Types of grants
As Canada's health research investment agency, CIHR funds research using different types of grants and awards. Grants are designed to cover the operating expenses associated with a research study or project. Awards cover the salaries for graduate students and postdoctoral researchers. Here are the most common types of grants.
| Type of Grant | Description | Duration | Dollar amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operating Grant | Operating grants are designed to fund researchers working in priority areas identified by CIHR, for example, to fill a gap or respond to an emerging health issue. Projects respond to specific research needs. | Typically 2–5 years | Typically $100,000 to $1M/year |
| Project Grant | The most common type of grant given by CIHR. Designed to support researchers at any career stage to build and conduct health-related research across CIHR's mandate. The grant supports research projects proposed and conducted by individual researchers or groups of researchers in all areas of health, also known as investigator-initiated research. | Average of 4 years | Averages approximately $200,000/year |
| Team Grant | Designed to support larger research teams conducting health-related research across CIHR's mandate. Teams are typically interdisciplinary. | Typically up to 5 years | Typically between $500,000 to $2M/year |
| Training Grant | Grants support programs that build capacity, provide mentoring opportunities, train the next generation of health researchers, and offer professional development services. | Up to 6 years | Averages $200,000 to $400,000/year |
| Catalyst Grant | Funds original projects to generate observations, data, or knowledge as a first step before applying for larger grants (i.e., operating or team grants). This funding is typically for new areas of investigation. | 1 year | Typically $100,000/ year |
| Planning and Dissemination Grant | These grants support planning activities (e.g., workshops), partnership development, activities related to increasing understanding of the health research landscape, and activities that focus on communicating health research evidence to knowledge users and the general public. | 1 year | Max of $50,000/year |
| Chair | Chair grants are designed to support researchers who are professors or research fellows who have been recognized for the excellence and impact of their research programs. Typically support multiple research projects and include a mentorship component. | Typically 4-5 years | Averages $200,000/year |
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