Grants - Registration Guidelines

Before you begin

Make sure you have the following or click the links to register:

• a ResearchNet account
• a CIHR PIN  
• a Canadian Common CV

General Application Process

1. Registrations must be submitted by applicants using ResearchNet.
2. It is the responsibility of the applicants to ensure that their registration is complete prior to submission.
3. If you experience technical difficulties, or if you have any questions regarding the CIHR specific content on ResearchNet, contact us Monday to Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET.

   CIHR Contact Centre
   Telephone: 613-954-1968
   Toll Free: 1-888-603-4178
   Email: support-soutien@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

Tasks for completing a registration:

1. Complete a Canadian Common CV
2. Complete the ResearchNet Registration
   • Task 1. Identify Participants
   • Task 2. Enter Proposal Information
   • Task 3. Complete Summary of Research Proposal
   • Task 4. Complete Peer Review Administration Information
   • Task 5. Apply to Priority Announcements / Funding Pools
   • Task 6: Preview
   • Task 7. Manage Access (optional)
   • Task 8. Consent and Submit

A. Complete a Canadian Common CV

All participants, with the exception of collaborators, must submit a Registration CV. To complete a Registration CV:

1. Log in to the Canadian Common CV (CCV) system.
2. Go to the CV menu on the top left of the page, and select "Funding".
3. Select “CIHR” from the dropdown menu in the Funding Source field, select the Registration CV type and click “Load.”
4. Enter data in each of the required sections, and click "Done." Validation is performed automatically, and if there are any errors, they will be displayed in each relevant section.
5. The CV data entered in the CCV can be viewed in PDF format by selecting "Preview" on the top right of the page. Read through the document to identify any changes that need to be made in the CCV before submitting your CV to CIHR.
6. Once satisfied with the information and output of your CV, click "Submit". A CCV confirmation number will be generated in the status message, and will also be located at the top of the CV PDF document. Record this confirmation number as it will be needed to link the CV to your registration in ResearchNet under the “Identify Participants” task.
7. If you wish to make changes to your CCV after it has been linked to ResearchNet, you must repeat the steps described above. This will generate a new CCV confirmation number, which will need to be updated in ResearchNet.
8. You can preview your CCV in ResearchNet by selecting "Preview" on the Tasks page.

Notes: During peak periods, there can be a delay between the time that you submit the CV and when ResearchNet is able to validate it. It is highly recommended that you complete and submit your CV well in advance of the competition deadline.

For additional information please refer to the CCV Frequently Asked Questions for CIHR Applicants.

B. Complete the ResearchNet Registration

Task 1: Identify Participants

This task collects information on all participants involved in your application. For more information, consult the eligibility criteria of the specific funding opportunity you are interested in and the CIHR Application Administration Guide.

The applicant that initiates/opens the registration in ResearchNet will be identified as the Nominated Principal Applicant (NPA) on the application and must remain unchanged between different phases of the competition process (i.e., registration and full application). Other participants can be added or removed unless otherwise specified in the funding opportunity.

1.1 Participant Information

• The NPA can add participants to the application in ResearchNet by clicking “Add Participants”.
  • Note: If the participant's PIN has not been validated, the participant must login to their ResearchNet account, select their name in the top right banner and select, “Validate your CIHR PIN”.

Task 2: Enter Proposal Information

This task collects information related to the research project.

2.1 Overview

• Title: Provide a title for your proposal.Your title is the way that CIHR identifies your research proposal. For this reason you cannot edit your title once submitted.
• Lay Title: Provide a title for your project that is in a language clear to members of the general public. Lay titles are used by CIHR to inform the public and Parliament about the valuable research supported through public funds.
• Lay Abstract: Using language accessible to a lay audience, describe your proposed project, indicating how your proposed research can improve personal health, the health of populations and/or the health delivery system. This information is used by CIHR to inform the public and Parliament about the valuable research supported through public funds.

2.2 Details

• Institution Paid: The institution that will administer the funds for your project. Consult the Institutional Eligibility Requirements in the CIHR Application Administration Guide.
• Certification Requirements: Check all that apply. For more information, consult the following policies:
  • Human Stem Cells, Human Subjects and Animals: Agreement on the Administration of Agency Grants and Awards by Research Institutions
  • Biohazards, Requirement for Containment and Containment Levels: Canadian Biosafety Standards and Guidelines
• Impact Assessment Act (IAA): CIHR must review proposals for potential impacts on the environment in accordance with the Impact Assessment Act (IAA).
• Is this a clinical trial? Indicate if this application includes a clinical trial. For more information regarding clinical trials consult the CIHR Policy Guide – Requirements for Registration and Disclosure of Results from Clinical Trials.
• Does this Application Contain a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)? Indicate if this application includes a randomized controlled trial.
• In order to carry out the proposed research in this application, is an exemption from Health Canada under Section 56 of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act required? Applicants must self-declare if their proposed research will involve the use of controlled substances during application submission and must agree to obtain the appropriate exemption certificates from Health Canada, as required. This information will be used by CIHR for reporting purposes only. For more information on obtaining an exemption under Section 56 of the CDSA consult the Health Canada website.
• For statistical purposes, does this application propose research involving Indigenous Peoples? For more information, consult the Ethics of Health Research Involving First Nations, Inuit and Métis People.
• Are sex (biological) and gender (socio-cultural) considerations taken into account in this proposal? Select yes or no for each set of questions. You must also describe how sex and/or gender will be considered in your research design, or why it is not applicable (limit of 2000 characters). For more information consult the guide to sex- and gender-based analysis (SGBA).

2.3 Descriptors

• Descriptors: Provide keywords to describe your research project, the techniques and methodologies it will employ, and the areas of interest.
• Areas of Research:  Select the areas of research that best describe your proposal from the list provided.
• Classification: Select the classifications that best describe your proposal from the list provided.
• Themes: Select a primary theme classification. Indicate additional theme classifications only if the substance of your grant application significantly overlaps more than one theme. For more information, consult the definition of the four CIHR Themes in the Guidelines for the Eligibility of Applications Related to Health.
• Suggested Institutes: Select a primary CIHR Institute whose research mandate is related to your application's research area(s) and objective(s). Additional Institutes can be selected if the substance of your grant application significantly overlaps with the research mandate of more than one Institute.

Task 3: Complete Summary of Research Proposal

• Summarize your research proposal. Please note that this document may be used for relevance review. Additionally, the summary is used for reviewers to assess their level of expertise.

Task 4: Complete Peer Review Administration Information

This task collects information used for the purpose of peer review administration and aids CIHR in recruiting appropriate expertise.

• Suggested Reviewers for this Application

  Suggest Canadian and/or international reviewers that you think have the expertise to review your application. CIHR reserves the right to make the final selection of external reviewers. You should not suggest reviewers in conflict of interest. Consult the Conflict of Interest and Confidentiality Agreement for Peer Reviewers and Peer Review Observers on the CIHR website for more information.

• Reviewers to Exclude for this Application

  Provide the names of individuals that you think cannot provide an objective review of your application and add comments specifying the reason for their exclusion. CIHR reserves the right to make the final selection of reviewers.

Task 5: Apply to Priority Announcements / Funding Pools

Funding Pools consist of funds that are earmarked for applications that are relevant to specific CIHR research priority areas and/or mandates. Note that not all funding opportunities will have this option. Please verify the “Funds Available” and “How to Apply” sections of the funding opportunity.

To apply to a specific funding pool, applicants must select the funding pool title from the “Priority Announcements/Funding Pool Title” list and the Relevant Research Area addressed by the proposal, then click “Save.”

Task 6: Preview

Preview all components of your registration. If a task is incomplete, you must provide the missing information to successfully submit your registration.

Task 7: Manage Access (optional)

This task allows a Nominated Principal Applicant (NPA) to delegate access to a maximum of five [5] individuals to support the completion of application tasks.

How to delegate access:

1. Ensure the delegate has a valid ResearchNet account/email address.
2. Select the Manage Access task.
3. Select the Add Access link.
4. Complete the mandatory Email Address (ResearchNet account) and Last Name fields. Note, first name field is optional.
5. Select Save or Save and Add Another User.

How to remove access:

1. Access can be revoked at any time before eSubmission by selecting Delete.
2. Once deleted, the individual will no longer be able to view the application.

A delegate's access does not carry through the various phases of a competition. The NPA will have the option to delegate access to individuals at each stage of a competition.

The NPA is encouraged to remove access from all delegates prior to completing the Consent and Submit task. Should access not be revoked prior to submission, the delegate will retain access to the application in their Completed Activities tab.

For more information, please see the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).

Task 8: Consent and Submit

You must review the terms listed and respond to the questions regarding consent in order to submit your registration.

You must click “Submit to CIHR” to send your registration. The CIHR deadline time for receipt of all registrations will be 8 p.m. ET. The application will open once your registration is has been submitted.

For more information on the application phase, please consult the Grants – Application Guidelines.

For all inquiries please contact:

CIHR Contact Centre
Telephone: 613-954-1968
Toll Fee: 1-888-603-4178
Email: support-soutien@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

Date modified:

2023-07-14