Health Research BC funding programs: what’s new and what’s next

At Michael Smith Health Research BC, we continue to develop our funding programs. This includes our work in creating a more equitable, diverse and inclusive health research system. The following changes are coming, beginning with our 2025 research competitions:

Indigenous health review for Scholar and Health Professional-Investigator Programs 

Guided by advice from Indigenous partners, award holders, peer reviewers and advisors, we are introducing a distinct peer review panel for Indigenous health applications to the 2025 Scholar and Health Professional-Investigator competitions. Applicants may choose a review by a panel with expertise in Indigenous health research who will evaluate applications with consideration of Indigenous methodologies; relevance to First Nations, Inuit and/or Métis priorities; and the Tri-Council Policy Statement Chapter 9: Research Involving the First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples. Further details will be provided later this fall.  

This is one step towards increasing the cultural safety of our funding processes and growing our capacity for review of Indigenous health research applications. Acknowledging we are on a learning journey, this work is part of our ongoing commitment to advancing Indigenous reconciliation.

Changes in eligibility for Research Trainee and Scholar Programs 

We continue to take action to advance equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in our health research funding programs. 

Scholar Program 

Personal time off can affect every researcher’s work. Beginning with the 2025 Scholar competition, we are adjusting our eligibility calculation process, aligning it with the Tri-Agency policy on leave credits for early career researchers. 

Parental, medical, caretaking and bereavement leaves will receive credits equal to twice the amount of time taken. For parental leave of six months, for example, an applicant will receive a leave credit of 12 months. 

Residency training and clinical licensing leaves will receive credits equal to the amount of leave taken. 

Research Trainee Program 

Beginning with the 2025 Research Trainee competition, we no longer require applicants to be within six years of completing their PhD or 11 years of completing their health professional degree. These changes streamline the application form and help reduce barriers in our application process. If an applicant is eligible to hold a postdoctoral fellowship under their host institutions’ policies, they may apply to the Research Trainee Program, provided they meet the other eligibility requirements. 

Further details on the new eligibility changes will be provided in the competition guidelines this fall.  

Canadian Common CV 

The Canadian Common CV is no longer a required upload for our Scholar, Health Professional-Investigator, and Research Trainee applications. This fall applicants will be asked a few new questions to provide information on supervision of trainees, career history, and experience leading or participating in funded research projects. 

As a signatory to the Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) this advances our broader commitment to fair and equitable assessment of research outputs. We understand recognizing a wide range of accomplishments during the grant review process is important to ensure that all award applicants and their work are assessed on their own merits. 

Stay up-to-date   

If you have questions about any of these changes, please reach out to our research competitions team at helpdesk@healthresearchbc.ca.  

Guidelines for the 2025 Scholar and Health Professional-Investigator competitions will be published on our website in September, with the applications opening in October. 

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Learn more about Health Research BC funding programs.