1. Information Session for Students Awards at CIHR

2. What is CIHR?
Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Government of Canada’s health research funding agency
It supports the work of researchers and trainees in universities, teaching hospitals, and research institutes
It funds research whose goal is to improve Canadians’ health, health services, and/or the health care system

3. CIHR’s 13 Virtual Institutes
CIHR’s Institutes have become a meeting ground for Canada’s health research community
Nutrition,
Metabolism
and Diabetes
Musculoskeletal
Health and
Arthritis
Population
and Public
Health
Gender
and
Health
Circulatory
and
Respiratory
Health
Cancer
Research
Aboriginal
Peoples’
Health
Genetics
Neurosciences,
Mental Health
and Addiction
Health Services
and Policy
Research
Human
Development,
Child and
Youth Health
Infection
and Immunity
Aging

4. CIHR’s Research Themes
CIHR supports all areas of health research, categorized into four themes:
Biomedical Research
Clinical Research
Health Services
Social, Cultural, Environmental, and Population Health
Review the Selecting the Appropriate Federal Granting Agency text in Section 1 of the CIHR Grants and Awards Guide to confirm that this is the place for you.

5. Funding Opportunities
CIHR Funding Opportunities Database
This database
can be found by selecting Opportunities on the CIHR home page (
provides a complete listing of current and archived funding opportunities
can be viewed by Institute, program type, or target applicant

6. Doctoral Awards CIHR Application Deadline: October 1, 2017;
$30,000 + $5,000 (research allowance), up to three years
CIHR Application Deadline: October 1, 2017;
submit directly to CIHR through Researchnet.

7. Priority Announcements
Offer additional sources of funding for highly rated applications that are relevant to specific CIHR research priority areas
Students may request that their application be considered for up to three priority announcement research areas in each competition
For the competition cycle, there are Priority Announcements for the CGS Master’s Award and for the Doctoral Research Award.
Examples of core program : Master, Doctoral, Fellowship and New Investigator.

8. Eligibility to Apply Must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
Must be applying to ONE tri-council agency only
Must not have already received an award at the same level from SSHRC, CIHR, or NSERC
Doctoral Award: As of October 1st, must have completed at least 12 months of graduate study at the Master’s or PhD level.
All universities should have received their quota’s by now. Overall quota has been increased to 600 this year.

9. Eligibility to apply If the candidate...
... then the maximum amount of time he/she can be registered as a full-time student in a PhD program, as of the application deadline, is the following:
holds a Master's degree
22 months
has completed 12 months or more in a Master's degree program prior to transferring to or starting a PhD program
has completed less than 12 months in a Master's degree program prior to transferring to or starting a PhD program
30 months
has transferred directly from a Bachelor's degree to a PhD program (with no time in a Master's program)
34 months

10. Eligibility to Hold an Award
Must be registered full-time in a graduate program in which research is a major component.
Must accept the award within 15 working days of the date of offer or the award will be cancelled.
Doctoral Award: Award must start within 12 months and must start May 1, Sept 1, or Jan 1 following the offer.
All universities should have received their quota’s by now. Overall quota has been increased to 600 this year.

11. Generating A CIHR D Application
The How to Apply section lists submission requirements and specific requirements + has a link to the Doctoral Research Awards – Instructions.
Applications for a Doctoral Award MUST be submitted using ResearchNet.
Official transcripts must be scanned and submitted online by the student.
All main programs now use RNet: Master’s, DRA, Fellowship
Still WebForms: Clinician Scientist, Summer program in Japan, HPSRA, MD/PhD

12. Generating A CIHR D Application
Applications must include required signatures/signature page(s):
An official at the Institution Paid (electronically)
You will be notified by via when the awards officer at SGS approves your submission
Supervisor – Printed, scanned and uploaded to application
Submission by a student = signature.
All main programs now use RNet: Master’s, DRA, Fellowship
Still WebForms: Clinician Scientist, Summer program in Japan, HPSRA, MD/PhD

13. CIHR CV Module (Common CV)
The CV Module is used for almost all CIHR grants and awards programs.
Access the Common CV Website ( via the ResearchNet website ( For doctoral award applications, students + supervisors need a Common CV.
Use this space to present your academic background, research training and achievements, awards held, previous funding, publications, and leadership experiences.
**NOTE: Changes to CV this year… make sure you update any previous CV!
In this space you should demonstrate: your Academic background, Research training and achievements, Awards held, Acknowledgements, Publications, Previous funding and
Leadership in your field
The data entered into the Common CV Website will be automatically formatted to fit into the CIHR version of the CV Module when you choose CIHR as the agency to which you are applying.

14. Project Information and Supporting Docs
The main focus here is your Training Expectations document and your Research Proposal Summary document; guidelines for formatting are provided.
Use this space to demonstrate innovation, originality, the feasibility of your project, the viability of proposed experiments/methods, and plans for the dissemination of research findings.
Ensure that the content is well written and focused, and indicates potential for impact within/beyond academia.
Most of the CIHR training award programs require the completion of the Training Module.
Access the Training Module via the Webforms login or via the ResearchNet website (

15. Sponsors’ Assessments
You will identify sponsors (referees) on your application.
Each sponsor will then be sent an through ResearchNet with a link to where s/he will submit the assessment.
Doctoral Awards applicants need 3 sponsors
Provide sponsors with materials to prepare a strong letter (e.g., CV, transcripts, previous work, and research proposal)

16. ResearchNet

17. Review Criteria for CIHR D
The following general criteria are used for evaluating applications to the CIHR D program:
Achievements and Activities of the Candidate
Doctoral 35%
Characteristics and Abilities of the Candidate
Doctoral 40%
Research Training Environment
Doctoral 25%
Consult the Peer Review guide for each programon our website for detailed breakdown

18. Tips for Applicants
Read the instructions carefully and follow them exactly
Adhere to format guidelines (e.g., font, page limits)
Use the full page allowances
Work on the research proposal/summary in collaboration with a supervisor/mentor
State clearly how your proposed research builds on previous work and why it is important
Show the complete application to a supervisor/ mentor, peers, and/or other researchers for feedback

19. Tips for Applicants
Incomplete or late applications will NOT be accepted:
ResearchNet requires that all tasks are listed as complete
in order to submit the application successfully.

20. If you have questions, please ……
Visit the CIHR official website, check out our Tricouncil Application Guide.
or contact
School of Graduate Studies
Kyle Hampsey, Scholarship Liaison Officer
Dr. John Kershaw, Associate Dean,

21. THANK YOU!