CIHR Project Grant Updates

• Registration deadline: August 12, 2026
• Internal deadline for MRA form - University of Toronto- September 2, 2026
• Application deadline: September 9, 2026

• Review the CIHR resources on how to prepare your grant 
• Review the application instructions
• Review the Temerty Faculty of Medicine's CIHR Editorial Support

Note: You may only submit 2 applications per project competition as a Nominated Principal applicant; any additional applications will be withdrawn based on date submitted.

• Don't forget to look for Priority Announcements in your area!

Additional details from CIHR are quoted below in italics, for reference. 

“Priority Announcements (PAs) offer additional sources of funding for highly rated applications that are relevant to specific research areas. They can be in the form of grants or prizes. The PAs outline specific research areas relevant to CIHR Institutes, Initiatives and Partners, and applications that align with those areas may be selected for funding – without having to re-apply. Prizes are supplemental grant funds to support research, they are not a personal award.”

Note that these are updated each year and appear only in the full application (not at registration). It is possible to submit a grant without filling in the Priority Announcement section, as its optional, so you need to actively seek these out. For example, some institutes create $100,000 1-year bridge grants for those grants that just missed funding; these are listed in the Priority Announcement and can range from quite general to highly specific. You can submit to more than 1 Priority Announcement- you are required to fill out a relevance form for each Priority Announcement selected. These are awarded to highest scoring unfunded grants in the competition that have relevance to the particular Priority Announcement.

• Review FAQs

Additional details from CIHR are quoted below in italics, for reference. 

The Summary of Progress, uploaded as a 2-page PDF,

“is a narrative that will allow you to describe the reason you are requesting funding for your proposed project in the context of your broader research activities. It is not expected that applicants will provide a detailed accounting of their research history but rather, only what is relevant to the current application. It should include progress made on your research to date (including contextualizing research activities, contributions and impacts that support your current application) and any impacts on the progress of your research. Tables, figures or graphs are not permitted in the Summary of Progress. It is suggested to not duplicate the information found in your ‘Significant Contributions’ section or CV. Additionally, please note that all information necessary to adjudicate the science of your research proposal must be found in the research proposal (i.e., the Summary of Progress is not to be used as an extension to your proposal).

When contextualizing the amount requested vis-à-vis your funding profile, you do not need to list all grants currently or previously held or duplicate what is already found in your CCV but rather include information that helps inform and convince reviewers that this funding is needed and how it fits in to the overall research program. Any pending applications under review (CIHR or other source of funding) related to the current submission should be indicated in the Summary of Progress to help reviewers understand any potential funding overlap. It will be incumbent on the applicant to illustrate clearly to reviewers why the requested funds are needed, how they are distinct from the funds currently held, and how they will advance research.”

Additional details from CIHR are quoted below in italics, for reference.

“In their evaluation of the application, peer reviewers assess whether or not sex- and gender-based analysis (SGBA) is a strength, weakness, or not applicable; this is to be reflected within their written evaluation and the overall score assigned to the application.” 

Reviewers are instructed to not only look at the specific text box on sex and gender, but to note whether sex and gender considerations, if relevant, are incorporated into the main proposal as part of the research plan.

Because requirements vary depending on your research area, collaborations, and funding mix, we recommend starting with the U of T Self-Assessment to determine which of the following apply to your project:

CIHR-Specific Requirements:

• Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern (STRAC) Policy: Applies if your research advances a Sensitive Technology Research Area (STRA). If you are advancing a STRA, you will need to complete an attestation that you are not affiliated or receiving in-kind support from an institution on the NRO List at the time of signing your attestation and for the duration of the grant. If your research does not advance a STRA, an attestation is not required. 

Resources: 
STRAC Policy Overview and Forms (UofT)· 
STRAC Guide (UofT)

• National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships (NSGRP): If your research involves collaboration or in-kind support from a corporate and/or 3rd party partnership, a Risk Assessment Form (RAF) must be completed.

Resources:
NSGRP Policy Overview and Forms (UofT)·
NSGRP Guide (UofT)

The RST is here to support you. If you have any questions, or require assistance with completing any of the requirements above, please contact us at researchsecurity@utoronto.ca