Clinician Investigator Program

The entire CIP curriculum is comprised of one orientation event and one academic week (five full days) plus one to three academic half-days per year.

CIP is an accredited postgraduate medical education program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, and all curriculum sessions are designed to address all of the CanMEDs goals and objectives relating to becoming a clinician investigator.

The program is a minimum of 24 months of active research (minimum 80 per cent protected research time) but can often span up to four years, depending on the type of research project and graduate degree.

Eligible areas of research include all four Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) pillars:

• biomedical
• clinical
• population health
• health services research

Also captured is research in related areas such as economics, education, e-health, engineering or ethics.

Many institutions are now including the completion of a graduate degree as an application requirement for all faculty positions. CIP includes the completion of a Masters or PhD, while being fully funded at postgraduate year (PGY) level.

And there are many other benefits to consider:

• Hands-on learning to develop and execute a self-directed research project
• 24+ months of mentored research training with a focus on the integration of clinical and research responsibilities
• Protected research time (during which the trainee must dedicate a minimum of 80 per cent of their time to research)
• Completion of a research-based graduate degree program
• Enhanced academic curriculum to prepare for a career as a clinician investigator
• Progress monitoring and evaluations
• Full salary (at PGY level)
• Team environment working alongside other trainees working toward a similar career/goal
• The opportunity to work with leaders in the research field of interest
• National brand of a RCPSC-accredited residency program
• Support from the faculty CIP committee
• The opportunity to develop contacts and network within a specific clinical research field
• The opportunity to create a more competitive body of work for application to faculty positions

Support

Building a great support committee and designing a research project can take time. It is highly recommended that you start planning your time in CIP as early as possible. The CIP Director is happy to help trainees develop their plans. We encourage you to involve CIP and your clinical department faculty throughout the planning process.

Funding

Accepted trainees are guaranteed funding for the full 24 month program at appropriate PGY level through the use of PGME Flex Spots and other funding awards and partnerships. However, CIP trainees are required to apply for external salary awards for their second year. This improves the trainee's resume and, if successful, frees up the Flex Spot funding so that it can be used to sponsor more future CIP trainees.

Some surgery specialties offer one year of funding to complete a research-based Masters degree. This program may be combined with CIP to fund one of the two years provided this is arranged ahead of time and the trainee is enrolled in CIP prior to starting the Master of Surgery year.

Required documents include:

1. Curriculum Vitae (CV)
2. A one-page statement of your career plans, particularly focusing on your aspirations as a clinician scientist.
3. A three-page project description, including a timeline and a detailed account of your roles within the overall research project.
4. Names of at least three research advisory committee members, including at least one clinician scientist in your specialty.
5. Your supervisor’s CV.
6. A letter from your supervisor(s) outlining their roles and responsibilities in your mentorship or training.
7. A letter of support from your current clinical program director (if required).
8. If you will not have completed your primary clinical residency before starting the CIP, please attach a letter of support from your RCPSC specialty/subspecialty program director verifying:
    
   • Your status and year of training in your postgraduate medical education program.
   • Endorsement of your registration in the CIP.
   • Your research potential, interest, and ability to complete the program.
   • Your expected completion date of clinical training.
      
9. Two letters of reference emailed directly to the CIP office. Please ask referees to personalize their letters to address your potential as a researcher, your commitment to your degree program, your proposed project, the proposed learning environment, and your dedication to a career as a physician-scientist. The letter should also include a statement that the applicant has not and will not see a copy of the letter.

For PhD applicants only:

1. A letter from your clinical department head and research supervisor confirming the availability of funding for years three and four.

For Post-doctoral stream applicants only:

1. You will require copies of your publications.