Operating Grant : Summer Program in Aging - Planning Grant

The intent of this funding opportunity is to identify a host for the 2024 CIHR Institute of Aging's (IA) Summer Program in Aging (SPA).

The SPA 2024 strategic topic area will be ageism, health, and older adults.

The CIHR-IA Summer Program in Aging (SPA) is an intensive 5-day capacity-building program with the aim of providing graduate trainees with advanced training that crosses disciplines, offers networking opportunities, and disseminates best practices in research. SPA has been held yearly across Canada since 2006 with a different strategic theme each year.

The SPA curriculum offers an important training opportunity for approximately forty Canadian trainees in the area of aging to have exposure to, learn from, and network with leaders in the field of research on aging. In addition, SPA is an important networking opportunity that encourages knowledge exchange with fellow trainees, speakers, mentors, and older adults. SPA hosts are especially encouraged to incorporate persons with lived experience in the program.

SPA also represents an opportunity to advance international partnerships and to increase exposure of Canadian trainees to international networks of prospective collaboration. As in previous years, the SPA 2024 host will be encouraged to involve international researchers, and/or speakers.

The SPA host will be responsible for coordination and management of all logistics related to the successful implementation of the SPA program. This includes the hiring of planning staff; all SPA materials; travel, accommodation, and meals for mentors and speakers; accommodation and meals for trainees; and transportation to and from the nearest airport to the SPA venue for all participants.