Funding Opportunities
MIRA, the Labarge Centre for Mobility in Aging and the MIRA | Dixon Hall Centre fund ambitious research that aims to create a future where people live longer, healthier lives.
MIRA Funding
The McMaster Institute for Research on Aging provides funding to support interdisciplinary research on aging led by McMaster researchers from across all six McMaster Faculties. Within MIRA, the Labarge Centre for Mobility in Aging (LCMA) supports research focused on understanding and improving mobility in aging, which encompasses physical, community and social mobility. Applicants are encouraged to incorporate end-users, including older adults, care providers, and other stakeholders into their research.
MIRA and the LCMA provide funding and support to McMaster trainees in aging research. This includes postdoctoral fellows, PhD students, Master’s students, and undergraduates.
In addition to funding, MIRA supports trainees through the MIRA Trainee Network. Trainees submitting proposals to work with MIRA-funded researchers or projects must include details on how their proposed work will complement the funded project. Additional funding for trainees may be available through awards co-funded with our partners.
UPDATES TO THIS CALL COMING SOON
This grant is intended to stimulate new collaborations and allow McMaster researchers to collect preliminary data to support future proposals for full-scale studies investigating the aging-related molecular and cellular mechanisms that are candidate risk factors and drivers of common chronic conditions and diseases associated with age.
Projects may investigate how the aging process represents a major risk factor for the development of numerous chronic diseases and conditions, including neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, many cancers, cardiovascular disease, arthritis, reproductive aging, and frailty, and/or the biological pillars —inflammation, adaptation to stress, epigenetics, metabolism, macromolecular damage, proteostasis, and stem cells and regeneration — that may represent the potential drivers of the aging process.
This grant will support a geroscience approach: the incorporation of basic aging biology, chronic disease and clinical research, and projects must incorporate researchers from at least three different McMaster Faculties.
Download the callPreviously funded projectsApplication deadline:
- August 15, 2025, 4:00 PM ET
Funding available:
- Up to $40,000 to support one award
Graduate Student Professional Development Awards are for students working with MIRA researchers to present their work at an academic conference (virtual or in-person), attend a training program (virtual or in-person), complete an online course at a different institution or participate in research activities in another location. Professional development awards are tenable for up to one year after the application deadline. MIRA will also accept submissions for professional development activities that occurred up to three months prior to the application deadline. Students are asked to advise MIRA by email (mirafund@mcmaster.ca) of cancellations or changes related to MIRA-supported professional development activities.
Deadline
- September 15, 2025, 4 p.m. ET
Funding Available
- up to $500 per award
AGE-WELL and MEDTEQ+, Canada’s leading research and innovation network in AgeTech, have joined forces as co-leads in envisAGE. This large-scale pan-Canadian five-year initiative brings stakeholders together to provide resources and support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to integrate technologies that address the challenges of aging and build Canadian leadership in the AgeTech market. The envisAGE initiative is funded through the Government of Canada’s Strategic Innovation Fund
The envisAGE program funds agetech solutions and require three co-applicant parties, who will evaluate SME AgeTech solutions in real world settings:
- a Canadian SME,
- an academic researcher or “Beachhead” member,
- and a community lab, or testing site
MIRA has joined envisAGE as a Beachhead partner, making MIRA researchers eligible participants. Interested researchers should reach out to Audrey Patocs (patocsae@mcmaster.ca) and visit www.envis-age.ca for more information.
Application deadline:
- Rolling
Funding available:
- Two awards per year, up to $5,000 each
Deadline: Rolling
Funding available: Matching funds up to $100,000
In order to improve the positioning of McMaster’s researchers in external funding competitions, MIRA and the Labarge Centre for Mobility in Aging have allocated funding that may be used to match or leverage external funds. This process is intended to be used for requests related to externally funded, peer-reviewed grant competitions that require a matching component.
Funding available: MIRA can support access fees ($3,000) for up to 10 CLSA data applications
Deadline: See CLSA website for next data application deadline
MIRA members are eligible for support in accessing CLSA data, a national database tracking 50,000 Canadians aged 45 to 85 over a period of 20 years. Data access applications are accepted three times per year. Researchers should notify MIRA at mirafund@mcmaster.ca prior to applying for CLSA data access to be considered for funding. MIRA funds will be allocated only to projects that do not have any other funding for this purpose.
Past Funding Opportunities
The following funding opportunities may be offered again in the next year’s funding cycle (click here to expand).
AGE-WELL and MEDTEQ+, Canada’s leading research and innovation network in AgeTech, have joined forces as co-leads in envisAGE. This large-scale pan-Canadian five-year initiative brings stakeholders together to provide resources and support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to integrate technologies that address the challenges of aging and build Canadian leadership in the AgeTech market. The envisAGE initiative is funded through the Government of Canada’s Strategic Innovation Fund.
The envisAGE program funds agetech solutions and require three co-applicant parties, who will evaluate SME AgeTech solutions in real world settings:
- a Canadian SME,
- an academic researcher or “Beachhead” member,
- and a community lab, or testing site
MIRA has joined envisAGE as a Beachhead partner, making MIRA researchers eligible participants. Interested researchers should reach out to Audrey Patocs (patocsae@mcmaster.ca) and visit www.envis-age.ca for more information.
Application deadline:
-
LOI deadline:
December 2, 2024 - Full application deadline: March 18, 2025
Funding available:
- envisAGE will disburse $95M available over 5 years.
The McMaster Institute for Research on Aging (MIRA) will fund up to six summer student Fellowships valued at $2,000 each for undergraduate students working with MIRA researchers between May and August 2025.
Click here to download the callFill out the application hereDeadline
- March 28, 4 p.m. ET
Funding Available
- Up to six awards of up to $2000
MIRA has partnered with the EPIC-AT Health Research Training Platform, a national training platform that will prepare graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and early career researchers to be future leaders in digital health solutions for older adults with complex health needs. McMaster graduate students and postdoctoral trainees interested in research on digital health solutions for older adults with complex health needs are encouraged to apply for MIRA/EPIC-AT co-funded awards. MIRA has partnered with the EPIC-AT Health Research Training Platform to offer co-funded awards of $16,000 each. Interested trainees must apply via the AGE-WELL Application Portal. For application questions please contact training@agewell-nce.ca.
More informationDeadline
- May 5, 2025
Funding Available
- Up to two co-funded awards of $16,000 each
Applicants entering year one of a master’s program and year one or two of a PhD program are invited to submit a research proposal focusing on interdisciplinary, impact-driven approaches in the study of aging to the MIRA Graduate Scholarship Program. See call for proposals for full details; all applicants must submit a Notice of Intent form, that includes a project title, lay summary, and the names of their proposed supervisor and mentor.
Applicants should review the call for proposals and application form before submitting their NOI to ensure their proposed project is eligible and aligned with the goals of this funding call.
Download the callDownload the application formDownload Evaluation RubricSUBMIT NOI NOWMIRA partners with McMaster’s research centres and institutes to further expand our collective impact and build capacity among McMaster trainees. Applications that focus on aging and the mandate of any of the co-funding partners below may be considered for co-funded scholarships. Applicants are encouraged to review the mandates and areas of focus for each of the co-funding partners below and indicate their interest in having their application considered for specific co-funded awards via their online application.
noi Deadline
November 25, 2024
Application deadline
December 10, 2024, 4 p.m. ET
Funding available
- Master’s, $15,000 over one year
- PhD, $18,000 over one year
Previous co-funding partners
Labarge Centre for Mobility in Aging (LCMA)
Funded by a generous gift from Suzanne Labarge, the LCMA supports interdisciplinary collaboration in aging research on the broad topic of mobility in aging, which may include: understanding and defining mobility in aging; maintaining and restoring mobility in aging; and environmental facilitators and barriers that influence mobility in aging. Applicants may be considered for funding through the LCMA if their research proposal focuses on aging and mobility, where mobility is defined to include physical and community aspects of mobility, execution of daily activities and participation in society.
Smart Mobility for Aging Populations (sMAP)
Applicants are invited to submit a research proposal aligned with the goals and research priorities of the McMaster sMAP program. The candidate’s research must focus on interdisciplinary, impact-driven approaches to aging, mobility and the development and application of smart technologies, including the following priority research areas: hardware-software co-design, multi-modal data analytics, hybrid modelling to improve mobility or care; understanding the trajectory of mobility status in health and disease from function to impairment; and development of solutions for continuous monitoring, assessing and/or maintaining and restoring of mobility. If successful, sMAP scholarship recipients are expected to complete the required training modules in for sMAP program (more details can be found here).
McMaster Digital Transformation Research Centre (MDTRC)
The MDTRC is designed as a knowledge hub to engage in three primary mandates focused on digital transformation: collaborative multidisciplinary research, outreach to academic and non-academic partners, training and education, as well as the development of custom training and educational content. MDTRC is committed to understanding the digital revolution that is transforming every aspect of our personal, social, and professional lives. Leveraging behavioural and neurophysiological techniques, the timely and important cutting-edge research initiatives at MDTRC will lead to a fundamental shift in understanding of the ever[1]evolving digital revolution and its challenges and opportunities, with far reaching implications for managerial practice across sectors and society at large.
Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health (FIRH)
The intent of the FIRH is to provide optimal patient care through clinical practice, translational research, and the training of health care professionals. Clinical, research and educational activities are integrated and largely collaborative within the FIRH. Research is wide-ranging, from basic studies of animal models of lung disease (asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, fibrosis) to clinical trials and epidemiological studies. Specialized facilities have been established at the FIRH, such as the Sputum Research Laboratory and the Aerosol Research Laboratory. Scientists at the FIRH are performing studies of bone marrow progenitor cells, airway peptide challenges, electrophysiological studies of airway smooth muscle cells, chronic allergen challenges, preclinical models of lung injury and repair, and more.
Micheal G. DeGroote Institute for Pain Research and Care (IPRC)
The IPRC seeks to fund research and initiatives that will ultimately improve the quality of life for those living with chronic pain. One area of concern is the development of persistent pain after surgery, which is particularly common after cardiac, breast cancer and orthopedic surgery. The IPRC explores causes of chronic post-surgical pain, developing new strategies for its prevention and innovative care for patients. The Institute was made possible as a result of the DeGroote family gift.
Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research (IIDR)
Since its inception in 2007 through an unprecedented gift from Hamilton businessman Michael G. DeGroote, the IIDR is committed to delivering new knowledge and solutions to some of the most pressing challenges in infectious disease. Collaborative research spans the lab and the clinic, and a variety of disciplines ranging from medicine and biochemistry to mathematics, anthropology, and engineering. The breadth of research initiatives at the IIDR is large, reflecting the complexity of global challenges in infectious disease research and clinical practice. Further, the IIDR continually advances its research objectives to align with the evolving infectious disease landscape. Such initiatives include: microbial and antimicrobial research; vaccines and antivirals; host-pathogen interaction research; diagnostics; and research into new technologies
MIRA Postdoctoral Fellowships support interdisciplinary, impact-driven approaches to the study of optimal aging. The research projects supported by these fellowships should aim to develop the capacity of future leaders in aging research and generate evidence that contributes to the well-being of older adults.
The applicant and principal supervisor are expected to involve at least two other researchers from two different McMaster Faculties (outside of the principal supervisor’s Faculty) as mentors in the development of an interdisciplinary research plan. The proposal should clearly indicate how the supervisor and two mentors will contribute to the development and execution of the interdisciplinary project, and how this interdisciplinary approach will bring value to the study. MIRA is partnering with several of McMaster’s research centres and institutes – including the LCMA and MDTRC — to further expand our collective impact and build capacity. Proposals that focus on aging and the mandate of any of the co-funding partners as outlined on pages two and three of this call for proposals, may be considered for a co-funded postdoctoral fellowship.
The Notice of Intent (NOI) to apply for a MIRA Postdoctoral Fellowship must be submitted using this link by the deadline. Applicants should develop their full application well in advance of NOI deadline and should not wait until they are notified of invitation to apply to begin writing the application. All eligible applicants will be invited to submit a full application by the application deadline.
Full proposal submissions must be emailed to mirafund@mcmaster.ca and include “MIRA Postdoctoral Fellowship Program” in the subject line.
Application deadline:
- NOI deadline: June 24, 2024, 4 p.m. ET
- Full application deadline: July 15, 2024, 4 p.m. ET
Funding available:
- Funding available: Awards are valued at $53,000 per year with the possibility for renewal in year two. The maximum amount of funding per fellowship is $106,000 over two years.
MIRA Postdoctoral Fellowships support interdisciplinary, impact-driven approaches to the study of optimal aging. The research projects supported by these fellowships should aim to develop the capacity of future leaders in aging research and generate evidence that contributes to the well-being of older adults.
The applicant and principal supervisor are expected to involve at least two other researchers from two different McMaster Faculties (outside of the principal supervisor’s Faculty) as mentors in the development of an interdisciplinary research plan. The proposal should clearly indicate how the supervisor and two mentors will contribute to the development and execution of the interdisciplinary project, and how this interdisciplinary approach will bring value to the study. MIRA is partnering with several of McMaster’s research centres and institutes – including the LCMA and MDTRC — to further expand our collective impact and build capacity. Proposals that focus on aging and the mandate of any of the co-funding partners as outlined on pages two and three of this call for proposals, may be considered for a co-funded postdoctoral fellowship.
The Notice of Intent (NOI) to apply for a MIRA Postdoctoral Fellowship must be submitted using this link by the deadline. Applicants should develop their full application well in advance of NOI deadline and should not wait until they are notified of invitation to apply to begin writing the application. All eligible applicants will be invited to submit a full application by the application deadline.
Full proposal submissions must be emailed to mirafund@mcmaster.ca and include “MIRA Postdoctoral Fellowship Program” in the subject line.
Application deadline:
- NOI deadline: June 24, 2024, 4 p.m. ET
- Full application deadline: July 15, 2024, 4 p.m. ET
Funding available:
- Funding available: Awards are valued at $53,000 per year with the possibility for renewal in year two. The maximum amount of funding per fellowship is $106,000 over two years.
Deadline: February 24, 2023 at 5:00 PM (EST)
Funding available: maximum value of $50,000
To enhance the position of McMaster applicants, MIRA’s Labarge Centre for Mobility in Aging (LCMA) will co-fund up to two applications led by McMaster researchers. LCMA funds may support interdisciplinary projects focusing on mobility in aging; LCMA-HAC co-funded awards will have a maximum value of $50,000.
Deadline: December 15, 2022
Funding available: One grant of $50,000 (for one year salary), plus $3,000 for research expenses
The MIRA Interdisciplinary Fellowship Grant invites teams of researchers to propose a project that will attract a highly qualified postdoctoral fellow who will conduct collaborative and interdisciplinary research focused on aging. The fellowships are valued at $50,000 salary for one year, plus $3,000 for research expenses. The supervisory team must contribute at least $10,000 in cash for the fellow’s benefits, and are encouraged to demonstrate leveraging of additional funds, assets and in-kind support for the proposed project. Interdisciplinary research teams are invited to submit proposals for research that will promote new research collaborations in aging.
The primary applicant will act as the recruited fellow’s primary supervisor. The interdisciplinary proposal must include at least two co-applicants from McMaster Faculties outside of the primary applicant’s Faculty, who will act as mentors to the fellow and research collaborators. Applicant teams may also include knowledge users or mentors from industry, the public sector, non-profit or community, health care, or others whose perspective will enrich the prospective fellow’s research experience and the project’s impact. Successful applicants will be awarded funds to hire one postdoctoral fellow to support the proposed project. Teams will have one year after award notification to recruit an appropriate fellow. MIRA can assist with recruiting a Fellow by sharing the posting across its communications platforms and with partners.
The MIRA | Dixon Hall Centre is a partnership between MIRA and Dixon Hall, a multi-service agency focused on addressing poverty, social injustices, and isolation across the lifespan in downtown Toronto East. Knowledge Synthesis Grants will support the synthesis and mobilization of existing knowledge and the identification of knowledge gaps and opportunities related to the following themes identified as priority areas in consultation with staff, leadership, and other stakeholders from Dixon Hall:
- Loneliness, social isolation & emotional well-being
- Housing & aging in place
- Precarity, financial well-being & food security
- Physical & cognitive decline
- Ageism, vulnerability, & loss of agency
Successful proposals will include a comprehensive knowledge mobilization plan for disseminating findings, such as a knowledge mobilization forum, in-person workshops, videos, education materials, infographics or other knowledge mobilization approaches.
Application deadline
- January 15, 2024
Funding available
- Up to $70,000 (over one year) per grant
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https://mira.mcmaster.ca/project-type/dixon-hall-knowledge-synthesis-grants/
Labarge Catalyst Grants in Mobility in Aging offer the opportunity to conduct collaborative and interdisciplinary research focused on mobility in aging. Mobility is broadly defined to include physical, social and community aspects; proposals may consider intrinsic and extrinsic barriers to mobility, execution of daily activities and participation in society. These grants are intended to stimulate new collaborations and allow researchers to conduct feasibility/pilot studies, scaling of interventions and/or collect preliminary data to support future proposals for full-scale studies.
*NEW in 2024* Teams must be led by an early to mid-career researcher, defined as a faculty member whose first academic appointment was no more than eight years prior to application deadline (minus any eligible career pause – please reach out to mirafund@mcmaster.ca with any questions regarding eligibility or accepted career pauses). Researchers identified as the Principal Investigator (PI) on a currently open Labarge Catalyst Grant cannot be the PI on a 2024 proposal; however, they may participate as a co-investigator.
Application deadline:
- July 31, 2024, 4:00 PM ET
Funding available:
- Up to six awards of $40,000 (one per Faculty)
External Funding
MIRA researchers and trainees are encouraged to explore these external funding opportunities.
Application deadline: May 28, 2025
Funding available: UP TO $2 MILLION AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT COLLABORATIVE BRAIN RESEARCH PROJECTS
Supports interprovincial biopharmaceutical research and development on brain disorders, driving collaboration to develop tools and therapies for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
Nomination deadline: May 30, 2025
Award: $300,000
Celebrates individuals driving innovation in medical research and practice, advancing health and healing in Canada.
Please contact Chantall Van Raay for nominee and nominator inquiries.
LOI deadline: May 30, 2025
Application deadline: August 12, 2025
Funding available: Up to $300,000; with anticipated funding ranges to be $150,000 to $300,000 depending on the project scope.
The Alzheimer’s Association aims to support innovative, high-risk, collaborative team science opportunities that investigate and focus on outstanding questions related to the biological underpinnings of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), including the vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID).
The Vascular Contributions to Cognitive Impairment and Dementia – Understanding Mechanisms of Dysfunction (VCID-UMD) Grant Program solicits projects that aim to address some of the key challenges in research today as related to vascular dysfunction biology and contributions to AD/ADRD.
LOI deadline: June 2, 2025
Application deadline: August 18, 2025
Funding available: Up to $600,000 US over two years
Drug Targets
The 2026 ADDF-Harrington Scholar RFP places high priority on targets related to emerging therapeutic areas for dementia, particularly:
- Proteostasis (including autophagy, lysosomal biogenesis, proteasomal degradation, post-translational modification associated with proteostasis, protein folding/misfolding, ER stress, extracellular clearance)
- Senescence (including cells that have halted division, shifted towards a secretory phenotype, altered morphology and epigenetics, and decreased apoptosis)
Other novel targets are encouraged. These include, but are not limited to:
- Epigenetics
- Vascular pathology
- Neuroprotection
- Synaptic activity and neurotransmitters
- Inflammation
- Mitochondrial health
- Antioxidant defense
- Metabolic function and brain energy
- Brain insulin resistance
- ApoE
- Glymphatic clearance
- Postnatal neurogenesis
- Other aging targets
Therapeutic targets with a clear marker of target engagement, either established or in development will be considered of high priority.
The ADDF-Harrington Scholar Program does not support anti-amyloid approaches (e.g. Abeta vaccines, beta- or gamma-secretase inhibitors) or cholinesterase inhibitors. Approaches targeting tau will be considered if it is clearly demonstrated how they are distinct from those already in clinical development.
Stage of Discovery
The ADDF-Harrington Scholar Program supports research ranging from the hit-to-lead optimization stage through investigational new drug (IND)-enabling studies. A lead structural series must already be identified at the time of application.
Applicants are asked to provide hit validation data, including dose-response curves, analog structure-activity relationship (SAR) results, and comparison data against known molecules with a similar mechanism or mode of action.
When animal model data are reported, detailed study design including rationale for choice of animal model, power analysis to determine number of animals, balanced investigation of sexes or rationale for studying only one sex, and PK data supporting choice of dosing regimen should be described.
The ADDF-Harrington Scholar Program does not support target discovery, assay development, or high throughput screening campaigns.
LOI deadline: June 2, 2025
Funding available: Up to $300,000 over a maximum of 30 months
The Proof-of-Principle 2025 program supports high-impact, scalable projects that use microbiome-based interventions to modulate the microbiome, enhance therapeutic responses, or improve health outcomes.
Eligible projects will be in one of the three priority areas:
Intervention: Developing novel therapeutic microbiome-based interventions for treating disease or improving health outcomes in a population.
Modulation: Improving patient responses to already existing treatments or therapies by modulating the microbiome.
Mechanism: Causally determining how the microbiome relates to a disease to identify new therapeutic targets.
Please refer to the Program Details for a full description.
LOI deadline: June 9, 2025
Application deadline: October 25, 2025
Funding available: Up to $150,000 per year for two years OR up to $100,00 per year for three years
The PSI Graham Farquharson Fellowship is intended to provide salary support for a new investigator who has demonstrated the ability to successfully complete high impact knowledge translation research. The Fellowship funds, dedicated to salary support, must protect at least 50% of the Fellow’s time to conduct such research.
LOI deadline: June 9, 2025
Application deadline: October 25, 2025
Funding available: Up to $400,000 over two years OR up to $400,000 over three years
This Fellowship is intended to provide salary support for a mid-career physician researcher in Ontario who has demonstrated the ability to successfully complete high-impact knowledge translation research. The Fellowship funds, dedicated to salary support, must protect at least 50% of the Fellow’s time to conduct such research.
Application deadline: June 19, 2025
Funding available: Up to $15,000 for an application relevant to the mandate of the Institute of Aging specifically focusing on aging and/or older persons.
An opportunity is also available within the CIHR Health Effects of Ultra-Processed Foods (UPF) Pool to support planning grants aimed at engaging diverse and multi-disciplinary researchers in the area of UPF research.
Application deadline: June 19, 2025
Funding available: Six grants of up to $25,000 for in-person meetings, and up to $10,000 for virtual meetings.
The CIHR Institute of Aging will provide funding for applications that are relevant to the strategic directions outlined in the CIHR-IA’s 2023-2028 Strategic Plan: “Reframing Aging Empowering Older Adults“. Up to 6 grants will be awarded to applications relevant to the CIHR Institute of Aging (IA) specifically focusing on aging and/or older persons.
LOI deadline: May 13, 2025
Application deadline: June 26, 2025
Funding available: The maximum award per application for early career investigators is $125,000 annually for up to three years ($375,000 total), with an additional 3 years of support from the Host Institution of an equal value.
The Stars Career Development award was created to help firmly establish the career of early career investigators. This salary and research funding represents a three (3) year commitment by Arthritis Society Canada, together with an additional three (3) year commitment by the applicant’s Host Institution. The program provides funding to support research programs aligned with Arthritis Society Canada’s 2020-2027 Research Strategy. Arthritis Society Canada will be accepting applications relevant to five research priority areas: arthritis pain, OA, IA, childhood, and work.
LOI deadline: May 14, 2025
Application deadline: June 27, 2025
Funding available: The maximum grant per application is $50,000 annually for up to two years ($100,000 total). These grants are non-renewable.
The goal of the Ignite Innovation Grant program is to support the development and testing of transformative, paradigm-shifting, concepts and approaches to address critical barriers to progress in arthritis research, challenge our understanding of arthritis and its management, and generate novel approaches to confront the challenges we face in defeating arthritis and delivering the best evidence-informed care possible. The program intends to foster novel, high-potential projects and ideas that could be expanded in the future through additional funding sources (i.e., successful operating grants, industry partnership programs, cross discipline funding opportunities, etc.).
Successfully funded Ignite Innovation projects are based on “high risk” ideas that have a strong potential for “high reward”. The scope of high-risk projects could include proposals that focus on novel or untested tool development, cellular pathways, behavioural or psychosocial methodologies, research to address or ameliorate social or structural inequities, novel methods for delivering evidenced-based treatment or self-care interventions, unconventional devices, or techniques/procedures (including measures) and/or have potential for unique translation. As projects are at an early stage of development, a high level of risk is expected and not all projects will yield anticipated results. High reward is defined as the potential to create a significant and real change or impact. Applicants must explain the anticipated change or impact that is likely to result and to whom or what will be affected by the change, and its significance. To support the novelty of the project, a thorough evaluation of the literature should be included. Applicants will be required to describe why the project is novel, as it relates to the latest methods, concepts, information, and techniques.
This program encourages bold attempts to test novel hypotheses and/or generate new knowledge and/or improvements related to prevention, detection, diagnosis, treatment, and support; therefore, while projects must be feasible and doable by the applicant(s), preliminary data is not necessary.
Applications are encouraged from all areas and disciplines of arthritis research, as well as from investigators in other disciplines whose ideas are relevant to the field of arthritis research. Diverse partnerships that advance and accelerate the application of the research are encouraged. These may include transdisciplinary research approaches and/or partnerships with industry, policy makers, consumers, health care providers and others. Note that the next logical step or incremental advancement on published data is not considered innovative and should not be submitted to this competition.
Application deadline: July 3, 2025
Funding available: HSI Fellowship for Doctoral trainees: The maximum amount per doctoral award is $50,000 per year for up to 1 year ($45,000 stipend plus $5,000 professional development training and research allowance). HSI Fellowship for Postdoctoral researchers: The maximum amount per post-doctoral award is $155,000 total for 2 years ($70,000 stipend per year, plus $7,500 professional development training and research allowance per year)
The HSI Fellowship provides highly qualified doctoral trainees and postdoctoral researchers in health services and policy research (or related fields) with the opportunity to develop embedded research projects/programs that address the most pressing problems faced by health system organizations and to support evidence-informed decision-making. Central to this program is participation in a national cohort, co-mentorship from research and system leaders, and professional development aligned to the HSPR Refreshed Enriched Core Competency Framework.
Webinar: Rolling – please consult website
Application deadline: Rolling until July 24, 2025
Funding available: Up to $50,000 US over one year
We are primarily, but not exclusively, interested in activities that build connections between basic and early biomedical scientific approaches and ecological, environmental, geological, geographic, and planetary-scale thinking, as well as with population-focused fields, including epidemiology and public health, demography, economics, and urban planning. Also of interest is work piloting new approaches or interactions aimed at reducing the impact of health-centered activities, such as developing more sustainable systems for healthcare, care delivery, and biomedical research.
Another area of interest is preparation for the impacts of extreme weather and other crises that can lead to large-scale disruptions, immediately affecting human health and the delivery of healthcare. Public outreach, climate communication, and education efforts focused on the intersection of climate and health are also appropriate for this call. This program supports work conceived through many kinds of creative thinking. Successful applicants include academic scientists, physicians, and public health experts, community organizations, science outreach centers, non-biomedical academic departments, and more.
Application deadline: September 1, 2025
Funding available: a stipend of $74,000 for the first year, $76,000 for the second year, and $78,000 for the third year. An allowance of $5,000 per year is allotted to the host institution for use at the sponsor’s discretion
The Cancer Research Institute (CRI) Immuno-Informatics Postdoctoral Fellowship Program aims to support qualified young scientists at academic research institutions around the world who wish to receive dual training in immunology and data science. The fellowships will support both computational biologists who seek to strengthen their knowledge of immunology and cancer immunologists who seek training in computational biology, data science, and/or genomics under the mentorship of world-renowned scientists in these disciplines. We will also consider applicants from diverse PhD fields who will train at the interface of cancer immunology and computational biology. The program is designed to train and equip the next generation of scientists with the knowledge and practical tools to pursue novel research ideas bridging immunology and computational biology.
Application deadline: September 1, 2025
Funding available: a stipend of $74,000 for the first year, $76,000 for the second year, and $78,000 for the third year. An allowance of $5,000 per year is allotted to the host institution for use at the sponsor’s discretion
The CRI Irvington Postdoctoral Fellowship Program supports qualified young scientists at leading universities and research centers around the world who wish to receive training in fundamental immunology or cancer immunology.
Application deadline: September 1, 2025
Funding available: a stipend of $74,000 for the first year, $76,000 for the second year, and $78,000 for the third year. An allowance of $5,000 per year is allotted to the host institution for use at the sponsor’s discretion
The CRI Irvington Postdoctoral Fellowship to Promote Racial Diversity supports qualified young scientists from underrepresented minorities at leading universities and research centers around the world who wish to receive training in fundamental immunology and cancer immunology. Fellows train under the guidance of a world-renowned immunologist, who sponsors the fellow and prepares him or her for a productive and successful career in cancer immunology. The program will provide additional support for mentoring and career advancement to these individuals, as we work to build a more racially diverse and inclusive community of scientists working in immuno-oncology.
We invite applications from candidates who identify as Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, or American Indian or Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, or other Pacific Islander. CRI also recognizes that underrepresentation can vary from setting to setting; individuals from socioeconomically disadvantaged populations and from other racial or ethnic groups that can be demonstrated convincingly to be underrepresented by the grantee institution are encouraged to apply. Both U.S. and non-U.S. citizens are eligible.
CRI seeks hypothesis-driven, mechanistic studies in both immunology and tumor immunology that aim to directly impact our understanding of the immune system’s role in cancer..
LOI deadline: May 15, 2025
Application deadline: September 25, 2025
Funding available: Min. of $241,848 over three years
Supports interdisciplinary projects for frontier, potentially transformative research in the life sciences.
LOI deadline: May 15, 2025
Application deadline: September 25, 2025
Funding available: See funding call
Cross-Disciplinary Fellowships (CDF) are for applicants who hold a doctoral degree from a non-biological discipline (e.g. physics, chemistry, mathematics, engineering or computer sciences) and who have not worked in the life sciences before.
Long-Term Fellowships (LTF) support interdisciplinary projects for frontier, potentially transformative research in the life sciences.
Application deadline: October 1, 2025
Funding available: $6,000 plus host institution contribution
Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRAs) are meant to nurture your interest and fully develop your potential for a research career in health, natural sciences, engineering, social sciences or humanities. These awards are also meant to encourage you to undertake graduate studies by providing research work experience that complements your studies in an academic setting.
Application deadline: January 2026
Funding available: Up to $750,000 over three years
This opportunity supports research that will generate actionable evidence to build resilient and equitable public health systems and support robust decision-making. Research should address either or both of the following:
The role of the community sector in strengthening the building blocks of public health systems.
The building blocks of the public health systems: public health governance, finance, and workforce arrangements; policies and service delivery models; data, information systems and technologies.
Application deadline: Rolling
Funding available: No stipulations
Applications must focus on one of the following areas: Rheumatology, Dermatology, Gastroenterology, Hematology-Oncology, Urology, Women’s Health, Migraine, Movement Disorders, Ophthalmology, Virology, Psychiatry.
Application deadline: Rolling
Funding available: No stipulations
Allergan Inc. considers Grants and/or Donations requests from institutions or charities, provided they are restricted to the enhancement of patient care, genuine clinical research and/or genuine charitable causes
Application deadline: Rolling pre-submission inquiry
Funding available: $1,000,000
To support the advancement of and opportunities for Real-World Data platforms, the Alzheimer’s Association is launching a peer-reviewed funding program to augment and accelerate global initiatives aimed at developing, expanding and aligning Real-World Data platforms’ infrastructure, data and impact.
Application deadline: Rolling pre-submission inquiry
Funding available: $1,000,000
The World Wide FINGERS (WW-FINGERS) Network launched in 2017 as the first global network of multidomain lifestyle intervention trials for dementia risk reduction and ultimately prevention. Studies that participate in the WW-FINGERS network aim to apply, test and optimize the FINGER-like model to reduce risk across the spectrum of cognitive decline in different geographical, cultural and economic settings in individuals at greater risk as they age.
Application deadline: Rolling
Funding available: See call
The call is open to all biomarker categories that will advance drug development for Alzheimer’s and related dementias. The expected context of use, which defines a biomarker’s intended use clinically as a diagnostic or in drug development, should be described in the application. These categories, as defined by the FDA, include diagnostic, monitoring, predictive, prognostic, pharmacodynamic/response, safety, and susceptibility/risk biomarkers. Additionally, the applicant should articulate where in the path to commercialization the study falls and what is the proposed plan forward.
Application deadline: Rolling
Funding available: Up to 5,000
These grants of up to $5,000 cover costs associated with accessing and working with large data sources, which are necessary to carry out data-intensive research and application. The purpose of these grants is to foster research by mitigating the high cost of access to many data sets. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until two grants have been funded in a given academic year.
Funding available: $5,000
These grants of up to $5,000 cover costs associated with accessing and working with large data sources, which are necessary to carry out data-intensive research and application.
The goals of the program are to support projects that emphasize the development of statistical methodology, and to foster research by mitigating the high cost of access to many data sets.
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. Funding is available for at least two grants each fiscal year (May to April). Additional projects may also be funded subject to the availability of funds.
Funding available: Up to $250,000 over 12 months.
Application deadline is rolling: This opportunity supports McMaster and Mohawk College employees/students in MRI and CT research.
Application deadline: Rolling
Funding available: Awarded funds will vary based on project need.
The trial should plan to test specific interventions or pathways of care for the prevention, diagnosis or treatment of heart and circulatory diseases. Interventions include drugs, surgery, devices, psychological, physical and educational interventions. The trial should address an unmet clinical need of importance to people affected by, or at risk of, cardiovascular disease. Its results should have the potential to change clinical practice. There should be a clear need for a multinational trial to answer the clinical question.
Application deadline: Rolling
Funding available: GlycoNet has set aside $750,000 for Strategic Initiatives in 2024 – 2025. Proposals may request up to $150,000 in funding. It is anticipated that projects will be completed within 12 months.
This is a rolling competition. This Request for Proposals seeks to fund partner-led projects that address research needs of the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or agri-food industry.
Application deadline: Rolling
Funding available: Variable
Eligibility for research grants is limited to faculty, PhD students and postdoctoral researchers from accredited higher education institutions and eligible nonprofit research institutions in approved countries. Review program FAQs to learn more.
Funding available: Funding for the SOPHIE program is available from April 2024 – March 2028 with applications reviewed on a rolling basis. Firms can access up to a maximum of $100,000 in non-dilutive funding from FedDev Ontario through the SOPHIE program. Firms must provide a matching contribution of 1.25x the FedDev amount. This combined funding can be used to support Commercialization Project activities. For firms leveraging the maximum FedDev contribution, this means up to $260,000 is available to spend on project activities.
SOPHIE is a program funded through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), in partnership with Innovation Factory and the Synapse Consortium. Ontario-based life science innovators launch collaborative projects while leveraging the facilities, expertise and infrastructure of world-class academic and clinical institutions in Hamilton, including McMaster University, Mohawk College, Hamilton Health Sciences and St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton. Successful applicants can access up to $100,000 in non-dilutive grant funding to support their commercialization project with an academic or clinical partner.
Funding available: Up to $2,500 for national travel and up to $3,500 for international travel
This travel award is for the first author of an accepted abstract to a peer-reviewed conference.
Funding available: Up to $100,000 US over one year + opportunity for additional funding
Application deadline rolling until December 2025: Supports research to treat, prevent or cure Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
Application deadline: Rolling
Funding available: Variable
Max Bell Foundation makes grants to support projects that are designed to inform public policy. We do so across four program areas: Education; Environment; Health & Wellness; and Civic Engagement and Democratic Institutions.
Funding available: $1,000
Webinar date: January 23, 2025 at 12 p.m. ET
Click here to register for the webinar
The Office of Community Engagement offers grants of up to $1000 to support new or budding community-campus partnerships aligned with McMaster University’s Community Engagement Strategy. These grants are available to McMaster faculty, staff, students, and their community partners.
Priority will be given to proposals involving community-campus partnerships that pursue mutual benefit and align with the goals of McMaster’s Community Engagement Strategic Plan. The first consideration deadline is Feb 14th, after which applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until all funds are exhausted.
Application deadline: Rolling
Funding available: $30,000 – $60,000 in matching funding to support postdoctoral internships with partner organizations
Application deadline: Rolling – 16 weeks prior to planned departure
Funding available: $6,000
Supports trainees’ participation in a research exchange program.
Application deadline: Rolling
Funding available: $20,000 to $1,000,000 per year for one to five years
NSERC Alliance grants encourage university researchers to collaborate with partner organizations, which can be from the private, public or not-for-profit sectors. Funding may support research and development projects that seek to respond to a research challenge in the natural sciences or engineering while working with external partners who are able to accelerate scale-up, application, impact, or commercialization. NSERC is now accepting Option 1 applications requiring at least 50 percent matching cash contributions from partner organizations, and Option 2, involves non-profit partners and requesting 90 to 100 percent funding support from NSERC.
Application deadline: Rolling
Funding available: Up to $250,000 for a maximum of three years (maximum $100,000 in any one year).
The Clinical Research grant is open to post M.D. physicians looking to conduct research which is of direct relevance to patient care.
Application deadline: Rolling
Funding available: Up to $250,000 for a maximum of three years (maximum $100,000 in any one year)
Funding is available for support of research designed to assess the post M.D. educational environment such as curricula, methods, and teaching resources.
Application deadline: Rolling
Funding available: Up to $250,000 for a maximum of three years (maximum $100,000 in any one year)
The Health Systems research grant funds projects of a special nature within the healthcare system, such as preventative medicine, care of the elderly, communications within the system, underserviced regions, and ways of enhancing the effectiveness of medical practice will be considered under this category.
Application deadline: Rolling
Funding available: Up to $300,000 for a maximum of three years (maximum $100,000 in any one year)
The New Investigator funding stream is open to Clinical Fellows or physicians within six years of their first academic appointment . (Note: PSI has adjusted this eligibility requirement in recognition of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic).
Application deadline: Rolling
Funding available: Up to $30,000 for a maximum of 2 years is available
Resident Research Grants are concise health research projects, which have been largely developed by the Resident. The majority of the work involved in completing the research must be done by the resident who will be referred to as the Principal Investigator of the project. The project must be supervised by a physician with an academic appointment.
To be eligible to apply for a Resident Research Grant, the Resident must have post graduate year status as per the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario.
Application deadline: Rolling
Funding available: Up to $250,000 for a maximum of three years (maximum $100,000 in any one year)
To assist physicians practicing in a community setting to undertake a review of their practice patterns which would enhance effectiveness of practice and patient care in their own clinic, hospital, or region.
Application deadline: Rolling
Funding available: See call
This fellowship is directed at physicians in Ontario, particularly those residing outside of the teaching centres, who wish to take a period of training to bring a needed clinical skill or knowledge to the community or to undertake training in research methodology.
The fellowship provides course fees, if any, transportation, room, and board costs. Funds are not provided to replace income lost while undertaking a training program and the program is not designed to assist physicians taking refresher courses.
Applications will be considered for support of physicians who have undertaken training courses that commenced up to three months prior to the time the application is considered.
Application deadline: Rolling
Funding available: Up to $10,000
This opportunity supports meetings, conferences, workshops, and other efforts to bring people together in the realms of clinical work, patient care, biomedical science, research, service, advocacy, community, and education for prostate cancer.
Application deadline: Rolling
Funding available: Up to $10,000
This opportunity provides funding for small clinical research projects and pilot grants designed to support larger studies. Grants must focus on clinical prostate cancer research, including drugs, diagnostics, therapeutics, screening, regulation, and outcomes or policy.
Our Research
MIRA and Labarge funding has supported many bold research projects to optimize the health and longevity of older adults.
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