Summary
The Project Grant program is designed to capture ideas with the greatest potential for important advances in fundamental or applied health-related knowledge, health care, health systems, and/or health outcomes by supporting projects of research proposed and conducted by individual researchers or groups of researchers in all areas of health. The best ideas may stem from new, incremental, innovative, and/or high-risk lines of inquiry or knowledge translation approaches.
Research Areas
The Project Grant program is open to applicants in all areas of health research that are aligned with the CIHR mandate: "To excel, according to internationally accepted standards of scientific excellence, in the creation of new knowledge and its translation into improved health for Canadians, more effective health services and products, and a strengthened Canadian health care system".
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Global Health
Applications focused on global health, or which include international collaborations are eligible. Applications focused in the field of global health that demonstrate that the proposed research project has the potential to improve health in Canada and/or the global community are accepted and encouraged as more than ever before, the health of Canadians is deeply intertwined with the health of people around the world. Global health research is defined as any research with a focus on the health of people living in low- and middle-income countries, as well as research that aims to understand the systematic factors that shape health and are inherently global (e.g., globalization, equity, neglected diseases, and transnational risks). Global health is relevant to all pillars. Please consult Global Health 3.0: CIHR's Framework for Action on Global Health Research for more information.
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Indigenous Health Research
Applications with a central focus on carrying out meaningful and culturally safe research involving Indigenous Peoples with the intent to promote health through research that is in keeping with Indigenous values and traditions and follows the TCPS 2 - Chapter 9 Research Involving the First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples of Canada guidelines are encouraged. -
Randomized Controlled Trials
Applications involving a randomized controlled trial (RCT) are accepted and encouraged where appropriate based on scientific and methodological grounds. All applications containing an RCT as a major component (irrespective of the suggested peer review committee) must structure their research proposal according to the RCT headings provided. -
Commercialization
Applications related to commercialization are encouraged. Commercialization refers to the component of knowledge translation that is focused on bringing new products, tools, or services to a state of use in the private, not-for-profit, or public sectors. It can extend beyond bringing intellectual property (IP) to the marketplace for profit (e.g., cost savings in the health system, humanitarian licensing). CIHR is committed to facilitating the commercialization of health research in Canada in support of its overall mandate. For commercialization projects submitted to the Commercialization committee (CMZ), the applicant should include a Research/Technical Plan and a Commercialization Plan. For further information, refer to CIHR's Commercialization Projects page. -
Interdisciplinary Research
Applications involving interdisciplinary research are accepted and encouraged in all committees. However, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) have formed a Tri-Agency Interdisciplinary Peer Review Committee (TAIPR), with the following mandate, specifically dedicated for the review of interdisciplinary research. -
Specific Research Areas
Priority Announcements (PAs) offer additional sources of funding for highly rated applications that are relevant to specific research areas. Refer to the Project Grant: Fall 2023 Priority Announcements (Specific Research Areas) for further details.
Objectives
The Project Grant program is expected to:
- Support a diverse portfolio of health-related research and knowledge translation proposals at any stage, from discovery to application, including commercialization;
- Promote relevant collaborations across disciplines, professions, and sectors; and
- Contribute to the creation and use of health-related knowledge.