Our
funding
programs
We deliver funding programs to build and retain BC’s health research talent.
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Individual funding Team funding Partnered funding How to apply EDIOur funding programs
Our programs build research careers. We invest in individual researchers and work with diverse partner organizations to target priorities.
BC’s research talent needs are changing, and we are exploring how we can adapt our funding programs to respond. Starting this fall, we will lead provincial discussions to better understand talent needs and gaps, which will inform future program decisions. While we do this work:
- We will pause the Scholar and Health Professional-Investigator competitions this year.
- The Research Trainee program will continue, with the 2026 competition scheduled to launch this fall.
Individual funding programs
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Research Trainee Program
2026 competition LOI deadline has passed
Supports the best and brightest health researchers in training to enable career development and support world-class health research in BC. -
Scholar Program
This program is paused for 2026
Supports early career health researchers, helping them form their own research teams, train the next generation of scientists and develop world-leading research programs. -
Health Professional-Investigator (HP-I) Program
This program is paused for 2026
Supports health professionals who are actively involved in patient care to build their health research programs, train the next generation of scientists, and make significant contributions to their field. -
CIHR Health System Impact (HSI) Fellowship
2025 competition is CLOSED
Through a partnership with CIHR’s Institute of Health Services and Policy Research, the HSI Fellowship provides doctoral and postdoctoral awardees with an experiential learning opportunity within health system organizations, where they can advance the organization’s impact goals and contribute to improved health system performance.
Team funding programs
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Advancing the Use of Evidence in Seniors’ Home & Community Care Program
2025 competition LOI deadline has passed
Supports teams of researchers and research users within the BC health system and academia to implement and evaluate the outcomes of evidence-based interventions in seniors’ home and community care. -
Convening & Collaborating (C2) Program
This program is paused for 2026
Supports teams of health researchers and research users to co-develop research that can have direct impacts on people, including patients, health practitioners and policy makers. -
Reach Program
This program is paused for 2026
Supports teams of researchers and research users to disseminate research evidence with those who can directly benefit from it in order to impact health and care in BC.
Partnered funding
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Advancing Groundbreaking Research in Alzheimer’s & Parkinson’s Diseases Team Award
2026 competition GUIDELINES AVAILABLE
Made possible by a joint initiative with our partners, this funding opportunity supports BC-based, interdisciplinary research teams working to deepen understanding of Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, improve diagnosis, treatment, and/or care, and potentially explore shared mechanisms across neurodegenerative diseases.
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Operating Grant: Advancing 2S/LGBTQI+ Health Through Research
2025 competition is OPEN
We’re partnering with the CIHR Institute of Gender and Health to support research that advances health equity for 2S/LGBTQI+ communities. Projects may focus on socio-structural determinants, chronic conditions, gender-affirming care and mental/brain health, and community-engaged approaches. Up to $700,000 over four years is available.
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Operating Grant: Cancer Research Society
2025 competition is OPEN
We’re partnering with the Cancer Research Society to co-fund up to two BC-based research projects focused on Indigenous cancer health and prevention, environmental and occupational cancer risks, biomarker identification of carcinogenic exposure, and mechanisms of carcinogenesis. $140,000 over two years is available to successful applicants. Submit LOI by December 10.
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Health Research BC-Mitacs Industry-Based Opportunity
2025 competition is OPEN
Through our partnership with Mitacs, this opportunity provides graduate students and postdoctoral fellows with paid internships at BC-based life sciences companies to advance knowledge and gain business skills. Small and medium-size companies gain research expertise that drives innovation, solves complex challenges and helps position BC as a global hub for life sciences.
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Partnered awards
ONGOING
We partner with organizations across BC to co-fund successful applications from Michael Smith Health Research BC competitions. Partners are listed in our funding application forms, where applicants can express interest in receiving a partnered Health Research BC award.
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Match funding
ONGOING
We offer match funding to qualifying BC-based researchers and research teams applying to non-BC government-funded research competitions that require applicants to source match funding as a condition of the application.
How to apply
Applications to our funding competitions are coordinated through Health Research BC ApplyNet, an online grants management system that allows users to manage their entire award lifecycle, from application submission to post-award monitoring. The application submission process typically involves both applicants and third parties (e.g. deans, department heads, supervisors, references, etc.).
Note: If you and/or any of your third parties (e.g. department head, dean, supervisors, referees, etc.) have ever applied for funding from Health Research BC and you do not know your login and/or password information, please contact our Help Desk at helpdesk@healthresearchbc.ca.
Our ApplyNet Privacy Notice has been updated to reflect recent changes in our data handling practices and to enhance transparency regarding how we collect, use, and protect personal information. This notice applies to all current and former award or grant applicants, including those who have not created an account in the current ApplyNet system.
Effective date of updated privacy notice: September 16, 2025
Notice period: September 16, 2025 – October 15, 2025
Key updates include:
- Expanded purposes for information in engaging and facilitating research
- Sharing anonymized and aggregated data
- Fulfilling internal business and regulatory requirements
- Information retention, and
- Updated contact information.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the updated ApplyNet Privacy Notice, please contact us at helpdesk@healthresesearchbc.ca. You can expect a reply within 24 business hours.
Log in to Health Research BC ApplyNet:
Applynet
Equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI)
We have a strategic commitment to fostering a more equitable, diverse and inclusive health research system in BC.
Diversity in research is important to cultivating talent and promoting inclusive excellence, which in turn drives discovery and helps build a more equitable health research system.
We are taking a number of actions to advance EDI in our health research funding programs, policies, processes and strategic initiatives.
Questions?
Our Help Desk staff are standing by to answer your questions.
Help Desk hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. PST, Monday to Friday (excluding holidays).
helpdesk@healthresearchbc.ca | 604.714.6609 (toll-free: 1.866.673.4722)
