2024 Convening & Collaborating (C2) and Reach competitions: Applications open with added priority areas
4 April 2024
Previous C2 and Reach awardees, from top left to right: Taru Manyanga (UNBC), Megan MacPherson (Fraser Health), Mauricio Garcia-Barrera (UVic), Sam Liu (UVic), Leah Lambert (BC Cancer), Lisa Bourque Bearskin (UVic).
Michael Smith Health Research BC is pleased to open the 2024 Convening & Collaborating (C2) and Reach competitions today, with additional funding to address priority health challenges.
Through these programs, we mobilize communities for research impact. The programs enable health researchers to foster collaboration with people who will use the research and knowledge gained, disseminate and implement research evidence and increase the impact of their research. We support researchers in teaming up with these research users such as health professionals, patients and policymakers to move research evidence into policy and practice.
Health Research BC recently undertook a priority-setting process to determine where our funding and support can provide increased research attention and impact and identified four broad themes. These themes — population aging; climate change and health; the health human resources crisis; and public health emergencies — will be the focus for priority-based funding. Learn more.
For the 2024 C2 and Reach competitions, additional funding is available to support proposals focused on these four priority areas. Health Research BC will also continue to accept applications from across the full range of health research topics.
The maximum amount for each award has also increased to $20,000, which reflects our commitment to providing strong support for researchers. We made this decision to ensure that researchers would have sufficient funds to complete their knowledge translation activities and after hearing feedback from the research community. This included considering factors such as effects of inflation, equity and reviewing similar awards.
Convening & Collaborating: Promote knowledge exchange and meaningful collaboration
The C2 program enables knowledge exchange and meaningful collaboration. It supports researchers, trainees and those who use research to engage with each other and co-develop research that is relevant and impactful for people such as patients, health practitioners and policymakers.
Researchers who need support to develop a research agenda, identify key research practice priorities or evaluate a peer support initiative should consider applying to the C2 program.
Reach: Disseminate research evidence with research users
The Reach program supports researchers to disseminate research evidence by co-developing events, activities and tools with those who can directly benefit from it. This helps researchers reach audiences who can use the knowledge to ultimately improve health and care for British Columbians and their communities.
Researchers who need support to disseminate their research through events, activities or tools should consider applying to the Reach program.
Partnerships build capacity
Health Research BC is committed to strong collaboration to improve the health of British Columbians, the health system and the economy. This includes partnering with organizations to co-fund awards. Our partners provide valuable connections between researchers, health partners and patient groups. For the 2024 competitions, more than 10 organizations are seeking opportunities to co-fund researchers, including Canadian Celiac Association, Canadian Chiropractic Research Foundation, Pacific Public Health Foundation, and Health Quality BC. Learn more.
If you are interested in receiving a partnered Health Research BC award, let us know when prompted in your funding application.
Competition dates
Key dates for both C2 and Reach competitions are:
- Applications open: April 4, 2024
- Application deadline (applicant): May 13, 2024
- Application deadline (host institution): May 21, 2024
- Anticipated notice of funding decision: September 2024
- Award start date: October 1, 2024
The award amount available for both competitions is up to $20,000. The term of the awards is 18 months.
Webinar and further information
For competition details, eligibility requirements and information on how to apply, visit our C2 and Reach pages. Applicants are encouraged to attend our information webinar on April 10 at 10:30 a.m. Register now.
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