate his or her potential as an independent researcher

-provide further details on certain aspects of his or her research project

-provide further details on certain aspects of his or her training and career path

-tell the committee about any other important aspects of the research that he or she feels have not been described in sufficient detail in the application or that the committee still considers to be obscure

The interview is intended to supplement previously submitted information and give the applicant an opportunity to update his or her file to facilitate the review process.

The FRSQ does not reimburse applicants’ travel costs to attend this interview.

Dates

Applicants invited for an interview are expected to appear on the specified date, failing which the application will be rejected.

January 10 and 11, 2011: basic research

January 13, 2011: clinical and epidemiological research

January 14, 2011: research on health and society

Clinical Research Scholars – Junior 1 and 2, Senior

Process

All applications are reviewed by a peer-review committee made up of members representing various health disciplines and research methodologies.

In the interest of fairness, all applications are grouped and reviewed by program: Research Scholars – Junior 1 and 2, Senior or Clinical Research Scholars – Junior 1 and 2, Senior , based on the classification by research experience (Junior 1, Junior 2 or Senior) and research area (basic, clinical and epidemiological, or health and society).

The FRSQ puts together six review committees:

Criteria

Different criteria are used based on the area of research; its relative importance in the overall review by the peer-review committees may vary depending on the classification level – Junior 1, Junior 2 or Senior:

-the review of the applicant's research training and proposed research project is of greater relative importance at the Junior 1 level

-the review of the applicant's outreach and productivity in terms of training students and obtaining grants assumes increasing importance at the Junior 2 and Senior levels

Applicant's research training

-quality and diversity of academic settings in which the applicant was trained (M.Sc., Ph.D., postdoctoral fellowships)

-relevance and appropriateness of training for the proposed research project

Awards

-number of years of salary awards from organizations with peer-review committees

-type of organizations

-relative importance of amounts given the field of research

Grants

-number of years of grants received from organizations with peer-review committees

-type of organizations

-relative importance of amounts given the field of research

Students trained by applicant

-number of students

-level: M.Sc., Ph.D. and postdoctoral

-funding received by students

-publications or presentations by students, whether published or accepted for publication

-quality of journals and conferences

-nature of supervision: individual or joint

Scientific productivity

-publications or papers accepted for publication:

Host institution

-start-up support

-other sources of income

-lab space made available to applicant

-equipment made available for shared use

-level of complementarity with other researchers on the team

-level of emulation (lectures, guests, consultants, etc.)

-applicant’s level of administrative, clinical and teaching duties

Autonomy

Applicant’s demonstrated or potential capacity for:

-obtaining awards as principal investigator

-publishing as principal author without his/her mentors

Scientific outreach

Provincial, national or international scope of the following aspects:

-invited speaker at centres/universities

-speaker or moderator at symposia

-committee member (internal reviewer) for recognized funding organizations

-serving as chair or other member of review committees for recognized funding organizations

-scientific prizes and other honours

Proposed research project

-clarity of presentation

-originality of concept and plausibility of hypotheses

-coherence of project in terms of current scientific knowledge

-validity of objectives in terms of literature review

-validity of instruments and procedures

-scientific value of methodology

-realistic nature of proposed critical path

-feasibility of the program in terms of the host institution, the applicant’s training, the financial support available and the funding strategy

-scientific impact within the discipline

Clinical Research Scholars – Junior 1 and 2, Senior

In accepting this award, the applicant agrees to observe the Common Rules and Regulations, the Policy regarding open access to published research outputs as well as the terms and conditions stipulated in this program description.

The award will be revoked if the applicant fails to observe these rules.

The applicant must notify the FRSQ of his/her acceptance of the award within 30 days of receiving the offer.

Failure to give notice of acceptance will be regarded by the FRSQ as refusal of the award.

Clinical Research Scholars – Junior 1 and 2, Senior

Approval

Universities approve applications and assume the responsibilities listed below jointly with the heads of the department with which the applicant is affiliated and the research centre where the research will be conducted (if applicable).

Salary supplement

-University authorities supporting an application for a Research Scholar must ensure that the applicant will receive a salary supplement equal to the difference between the award and the remuneration that the applicant would receive from the university as a full-time professor, to the satisfaction of the FRSQ.

-Should the applicant have a mixed affiliation involving a company, the university and the partner must jointly endorse the Research Scholar’s application.

Under such circumstances, the partners must ensure that the applicant will receive a salary supplement equal to the difference between the award and the remuneration that the applicant would receive from the university or from the partner as a full-time professor or employee. A protocol of agreement must be signed with the FRSQ to cover this partnership.

Confirmation of position – Senior Clinical Research Scholars

For applications in the Senior Clinical Research Scholars competition:

-The university must agree to make the researcher part of the team on completion of the award and offer the applicant a full-time permanent position or a contract position for at least five years after the end of the award (at a salary commensurate with the applicant’s university rank).

Benefits and laboratory or research premises

The applicant must be eligible to join the pension plan and enjoy other benefits available to full-time staff working at the university. These obligations imply that the researcher’s salary will be administered by the university even if he or she works at a research centre.

The host institution agrees to provide the functional laboratories or research premises and basic equipment the applicant requires for research purposes. The applicant must also have access, if applicable, to outpatient clinical premises and a sufficient number of beds to complete the clinical research project.

Protected time for research

The university and hospital authorities must jointly ensure that the applicant is released from his or her clinical duties in order to meet the obligation to spend 50% of his or her working hours on research.

Clinical Research Scholars – Junior 1 and 2, Senior

-requirement regarding basic training in research ethics

Clinical Research Scholars – Junior 1 and 2, Senior

FRSQ offers a certain number of awards in collaboration with its partners. The portion of financing from the FRSQ and the partner respectively, as well as other funding features such as the duration of the award and renewal options, if any, may vary according to the agreement entered into with each partner.

There is a four-step process for selecting applicants eligible for partnership funding:

1) Applicants select a partner or partners from a list. The applicants must be involved in research in the fields targeted by the potential partner(s). See the Partenaires page of the form.

2) The FRSQ transmits an anonymous list of applicants to the partner(s) for evaluation of how the proposed research fits in with the field(s) of research and the research priorities of the partner(s)

3) The FRSQ receives a list of the applicants approved by the partner(s)

4) Further to review by a peer committee or expert committee, the applicants who obtained the rank of excellence for scientific merit may be selected by the FRSQ for an offer of partnership funding

As with all FRSQ awards, partnership awards are granted by merit and applications are subject to scientific review by an expert committee or a peer committee and to the FRSQ’s standards of excellence.

Allergy and immunology
(Junior 1 only)

AllerGen

Child Health
(Junior 1 only)

Canadian Child Health Clinician Scientist Program (CCHCSP)

(All applicants must submit an application to the CCHCSP)

(These scholarships are offered to healthcare professional only)

Chiropractic
(Junior 1 only)

-Fondation de recherche chiropratique du Québec

-Ordre des chiropraticiens du Québec

Emergency
(Juniors 1 and 2 only)

Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (MSSS)

Hypertension
(Juniors 1 and 2 only)

Société québécoise d'hypertension artérielle (SQHA)

Infectious diseases and AIDS

Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (MSSS) – Service de lutte contre les infections transmissibles sexuellement et par le sang (SLITSS)

Kidney health
(Junior 1 only)

-The Kidney Foundation of Canada - KRESCENT Research Program
(Kidney Research Scientist Core Education and National Training)

(The applicant must also submit an application to the KRESCENT Program.)

-Canadian Society of Nephrology

Nursing science
(Junior 1 only)

Fondation de recherche en sciences infirmières (FRESIQ)

(These scholarships are offered to students in nursing only.)

Optimal drug use

Conseil du médicament

Radiology
(Junior 1 only)

Fondation de l'Association des radiologistes du Québec (FARQ)

(Scholarships for radiologists only)

Trauma

Consortium pour le développement de la recherche en traumatologie

-Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (MSSS)

-Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ)

-Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST)

-Provincial Rehabilitation Research Network (REPAR)

-Association québécoise d’établissements de santé et des services sociaux (AQESSS)

-Quebec Association of Rehabilitation Establishments for the Physically Impaired (AERDPQ)