CIHR Funding
Canadian Institutes of Health Research funding for health research in Canada including grants, scholarships, fellowships, and operating grants for researchers and trainees.
Overview
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) is Canada's federal health research funding agency, with an annual budget of approximately $1.2 billion. CIHR funds a broad range of health research from biomedical science through to clinical, health systems, and population health research. For researchers, key programs include the Project Grant (the main research operating grant, up to $500,000+ over 5 years), the Foundation Grant for established investigators, and numerous strategic and partnership programs. For trainees, CIHR offers the Canada Graduate Scholarships-Master's (CGS-M), doctoral (CGS-D and Vanier), and the CIHR Postdoctoral Fellowship at $45,000/year.
What You Can Find Here
- CIHR Project Grants - main funding for health research projects (competitive, all areas of health research)
- Foundation Grants - flexible long-term funding for established researchers
- Canada Graduate Scholarships-Master's (CIHR stream): $17,500 for health sciences master's students
- CGS-Doctoral (CIHR stream): $35,000/year for doctoral health research trainees
- CIHR Postdoctoral Fellowship: $45,000/year for 2 years of health research postdoctoral work
- Vanier CGS (CIHR stream): $50,000/year for 3 years for elite doctoral researchers
- Strategic team grants, SPOR (Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research), and Network of Centres of Excellence
Who Should Use This
- Canadian health researchers (faculty, scientists) at universities and hospitals applying for research operating funding
- Canadian citizens or permanent residents in health science master's or doctoral programs
- Health research postdoctoral fellows seeking CIHR fellowship support
- Research teams building collaborative programs in priority health research areas
How to Get Started
- Step 1: Visit cihr-irsc.gc.ca for the full range of CIHR programs and funding opportunities
- Step 2: For trainee scholarships: apply through your university using ResearchNet by the annual deadline
- Step 3: For Project Grants: apply through ResearchNet - two application deadlines per year (March and September)
- Step 4: Review the funding opportunity specific guides for required application sections and evaluation criteria
- Step 5: Contact the CIHR contact centre or your institution's research office for program-specific guidance
Things to Check Before Applying
- CIHR trainee scholarships (CGS) are for Canadian citizens or permanent residents only
- CIHR Project Grants are highly competitive - success rates are typically 15-20%
- Health research spans CIHR's four pillars: biomedical, clinical, health systems, and population/public health
- CIHR has strategic priorities that change - check the website for current thematic funding emphases
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the CIHR Project Grant?
CIHR Project Grants are the primary operating grants for health researchers, supporting research projects for up to 5 years. Funding can range from small grants to over $1 million for large programs. Deadlines are twice yearly.
What disciplines does CIHR fund?
CIHR funds all areas of health research including: biomedical (biology, genetics, pharmacology), clinical (trials, therapeutics), health systems (policy, health services), and population health (epidemiology, public health, indigenous health).
Can international researchers get CIHR funding?
CIHR Project Grants require the lead applicant to be based at an eligible Canadian institution. International researchers can be co-applicants or collaborators on CIHR-funded projects.
What is SPOR?
Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR) is a CIHR initiative that funds research focused on patient engagement, evidence-based care, and healthcare system transformation.
How competitive are CIHR Project Grants?
Very competitive. CIHR Project Grant success rates are typically 15-20%. Strong preliminary data, clear research design, and an experienced team are essential for competitive applications.
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