Project Grant: Spring 2023 results

381 grants funded, $325M total investment, 12 bridge grants

The Project Grant: Spring competition has approved 381 research grants, plus 12 bridge grants, for a total investment of approximately $325M.Footnote 1.

In addition, 62 priority announcement grants were funded for a total amount of $7,200,000 and 5 supplemental prizes were awarded for a total of $250,000.

The 381 grants approved were awarded to 371 individual nominated principal investigators (10 NPIs were awarded two grants). Of the 381 grants, 104 were awarded to early career researchers, and 6 were awarded for Indigenous health research projects.

The average grant size/duration is $850,156 over 4.47 years.

Geographic breakdown

Province Number of applications submitted Percent of total applications submitted Change from historical (% applications) Number of applications funded Percent of applications funded Change from historical (% funded) Province-specific success rateFootnote * Average grant amount Median grant amount
British Columbia 250 11.8% +0.5pp 50 13.1% +1.1pp 20.0% $845,917 $896,962
Alberta 186 8.8% -1.7pp 25 6.6% -4.5pp 13.4% $1,046,734 $952,425
Saskatchewan 42 2.0% +0.3pp 7 1.8% +0.6pp 16.7% $997,779 $960,075
Manitoba 55 2.6% -0.2pp 9 2.4% -0.1pp 16.4% $1,013,498 $757,350
Ontario 936 44.3% +2.2pp 173 45.4% +4.2pp 18.5% $827,128 $810,900
Québec 578 27.4% -1.2pp 110 28.9% -0.5pp 19.0% $815,125 $868,275
New Brunswick 11 0.5% +0.3pp 0 0.0% -0.1pp 0.0% $0 $0
Nova Scotia 44 2.1% +0.0pp 6 1.6% -0.4pp 13.6% $920,550 $801,338
Prince Edward Island 1 0.0% +0.0pp 0 0.0% 0.0pp 0.0% $0 $0
Newfoundland and Labrador 9 0.4% -0.3pp 1 0.3% -0.3pp 11.1% $933,300 $933,300
Unknown 1 0.0% +0.0pp 0 0.0% 0.0pp 0.0% $0 $0
Total 2113 100.0% 0.0pp 381 100.0% 0.0pp 18.0% $849,826 $868,275

Note: The applications that were approved conditionally will not appear in the detailed funding decisions database until the conditions have been resolved.

Additional details

Competition results by category
Category Number of applications submitted Percent of total applications submitted Change from historical (% application) Number of applications funded Percent of applications funded Change from historical (% funded) Category-specific success rateFootnote * Average grant amount Median grant amount
Early career researchers (ECRs) 578 27.4% +3.1pp 104 27.3% +2.7pp 18.0% $784,359 $778,338
Mid-career investigators 759 35.9% -4.2pp 128 33.6% -5.2pp 16.9% $871,212 $839,588
Senior investigators 776 36.7% +1.3pp 149 39.1% +2.7pp 19.2% $877,150 $925,650
Integrated KT 472 22.3% +2.2pp 78 20.5% +0.7pp 16.5% $728,490 $518,288
Investigators who identify as female 789 37.3% +1.6pp 148 38.8% +1.6pp 18.8% $857,070 $849,150
Indigenous Health 18 0.9% -0.2pp 6 1.6% -1.5pp 33.3% $1,679,812 $1,533,825
Submitted in French 44 2.1% +0.7pp 8 2.1% +1.0pp 18.2% $617,738 $543,150
Biomedical 1260 59.6% -0.9pp 234 61.4%

+0.4pp

 18.6% $912,750 $933,300
Clinical 438 20.7% +0.1pp 76 19.9% +0.7pp 17.4% $816,041 $585,225
Health systems/services 196 9.3% +0.2pp 32 8.4% -0.6pp 16.3% $594,644 $495,338
Social / Cultural / Environmental / Population Health 213 10.1% +0.5pp 39 10.2% -0.4pp 18.3% $747,499 $589,050

Streamlining

Only a portion of the Project Grant applications submitted to a competition will ultimately receive funding. It is therefore important for peer review committee members to focus their discussions on the most competitive applications to ensure an accurate comparative evaluation. To help support this goal, a streamlining process is used to remove applications that meet streamlining criteria from the discussion process, thereby allowing committee members more time to judge and discriminate between remaining applications.

A total of 1128 applications, representing 53.4% of all submitted applications, were streamlined in this competition. Additional details are provided in the tables below.

Province Number of applications submitted Number of applications streamlined Percent of applications streamlined Change from historical (% streamlined) Number of applications discussed Percent of applications discussed Change from historical (% discussed)
British Columbia 250 137 54.8% +14.3pp 113 45.2% -14.3pp
Alberta 186 112 60.2% +17.6pp 74 39.8% -17.6pp
Saskatchewan 42 24 57.1% +0.3pp 18 42.9% -0.3pp
Manitoba 55 30 54.5% +3.4pp 25 45.5% -3.4pp
Ontario 936 482 51.5% +9.0pp 454 48.5% -9.0pp
Québec 578 295 51.0% +8.6pp 283 49.0% -8.6pp
New Brunswick 11 10 90.9% +36.7pp 1 9.1% -36.7pp
Nova Scotia 44 30 68.2% +21.6pp 14 31.8% -21.6pp
Prince Edward Island 1 1 100.2% +40.0pp 0 0.0% -40.0pp
Newfoundland and Labrador 9 6 66.7% +9.4pp 3 33.3% -9.4pp
Unknown 1 1 100.0% +33.3pp 0 0.0% -33.3pp
Total 2113 1128 53.4% +10.4pp 985 46.6% -10.4pp
Application Breakdown Number of applications submitted Number of applications streamlined Percent of applications streamlined Change from historical (% streamlined) Number of applications discussed Percent of applications discussed Change from historical (% discussed)
Early career researchers (ECRs) 578 335 58.0% +11.0pp 243 42.0% -11.0pp
Mid-career researchers 759 415 54.7% +12.6pp 344 45.3% -12.6pp
Senior researchers 776 378 48.7% +7.5pp 398 51.3% -7.5pp
Integrated KT 472 249 52.8% +8.7pp 223 47.2% -8.7pp
Researchers who identify as female 789 432 54.8% +12.6pp 357 45.2% -12.6pp
Indigenous Health 18 3 16.7% +9.6pp 15 83.3% -9.6pp
Submitted in French 44 28 63.6% +19.0pp 16 36.4% -19.0pp
Biomedical 1260 658 52.2% +9.3pp 602 47.8% -9.3pp
Clinical 438 247 56.4% +12.8pp 191 43.6% -12.8pp
Health systems/services 196 109 55.6% +11.7pp 87 44.4% -11.7pp
Social/Cultural/Environmental/Population Health 213 110 51.6% +10.3pp 103 48.4% -10.3pp
Foundation grant holders

Foundation grant holders

This is the fourth Project competition that could be applied to by Foundation Grant holders, specifically grant holders from the 2014 and 2015 Foundation Grant competitions. There were 124 applications from current and former Foundation Grant holders coming from 100 unique applicants. There were 36 funded grants awarded to 34 unique Foundation Grant holders.

Panel Number of unique Foundation Grant holders awarded grants
BCA 2
BE2 2
BMA 2
BS2 1
BSB 1
CBT 1
CIA 1
CIB 1
CPT 3
CSA 2
CSB 1
DOL 2
G 1
GMX 1
HS1 1
IMN 2
MCC 1
MID 2
NSB 2
PH1 1
PT 2
RC2 1
RS 2
VVP 1
Foundation grant holder application pressure

Foundation grant holder application pressure

Figure A: Proportion of applications

Figure A: Long description
PRC Proportion of applications from Foundation grant holders (%) Number of Foundation grant holder applications
IMN 7.0 3
BE2 5.9 2
CSA 5.9 1
MID 4.2 2
CSB 3.8 1
CIB 3.6 1
BMB 3.3 1
BMA 3.1 1
CPT 2.9 2
CPT 2.6 1
HS3 2.6 1
VVP 2.6 1
BS2 2.4 1
HS2 2.4 1
MCC 2.4 1
NSA 2.3 1
PT 2.3 1
G 2.2 1
CBB 2.1 1
NSB 2.1 1
BCA 0.0 0
BME 0.0 0
BSA 0.0 0
BSB 0.0 0
BSC 0.0 0
CA2 0.0 0
CB1 0.0 0
CB2 0.0 0
CBC 0.0 0
CBT 0.0 0
CHI 0.0 0
CIA 0.0 0
CIC 0.0 0
CID 0.0 0
CMZ 0.0 0
CSC 0.0 0
DOL 0.0 0
GMX 0.0 0
GSH 0.0 0
HDK 0.0 0
HLE 0.0 0
HPM 0.0 0
HS1 0.0 0
IHR 0.0 0
KTR 0.0 0
MOV 0.0 0
MPI 0.0 0
NUT 0.0 0
PB1 0.0 0
PH1 0.0 0
PH2 0.0 0
PS 0.0 0
RC1 0.0 0
RC2 0.0 0
RS 0.0 0
SDA 0.0 0
TIR 0.0 0

Figure B: Proportion of fully funded grants

Figure B: Long description
PRC Proportion of fully funded grants awarded to Foundation grant holders (%) Number of fully funded Foundation grant holders
IMN 14.3 1
BE2 16.7 1
CSA 0.0 0
MID 12.5 1
CSB 0.0 0
CIB 20.0 1
BMB 0.0 0
BMA 0.0 0
CPT 9.1 1
HS3 0.0 0
VVP 0.0 0
BS2 0.0 0
HS2 0.0 0
MCC 0.0 0
NSA 0.0 0
PT 0.0 0
G 0.0 0
CBB 0.0 0
NSB 12.5 1
BCA 0.0 0
BME 0.0 0
BSA 0.0 0
BSB 0.0 0
BSC 0.0 0
CA2 0.0 0
CB1 0.0 0
CB2 0.0 0
CBC 0.0 0
CBT 0.0 0
CHI 0.0 0
CIA 0.0 0
CIC 0.0 0
CID 0.0 0
CMZ 0.0 0
CSC 0.0 0
DOL 0.0 0
GMX 0.0 0
GSH 0.0 0
HDK 0.0 0
HLE 0.0 0
HPM 0.0 0
HS1 0.0 0
IHR 0.0 0
KTR 0.0 0
MOV 0.0 0
MPI 0.0 0
NUT 0.0 0
PB1 0.0 0
PH1 0.0 0
PH2 0.0 0
PS 0.0 0
RC1 0.0 0
RC2 0.0 0
RS 0.0 0
SDA 0.0 0
TIR 0.0 0
Past Foundation grant holder application pressure

Past Foundation grant holder application pressure

Figure A: Proportion of applications

Figure A: Long description
PRC Proportion of applications from past Foundation grant holders (%) Number of past Foundation grant holder applications
IMN 14.0 6
BE2 2.9 1
CSA 17.6 3
MID 4.2 2
CSB 11.5 3
CIB 3.6 1
BMB 0.0 0
BMA 12.5 4
CPT 11.6 8
HS3 5.3 2
VVP 7.9 3
BS2 2.4 1
HS2 2.4 1
MCC 7.1 3
NSA 6.8 3
PT 4.5 2
G 11.1 5
CBB 2.1 1
NSB 4.2 2
BCA 11.1 6
BME 0.0 0
BSA 2.6 1
BSB 4.9 2
BSC 6.9 2
CA2 5.6 2
CB1 0.0 0
CB2 0.0 0
CBC 0.0 0
CBT 7.1 5
CHI 0.0 0
CIA 2.2 1
CIC 0.0 0
CID 3.4 1
CMZ 0.0 0
CSC 0.0 0
DOL 15.2 5
GMX 17.2 5
GSH 0.0 0
HDK 0.0 0
HLE 0.0 0
HPM 3.0 1
HS1 4.1 2
IHR 0.0 0
KTR 3.4 1
MOV 2.2 1
MPI 1.9 1
NUT 2.9 1
PB1 0.0 0
PH1 1.6 1
PH2 3.4 2
PS 0.0 0
RC1 3.0 2
RC2 4.5 3
RS 14.3 4
SDA 0.0 0
TIR 0.0 0

Figure B: Proportion of fully funded grants

Figure B: Long description
PRC Proportion of fully funded grants awarded to past Foundation grant holders (%) Number of fully funded past Foundation grant holders
IMN 14.3 1
BE2 16.7 1
CSA 66.7 2
MID 12.5 1
CSB 25.0 1
CIB 0.0 0
BMB 0.0 0
BMA 33.3 2
CPT 18.2 2
HS3 0.0 0
VVP 14.3 1
BS2 14.3 1
HS2 0.0 0
MCC 14.3 1
NSA 0.0 0
PT 28.6 2
G 12.5 1
CBB 0.0 0
NSB 12.5 1
BCA 22.2 2
BME 0.0 0
BSA 0.0 0
BSB 12.5 1
BSC 0.0 0
CA2 0.0 0
CB1 0.0 0
CB2 0.0 0
CBC 0.0 0
CBT 10.0 1
CHI 0.0 0
CIA 10.0 1
CIC 0.0 0
CID 0.0 0
CMZ 0.0 0
CSC 0.0 0
DOL 33.3 2
GMX 20.0 1
GSH 0.0 0
HDK 0.0 0
HLE 0.0 0
HPM 0.0 0
HS1 14.3 1
IHR 0.0 0
KTR 0.0 0
MOV 0.0 0
MPI 0.0 0
NUT 0.0 0
PB1 0.0 0
PH1 10.0 1
PH2 0.0 0
PS 0.0 0
RC1 0.0 0
RC2 8.3 1
RS 40.0 2
SDA 0.0 0
TIR 0.0 0

Large grants awarded

Large grants are defined as being in the top 2% of total requested grant value within a competition. In this competition, the cutoff for large grants was $2,530,000. A total of 42 applications fell into this category. A budget of $16.25 million was available to fund those applications that are not from the Indigenous Health Research (IHR) panel. Large grants from the IHR panel are funded by IHR funds.

Large grants awarded
Category Number of applications submitted Percent of total applications submitted Number of applications funded Percent of applications funded Success rateFootnote * Average grant amount Maximum grant amount
All large grants 42 2.0% 6 1.6% 14.3% $3,092,959 $4,022,752
Non-IHR large grants 37 1.8% 4 1.1% 10.8% $3,232,794 $4,022,752

Equalization

In order to ensure equal representation of certain demographics in the funded projects we equalize the success rates for these groups. That means that the proportion of these groups in the funded projects is at least as high as the proportion of these groups in the applications.

Early Career Researchers

The success rate for early career researchers (ECRs) is equalized. This means that the proportion of ECRs funded will not be less than the proportion of ECR applicants to the competition. This equalization is for the competition as a whole, not by committee.

The total number of fully funded projects for applicants in this career stage went from 85 (before equalization) to 104 (after equalization).

French applications

The success rate for applications submitted in French is equalized. This means that the proportion of French applications funded will not be less than the proportion of French applications to the competition. This equalization is for the competition as a whole, not by committee.

The total number of fully funded projects for applications in French went from 7 (before equalization) to 8 (after equalization).

Female applicants

The success rate for female applicants is equalized. This means that the proportion of females funded will not be less than the proportion of female applicants to the competition. This equalization is for the competition as a whole, not by committee.

The total number of fully funded projects from female applicants went from 136 (before equalization) to 148 (after equalization).

Indigenous Health Research

All applications reviewed by the Indigenous Health Research committee went through an iterative peer review process.

Based on the recommendation of the review committee, 6 Indigenous health research projects were awarded funding. CIHR is proud to support these projects as part of its commitment to invest 4.6% of its annual budget in Indigenous health research.

Bridge Grants and Priority Announcements

In addition to the 381 fully funded grants there were also 12 Bridge Grants totaling $1,200,000. There were 62 Priority Announcement grants funded for a total of $7,200,000 as well as 5 supplemental prizes for a total of $250,000.

Budget Size and Project Length

Category Average total budget Change from historical (total budget) Average duration (years) Change from historical (duration) Average annual amount Change from historical (annual amount)
All Requests $1,096,647 +$147,225 4.34 +0.06 $248,597 +$31,294
Funded applications (requested) $1,140,958 +$126,066 4.47 +0.06 $251,075 +$25,143
Funded applications (awarded) $850,156 +$93,661 4.47 +0.07 $186,981 +$17,978

Peer Review

Details about the Project Grant: Spring 2023 peer review participants are available separately.

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