This website is meant to serve as a repository of websites and resources related to the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Project Grant Competition.
The Project Grant is designed to capture ideas with the greatest potential for important advances in fundamental or applied health-related knowledge, health care, health systems, and/or health outcomes by supporting projects of research proposed and conducted by individual researchers or groups of researchers in all areas of health.
Updates
- The Fall 2025 CIHR Project Grant competition has launched on ResearchNet. Please see the Important Dates section below for internal deadlines.
- Review the Fall 2025 Priority Announcements for additional sources of funding for highly rated applications which are relevant to specific research areas. See the Priority Announcement FAQ for more info.
- Spring 2025 Project Grant results timeline:
- Notice of Recommendation: July 3, 2025
- Notice of Decision: July 17, 2025
The following table is a summary of key CIHR / Queen's deadlines. Please see the note on Queen’s Research Services' (QRS) internal processes below.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| CIHR Registration Deadline | August 13, 2025 |
| QRS Internal Review Deadlines | August 20, 2025 (Full review) September 3, 2025 (Mini-review) * Please note that these are the guaranteed review deadlines; grant proposals received after this date will be reviewed as time permits. |
| TRAQ DSS Deadlines | August 20, 2025 (Hospital-based research) September 3, 2025 (Non-hospital based research) |
| CIHR Application Deadline | September 10, 2025 at 12:00 PM (noon) |
| Notice of Recommendation | January 15, 2026 |
| Anticipated Notice of Decision | January 29, 2026 |
| Funding Start Date | April 1, 2026 |
Full Application Review
Queen's Research Services (QRS) offers full application reviews. A Research Projects Advisor will provide detailed editing feedback to help ensure that your application addresses CIHR review criteria, meets guidelines, and improve clarity of the written content, flow, etc.
To request an internal review please email a Research Projects Advisor a draft of your proposal in Word format by the QRS Full Review Internal Deadline. Applications will be reviewed on a first-come, first-serve basis. Full application reviews are not required, but highly recommended.
'Mini' Application Review
University Research Services also offers 'mini' application reviews. The 'mini review' will verify that your application matches CIHR guidelines and that all required components of your application are complete. Please note that detailed editing suggestions will not be provided.
To request a 'mini' review by University Research Services, please: 1) enter all of your application information in ResearchNet, 2) generate a PDF of the full application and, 3) send the PDF document to a Research Projects Advisor by the QRS Mini-Review Internal Deadline. Applications will be reviewed on a first-come, first-serve basis.
- Your application must be submitted using ResearchNet .
- This funding opportunity participates in the eApproval process . This means that when the applicant submits their application using ResearchNet, it will be electronically directed to the University Research Services for review and approval. Once the applications are reviewed and approved, the administrators at University Research Services will submit the applications electronically to CIHR on behalf of the applicant.
- PIs must submit a TRAQ DSS for this funding opportunity before applications are forwarded to CIHR by Queen's Research Services. Researchers must submit their TRAQ DSS by the TRAQ DSS Deadlines for hospital-based and non-hospital-based research.
- All TRAQ DSS files must include a DRAFT copy of the proposal and budget/budget justification. TRAQ DSS files for Hospital-based research must also include the Hospital Departmental Information & Impact Form . For more information, please see the TRAQ resources section below.
About the Program
Application
- Application instructions
- Biosketch CCV Reference Guide - CIHR overview of the Biosketch CCV for Nominated Principal Applicants (PIs), Principal Applicants (co-PIs), and co-applicants.
- FAQ
- Peer Review Manual
- Queen's Research Services Help Files Bundle (PDF 386 KB) - A set of 3 help files: i) suggested structure & common application issues; ii) application checklist; iii) Biosketch CV checklist. The help files synthesize key information from CIHR instructions, the peer review manual, and best practices for this competition. Queen's NetID is required to access the file.
- CIHR Panel Discussion Summary (PDF 594 KB) - Summary of a panel discussion that took place in early 2019. Panelists provided advice on proposal development, crafting strong applications, resubmissions, and advice for new investigators. Queen's NetID is required to access the file.
- CIHR Panel Discussion (December 2024) - A panel of past CIHR reviewers and Project Grant awardees shared tips and strategies for writing strong Project Grant applications, as well as lessons learned from sitting on review committees.Queen's NetID is required to access the files.
Additional Resources
- Knowledge Translation at CIHR - Queen's Research Services Summary (PDF 410 KB): This summary document created by Queen's Research Services is based primarily on the CIHR Guide to Knowledge Translation & Planning. The summary defines key KT terms, provides 1-page summaries of both integrated KT and end-of-grant KT, and includes an extensive list of end-of-grant KT examples (Queen's internal document). For more KT resources, see Researcher Resources page.
- Writing a CIHR letter of support provides a useful quick reference guide.
Completing the TRAQ DSS for Hospital-Based Research
- View the TRAQ DSS form Hospital-based Research Checklist page for step-by-step -by-step explanation for how to complete the TRAQ DSS Form for hospital-based research.
- A Hospital Departmental Impact & Information Form is required for all hospital-based research conducted at KGH, HDH, and Providence Care. View the Hospital Departmental Impact & Information Form & Tips page on the TRAQ website to download the Hospital Impact form and helpful tips to completing it.
- To view FAQs for hospital-based research, including the definition of hospital-based research please consult “Hospital-based Research Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) ” on the TRAQ Awards Supportive Documents website.
Completing the TRAQ DSS for Research that is not Hospital-Based
- View the TRAQ DSS form General Checklist page for step-by-step instructions for how to complete the TRAQ DSS Form for research that is not hospital-based.
Contact Information
| Jennifer Robinson, Ph.D. | Dora Baczyk |
|---|---|
|
Research Projects Advisor (Health Sciences)
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Research Projects Advisor (Health Sciences)
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