Education Development Fund

These projects are motivated by discovery, curiosity, theoretical gaps, and pose specific research questions that have relevance beyond local context. Boyer describes the Scholarship of Discovery as basic and foundational research. Thus, the review criteria for these projects include clear statement of problem and background, theoretical grounding, relevance to the general field of medical education, clarity of research question, appropriate and rigorous methods, and plan for dissemination and sustainability. 

Projects in this stream should either seek to create an innovation AND evaluate it, or seek to conduct a large-scale evaluation of existing an innovation at TFoM.

Innovations must "demonstrate new ideas or approaches to solving a problem, not just modifications of previous work in a new population or environment" (see: Baker AC, Ibrahim H, Simpson D. Innovation-Defining Key Features for Medical Education Manuscripts). The innovations submitted under this stream should focus on novel solutions that can address meaningful challenges in local education practice. It is expected that the innovation may have relevance and utility to the wider medical education community. Projects in this stream fall under Boyer’s Scholarship of Teaching, Application and Integration.

The proposal should detail how the evaluation of the innovation will employ appropriate evaluation approaches and methods suited to the innovation. Projects proposing to implement or develop an innovation without an evaluation component will not be accepted. The review criteria for projects in this stream include a clear statement of problem and background, identification of how the innovation addresses the problem, relevance to the general field of medical education, clarity of evaluation question, appropriate and rigorous methods for evaluation, and a plan for dissemination and sustainability.

EDF provides a platform for emerging scholars to explore novel ideas and methodologies in medical education research. It encourages emerging scholars to embark on transformative projects that have the potential to shape the future of medical education. 

EDF prioritizes scholarship that aims to have impact across TFoM and the wider education community. Applicants are expected to outline how the work will continue to progress at the end of the granting period and plans for future funding for programmatic scholarship.

EDF not only provides financial support but also promotes capacity building among grant recipients. Through mentorship, training, and networking, EDF aims to equip researchers with the skills and resources necessary to excel in medical education scholarship.

EDF prioritizes projects that originate from the applied challenges medical education programs and other activities. This approach fosters bottom-up innovation and ensures that the grant program is responsive to the evolving needs and challenges within the field. 

EDF is committed to inclusivity. Applications are welcome from across TFoM, and matched funding is not required. Projects that include representation from across a diverse set of actors -- including learners, patients, community leaders, staff, or underrepresented groups -- are encouraged. Staff and learners are eligible to be co-investigator with a Faculty PI. Interdisciplinary/program teams and novel approaches to education scholarship are encouraged

Recognizing the importance of mentorship in academic development, EDF requires applicants to engage a senior mentor with demonstrated expertise in education research and leadership. This individual will function as a named senior co-investigator on the project and can provide theoretical, methodological, or other expertise as needed. This mentorship component ensures that PIs receive guidance and support throughout the grant process.

EDF applicants are encouraged to consider how they plan to embed Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion principles in the composition of the research team.

• Applicants should consider how the project plans to engage a diversity of perspectives -- including learners, patients, community leaders, staff, or underrepresented groups, as appropriate -- and explain why the project takes this approach. 
• Applicants are encouraged to consult the Addressing Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Your Research Funding Application – Research Teams and the Training of Highly Qualified Personnel guidebook developed by the Office of the Vice President, Research and Innovation.   

• A PI may submit multiple applications, provided each application is for a different project. However, the same project can only be submitted to one stream. For example, a PI may submit one project to the Research Stream and a different project to the Innovation of Evaluation Stream, but cannot submit the same project to both streams.
• Co-investigators, collaborators, and advisors may be named on multiple applications across one or both streams, as long as the applications are for different projects. For example, an individual may be a collaborator on multiple applications or serve as a PI on one project and a collaborator on another.
• It is unlikely that a PI will receive funding for projects they lead in both streams within the same funding cycle. Applicants are therefore encouraged to select the stream that best aligns with their project. The adjudication committee reserves the right to recommend funding through a different stream than the one to which the application was originally submitted.

Title of your project and stream you are applying to: Research or Evaluation of Innovation

Brief summary of the project and intended goals (300 words max.).

A statement contextualizing the problem or goals of the proposal (500 words max.).

A brief summary of what is already known and understood about the problem with specific reference to   existing literature and local context of TFoM (500 words max.).

A clear statement of the research or scholarly question or objective (500 words max.).

A description of the approach to executing the scholarship. Design and methods for the project should be clearly described and rationalized. For projects in the Evaluation of Innovation stream, the methods should emphasize the evaluation of the innovation and what types of data collection and synthesis will be conducted. Include details, as applicable, of how the project will integrate equity, diversity and inclusion considerations at each stage of the research process (see NSERC guide | SSHRC guide).

(1000 words max.)

A detailed description of how the results will be: 

1. Disseminated 
2. Be directly shared with key TFoM stakeholders such as leaders, faculty, staff, and learners, and 
3. Relevance and anticipated impact to the local, national, and/or global field of medical education. 
4. Potential for impact across the continuum of medical education.  

These can be described in a variety of ways, including alignment with TFoM’s strategic plan and other guiding documents or indicators.

(500 words max.)

A description of the team's key members and their roles, identification of any co-investigators, senior mentors, and collaborators, specifically describing what each person will contribute. Include any activities highlighting the project's feasibility. Include details of how the project will include representation from a diversity of perspectives (500 words max. + CVs for the PI and Co-PIs).

Identify potential next steps once the project is completed including ongoing programmatic work, future funding applications outside of the TFoM, and sustainment of innovations (300 words max.).

A list of anticipated timelines with details of deliverables, time estimation, and schedule for project completion. Successful applications will be given two years of funding, with limited no-cost extensions available. Please structure timeline by year and quarter.

A detailed budget aligned with your stream selection. Funds requested must be adequately justified. See budget guidelines document. Please list any other funding/contribution sources supporting the project, include resources provided in-kind.  

Download budget template here.

Brief description outlining how research data will be managed during and after the project. Please consult the Data Management Plan resources, including data management planning checklist. 

Any references relevant to the application (no word limit).

The relevant Academic Supervisor or Leader must review and sign the Confirmation of Academic Support Form.

Download Confirmation of Academic Support Form.

The relevant Education Leader must review and sign the Confirmation of Endorsement Form.  

Download Confirmation of Endorsement Form.

Additional documentation including data collection instruments, curricular materials etc. Optional. Max 5 pages, no guarantee of review. 

Funded projects must have formal ethics approval and/or formal ethics exemption from either a hospital or the University of Toronto Ethics Board (REB) prior to funds being released. Evidence of submission of REB approval must be obtained within three months from award notice. Projects that do not meet this deadline will be considered abandoned and the funding will not be awarded. 

• PIs will complete progress reports at 6-months, 1-year, and project completion. Reporting will include a summary of budgetary expenditures, progress towards and barriers to implementation, and plans for knowledge translation and dissemination. 
• The 1-year report must be accompanied by a letter describing the outcomes as they relate to meaningful incorporation and sustainability of the project as discussed between the recipient and the Department Chair.
• The final project report is due upon the completion of the project (within 2 years of the original funding date). This report must contain details regarding final budget expenditures which will outline any unused funds or overages, status of knowledge dissemination, implementation and planned future related work. Project teams are highly encouraged to also include perceived impact of the project on the PI’s career and the perceived impact of the project on collaborators.

Financial accountability for EDF projects will be maintained by the named PI. All funds, other than costs related to project dissemination, are expected to be disbursed by the end of the first year and all costs, including dissemination costs, are to be disbursed by the end of the second year. 

• Recipients are expected to disseminate their research in typical scholarly venues including submission to peer-reviewed publications, academic conferences, and other venues. TFoM funding should be acknowledged in any formal dissemination.
• Recipients must submit their work to the Richard Reznick Wilson Centre Annual Research Day for presentation. EDF recipients are required to communicate in the contextually appropriate format (e.g. presentation, briefing note, workshop etc.) their findings to relevant stakeholders in TFoM such as the Medical Education Executive, MD Curriculum Committee, PGME Residency Program directors, etc.