CIHR Research Excellence, Diversity, and Independence (REDI) Early Career Transition Award

The first launch of the CIHR Research Excellence, Diversity, and Independence (REDI; pronounced "ready") Early Career Transition Award (2022) will facilitate the transition of promising researchers who self-identify as Blackc (any gender) or racializeddwomene into independent research faculty positions in Canadian academic, health system and research institutions. Applicants may be post-doctoral researchers, clinicians, or research associates. Racialized women and Black people are among the most underrepresented in science and medicine faculties in Canadian academic institutions, have the highest unemployment rates compared to non-racialized professors, and encounter systemic barriers, discrimination, and inequity within academia.

The CIHR REDI Award Program aligns with Government of Canada and Tri-agency priorities to address systemic racism, sexism, and discrimination in Canadian institutions through an intersectional lens, tackle systemic barriers that limit the full participation of all talented individuals, and increase equitable and inclusive participation in the research system. It also reflects the commitment of CIHR and partners to foster a more equitable, diverse, and inclusive research funding system.

CIHR plans to relaunch this program in future years with each round of CIHR REDI Early Career Transition Awards open to specific underrepresented groups, recognizing existing inequitable systems produce different impacts and outcomes for different groups of people. Future competitions will benefit from the early learnings of the 2022 funding opportunity, community consultations, and the continued accrual of self-identification data from Canadian academic, health systems and research institutions.


Objectives

The specific objectives of this funding opportunity are to:

  1. Promote research independence and academic research career readiness of highly qualified post-doctoral researchers, clinicians and PhD-holding research associates belonging to specific underrepresented groups;
  2. Increase the number of funded researchers from specific underrepresented groups conducting excellent research who secure their first independent research faculty position in a Canadian academic, health system or research institution; and
  3. Provide funded researchers from specific underrepresented groups with early career support to enhance their probability of future success in obtaining independent research funding and launching successful research faculty careers in Canada that will contribute to the creation and/or use of health-related knowledge to improve the health of Canadians.

Eligibility

CIHR's position on equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) is available in the Tri Agency Statement on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.

For an application to be eligible all the requirements stated below must be met: 

  1. The NPA must self identify with at least one of the following groups:
    • Racialized* women
    • Black people
      Note: In relation to these criteria, eligibility will be determined using the response(s) provided in the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Self-identification QuestionnaireGiven that this Funding Opportunity is only open to specific populations, selecting "I prefer not to answer" to one or more of the questions relating to these criteria will prevent your candidacy from being considered. For additional information, please see the FAQ.
    Note: *In this funding opportunity, the term "racialized" is used as an alternative to "visible minorities," as used in the Employment Equity Act and the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Self-identification Questionnaire.
  2. The NPA must be a trainee by the Funding Start Date and, specifically, one of the following: Note: For the purposes of this funding opportunity, the NPA cannot hold, or be on leave from, an independent researcher position. NPAs who are uncertain of their eligibility as it relates to their employment or appointment (e.g., those with a PhD or equivalent research doctoral degree who are not in a post-doctoral training position at the time of application) are strongly encouraged to email CIHR Contact Centre at support-soutien@cihr-irsc.gc.ca to confirm their eligibility as a trainee prior to preparing their application.
  3. The NPA can be a Canadian citizen*, permanent resident*, or a citizen of another country**.
    Notes:
    *NPAs with Canadian citizenship or permanent residency are eligible to hold their Phase 1 awards outside or inside Canada. For Phase 2, refer to the Supplementary Information for Phase 2 of the CIHR REDI Early Career Transition Award.
    **NPAs who are neither Canadian citizens nor permanent residents are only eligible to hold their Phase 1 award in Canada.
  4. The Primary Mentor must be an independent researcher with an academic appointment and be either the NPA's current supervisor or a principal investigator who will function as the NPA's Primary Mentor for their Phase 1 REDI project. Additional mentors do not need to hold an academic appointment.
  5. The NPA must have successfully completed one of the sex- and gender-based analysis online training modules through the CIHR Institute of Gender and Health. A Certificate of Completion must be included in the application (see How to Apply). Select and complete the training module most applicable to your research project.
  6. For applications focusing on Indigenous Health and/or involving Indigenous Peoples:
    • the NPA must provide evidence of having meaningful and culturally safe involvement with Indigenous Peoples (see How to Apply).
    • the Primary Mentor must self-identify as Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit or Métis) and/or provide evidence of having meaningful and culturally safe involvement with Indigenous Peoples (see How to Apply).

For More Information 

Agency Name: 
CIHR
Contact Name: 
Esther Ekpe Adewuyi
Grant Amount: 
Funds Available CIHR and partner(s) financial contributions for this initiative are subject to availability of funds. Should CIHR or partner(s) funding levels not be available or be decreased due to unforeseen circumstances, CIHR and partner(s) reserve the right to reduce, defer or suspend financial contributions to awards received as a result of this funding opportunity. The total amount available for the 2022 funding opportunity for Phase 1 and 2 is $26,400,000 (CIHR investment of $23,542,200 and partner contributions of $2,857,800), enough to fund approximately forty (40) awards. This amount may increase if additional funding partners participate. (Updated: 2023-02-03) Of this $26,400,000: (Updated: 2023-02-03) $5,280,000 is available to fund eight (8) awards relevant to the General funding pool. $660,000 is available to fund one (1) award relevant to the Aging Person in an Aging Society funding pool. $660,000 is available to fund one (1) award relevant to the Arthritis funding pool. $2,640,000 is available to fund four (4) awards relevant to the Brain Health and Cognitive Impairment funding pool; these awards will be jointly funded by CIHR and with the Alzheimer Society of Canada, the Azrieli Foundation and BrightFocus Foundation. $660,000 is available to fund one (1) award relevant to the Cancer funding pool. (Updated: 2023-01-10) $660,000 is available to fund one (1) award relevant to the Eye Diseases funding pool; jointly funded by CIHR, BrightFocus Foundation and Fighting Blindness Canada. $1,320,000 is available to fund two (2) awards relevant to the Health Systems funding pool; one award will be funded by CIHR and one award will be jointly funded by CIHR with the Azrieli Foundation. $6,600,000 is available to fund ten (10) awards relevant to HIV/AIDS and STBBI funding pool. $660,000 is available to fund one (1) award relevant to Human Development, Child and Youth Health funding pool. $2,640,000 is available to fund four (4) awards relevant to Infectious Disease and Immune System funding pool. $660,000 is available to fund one (1) award relevant to the Musculoskeletal Health funding pool. $1,320,000 is available to fund two (2) awards relevant to the Pandemic Preparedness and Health Emergencies funding pool. $1,980,000 is available to fund three (3) awards relevant to Rare Diseases funding pool; one award will be jointly funded by CIHR with the Azrieli Foundation. $660,000 is available to fund one (1) award relevant to the Women's Health funding pool. (Updated: 2023-02-03) Regardless of how long the Nominated Principal Applicant (NPA) spends in Phase 1, the maximum amount per award is $660,000 for up to six (6) years funded through two specific Phases*: At Phase 1, the maximum amount per award is $90,000 per year for up to three (3) years, for a total up to $270,000 per award. $20,000 per year for the research allowance; and $70,000 per year for the stipend. For information about the maximum amount at Phase 2, please refer to the Supplementary Information for Phase 2 of the CIHR REDI Early Career Transition Award. For more information on the appropriate use of funds, refer to Allowable Costs.
Grant Location: 
External
External Deadline: 
Wednesday, May 3, 2023
Internal Deadline: 
Wednesday, April 19, 2023
Grant Type: 
Research
Grant Area: 
Health
Grant Eligibility: 
Faculty
Students
Postdoc