Catalyst Grant: Digital Health

This funding opportunity catalyzes discovery in digital health, advances pivotal research and informs applications or interventions relevant to the broad mandate areas of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis (IMHA). It also seeks to benefit the continued integration of technology into healthcare in Canada.

Visit the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) website for more information on the Catalyst Grant: Digital Health.

Value and Duration

The financial contributions of CIHR and partners are subject to availability of funds. Should their funding levels not be available or decrease due to unforeseen circumstances, they reserve the right to reduce, defer or suspend financial contributions for grants received as a result of this funding opportunity.

The total amount available for this funding opportunity is $1,000,000, enough to fund approximately ten grants. This amount may increase if additional funding partners participate. The maximum amount per grant is $100,000 per year for up to one year.

Overview

Catalyst Grants are reserved for early and mid-career researchers, as well as Indigenous Health researchers at any career stage. Patient and/or community engagement as an essential evaluation criterion for these grants, and inclusion of a Knowledge User or Patient Partner as a Principal Applicant or Co-Applicant, aligns with the Knowledge to Action Framework.

Eligibility

1. The Nominated Principal Applicant (NPA) must be:
   • an early or mid-career independent researcher, or a knowledge user, affiliated with a Canadian postsecondary institution and/or its affiliated institutions (including hospitals, research institutes and other non-profit organizations with a mandate for health research and/or knowledge translation);
     OR
   • a Principal Knowledge User (PKU) who identifies as a Patient Partner at any career stage;
     OR
   • an individual at any career stage who is affiliated with an Indigenous non-governmental organization in Canada with a research and/or knowledge translation mandate;
     OR
   • an Indigenous non-governmental organization in Canada with a research and/or knowledge translation mandate.
2. The NPA must have their substantive role in Canada for the duration of the requested grant term.
3.  The institution paid receives and administers the funds on behalf of the NPA, and therefore, must be authorized by CIHR before the funds can be released.
4. Any research applications involving Indigenous Peoples must include at least one Principal Applicant or Co-Applicant who self-identifies as Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit or Métis) and/or provides evidence of having meaningful and culturally safe involvement with Indigenous Peoples (see How to Apply).
5. With the exception of research related to Indigenous Health, research must be co-led by an early or mid career independent researcher and a PKU who identifies as Patient Partner (at any career stage):
   • If the NPA is an early or mid career researcher, each applicant team must also include at least one PKU of any career stage who identifies as a Patient Partner as Principal Applicant or Co-Applicant.
   • If the NPA is a PKU or an organization, each applicant team must also include at least one early or mid career researcher as Principal Applicant or Co-Applicant.
   • If the NPA is an Indigenous researcher and/or has experience working with Indigenous peoples, they may be of any career stage and there is no requirement for a Patient Partner to be Co-Applicant.
6. The NPA must have completed at least one of the sex and gender-based analysis training modules available online through CIHR-IMHA. Submission of a Certificate of Completion is required.
7. The NPA must have completed all four modules for Patient Engagement available online through CIHR-IMHA. Submission of Certificates of Completion is required.
8. A NPA can submit a maximum of one application under this funding opportunity. If the NPA submits more than one application, CIHR will automatically withdraw the last application(s) submitted based on timestamp of submission.

Deadlines

• Faculty deadline: consult your Faculty Research Facilitator
• Registration deadline: December 16, 2025
• The Office of the Vice-President (Research, Innovation and International) (OVPRII) Approval Form and application deadline: March 10, 2026
• Submission to sponsor: March 17, 2026

Submitting Your Application

1. Submit an internal Approval Form through our central awards management database cuResearch.
2. Submit an external application to CIHR by following their submission guidelines.

Contact Us

Potential applicants are encouraged to discuss this funding opportunity with their Faculty Research Facilitator.