How CIHR funds research

Chapter 1: Intro

As the Government of Canada's health research investment agency, CIHR gets to support amazing science and health-related projects across the country.

With CIHR funding, researchers can study a problem, test an idea and find answers that will, in time, lead to new and improved health treatments, practices and policies to keep Canadians safe and healthy.

Chapter 2: Funding breakdown

At CIHR, we invest more than 90% of our budget directly into health research activities.

With an annual budget of just over $1B, and often in collaboration with partners across sectors, we run over one hundred funding competitions that attract thousands of applications from talented researchers across Canada each year.

Chapter 3: Peer review

So how does it all work?

Researchers submit their applications to CIHR online, so that each application can be reviewed by an independent panel of experts.

These experts are all volunteers who are responsible for assessing and scoring each application as part of a process called peer review.

This process helps ensure that CIHR’s funding decisions are fair, transparent, and free from any conflict of interest.

When the peer review process is complete for each funding competition, the researchers who submitted the top-rated applications receive grants to support their studies and projects.

All funding results are posted on CIHR’s website.

Chapter 4: Conclusion

Canada is home to some of the world’s top scientists and health researchers and their work is contributing to a stronger and healthier future for all.

Visit our funding page to learn more.