CIHR Health Research Training Award Programs

CIHR Health Research Training Award Programs is sponsored by CIHR. Offers funding for master's, doctoral, and postdoctoral trainees in health research disciplines.

# CIHR Health Research Training Award Programs – CIHR * Skip to "About this site" * Switch to basic HTML version * Training award programs * Foundation Grant Program * Circulatory and Respiratory Health * Health Services and Policy Research * Human Development, Child and Youth Health * Indigenous Peoples' Health * Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis * Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction * Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes * Population and Public Health Join the College of Reviewers * Reviewer in Training Program Quality Assurance in Peer Review * Best Practices in Peer Review * Recognition for peer review * International and global health * University Delegates Network * Equity, Diversity and Inclusion * Health Research Training * Indigenous Health Research * Pandemic Preparedness and Health Emergencies * Sex and Gender in Health Research * Health research in action * The faces of health research * Research to combat COVID-19 * [](https://cihr-irsc.

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html)Contact us × Close: Search and menus (escape key) Canadian Institutes of Health Research * Training award programs * Foundation Grant Program * Circulatory and Respiratory Health * Health Services and Policy Research * Human Development, Child and Youth Health * Indigenous Peoples' Health * Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis * Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction * Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes * Population and Public Health * Join the College of Reviewers * Reviewer in Training Program * Quality Assurance in Peer Review * Best Practices in Peer Review * Recognition for peer review * International and global health * University Delegates Network * Equity, Diversity and Inclusion * Health Research Training * Indigenous Health Research * Pandemic Preparedness and Health Emergencies * Sex and Gender in Health Research * Health research in action * The faces of health research * Research to combat COVID-19 3.

Health Research Training at CIHR # CIHR Health Research Training Award Programs * Pause - Stop tab rotation CIHR 2026 Question & Answer Session for Trainees and Postdoctoral Researchers in Health Research Learn about the HSI program and apply for the 2025 HSI fellowships Read the Refreshed competency framework and employ the toolkit for competency goal setting, self-reflection and assessment Learn about the CIHR Research Excellence, Diversity, and Independence (REDI) Early Career Transition Award The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) strives to ensure a strong foundation of future health research leaders, and is committed to offering programs that increase the supply of highly-qualified research personnel.

CIHR funds trainees at all levels – Master's, Doctoral, and Postdoctoral – in all health disciplines, including health professionals (clinicians, dentists, nurses, physiotherapists, and other health professionals) who are interested in pursuing health research.

This funding support is provided in two ways: * Directly through training award programs * Indirectly through grants and strategic initiatives Please review the links below to learn more about CIHR's award and initiatives. These opportunities can also be viewed through CIHR's grants and awards database or through individual CIHR Institute webpages.

* Post-doctoral/-degree researchers * Multi-stage and transition awards * CIHR Institute initiatives All undergraduate training awards offered by CIHR (including through CIHR Institutes) can be accessed through CIHR's grants and awards database.

## Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA) The USRA program aims to nurture undergraduate students' interest in health research and develop their potential for a research career in health-related fields. These awards also encourage students to undertake graduate studies by providing research work experience. **Note:** Presently, CIHR USRAs are exclusively for Black student researchers.

* USRA application instructions * USRA allocations by institution * Individual Development Plans * Tri-agency Research Training Award Holder's Guide All graduate training awards at master's level that are offered by CIHR (including through CIHR Institutes) can be accessed through CIHR's grants and awards database.

## Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Master’s Award (CGRS M) The CGRS M program provides financial support to high-calibre scholars who are engaged in an eligible master’s or, in some cases, doctoral program in Canada. Candidates are expected to demonstrate a high standard of achievement in undergraduate and early graduate studies.

* Information for Sponsors * Individual Development Plans * Tri-agency Research Training Award Holder's Guide * CGRS Master's Application Instructions * CGRS Master's Instructions for scholarships liaison officers * CGRS Master's Allocations by institution ## Canada Research Training Awards Suite – Research Travel Supplements (CRTAS- RTS) These awards support the next generation of innovators by providing funding and high-quality research training, cultivating research skills, fostering creativity and empowering awardees to make significant contributions to Canada’s research ecosystem, economy and prosperity.

The supplements are provided to active master’s and doctoral award holder to help offset the costs of undertaking research travel within Canada or outside of Canada for a defined period.

**Note:**Eligible master’s and doctoral programs include :aCanada Graduate Research Scholarships - Master's program (CGRS-M), a Canada Graduate Scholarships - Master's program (CGS-M) program, aCanada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral Award (CGRS-D), a Canada Graduate Scholarship - Doctoral program, a CIHR Doctoral Foreign Study Award, a NSERC Postgraduate Scholarships program, a SSHRC Doctoral Fellowships, or a Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (Vanier CGS).

## CIHR Strategic Master's Award (SMA) These awards provide financial support to students who are enrolled in or have applied to an eligible master's program in Canada that is relevant to a specific CIHR priority research area identified in the funding opportunity. Candidates are expected to demonstrate high potential in undergraduate and early graduate studies.

* CIHR Strategic Master’s Awards (SMA) – Application instructions * [SMA - Program of Study Information [PDF (124 KB)]](https://cihr-irsc. gc. ca/e/documents/sma_program-study-information-en.

pdf) * [SMA - Assessment Form [PDF (78 KB)]](https://cihr-irsc. gc. ca/e/documents/sma_assessment-form-en.

pdf) * Information for Sponsors * Individual Development Plans * Tri-agency Research Training Award Holder's Guide All graduate training awards at the doctoral level that are offered by CIHR (including through CIHR Institutes) can be accessed through CIHR's grants and awards database.

## Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral (CGRS D) The Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral (CGRS D) provides support for a high-quality research training experience to awardees who are pursuing a doctoral degree in a health-related field in Canada or abroad.

* Canada Graduate Research Scholarship - Doctoral (CGRS D) Program: Application instructions * CIHR’s Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral (CGRS D) Program – Frequently Asked Questions * Quotas for the CIHR Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral (CGRS D) Program (2025-2026) * Information and instructions for Research Administrators for managing the Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral (CGRS D) Program * CIHR Reviewers' Guide for Canada Graduate Research Scholarship - Doctoral (CGRS D) Program * [CGRS D Confirmation of Scientific Area Form [PDF (2.

1 MB)]](https://cihr-irsc. gc. ca/e/documents/confirmation_scientific_area-bil.

pdf) * [CGRS D Timeline for Doctoral Studies Form [PDF (348 KB)]](https://cihr-irsc. gc. ca/e/documents/doctoral_studies_timelines_fillable-en.

pdf) * [CGRS D Indigenous Attestation Form [PDF (313 KB)]](https://cihr-irsc. gc. ca/e/documents/cgrs-d_indigenous-affirmation-form-en.

pdf) * [CGRS D Self‑Declaration of No Institutional Affiliation with a Quota Form [PDF (193 KB)]](https://cihr-irsc. gc. ca/e/documents/self-declaration_of_no_institutional_affiliation_with_quota_form-bil.

pdf) * Information for Sponsors * Peer Review Committees and Mandates – Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral (CGRS D) Program * Individual Development Plans * Tri-agency Research Training Award Holder's Guide ## Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (Vanier CGS) (Discontinued) These awards recruit top-tier doctoral students, both nationally and internationally, who will positively contribute to the Canadian economic, social and research-based growth for a prosperous future.

**Note:** If you already hold a Canada Graduate Scholarship – Doctoral Award, you are not eligible to be nominated for a Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship.

## Canada Research Training Awards Suite – Research Travel Supplements (CRTAS- RTS) These awards support the next generation of innovators by providing funding and high-quality research training, cultivating research skills, fostering creativity and empowering awardees to make significant contributions to Canada’s research ecosystem, economy and prosperity.

The supplements are provided to active master’s and doctoral award holder to help offset the costs of undertaking research travel within Canada or outside of Canada for a defined period.

**Note:**Eligible master’s and doctoral programs include :aCanada Graduate Research Scholarships - Master's program (CGRS-M), a Canada Graduate Scholarships - Master's program (CGS-M) program, aCanada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral Award (CGRS-D), a Canada Graduate Scholarship - Doctoral program, a CIHR Doctoral Foreign Study Award, a NSERC Postgraduate Scholarships program, a SSHRC Doctoral Fellowships, or a Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (Vanier CGS).

Post-doctoral/-degree researchers All Postdoctoral training awards offered by CIHR (including through CIHR Institutes) can be accessed through CIHR's grants and awards database. ## Peer review opportunity CIHR invites postdoctoral researchers to participate as peer reviewers for the Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral (CGRS D) competitions.

Interested postdoctoral researchers are encouraged to visit the Postdoctoral researcher tab on the Reviewer Pathway webpage for more information and contact details for the PDF Review Program.

## Canada Postdoctoral Research Award (CPRA) program The Canada Postdoctoral Research Award (CPRA) program recognizes and supports the next generation of outstanding innovators, knowledge workers, creative thinkers and researchers at a pivotal time in their careers.

The program provides funding and flexibility, empowering Canadian and international leaders in innovation and scholarship of tomorrow to develop the skills to build world-class research and drive Canadian prosperity and competitiveness.

* Canada Postdoctoral Research Award (CPRA) program - ResearchNet Funding Opportunity * Canada Postdoctoral Research Award (CPRA) program - Application instructions * Canada Postdoctoral Research Award (CPRA) program – Frequently Asked Questions * CIHR Reviewers' Guide for the Canada Postdoctoral Research Award (CPRA) program * Peer Review Committees and Mandates – Canada Postdoctoral Research Award * Information for Sponsors * Individual Development Plans * Tri-agency Research Training Award Holder’s Guide * List of CIHR-eligible health professions ## Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships (Discontinued) These awards aim to attract and retain top-tier talent, both nationally and internationally, to develop their leadership potential and to position them for success as research leaders of tomorrow, positively contributing to Canada's economic, social, and research-based growth through a research-intensive career.

Multi-stage and transition awards In addition to stage-specific awards, CIHR runs several programs aimed towards cross-stage training and transition to independent researcher careers.

## Health System Impact (HSI) Program Annually since 2017, the HSI program has been providing PhD trainees and postdoctoral scholars in health services and policy research/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.

In 2023, a new stream was launched specifically for Early Career Researchers (ECRs). This program is led by the Institute of Health Services and Policy Research with participation of other CIHR Institutes and Initiatives.

## Research Excellence, Diversity, and Independence (REDI) Early Career Transition Award The REDI award program aims to help post-doctoral researchers, clinicians, and research associates from specific underrepresented groups launch their research faculty careers in Canada.

Phase 1 of this transition award supports mentored career development of the awardees, while Phase 2 is intended to establish their independent research program in academia. CIHR Institute initiatives In addition to CIHR led training programs, several targeted CIHR institute awards and initiatives are frequently initiated for trainees who are conducting research in specific high-priority topics.

* Circulatory and Respiratory Health * Health Services and Policy Research * Human Development, Child and Youth Health * Indigenous Peoples' Health * Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis * Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction * Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes * Population and Public Health Date modified: 2026-04-24 ## Government of Canada footer