Call for Proposals s3
The Hospital for Sick Children
555 University Avenue, Room 3654
Toronto, ON M5G 1X8
416-813-5992
CALL FOR PROPOSALS
The Canadian Foundation for Infectious Diseases is pleased to announce a competition for a pilot grant on the subject of “Performance and cost-effectiveness evaluation of multiplex molecular testing for enteric pathogens in a Canadian health-care setting”
Revised application deadline: August 28, 2015 midnight
Revised anticipated notice of decision: September 14, 2015
Revised funding start date: September 21, 2015
AMMI Canada/CACMID abstract submission (Part 1): January, 2016
AMMI Canada/CACMID presentation (Vancouver): March 30-April 2, 2016
Publication submission (Parts 1 and 2): September, 2016
Maximum grant: $25,000
Description: To determine current practice in Canada for enteric testing, the role of molecular enteric testing and its clinical and financial impact on outcomes.
Objectives:
Part 1: Researchers will undertake a survey to review current enteric testing methods, protocols, and current outcomes in Canadian laboratories (cross section of labs, including labs from teaching hospitals, community hospitals, adult and pediatric institutions and reference labs).
Using the survey results, the Researchers will seek to draw conclusions regarding improvements which could be made in enteric pathogen testing in Canada.
Part 2: Using a multiplex molecular approach to enteric infection diagnostics, the Researchers will determine the role of molecular enteric testing in a Canadian diagnostic laboratory today, including its financial impact and effect on clinical outcome, in comparison to conventional diagnostic methods.
1. Researchers should seek to determine the clinical, infection control and financial impact of multiplex molecular testing for enteric pathogens by virtue of:
a. Turnaround Time (TAT) for results
b. Scale and cost of retention of conventional assays after multiplex implementation
c. Impact on isolation days in hospital
d. Impact on length of hospital admission
e. Impact on nosocomial transmission and number of outbreaks (largely norovirus, rotavirus, other viruses, possibly CD)
f. Cost analysis of conventional testing vs. multiplex molecular, varied according to various possible testing algorithms (below)
2. Researchers should seek to develop various testing algorithms that reflect patient testing characteristics, i.e. geography, adult vs. pediatric, nature of existing conventional testing, acuity of patient population, in-patient vs. out-patient, cost, human resources before and after implementation
Requirement for Researchers: The Researchers will need to have already available to them a GI multiplex testing platform (single tests or multiple tests) already implemented into clinical care. This will need to include molecular testing for a broad spectrum of GI pathogens (bacterial, viral and protozoal). Test method development, validation etc. will not be supported under this proposal.
Eligibility: The Senior Researcher is required to have a full time staff appointment at a Canadian healthcare institution wherein the work will take place.
Expected output:
1) Presentation of Part 1 at the AMMI Canada/CACMID 2016 meeting
2) Published manuscript of study results, submission by September, 2016
Review Process: All proposals will be reviewed by the CFID Awards Committee. Proposals will be ranked by the selection committee with respect to the scientific merit of each proposal, ability of the researchers to carry out the project in the local context, and demonstrated success in other such projects.
How to apply:
1) Applicants should submit a Research Proposal (maximum 6 pages) including the following sections: Introduction, Background, Objectives, Methods, Analysis (statistical), Institutional ability to provide multiplex molecular testing for enteric pathogens, Qualifications of researchers, Budget.
2) Researchers should provide a CV or CIHR Common CV.
3) Send the full application package electronically as a pdf file to: Dr. Susan Richardson:
Contact information: Susan Richardson, President, CFID:
telephone: 416-813-5992