CIHR Project Grants

The Project Grant program seeks to identify and invest in research ideas that have the greatest potential to increase health-related fundamentals or applied health knowledge.

CIHR has launched the Fall 2025 Funding Opportunity Details on ResearchNet.

What’s new for the 2025 Project Grant competitions?

The 2025 competitions include minor updates, primarily clarifying language on research security requirements, along with some key administrative changes, including:

  • Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): As of September 18, MFA will be required every time you sign in to ResearchNet. A code will be sent to the email address linked to your ResearchNet account. Remember, you can securely delegate access to your application using the Manage Access task in ResearchNet. For more details, refer to the Frequently Asked Questions.
  • My CIHR Profile:  The new My CIHR Profile is an optional tool allowing ResearchNet users to view and update personal information, with some fields pre-populated. On your first login, you’ll be directed to your Profile. It’s crucial to review and validate your information, particularly your primary affiliation, to ensure grant contributions are allocated correctly and avoid funding misattributions.

 

Research Security

If your Project Grant proposal involves one or more partner organizations from the private sector, the applicant must answer “Yes” to the screening question in the application and provide a completed Risk Assessment Form which must consider all private sector partner organizations involved in the proposed research project and include a risk mitigation plan. Where applicable, the completed Risk Assessment Form must be submitted to UBC’s Research Security Team (research.security@ubc.ca).

 

All applications to the CIHR Project Grant competition must be electronically submitted via ResearchNet. Please follow CIHR’s application procedures described in the “How to Apply” section of the funding opportunity.

CIHR Project Grant
Research Project Information Form
UBC Signature Policy

UBCO INTERNAL DEADLINE

  • UBCO RPIF Deadline: UBC Okanagan Internal RPIF Deadlines are five full business days before the sponsor deadline for all CIHR applications.
  • UBCO e-submission Deadline: Your final application should be submitted via the ResearchNet Portal typically 2 business days before the Sponsor Deadline. Up-to-date deadlines for competitions are listed under Funding Opportunities.

While ORS makes every effort to submit all applications on time, applications submitted after the UBC internal deadline will not receive a guarantee of administrative review from ORS, which includes confirmation for application completeness and compliance. As ORS must forward each application to CIHR after the applicant’s final submission, we cannot guarantee that applications submitted after noon on the sponsor deadline day will be forwarded. 

  1. You cannot submit more than two Project Grant applications per competition as a Nominated Principal Applicant. If you do, CIHR will automatically withdraw the last application submitted based on the time-stamp of submission.
  2. The application must be prepared using ResearchNet. Adhere to the acceptable application formats and attachmentsguidelines.
  3. In order to successfully complete an application, applicants are also required to include the relevant CV information by completing either the Biosketch through the Canadian Common CV (CCV) or the Applicant Profile CV. The Applicant Profile CV can only be used by knowledge users, non-academics, Indigenous organizations, and international applicants, as appropriate and applicable. Canadian academics must continue to provide a Biosketch CV. Failure to provide the correct CV format for a given role/participant type may negatively impact the evaluation of the application.4. The Nominated Principal Applicant (NPA), all other applicants and project participants are no longer required to sign the application. By submitting the ResearchNet application to ORS, they are agreeing to abide by CIHR’s “Meaning of signatures” detailed in the Grants and Awards Guide.
  • STRAC Attestation Forms will be required when submitting to CIHR grant programs (Project, Team, and Operating grants); excluding those solely for knowledge mobilization or individual awards.
  • As of May 1, 2024, STRAC Attestation Forms are not needed for applications to the Institute Community Support program, Café Scientifique, travel grants, Planning & Dissemination grants, Capacity Building Workshops, Knowledge Synthesis grants, or Prizes.
  • The NSGRP Risk Assessment Form will be applied to Project Grant Program, starting with the Fall 2024 competition.
  • For CIHR named roles include: Nominated Principal Applicant, Principal Applicants, Co-Applicants, Principal Knowledge Users, and Knowledge Users.
  • Named Roles do not include Collaborators when applying to CIHR Programs.
  • For details on specific funding opportunities, please visit CIHR’s ResearchNet and application portal.

Additional information on research security requirements can be found here.

In order to obtain institutional endorsement, applicants must send a PDF of the application from ResearchNet and an RPIF that is filled out and signed by the PI, Head of Department and Dean (or designate), to ResearchOffice.ubco@ubc.ca by the internal deadline. You may continue to work on the proposal after this date, but the budget and all certificates must be finalized by the RPIF deadline.

Use the Research Project Information Form (RPIF) to obtain the required internal signatures, as per UBC’s Signature Policy:

  • UBC Applicant (Principal Investigator)
  • Department Head or Director of School or Institute (typically 5 days prior to ORS internal deadline)
  • Dean or designate

SIGNATURES REQUIRED FOR CO-APPLICANTS

A co-applicant signature page, signed by the relevant Department /Unit Head/Dean is required when the co-applicant is from a different UBC Department/School than the applicant. Please use the UBC Internal Co-Applicant signature page, which can be found on the UBCO ORS forms page.

External authorized institution signature is required for co-applicants outside of UBC. Please use the ORS external co-applicant signature page.

If you are a co-applicant on a grant application initiated by a PI at another institution, you must still submit a copy of the application with required UBC signatures for ORS review and approval.

Following notification of Institutional Approval from the Office of Research Services via email:

  • Submit your full application online by the above-stated Applicant’s internal e-Submission Deadline. To do this, the applicant must complete and link all forms and CV type specific for each participant as described in the CIHR instructions. “Preview” all components to ensure all application tasks are complete, including the Consent. Then click “submit” your application to ORS for online approval.
  • Note that ORS cannot view or approve your application until you have submitted it online. If all requirements are met, ORS will approve your application in ResearchNet by the Sponsor deadline. ORS has read-only access to your application and cannot make changes. If the application is not approved, ORS will return it to you for changes.
  • You will receive an email from ResearchNet confirming that CIHR has received your application. No changes can be made to your application once it has been submitted to CIHR.

CIHR will not follow up with PIs who submit an incomplete application; the application is simply withdrawn from the competition. For more information, review the CIHR Policy on Complete Applications.

For more information, see CIHR’s

For all portal inquiries, please contact:

CIHR Contact Centre
Telephone: 613-954-1968
Toll Free: 1-888-603-4178
Email: support-soutien@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

For service hours, please consult CIHR’s Contact us page.

Note:  The Vice-Principal, Research and Innovation has the discretion to reject grant applications that have not been submitted through the proper channels if the applicant has a history of non-compliance or the application has included unauthorized commitments.