Funding Opportunities: Researchers

Welcome to the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy Researcher Funding Opportunities Index. We have included a number of relevant opportunities for our Faculty based on current research programs. This list is not exhaustive, and we recommend using the comprehensive funding opportunity resources below.

All Applicants submitting through the University of Toronto MUST have submitted their application information online via the My Research Applications (MRA) portal.

Additional comprehensive funding opportunities are available here:

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Internal Opportunities

LDFP BMS Small Equipment Award (Internal Only)

The purpose of the Small Equipment Award is to support the purchase and repair of necessary research equipment for the research and training of Highly Qualified Personnel. The Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy will provide up to $5,000 for successful applications that demonstrate need and where funding for equipment is a challenge to obtain.

Deadline:

Offered 4 times per year: January 31st, April 30th, July 31st and October 31st

Value:

Up to $5,000

For more information, please review the Program Guidelines and the Application Instructions. Contact Mike Folinas (m.folinas@utoronto.ca) or Sam D'Alfonso (sam.dalfonso@utoronto.ca) with any additional questions.

LDFP CSAP Research Award (Internal Only)

The purpose of the Clinical, Social and Administrative Pharmaceutical (CSAP) Sciences Research Award competition is to support research excellence where funding is not currently held, e.g., pilot project, expand currently funded research, explore new areas of research. The objective of the program is to increase CSAP's research impact by supporting research excellence that leads to publications and externally funded research proposals. Capacity building is encouraged, yet not required.

Deadline:

Offered twice yearly: April 30th and November 30th.

Value:

Up to $10,000

External Opportunities

Acceleration Consortium announces Social Sciences and Humanities Funding Grant Program

The Acceleration Consortium (AC) announces the launch of its 2026 Social Sciences and Humanities research grants.

Eligibility: Applications are open to University of Toronto faculty members.

Amount: Maximum $100,000 total, direct research costs for 1-2 years.

Key dates:

Hybrid launch event: Jan 14, 2026
NOI Intake: Jan 23, 2026-Feb 20, 2026
Full application intake: March 3, 2026-April 10, 2026
Award Notifications: May 5, 2026

Funded by the Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF), these grants provide funding for social sciences and humanities research relevant to the AC. They aim to advance research related to the AC’s focus areas by exploring the economic, social, cultural, and ethical implications of emerging technologies such as AI, robotics, and self-driving labs. The grants are designed to foster interdisciplinary collaboration that support social science and humanities research in areas relevant to AC such as:

Economic and social impacts: Research on how AI-driven advanced material discovery will influence labor markets, organizational change, policy, and public sector adoption.
Ethics and governance: Investigating ethical considerations, policy frameworks, and the societal governance of AI-driven advanced material discovery.
Cultural and social change: Exploring how SDL technologies affect cultural dynamics, education, social behavior, and communication.
Indigenous knowledges and collaboration: Collaborating with Indigenous communities to integrate Indigenous ways of knowing and understandings of technology's impact on land, environment, and society.
Responsible discovery: How can researchers better understand and mitigate potential negative impacts arising from their research.

How to apply

Eligible applicants are invited to submit a ~2000-character notice of intent (NOI) through an application form that will be used to evaluate project eligibility and identify applications that could be merged. Projects that are deemed not to be in scope will not be rejected, but a discussion with the project lead will be held to determine if the grant should go to the full application stage.

Visit the AC website for full grant eligibility requirements and more information.

About the Acceleration Consortium

The Acceleration Consortium (AC) at the University of Toronto is leading a transformative shift in scientific discovery that will accelerate materials development and commercialization. The AC is a global community of academia, industry, and government that leverages the power of artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, materials sciences, and high-throughput chemistry to create self-driving laboratories (SDLs). These autonomous labs rapidly design materials and molecules needed for a sustainable, healthy, and resilient future, with applications ranging from renewable energy and consumer electronics to drugs.

To learn more about the AC, please visit: acceleration.utoronto.ca/vision

Canadian Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Foundation (CAAIF) Operating and Graduate Awards

Canadian Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Foundation (CAAIF) has open calls for applications for 3 Operating Grants and 4 Graduate Student/Fellowship Awards.

Note: Some grants/awards have a secondary sponsor; Canadian Lung Association and Asthma Canada and require applicants to register before submitting an application.

An MRA is required for all applications and MRAs should be submitted at least one week before the application deadline.

Operating Grants

Asthma Canada-CAAIF Research Grant in Asthma Innovation and Impact

Application Deadline: April 22, 2026 at 11:59 pm
Two grants available in the amount of $75,000 each

CAAIF-CASP Research Grant in Hereditary Angioedema

Application Deadline: May 13, 2026 at 11:59 pm
One grant available in the amount of $50,000

CAAIF-CLA Allied Health Operating Grant

Deadline to Register: March 25, 2026
Application Deadline: April 8, 2026
Award value of $15,000 + Minimum matching funds from investigator

Graduate Student/Fellowship Awards

Graduate Student Awards in Asthma

Application Deadline: March 18, 2026 at 11:59 pm
Two awards for PhD students valued at $30,000 each; One award for MSc students valued at $15,000

CAAIF Graduate Student Research Grant in Asthma Supported by AstraZeneca

Application Deadline: March 18, 2026 at 11:59 pm
One grant for a PhD student valued at $30,000

CAAIF-CLA Research Fellowship

Deadline to Register: March 25, 2026
Application Deadline: April 8, 2026

CAAIF-CLA Allied Health Fellowship

Deadline to Register: March 25, 2026
Application Deadline: April 8, 2026
Full-time student: $5,000 + equal matching from supervisor; Part-time student: $2,500 + equal matching from supervisor

If you have any questions, please contact Kitishia-Trista Cordner kitishia.cordner@utoronto.ca

Canadian Institutes of Health Research’s (CIHR) - Free online training on patient engagement

Click here to start any module of the course.

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research’s (CIHR) Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis (IMHA) has developed a set of online, self-directed, free modules related to Patient Engagement (PE) in research! IMHA’s patient partners identified a need for more training in patient engagement and set to work filling the gap for practical tools and resources to help people do patient engagement in research. Modules must be completed in chronological order; after completing each module, you will receive a certificate. While the modules have been developed by IMHA, they are not disease- or condition-specific and are applicable to any research where patient partners are engaged.

Course: A How-to Guide for Patient Engagement in Research

Module 1: What is patient engagement?
Module 2: The research process: (a) Understanding the research process for patient partners and (b) Supporting patient partners throughout the research process for other members of the research team
Module 3: Setting up a research project for a successful partnership
Module 4: Patient engagement for research teams: (a) Being part of a research team for patient partners, and (b) Engaging patients on your research team for other members of the research team

If you have any questions about the training or accessing the modules, please contact imha-iala@cihr-irsc.gc.ca and follow @CIHR_IMHA for related announcements!

Cancer Research Society – International Partnership with Worldwide Cancer Research

The Cancer Research Society is proud of its first international partnership with the UK charity Worldwide Cancer Research (WCR). The aim of this collaboration is to support exploratory and translational research into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

This unique partnership enables Canadian researchers to benefit from international investment, propelling innovative and promising research projects towards the scientific breakthroughs needed to outsmart cancer.

Funding

The grant is worth up to £275,000 over 3 years.

Deadlines

Submissions will open on March 5, 2026 and the deadline will be April 2, 2026 or when the number of applications reaches 500.

Please Apply online or to access the forms and guidelines, please visit this link.

Eligibility

Principal investigators and co‑applicants must hold a research position at a Canadian institution and be eligible to hold research funds.

Additional Information

For questions, email grants@src-crs.ca, please refer to the website for more information.

CANSSI Ontario AI Applications in Statistical Sciences Research Grant

The Ontario Regional Centre of the Canadian Statistical Sciences Institute (CANNSI Ontario) is pleased to share the upcoming funding opportunity with the University of Toronto research community.

CANSSI Ontario AI Applications in Statistical Sciences Research Grant. These one-year grants, of up to $12,500 each, will fund research that uses AI to enhance statistical methodology or theory. The goal of the program is to support a nascent research program or proof of concept, that could go onto more substantive grants. The deadline to submit applications is Feb 3, 2026. CANSSI Ontario will fund up to three projects. Click here to Learn More.
Application process: Please follow the instructions on applying contained in the funding opportunity by following the “Click here to Learn More” link.

An MRA is not required for these funds as awards from CANSSI are not set up in a restricted research fund.

For more information about the above funding opportunities, please contact: Esther Berzunza at: berzunza@utoronto.ca

CIHR Spring 2026 Project Grant competition

The Canadian Institutes of Health (CIHR) Project Grant program is designed to capture ideas with the greatest potential to advance health-related fundamental or applied knowledge, health research, health care, health systems, and/or health outcomes. It supports projects with a specific purpose and a defined endpoint. The best ideas may stem from new, incremental, innovative, and/or high-risk lines of inquiry or knowledge translation approaches.

Registration for the CIHR’s Spring 2026 Project Grant competition is currently open.

Important Dates

Registration Deadline: February 4, 2026
Registration is mandatory: All applicants must submit their registration before the deadline. The application stage will open as soon as the registration has been submitted.
MRA Deadline: February 25, 2026
The internal MRA requirement is for all applicants applying for this award through the University of Toronto: Your application will not be submitted to CIHR until MRA has been approved by all required institutional officials. For all other applicants, please contact the Research Office of the institution through which you are applying.
Application Deadline: March 4, 2026, 8pm ET
This deadline is strictly enforced by CIHR and no exceptions will be made. CIHR will not accept updates to applications after the application deadline.

NOTE: Faculty research offices may also offer editorial review for its on-campus applicants. For divisional grant support and deadlines, contact your divisional research office support staff.

For more information, please visit the Spring 2026 Project Grant Funding Opportunities page (for University of Toronto applicants).

2025-26 Connaught Mid-Career Researcher Award

The Connaught Fund's Mid-Career Researcher Award is a nomination-based program that provides one-time funding of up to $250,000 to support mid-career researchers in leading significant, innovative research and continuing to grow their research programs, with the goal of attracting large-scale external funding, particularly from the Tri-agencies.

Nominations must be submitted through one of two streams:

Accelerator stream: for those investigators aiming to lead larger or significantly different research programs than they have previously.
Resurgence stream: for those investigators experiencing mid-career challenges.

Eligibility for the Mid-Career Researcher Award is limited to tenure-stream faculty members at the University of Toronto in any discipline, who hold the rank of Associate Professor and are between 5 and 15 years of their first academic appointment.

Submission is by divisional nomination only, endorsed by the relevant Vice/Associate Dean/Principal Research. Each Division will be given a quota of nominations that can be submitted. Interested mid-career faculty members should consult with their divisional research office for local selection processes and timelines.

Nomination packages are to be submitted electronically to the Connaught Secretariat (connaught.secretariat@utoronto.ca) by March 16, 2026.

Full program details and nomination materials can be found on the VPRI Funding Opportunities database page: Connaught Mid-Career Researcher Award page

Connaught Community Partnership Research Program

The Connaught Fund's Community Partnership Research Program (CPRP) is designed to help create new collaborative research partnerships or nurture early-stage partnerships between the University and community partners that support research driven by needs and priorities identified by community partners. Funded partnership projects will equitably engage community partners and let non-academic organizations and university researchers access each other’s unique knowledge, expertise, and capabilities on issues of mutual interest. Partnerships supported should show potential to evolve into more established relationships that will attract funding through external agencies, for example, the SSHRC Partnership Grant programs.

Eligibility
Projects must be led by a full-time faculty member whose primary employer is the U of T, and who is Tri-agency active (i.e. currently holds funding from, has an active application to, or is preparing a resubmission to a Federal Tri-agency program). Teams must also include a co-applicant from a lead community partner organization.

Value
Projects can request up to $100,000.

Deadlines
Applicants are required to submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) by April 1, 2026, to the Connaught Secretariat at connaught.secretariat@utoronto.ca.

Full applications are due May 18, 2026, and must be submitted via MRA (My Research Applications).

More information, including guidelines and submission forms, is available here: Funding Opportunity.

CRIS Leadership & Personal Effectiveness Fall Webinar Series

Join the Centre for Research & Innovation Support (CRIS) for an online workshop series focused on enhancing leadership and personal effectiveness for researchers. Each themed session begins with a faculty peer panel sharing experiences and strategies, followed by an interactive workshop for participant collaboration and discussion.

Addressing Ableism in Academia

This workshop explores critical issues of ableism – the discrimination or prejudice against people with disabilities – within academic research environments and advances strategies for inclusive change. This session provides an opportunity for researchers, including those with lived experiences of disability and those working with team members with disabilities, to explore how ableism impacts academic institutions and research teams.

Featured Speakers:

Terry Gardiner, Director, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education
Chavon Niles, Assistant Professor, Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, Temerty Faculty of Medicine
Tanya Titchkosky, Professor of Disability Studies, Department of Social Justice Education, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education

Date and Time: Thurs Oct 2, 1:00-2:30 pm
Format: Virtual
Registration: Session Information and Registration

Building Thriving Research Teams

This workshop engages faculty with approaches and strategies to lead inclusive research teams that thrive. This interactive peer-to-peer session will engage faculty with team leadership reflection, approaches and strategies to foster research environments where inquiry and belonging can work together.

Featured Speakers:

Kelly Arbour-Nicitopoulos, Professor, Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education
Joanne Chung, Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, UTM
Christina Guzzo, Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, UTSC and Immunology, Temerty Faculty of Medicine

Date and Time: Thurs Nov 20, 1:00-2:30 pm
Format: Virtual
Registration: Session Information and Registration

Questions about registration for either session can be directed to cris@utoronto.ca. For additional program and event information, visit our Programs Page.

Derrick Rossi Innovation Awards

The Derrick Rossi Innovation Awards provide funding of up to $300,000 over two (2) years to support proof-of-concept research projects focused on accelerating the implementation and/or commercialization of high-potential, cutting-edge research, with the promise of significant socio-economic impacts. Awards will support research and/or commercialization activities with a focus on knowledge mobilization, deployment and implementation.

Proposals will be evaluated based on innovation, addressing a critical unmet need, potential impact, feasibility, strategic partnerships and team capability. Successful projects will have strong socio-economic or commercial potential, enabling the research or technology to make a positive impact on society.

Applicants can request up to $300,000 per project. Applicants requesting more than $100,000 will require strong evidence of a significant value inflection point, including the potential to attract partnerships, additional grants and the strong potential to attract additional investments (e.g. letters of support).

The proposed project must be based on an existing invention or copyright disclosure filed with the Innovations & Partnerships Office (IPO) by Friday February 13, 2026.

For each project, a Notice of Intent (NOI) must be submitted to IPO by Monday, March 2, 2026. Full applications are by invitation only and will be due by Monday, March 30, 2026.

Program Materials:

Developing Medicines through Open Science (DMOS) - Call for Letters of Intent

Conscience Medicines Network is excited to share that applications are now open for the second round of the Developing Medicines through Open Science (DMOS). The program aims to foster collaborations that undertake preclinical and clinical work to develop drug candidates in areas of unmet medical need, establish proof of concept (POC) for an open science path to drug development and further translate innovations into affordable medicines, generate economic activity, and support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Canada.

With total funding of $15M, this program supports projects focused on life-threatening or severely debilitating diseases that have demonstrated strong target validation and tractability to enable clinical proof of concept and undertake either IND-enabling preclinical studies or human safety and efficacy studies.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for DMOS funding, applicants must:

Propose a preclinical or clinical research plan in an area of unmet medical need with a commitment to developing accessible medicines
Conduct research at Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) 2-7
Include at least one Canadian SME
Provide proof of matching funds to cover the remaining cost, as Conscience will fund a maximum of 33% to researchers, academic institutions, and large enterprises, and 50% to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
Commit to Open Science Policy

Learn More and Apply:

The application process consists of two key phases: a Letter of Intent (LOI) application, followed by an invitation for selected applicants to submit a full proposal. Proposals are accepted on a rolling basis until all funding is allocated.

Detailed information about the application process, including required documents and evaluation criteria, can be found at the official website: Conscience Medicines Network.

For any program-related questions, please refer to the FAQs, watch the Virtual information session, or contact the Senior Program Manager, Resham Chhabra, at resham.chhabra@conscience.ca.

The applicant must also upload and submit the application through the university's My Research Application (MRA) System. The MRA approval process should be started well in advance, in parallel, to ensure a successful submission, since it can take several business days to complete the approval process.

GAC and SSHRC International Policy Ideas Challenge 2026 - Call for Proposals

Global Affairs Canada (GAC), in collaboration with the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), has announced the ninth edition of the International Policy Ideas Challenge (IPIC). The objective of the program is to draw on the network of talented Canadian graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, and early-career civil society researchers to identify concrete, innovative solutions to emerging international policy challenges faced by Canada.

The program offers applicants a chance to test their skills at translating academic expertise into policy language and insights. Applicants are invited to submit brief proposals. GAC will select between 5 and 10 submissions and provide coaching/mentoring to the winning candidates for further developing their proposals into full policy briefs with actionable recommendations. Winners will present their briefs to Government of Canada officials as part of a virtual session that will take place in December 2026.

Value: Between 5 and 10 awards will be granted. For each winning proposal, $5,000 will be provided to the lead (or sole) researcher upon formal presentation and submission of the final brief to GAC and SSHRC.

Eligibility: The International Policy Ideas Challenge invites applications from current graduate students (Master’s or PhD level) and post-doctoral fellows enrolled at a recognized Canadian or international post-secondary institution.

Researchers affiliated with a Canadian non-profit organization (e.g., a non-governmental organization or a think tank) who are within 6 years of graduation from a graduate program at a recognized post-secondary institution will also be considered.

Applicants must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada.

Indeterminate and term employees of the Government of Canada are not eligible to apply. Additionally, employees of GAC, including students and casuals, are not eligible to apply.

Team applications, with a maximum of 3 members, are permitted; however, a lead researcher must be identified. A team application that includes collaborators from other universities is permitted. In the case of a team application, all members are expected to meet the above requirements.

Application deadline and how to apply: Applications are due March 2, 2026, and application material must be submitted directly by the lead researcher to IPIC-CIPI.OIH-POA@international.gc.ca.

For complete guidelines, including details about what to include in the application, please visit the program homepage on the Government of Canada website here. Any questions should be directed to IPIC-CIPI.OIH-POA@international.gc.ca.

GlycoNet: Current Funding Opportunities

The Canadian Glycomics Network (GlycoNet) mobilizes Canada’s glycomics expertise into transdisciplinary, focused research and development programs to deliver breakthrough solutions for human and animal health and sustainable agri-food systems.

GlycoNet funds projects along the following research innovation continuum: translational research and development, clinical engagement, technology development, and knowledge mobilization.

GlycoNet currently has several open grant competitions.

Key program information is summarized below, and detailed Requests for Proposals (RFPs) are available on GlycoNet’s website.

Current Call Competitions:

Collaborative Team Grant

This Request for Proposals seeks to fund projects that involve two or more research groups, preferably in different institutions. Proposals may request up to $150,000/year over two years (matching requirement is 1:1).

How to Apply: Potential applicants must register by sending their Letter of Intent (LOI) to info@glyconet.ca and vsharko@glyconet.ca. Upon registration, applicants will receive access and instructions for completing the full application in the Forum.

Application Deadline: March 31, 2026

For more details, see the Collaborative Team RFP.

Rolling Call Competitions:

These programs operate on a rolling basis, with proposals reviewed quarterly until the funds are fully allocated:

Translational Grant

These grants seek to fund multidisciplinary projects with clear endpoints to advance and de-risk them to a state at which translation is possible and could attract partners. Maximum request: $150,000 for one year, 1:1.5 matching required.

For more details, see the Translational Grant RFP and the LOI Template.

Strategic Initiatives Grant

These grants fund partner-led or initiated projects designed to meet partners’ needs. Maximum request: $150,000 for one year, 1:1.5 matching required.

For more details, see the Strategic Initiatives RFP and the LOI Template.

Questions about project suitability and eligibility can be directed to the GlycoNet Administrative Centre at info@glyconet.ca.

Halo Science: Various Research Funding Opportunities

Halo Science provides a platform where companies seeking scientific engagement can post their research needs and offer sponsored research opportunities to address them. Halo features a growing list of partner companies across a broad spectrum of fields. These partners contribute to a dynamic list of projects that require academic involvement.

There is no cost to academic researchers to join the mailing list or to respond to opportunities presented at Halo. U of T investigators are invited to register and propose solutions to posted challenges in their respective fields by submitting a brief, non-confidential summary. Companies may then reach out directly to engage in standard sponsored research arrangements.

Since responding to an opportunity is primarily an expression of interest and not a commitment of resources, an MRA will only be required once any subsequent discussion with the sponsoring company proceeds to the stage of budgeting and contract negotiations.

Halo Science sends out periodic lists of open projects to registered investigators and institutions. However, researchers can browse the Halo website at any time for open opportunities of interest.

As the list of opportunities offered by Halo clients is constantly evolving, researchers are encouraged to use the direct link to check their marketplace for current opportunities.

Halo hosts webinars with their partners to discuss their opportunities. By signing up on their portal (which is free), you will receive invitations to register for upcoming webinars.

Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJI) - U of T Research & Training Alliance

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJI) and University of Toronto (U of T) are hosting a call for proposals for a Research & Training Alliance. This opportunity supports the development of a research collaborative that exchanges graduate and undergraduate students, researchers and one post-doctoral fellow.

Proposals are invited for the research areas of life sciences, natural sciences, engineering and bio-medical sciences.

Eligibility:

U of T applicants must have a faculty appointment and be eligible to hold research funding
HUJI applicants must have a faculty appointment and be eligible to supervise research students

Important Dates:

Application deadline – April 23, 2026
Notification to successful applicants – July 2026

Value & Duration:

U of T and HUJI will each provide the project with up to CAD $75,000 per year for up to four years

For full details about the opportunity and instructions on how to apply, please visit this web page.

Faculty are encouraged to review U of T’s safeguarding research resources when developing their proposals.

Do not use MRA to submit this application.

Demystifying Horizon Europe: Opportunities in Cluster 4 (Digital, Industry, and Space) and Beyond

The Division of the Vice-President, Research & Innovation is hosting an information session and networking event focused on Cluster 4 (Digital, Industry, Space) of the Horizon Europe program. Join our special guests from the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA) and Canada’s Horizon Europe Secretariat to learn more about the funding opportunities in the new 2026-2027 work programme within Cluster 4, and to acquire insights applicable to all clusters.

This session will:

Provide a general overview of Horizon Europe’s Pillar II funding opportunities,
Introduce HaDEA programs and highlight funding opportunities for digital, industry and space in the 2026-2027 Work Programme,
Provide tips for building partnerships and developing competitive applications,
Describe available supports at the institutional, national and international level,
Offer an opportunity to ask questions and hear directly from officials from the European Commission, and Canada’s Horizon Europe Secretariat, as well as U of T’s leadership, faculty and staff.

Moderator:

Gwen Burrows, Assistant Vice-President, International Engagement & Impact, U of T

Speakers:

Leah Cowen, Vice-President, Research and Innovation, U of T
Katleen Engelbosch, Head of Department, HaDEA/B “Digital, Industry, Space”, European Commission (EC)
Georgia Tzenou, Programme Manager, HaDEA/B “Digital, Industry, Space”, EC
Tamara Sone, National Contact Point Coordinator, Horizon Europe Secretariat, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
Cintia Cristia, Assistant Director, International Research, U of T

Date & Time: March 4, 2026, 12:30pm – 3:30pm

Format: In-Person

The session will begin with an opportunity to network amongst the invited speakers, colleagues and international research support staff over coffee, with the formal presentations starting at 1:00 pm.

Participants are advised to visit the VPRI Funding Opportunity Page in advance of attending for an overview of the Horizon Europe programme and browse the 2026-2027 Programme for clusters related to their research.

Session Information and Registration

Further detail and registration here.

Questions about registration can be directed to cris@utoronto.ca. For additional program and event information visit our Programs Page.

For further details about Horizon Europe, please visit the VPRI Funding Opportunity page.

Horizon Europe: New Matchmaking and Info Sessions

Additional Horizon Europe info days and matchmaking events have been announced to help researchers learn and connect with potential collaborators. These types of events are one of the most recommended routes to finding and/or building a competitive consortium for Horizon Europe applications. Many of the events include online platforms to facilitate virtual meetings for those who are unable to attend live or in person.

A reminder that the European Commission has released the complete Horizon Europe 2026-27 work programmes containing all upcoming funding calls.

Cluster 4: Digital Calls Matchmaking Platform

This virtual matchmaking platform supports Cluster 4 Digital Calls.

Date: Registration to the platform is available until April 15, 2026. Earlier engagement is encouraged.
Place: Online
More information and registration
Organizers: IDEAL-IST (Digital NCPs) and Enterprise Europe Network

Artificial Intelligence in Horizon Europe Calls

This virtual matchmaking event brings together applicants interested in submitting proposals relating to artificial intelligence and require the involvement of social sciences and the humanities. If you are planning to pitch, please submit your presentation as soon as possible.

Date: February 25, 2026
Time: 3:30 am ET
Place: Online
More information and registration
Organizer: Net4Society (Cluster 2 NCP Network)

New European Bauhaus Info Day

The New European Bauhaus (NEB) Facilityis a policy and funding initiative that makes green transition in built environments and beyond enjoyable, attractive and convenient for all. This info day will feature presentation of the NEB work programme for 2026 and an extensive Q&A session.

Date: February 24, 2026
Time: 7 – 11 am ET
Place: Online
More information
Organizer: European Commission

Cluster 3 Civil Security for Society Info Day

This event will highlight research topics covered within the 2026 calls for proposals in Horizon Europe Cluster 3, Civil security for Society. Participants will also benefit from practical information on how to apply, as well as opportunities to network and build consortia for future project proposals.

Date: March 4, 2026
Time: 3 am – 11 am ET
Place: Hybrid (Livestream/Brussels)
For more information and registration
Organizer: European Commission

Horizon Europe: 2026-27 Work Programme Released; Information Sessions and Brokerage Events

The European Commission has released the official 2026-27 work programme for Horizon Europe.

We encourage you to explore the calls for potential alignment with your research interests.

Additionally, Information Days for the thematic cluster areas are scheduled, starting in January 2026. These sessions provide overviews of the new work programme and tips for applying. Registration for associated brokerage events is also open. The brokerage events feature pitch presentations by organizations seeking consortia partners and opportunities for bilateral meetings with potential partners.

If you cannot attend the sessions due to time differences, presentations are typically available on the EU Science & Innovation YouTube Channels post-event. Registering for brokerage events will also give you access to materials and matchmaking platforms outside of the live events.

Below are details of the events scheduled to date, listed by Cluster/Mission. Check the European Commission’s Events page for updates on events for other clusters.

Cluster 2: Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society – Information Day

Date: March 26, 2026
Time: 4:30 am ET
More information
Place: Online
Organizer: European Commission

J. P. Bickell Foundation Medical Research Grant

The J. P. Bickell Foundation Medical Research Grant provides assistance to biomedical scientists with grants valued at approximately $50,000 to $70,000 each. These grants may be distributed among medical research institutes and universities in Ontario.

The J. P. Bickell Foundation will accept one application per qualifying institution. As such, the University of Toronto will be conducting an internal review to select one applicant to go forward with full application.

Your application will be reviewed by a minimum of three (3) members of our internal review panel. This panel will be comprised of University of Toronto faculty members with a medical research background, who have volunteered their time to provide expertise in reviewing your application.

If you do not intend to apply for this grant opportunity and would like to volunteer as a panel member for the 2026 J. P. Bickell Foundation Medical Research Grant internal review, please contact Research Services (kitishia.cordner@utoronto.ca).

Criteria
The J. P. Bickell Foundation will use the following criteria in assessing applications, per program guidelines:

Projects must have scientific merit and be primarily medical in nature.
New researchers seeking start up grants receive priority.
New, innovative projects receive priority.
Applications submitted should most suitably fit the institutions' requirements and the Foundation's criteria.
Supplemental grants may only be made for equipment essential to the described project where main source funding for equipment is unobtainable. For equipment costing more than $10,000 indicate the use, extent of use, availability of similar equipment and the current operating support.
Grants are usually within the $50,000 to $70,000 range.
Grants are not made to cover deficits, or to supplement a project grant from another granting agency (except for essential equipment).

Deadlines:

February 27, 2026: Notice of Intent due date
March 24, 2026: Internal application due date; in addition to the application package, an MRA is required by this date
April 24, 2026: PIs will be notified of final selection
April 30, 2026: Final deadline for submission of full applications to the J. P. Bickell Foundation

Application Process

Notice of Intent: February 27, 2026 The Research Services Office would appreciate being notified of any intent to apply in advance of the internal application deadline, to allow sufficient time to assemble the review panels. Kindly send a brief email to Kitishia-Trista Cordner (kitishia.cordner@utoronto.ca)once you have decided that you intend to apply.

Internal Application: March 24, 2026 Applications will be due to Research Services (kitishia.cordner@utoronto.ca) by end of day (5:00PM). This internal deadline has been set to ensure sufficient time for internal review and selection. The University may submit only one application per competition year. An MRA is required for this application and must be received before the internal deadline.

Notification of Internal Decision: April 24, 2026. Applicants will be notified of the review committee’s decision. Selected applicant will have time for final review and minor corrections.

Sponsor Deadline: April 30, 2026. Selected applicants must submit their application through the Sponsor’s online portal and provide Research Services with a copy of their final application.
Complete Application Package: The following materials are required in order for your application package to be considered complete.

A completed application form
A supporting letter from the Director or Head of the Office of Research Administration, or the equivalent, at that institution
The applicant's and co-applicant(s’) curriculum vitae(s)
Other attachments as noted in the application process, to be completed by Research Services
The online application must contain a completed signatory page

Lotte & John Hecht Memorial Foundation

Lotte & John Hecht Memorial Foundation of Vancouver, BC would like to welcome research groups to apply for funding opportunities in the field of major illnesses with a primary focus in oncology. We specialize in providing support to research projects that are novel and innovative and/or that otherwise experience difficulties in receiving support from other sources, potentially resulting from the inability to create intellectual property or from lack of peer support – in other words, high-risk, unconventional and disruptive research.

Because of that premise, the research project must be of high quality. We welcome all spectrums of experimental design initiatives, from meta-analyses and pilots to randomized controlled double-blinded trials and operational support; both pre-clinical and clinical projects are invited, with preference being given to clinical trials.

Deadlines:

Currently, applications are reviewed three times per year, and the potential for funding starts in April, August, and December for successful applicants.

Submission Guidelines:

Applicants should telephone the Foundation to discuss their project before submitting a proposal. If appropriate, a letter of intent and supporting documents will be requested.

Additional Information:

For more information, please email anakonechnaya@hecht.org or visit our website at hecht.org.

Examples of previously funded research include:

Lessening organ dysfunction/injury with vitamin C (LOVIT trial) / University of Sherbrooke / ClinicalTrials ID – NCT03680274
Phase II randomized crossover study of the efficacy and safety of omega-3 fatty acid supplements on lung cancer-promoting inflammatory markers in heavy smokers / BC Cancer
Histamine receptor 2 antagonists as enhancers of anti-tumour immunity / Dalhousie University, through a collaboration with the Canadian Cancer Society
Fecal microbial transplantation in combination with immunotherapy in melanoma patients (MIMic trial) / Lawson Health Research Institute / ClinicalTrials ID – NCT03772899

Lotte & John Hecht Memorial Foundation - Basic Research

The Hecht Foundation invites proposals for proof-of-principle basic science and preclinical research with a primary focus on cancer and a secondary emphasis on other devastating diseases (e. g. diabetes, cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative disease, opioid drug use, etc.). This funding opportunity is designed to support non-mainstream hypotheses and original projects that fall outside traditional funding mechanisms and have not previously received grant or award support.

In 2026, the Hecht Foundation will award up to $450,000 CAD per project over a three-year period.

Objectives

This initiative seeks to catalyze high-risk, high-reward research by attracting emerging ideas that challenge conventional paradigms. Preliminary data is not required; however, proposals must be substantiated through:

Extensive literature review
Logical rationale for the hypothesis
Demonstrated feasibility through cited publications or relevant unpublished data

Applicants must also clearly articulate the capabilities and management of the research team, including relevant expertise, available infrastructure, and access to necessary resources.

Eligibility and Scope for Basic Science Proposals

All submissions must comply with the general eligibility requirements. In addition, basic science competition-specific eligibility may be found below.

Proposals may originate from early-career or established investigators, and may be inspired by:

Innovations from adjacent or unrelated disciplines
Collateral findings discovered serendipitously
Novel methodologies or conceptual frameworks

This funding stream will not support lead investigator salaries, large equipment, and overhead institutional expenses.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

For basic proposal-specific guidelines, please email health@hecht.org.

Lotte & John Hecht Memorial Foundation - Clinical Trials

The Hecht Foundation invites investigator-initiated proposals for early-stage clinical trials (feasibility/pilot studies, phase I, phase II) with a primary focus on cancer. This program is designed to support innovative clinical research that addresses unmet medical needs and has the potential to improve patient outcomes.

Both single-centre and multi-centre clinical trial proposals are welcome. Applicants must provide evidence of ethics approval and/or Health Canada submission at the time of full proposal submission.

In 2026, the Hecht Foundation will award up to $1,000,000 CAD per project over a five-year period, with the possibility of extensions. For proposals requesting funding in excess of $1,000,000, applicants must demonstrate secured or pending co-funding at the time of submission.

Eligibility and Scope for Clinical Trial Proposals

All submissions must comply with the general eligibility requirements. In addition, clinical trial competition-specific eligibility may be found below.

The Foundation seeks to fund novel studies that investigate non-patentable molecules, substances, and treatment regimens which offer meaningful patient benefits but possess limited commercial appeal. Projects that fall outside traditional pharmaceutical development pathways are particularly encouraged.

Examples of eligible research topics include:

Alternative surgical procedures
Lifestyle and dietary interventions
Over-the-counter medication for therapeutic or supportive purposes
Drug repurposing initiatives
Treatment regimens not yet adopted in Canada and where further validation studies are required
Improvement of existing treatment modalities

Proposals must be grounded in extensive basic science evidence or, where basic science is not applicable, supported by comprehensive literature reviews. Only interventional projects are invited to this competition; the type of intervention can be quite broad, and the proposed outcomes may vary from prevention/diagnosis/treatment to improving the quality of life.

Exclusions

Qualitative studies focused primarily on socio-economic, psychological, or behavioral outcomes will not be considered under this funding program.

This funding stream will not support lead investigator salaries, large equipment, and overhead institutional expenses.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

For clinical trial-specific guidelines, please email health@hecht.org.

Mitacs Accelerate Program - Develop Your Ideas with R&D Funding

For more than 25 years, Mitacs has helped researchers across Canada connect their ideas with partners who can bring them to life, translating academic innovation into tangible outcomes. In Ontario alone, more than 4,000 organizations have collaborated with academia and Mitacs to advance technologies, policies, and innovative solutions through applied research.

Mitacs Accelerate creates dynamic collaborations that partner for-profit and not-for-profit organizations with Canada’s brightest academic minds. This research award provides leveraged funding of $15,000 CAD per four- or six-month internship, where interns will work collaboratively with their academic supervisor and partner organization on a research project.

Now is a great time to apply for research funding through Accelerate:

From now until March 31, 2026, the Mitacs Accelerate program is open for unlimited applications in Ontario to leverage partner contributions for projects ranging from four months to five years.

The Accelerate program aims to:

Help businesses optimize their budgets, grow their R&D and tap into the expertise of highly skilled students, graduate students, recent grads and post-docs to solve your research challenges.
Help students broaden their professional networks, tap into funding opportunities, and gain invaluable hands-on experience at for-profit and not-for-profit partner organizations seeking skilled research talent.
Help professors build game-changing research partnerships with industry leaders, tap into flexible funding, and help drive the innovation of tomorrow.

Eligibility

Academic supervisors are eligible if they are faculty at a Canadian academic institution who are eligible to hold Tri-Agency funds.
Partner organizations can be for-profit corporations (must receive more than 50% of their funds from non-government sources), eligible not-for-profit corporations, municipalities, or hospitals in Canada.
An intern can be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident, an international student with a student visa, or an international postdoctoral fellow with a valid work permit.

See guidelines on Eligibility for more information.

How to apply

Please refer to the How to Apply section on Accelerate on the Mitacs’ website: Mitacs Accelerate Program.

Researchers with a Mitacs Accelerate project in development, or those interested in submitting a new application, should contact Mitacs Business Development Advisor Modupe Olufemi (molufemi@mitacs.ca) or Mitacs Regional Director, Ontario, Laura Yu (lyu@mitacs.ca) to discuss their application.

Questions can be directed to accelerate@mitacs.ca. For additional information, please visit the Mitacs Website.

MITACS Elevate proposals are now accepted year-round

As of today, the Mitacs Elevate program will be open all year round to provide more flexibility and unlock more opportunities for postdoc researchers across the globe!

This evolution is part of an ongoing effort to make Mitacs Elevate a more inclusive and accessible program and support academic-industry collaboration throughout the seasons. Plus, the evergreen Elevate program now offers the following benefits:

No more deadlines — apply anytime
Elevate proposals will be accepted on a rolling basis.

A more efficient and accessible application process
Proposals can now be submitted through the Registration and Application Portal (RAP) for quick and easy access.

Agile research projects, $60K/year in funding
One-year projects will now be accepted for a standard $60,000 award per year to allow more researchers to participate in training and gain valuable experience. Two-year projects are also still available as per previous guidelines.

Open to all sectors and disciplines
To simplify requirements, the thematic award will no longer be offered. This means postdocs from any sector or academic discipline can apply anytime.

For detailed program and application information, please visit: https://research.utoronto.ca/funding-opportunities/db/mitacs-elevate

Please note: the applicant must also upload and submit the application through the university's My Research Application (MRA) System. The MRA approval process should be started well in advance, in parallel, to ensure a successful submission, since it can take several business days to complete the approval process.

National Research Council of Canada: The Pandemic Response Challenge Program - Call for Expression of Interest

The Pandemic Response Challenge Program is currently structured around four main research areas:

Rapid detection and diagnosis
Therapeutics and vaccine development
Digital health

Purpose: This program will build teams to address challenges requiring further research and development for solutions to meet COVID-19 related needs. The NRC will build these teams drawing on internal-to-government capacity and academic researchers who register using the button below to indicate their interest, and related areas of expertise and capabilities.

The NRC will receive $15M to form dedicated teams to address challenges in the areas of greatest research and development (R&D) need in the fight against COVID-19. The NRC Pandemic Response Challenge Program will accelerate the development of diagnostics and medical countermeasures for a rapid front-line response to protect and treat Canadians. This national vehicle will convene the best Canadian and international researchers from academia and small and medium-sized businesses to collectively accelerate R&D to address specific COVID-19 gaps and challenges as identified by Canadian health experts.

Researchers at Canadian and international universities, government departments, colleges, and highly innovative firms with relevant expertise can now register their interest to work with NRC on these challenges by Registering via the link below.

On that linked page, you will be asked to identify your primary area of interest. Please note that, as a 'radio button,' you can only select one Challenge area at a time.

Funding is available to help cover the costs of research for academic institutions, small and medium-sized businesses, and other eligible recipients participating in the challenge teams. Over the coming weeks, NRC will post the specific R&D challenges, send information to registered researchers, and invite them to indicate the expertise and capabilities they can bring to a team.

https://nrc.canada.ca/en/research-development/research-collaboration/programs/expression-interest-challenge-program-collaboration

Additional Information and Submission Guide

For more information about the different research areas for the NRC Pandemic Response Challenge, please visit the program website.

In order to manage the University's response to the COVID-19 Challenge, please confirm your registration via a courtesy email to strat.initiatives@utoronto.ca identifying the Challenge stream to which you have registered. As with other Challenges in relation to COVID-19, this is a rapidly evolving real-world situation, so please be patient as NRC finalizes program details.

2026 NFRF International Joint Initiative for Research Harnessing Disruptive Technologies to Address Global Challenges

The New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF) – International Stream has launched the 2026 International Joint Initiative for Research Harnessing Disruptive Technologies to Address Global Challenges. This call aims to harness the potential of disruptive technology to offer novel solutions to global challenges and accelerate progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Eligibility: Each project team must be eligible to receive funds from at least three funding organizations (see list below). A minimum of three Principal Investigators, each eligible to receive funding from different funding organizations, must be represented on the research team. At least one of the three PIs must be eligible for NFRF funding.

Please note that this competition will utilize a distributed peer review model at the LOI stage, which will require that all Co-PIs must be available to act as reviewers. The completion of timely and high-quality reviews will be required to maintain eligibility in the competition.

Duration & Funding: Funding for Canadian Researchers will be coordinated through the New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF). Funding available for Canadian researchers is $1,500,000 (including 25% indirect costs) for three-years. International Co-PIs will be funded directly from their own funding organizations, with various budget limits.

Deadlines:

This call has a two-stage application process, with a mandatory NOI completed and submitted in the Convergence Portal by Canadian Applicants, followed by an LOI and invited full application.

NOI deadline: March 3, 2026

LOI deadline:

Internal Deadline: June 2, 2026

Sponsor Deadline: June 9, 2026

Full Application (invited only): Nov. 3, 2026

For more information, please visit the NFRF International website and U of T’s funding opportunities database. Editorial support will be provided for U of T lead proposals. Details can be found on the Funding Opportunities page.

RSO Support
Applications will be supported by Deborah Buehler (d.buehler@utoronto.ca) and Abby Vogus (abby.vogus@utoronto.ca) in the RSO. Please see the Funding Opportunities page for details on the division of support.

Participating funding organizations/countries:

New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF) – Canada
International Development Research Centre (IDRC) – Ghana, Indonesia, Namibia, Peru, Rwanda, and Zimbabwe
NordForsk – Åland Islands, Denmark, Finland, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden
Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) – Switzerland
São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) – Brazil
Dutch Research Council (NWO) – The Netherlands
Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland – Ireland
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) – United Kingdom

New Frontiers in Research Fund, International Stream (NFRF-I): Strategies for Success

The Division of the Vice-President, Research & Innovation is hosting an information session on the New Frontiers in Research Fund’s 2026 International (NFRF-I) Joint Initiative for Research Harnessing Disruptive Technologies to Address Global Challenges. This session will provide strategies to develop successful international collaborations, approaches to new funding opportunities, and tips for applying to this call. Participants will hear from experienced faculty members, who will share insights on developing competitive international, interdisciplinary, and intersectoral research proposals, and members of the Research Services Office, who will outline the NFRF-I call and address common challenges in preparing applications.

Intended for NFRF-I applicants who submitted an NOI (due March 3, 2026), this session will also benefit researchers interested in applying to large, collaborative, international grants, like Horizon Europe.

This session will also provide:

Recommendations on effectively addressing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in research proposals
Advice on developing and managing international research collaborations
Effective methods for addressing equity, diversity, and inclusion in research programs

Moderators:

Cintia Cristia, Assistant Director, International Research, Research Services
Golnaz Farhat, Manager, Research Development & Inclusive Excellence, Research Services

Faculty Panel:

Fikile Nxumalo, Associate Professor, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education; Awardee in the 2023 NFRF International Joint Initiative for Research in Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation
Erica Di Ruggiero, Research Director, SDGs@UofT; and Associate Professor, Global Health, Dalla Lana School of Public Health
Emma Master, Professor, Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry
Jeffrey Siegel, Professor, Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering, Department of Civil and Mineral Engineering
Igor Stagljar, Professor, Molecular Genetics, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research

Date & Time: March 16, 2026, 1pm – 2:30pm

Format: Virtual

Session Information and Registration

Questions about registration can be directed to cris@utoronto.ca. For additional CRIS program and event information, visit our Programs Page.

For further NFRF-I information, please visit the VPRI Funding Opportunity Page, the NFRF-International website, and the previously recorded federal webinar.

New NIH Funding Opportunity: Collaborative International Research Project

NIH has now released its first funding opportunity under the new PF5 activity code allowing for the participation of foreign institutions (including the University of Toronto) as funded collaborators: the NIH Collaborative International Research Project.

In September 2025, NIH announced a new application structure for NIH-funded international collaborations, replacing the previous foreign subaward structure that had been cancelled by NIH earlier that year. Under this new structure, the only mechanism by which foreign institutions can receive NIH funds from awards led by United States based institutions (i.e., sub-awards) is through funding opportunities under the new activity codes: PF5 (for grants) and UF5 (for co-op agreements).

This newly-launched PF5 funding opportunity (#PA-26-002) is intended for projects involving a funded collaboration with a foreign institution. Applications must be led by an eligible U.S. entity and include at least 1 foreign subproject. The proposed project must relate to the programmatic interests of one or more of the participating NIH Institutes/Centers/Offices (ICO). The application will follow the instructions for a multi-project application and the application details are outlined in the funding opportunity.

Once awarded, the U.S. lead and each foreign (subproject) institution will receive a separate Notice of Award (NOA).

For additional information & guidance on this new funding opportunity, please see here.

NSERC Alliance Advantage - Updates on extensions with additional funds

Alliance Advantage grants support research projects conducted in collaboration with partner organizations to address organizational challenges and accelerate the application of research results.

The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) has observed unprecedented demand for Alliance Advantage grants and is seeking to maximize opportunities to support new applications for partnered research.

NSERC is pausing the intake of requests for extensions with additional funds, as of February 27, 2025, at 8:00 p.m. (ET). Until further notice, NSERC will not consider requests for additional one-year funding for existing Alliance Advantage grants beyond this deadline.

Requests received before 8:00 p.m. (ET) on February 27, 2025, will be processed, and decisions will be subject to the availability of funds.

To request an extension with additional funding by this date, please contact your NSERC File Manager.

The Alliance Advantage literature has been updated to reflect this change. Other extension opportunities with no additional funding remain available.

NSERC Collaborative Research and Training Experience (CREATE)

NSERC’s Collaborative Research and Training Experience (CREATE) program awards grants of up to $1.65M over 6 years for the development of innovative training programs designed to enhance collaboration and facilitate the transition of trainees to productive employees in the Canadian workforce.

This program involves a two-step process. The first step involves the submission of a Letter of Intent (LOI). Those selected at the LOI stage will proceed to the second step and submit a full application.

CREATE program’s processes remain unchanged from last year:

Although there is still an institutional allotment from NSERC, an unlimited number of Letters of Intent (LOIs) can be submitted by an institution for this year's competition.
Please note that the University of Toronto has an allotment of a maximum of 5 LOIs that can be submitted.
If more than 5 LOIs are received, NSERC will evaluate all LOIs submitted by U of T to determine which will advance to the application stage through peer review using established criteria.

NEW - For the 2027 competition, NSERC will fund one additional CREATE initiative through quantum funding announced in Budget 2025 as part of the upcoming Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS). The initiative will help advance the strategy’s workforce development priorities by supporting training opportunities that result in skilled and technologically proficient research trainees in areas including, but not limited to, quantum communications, quantum sensing, quantum materials, quantum computing, and quantum software. Applications will be evaluated through the normal CREATE peer review process, but applications should include "Quantum" in the title. LOIs submitted to the Quantum call are not included in each university’s allotment of LOIs advancing to the application stage. Each university can submit up to one LOI for the Quantum call. Similarly, the Quantum call grant is excluded from the maximum of 3 CREATE grants that can be awarded to a single institution in 2027.

*If you intend to apply to the CREATE DIS option, please notify us by March 1, 2026.

DEADLINES:

Internal LOI Deadline – Friday, April 17, 2026, 9:00 AM (FIRM)

Applicants must submit a completed LOI package via email to Keti Dzamova by 9:00AM on April 17^th . Late submission will not be accepted.
Additional Information on the NSERC Collaborative Research and Training Experience (CREATE) Program will be available on NSERC website sometime in March.

Ontario Centre of Innovation: Collaborate 2 Commercialize - Call for Applications

The Ontario Centre for Innovation’s Collaborate 2 Commercialize program (C2C, formerly VIP) supports Industry/Academia collaboration solving an industry-based problem and driving the commercialization of Intellectual Property [IP]. The institution leverages the unique skills and specialized infrastructure instrumental in streamlining internal innovations and commercialization needs. Benefits include targeted training of individuals and direct engagement with Industry to work on commercially viable solutions.

Grant Program: Collaborate 2 Commercialize (C2C, formerly VIP)

C2C has two variants/options:

1: C2C R&D Standalone Grant

OCI cash contribution $20K-$150K (Industry Direct Cash $10K-$75K + in-kind, cash matched 2:1 by OCI) Project duration 6-24 months
companies of any size, but with a demonstrated receptor capacity
More info: https://www.oc-innovation.ca/programs/collaborate-2-commercialize/

2: C2C grant combined with NSERC Alliance Grant

OCI cash contribution $20K-$30K (Industry Direct Cash $10K-$15K + in-kind, cash matched 2:1 by OCI, and also matched 2:1 by NSERC for an additional $20K-$30K Project duration 6-12 months
Companies must be Ontario SMEs (global headcount <500 employees)
More info: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Innovate-Innover/VIP-BIP_eng.asp (NSERC website may still refer to VIP rather than C2C)

For full application information and guidelines, please visit: https://research.utoronto.ca/funding-opportunities/db/ontario-centre-innovation-collaborate-2-commercializ.e

Please note: the applicant must upload and submit the application through the university's My Research Application (MRA) System. MRA is the internal University approval system that confirms support for your application from your department/faculty.

Storytelling for Research Impact & Narrative CV Webinars

The Centre for Research & Innovation Support (CRIS) is hosting two connected virtual sessions designed to help researchers enhance how they communicate the story and impact of their work. Together, these webinars will explore effective strategies for creating research narratives—from articulating research impact to preparing Narrative CVs for grants, honours, and awards.

Storytelling for Research Impact: An Advancing Research Impact in Society (ARIS)

Join Janice McDonnell (Rutgers University) and Dr. Susan Renoe (University of Missouri) as they explain and demonstrate research impact storytelling strategies for researchers. The speakers will focus on how principal investigators can create compelling research impact narratives and will also provide real-world examples of how researchers have crafted their research impact narratives to model promising practices. They will familiarize the audience with the Broader Impacts tools created by ARIS that researchers can use after the webinar.

Speakers:

Janice McDonell, Associate Dean of Research Impact at the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Rutgers University
Susan Renoe, Associate Vice Chancellor for Research, Development & Strategic Partnerships at the University of Missouri

Date & Time: February 25, 2026 | 10:00 am – 11:30am

Format: Virtual

Session Information and Registration

Narrative CV: What is it and why do I need one?

This session defines the key elements of Narrative CVs and articulates the rationales for the international shift towards using narrative CVs for grants, honours, and awards competitions. The session will introduce strategies for how researchers can prepare proactively for grants and awards competitions that require this type of documentation from applicants. Additionally, the panel will discuss practical strategies for developing and tailoring Narrative CVs that foreground responsible and expansive research assessment, showcase researchers’ most significant contributions and experiences, and emphasize a full range of research impact. Lastly, the session will cover how to craft compelling descriptions of one's research endeavor that draw throughlines to and highlight alignment with granting and award agencies’ calls and nominations.

Date & Time: March 25, 2026 | 10:30am – 12:00pm

Format: Virtual

Session Information and Registration

Questions about registration can be directed to cris@utoronto.ca. For additional program and event information visit our Programs Page.

SSHRC Destination Horizon Grants - UPDATE for 2026

SSHRC has announced that they will be offering their Destination Horizon Grants funding opportunity again in 2026 (two competitions so far have been announced, in January and May, 2026. See below for more). Valued at $15,000 for one year, these grants are intended to support researchers affiliated with eligible Canadian postsecondary institutions to build capacity, foster existing partnerships, and further develop networks and/or consortia with European Union and other “associated countries” researchers, with the ultimate goal of applying to Horizon Europe—Pillar II calls for proposals.

Destination Horizon Grants are not intended to support implementation of Horizon Europe projects. Instead, the grants support activities between researchers that facilitate:

disciplinary and/or interdisciplinary exchanges;
scholarly exchanges;
intersectoral exchanges between academic researchers and practitioners from the public, private and/or not-for-profit sectors; and/or
international research collaboration and scholarly exchanges between researchers affiliated with Canadian postsecondary institutions and researchers, students and non-academic partners from the EU and other associated countries.

Value and duration

Destination Horizon Grants are valued at up to $15,000 for one year.

SSHRC deadlines

In 2026, SSHRC has announced that this competition will be held two times (deadlines of January 22 and May 22, with results announced in March and July respectively).

***NOTE that SSHRC’s guidelines state that an institution may only submit up to three (3) Destination Horizon Grants for a given deadline. Please see below for more on the UofT internal deadlines and selection process.

Matching funds required?

Yes, additional support in the form of eligible cash contributions equivalent to 100% of the amount requested from SSHRC must come from the host institution (a letter of support from the host institution must be included in the application, which clearly confirms the amount and types of the contributions being provided). For more information, please see the "Matching funds" section on RSO's Destination Horizon Grants funding opportunity webpage.

Subject Matter Eligibility

Proposals can involve any disciplines, thematic areas, approaches or subject areas eligible for SSHRC funding. See the guidelines on subject matter eligibility for more information.

Projects whose primary objective is to conduct research activities (e.g., literature reviews, field work, data collection, interviews) are not eligible for funding under this funding opportunity. SSHRC has offered additional clarity on this and has stated that the funds from this grant cannot be used to pay for research activities.

To be eligible for this funding opportunity, applicants must demonstrate:

their eligible affiliation and primary affiliation in the social sciences or humanities;
their readiness to further develop networks and/or consortia with EU and other associated countries’ researchers, with the ultimate goal of applying to a Horizon Europe—Pillar II call;
eligible budget requests; and
100% matching cash contributions from the host institution.

SSHRC’s review/selection process

As per the Destination Horizon Grants webpage, all applications deemed eligible will be entered into a randomized selection process, so the usual SSHRC review process that includes merit review will not be part of this funding competition. For more information on SSHRC’s review/selection process, please see the Selection Process > Randomized selection process section in the grant guidelines on SSHRC’s website.

UofT internal deadlines and selection process

As stated above and in SSHRC's guidelines, an institution is only permitted to submit three applications for each deadline for this funding opportunity. Assuming that more than three UofT PIs will be interested in applying for this competition for each of SSHRC's deadlines, a selection process has been decided upon, which includes an internal deadline of 9 am on May 4, 2026 (for those wishing to apply for SSHRC's deadline in May). More information on this internal deadline and selection process may be found on UofT's Research and Innovation webpage for this funding opportunity (once on that webpage, scroll down to the "UofT internal deadlines and selection process" heading).

SSHRC - Indigenous Capacity and Leadership in Research Connection Grants and Indigenous Innovation and Leadership in Research Network Grants – Stage 1

SSHRC has updates on the recently announced Indigenous research funding opportunities from Canada’s Tri-Agencies: NSERC, SSHRC, and CIHR. As announced in Budget 2024, the federal government committed $30 million to support and increase Indigenous participation in research. In response, and following extensive engagement with Indigenous research partners, the Tri-Agencies have introduced a suite of new programs to strengthen Indigenous leadership and capacity in the research ecosystem. For First Nations and Métis as well as Indigenous post-secondary institutions and not-for-profit research organizations serving more than one distinction, these include:

Indigenous Capacity and Leadership in Research Connection Grants – Now open. These grants aim to contribute to growing the capacity and leadership of First Nations and Métis communities to conduct research and partner with the broader research community. Webinars for the ICLR Connections Grants were presented at the end of June. To receive a copy of the webinar information, please contact SSHRC.

Indigenous Innovation and Leadership in Research Network Grants – Stage 1 – Now open. These institutional grants will support will fund networks for Indigenous-led research that support Indigenous research methodologies and knowledge systems.

Important note: These grant funds can only be administered by a Canadian, Indigenous postsecondary institution or Indigenous not-for-profit organization that holds SSHRC institutional eligibility, so these grants cannot be applied for or administered through the University of Toronto, but this funding opportunity is being shared with the University of Toronto research community for informational purposes only in case there are researchers who would like to connect with other, eligible institutions that may be interested in applying.

SSHRC Partnership Engage Grants - update on the value of PEGs

SSHRC has announced that the value of its Partnership Engage Grants (PEG), starting in the March 2026 PEG competition, will be increased to $10,000 - $50,000 (previously, they were valued at $7,000 - $25,000), and will continue to be one year in duration.

As per SSHRC's PEG website, PEGs provide short-term and timely support for partnered research activities that will inform decision-making at a single partner organization from the public, private or not-for-profit sector. The small-scale, stakeholder-driven partnerships supported through Partnership Engage Grants are meant to respond to immediate needs and time constraints facing organizations in non-academic sectors. In addressing an organization-specific need, challenge and/or opportunity, these partnerships let non-academic organizations and postsecondary researchers access each other’s unique knowledge, expertise and capabilities on topics of mutual interest.

Deadlines: SSHRC PEG competitions occur quarterly (in March, June, September and December). Final SSHRC deadlines are available on the SSHRC PEG website, but for UofT applicants, internal deadlines (including for MRA and the final submission on the SSHRC site) can be seen on the UofT Research and Innovation funding database here.

For more information on the PEG program, please visit SSHRC's PEG website.

2026 START Program - Call for Proposals

Samsung Research America is excited to announce the continuation of the Strategic Alliance for Research and Technology (START) program for 2026. This is an annual call for proposals that invites the North America’s leading universities to propose innovative research ideas that enable a novel device experience for Samsung.

The program aims to identify emerging, frontier technologies fostering solutions that enhance products, services, and user experiences across Samsung’s Device eXperience (DX) division, including mobile, digital health, and related domains, to shape the future of Samsung products and experiences.

Key Research Areas

Artificial Intelligence
Robotics
Digital Health
Multimedia

The selected START projects will receive funding of up to $150,000 for a 1-year period, and the projects may be extended based on annual research outcomes and the necessity for further research partnerships.

START Program Process

February 2026: START Program Open

February - March 2026: Abstract Proposal Submission (Deadline: March 20)

April 2026: Proposal Screening and Candidate Announcement

May 2026: Full Proposal Submission and Interview

June 2026: Recipient Announcement

July - August 2026: START Project Kickoff

Questions about the START program should be directed to start@samsung.com.

Tri-Agency and CFI launch new STRAC Policy

As of May 1 2024, the Tri-Agency federal granting agencies (NSERC, CIHR, SSHRC) as well as the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) implemented the Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern (STRAC) policy which was announced earlier this year. All applications to these agencies and programs must adhere to the STRAC Policy, as outlined on the Tri-Agency Guidance on the STRAC Policy webpage.

To be eligible to receive new research funding in any Sensitive Technology Research Area (STRA) from the CIHR, SSHRC, NSERC and the CFI, each investigator named in the application must provide an individual Attestation that they do not have any affiliation nor are in receipt of funding or in-kind support from any entity on the Named Research Organizations.

?Additionally, the National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships (NSGRP) currently implemented in the NSERC Alliance program will be expanded to multiple Tri-Agency and CFI applications that have a corporate partner.

As always, applicants are strongly encouraged to consult the federal Safeguarding Your Research portal as requirements and information may be updated.

Questions or comments directed to NSERC, CIHR, SSHRC and the CFI may be addressed to researchsecurity@nserc-crsng.gc.ca.

The CFI has launched a new webpage on research security for its programs.

For U of T specific resources and questions, please consult the internal Research Security website?and email address:

https://research.utoronto.ca/safeguarding-research/safeguarding-research

researchsecurity@utoronto.ca.

U of T Public Policy Reports Collection: Call for Submissions

The Division of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation (VPRI) and University of Toronto Libraries (UTL) is calling for submissions to the U of T Public Policy Reports Collection.

This collection assembles public policy research reports produced by the U of T community that are categorized as grey literature (research not published through traditional channels like academic journals). This collection improves the discoverability of U of T contributions to public policy at all levels, while also providing a frequently updated, permanent and search engine-optimized host. The reports are housed on TSpace, a free and secure high-traffic research repository established by UTL to disseminate and preserve the scholarly record of U of T.

Eligibility:

Public policy reports are eligible if they meet the following criteria:

At least one author was a faculty, fellow, student or staff at U of T when the report was issued.
They have not been published in an academic journal in an identical format.

There is no submission deadline.

For more information and instructions for submitting public policy reports to the collection, please visit: https://guides.library.utoronto.ca/tspace/deposit

Overton Policy Database: U of T offers access to Overton, the world’s largest searchable policy database and tool for measuring your research impact. Log in here to see how your work is influencing public policy documents, government, NGO proceedings, clinical guidelines and white papers globally.

UofT Research Security Self-Assessment Tool

The Division of the Vice-President, Research & Innovation is pleased to announce the launch of the Research Security Self-Assessment tool.

Before applying for federal or provincial research funding, researchers are strongly encouraged to use this tool to help them identify research security policies that may be applicable to their project.

Researchers applying for research funding or requesting non-funded agreements may access this tool directly from the Research Security web page or via a new page in My Research Applications & Agreements (MRA). The new page in MRA provides helpful resources and does not collect new information for your application/agreement.

If you have questions, U of T’s Research Security Team is here to help you navigate research security requirements for funding applications and non-funded agreements. For assistance, please contact them early in your application process at researchsecurity@utoronto.ca.

United States Department of Defense (DOD) - Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs - Funding Opportunities

US Department of Defense (DOD) Office of the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) has released pre-funding announcements for the following programs:

Hearing Restoration Research Program (HRRP)

Focused Research Award

Neurotoxin Exposure Treatment Parkinson’s (NETP)

Early Investigator Research Award
Investigator-Initiated Research Award
Synergistic Idea Award (NEW!)

Prostate Cancer Research Program (PCRP)

Prostate Cancer Pathology Resource Network Award
*Descriptions of each of the funding opportunities, eligibility, key mechanism elements, and funding can be found in the respective Program pre-announcement at http://cdmrp.army.mil

Application Information:
UofT campus based applicants should select Toronto, University of for the institution and indicate the appropriate Research Services Office contact (see below) as the Business Official in their pre-application in the eBRAP System.

Contact Information:
Krista Montgomery (krista.montgomery@utoronto.ca): for UofT Faculty appointed within Dalla Lana, Applied Sci & Eng, Dentistry, Forestry, Kinesiology & PE, Nursing, Pharmacy, UTM, and Medicine (last names A-M only).

Deadlines: Individual deadlines available at http://cdmrp.army.mil

Awards

Breakthrough TD1 Research Awards

The following research awards will recognize individuals who have significantly advanced the mission of Breakthrough TD1 (Type-1 Diabetes) Research Foundation.

The Breakthrough T1D David Rumbough Award acknowledges an individual who has made outstanding achievements in the field of type 1 diabetes that have significantly accelerated Breakthrough T1D’s mission.

The George Eisenbarth Award for Type 1 Diabetes Prevention recognizes researchers who have made great contributions to preventing T1D.

The Mary Tyler Moore and S. Robert Levine, M.D., Excellence in Clinical Research Award recognizes leaders and innovators of outstanding clinical and translational T1D research.

The Dr. Robert Goldstein Award recognizes notable early career T1D researchers who show great promise for future work in the field.

Please visit https://www.breakthrought1d.org/explore-research/research-awards/ for more details about these research awards and list of past recipients.

Nominations must be submitted to Breakthrough T1D via this form by March 27th.

If you are interested in pursuing any of these nominations, please contact Sam D'Alfonso in the Faculty Research Office.

2027 Dorothy Killam Fellowships - Information Sessions and Guidelines Released

The Dorothy Killam Fellowships competition (administered by the National Research Council of Canada, NRC) has now released its updated guidelines for the 2027 program cycle (actual application portal opens on March 25, 2026).

The Dorothy Killam Fellowships provide support to scholars of exceptional ability by granting them time to pursue research projects of broad significance and widespread interest within the disciplines of the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, health sciences, engineering or studies linking any of these disciplines. Between 5 and 8 fellowships will be awarded annually.

The full guidelines and application instructions are available on the Dorothy Killam Fellowship - Details page.

Amount and Duration of Fellowship

The Dorothy Killam Fellowships are valued at $80,000 CAD per year for a total of up to $160,000 for 2 years. A Dorothy Killam Fellow is relieved of teaching and administrative duties for the period of the fellowship. The funds are intended to assist the institution in covering the costs of replacing the applicant while still paying the regular salary and benefits during the 2-year fellowship period. The funds are not intended to cover the Fellow's research expenses/activities, and Fellows must obtain support for research and laboratory costs from other sources.

Eligibility

As per the sponsor guidelines, Dorothy Killam Fellowships are intended as release time from employment for mid-career scholars who have demonstrated outstanding research ability. Typically, a Fellowship recipient is a professor at a Canadian university with significant teaching and/or administrative responsibilities.

To be eligible, applicants:

demonstrate commitment to building Canada’s future and alignment with Killam attributes;
are mid-career researchers who usually completed their PhD no more than 15 years prior, though special circumstances may result in applicants being more or less than 15 years post-PhD;
must be employed by a university or other research institute for the duration of the fellowship (2 years) and will submit a proof of employment;
may not have already been awarded a fellowship from the Killam Program of the Canada Council for the Arts. Please note that National Killam Program Office employees, members of the National Killam Program Advisory Board, or the Selection Committee may not apply.
consent to disclose any information that may constitute a significant departure from generally-recognized standards of public behaviour and which is seen to undermine the public reputation of the National Killam Program.
Applicant must submit an approved MRA to indicate that the applicant's academic unit supports the application and approves the applicant's teaching/administrative release that they would receive if the Fellowship is awarded.

Deadlines

Thursday, Apr 29, 2026: Preliminary Abstract submission through the Sponsor's portal
Thursday, Apr 30, 2026, noon: MRA deadline for editorial review submissions (RSO editorial review support is optional)
Thursday, May 14 , 2026, noon: MRA deadline for all applicants not submitting proposals for editorial review
Thursday, May 21, 2026, 11:59pm (applicant's local time): Final sponsor deadline to submit completed applications through the Killam program's application site

***NOTE: For complete information on what needs to be included with the MRA (including how to indicate in the MRA the teaching/administrative release that comes with this Fellowship), please see the VPRI funding opportunity webpage, specifically the "MRA requirement" and "Deadlines" sections.

English session: March 12, 2026, from 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. ET
French session: March 19, 2026, from 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. ET

To attend, please RSVP to KillamProgram-ProgrammeKillam@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca indicating your full name, the session you would like to attend, and any accessibility requirements. You may share any questions in advance of the session.

Sponsor contact information

If you require support in submitting a proposal or for accommodations with regards to the application, please email: KillamProgram-ProgrammeKillam@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca.

Resources

Results for 2025 Dorothy Killam Fellowship.
National Killam Program help webpage.
For more information on preparing your submission package, please consult this video featuring the Chair of the National Killam Selection Committee.

2027 Killam NRC Paul Corkum Fellowship- Information Sessions and Guideline Released

OVERVIEW

The Killam NRC Paul Corkum Fellowship (offered by the National Research Council of Canada, NRC) has now released its updated guidelines for the 2027 program cycle (actual application portal opens on March 25, 2026).

The Killam NRC Paul Corkum Fellowship creates opportunities for mid- to late-career Canadian and international scholars to collaborate with NRC researchers. The Fellowship provides teaching and administrative release time for 12 months for scholars who have demonstrated outstanding research ability, and who are proposing projects that are aligned with one or more NRC Challenge Programs. In this co-Pl model, the Fellow and the NRC researcher collaborate to deliver a specific project. This program will provide opportunities for external scholars to access the NRC's unique infrastructure and resources, and work with an NRC researcher to further Dorothy Killam's vision of building Canada's future through advanced study.

PROGRAM DETAILS

Value: $100,000 to cover teaching and administrative release time of the Fellow + an additional grant of up to $50,000 for travel and knowledge dissemination costs; the NRC co-Pl could also receive up to $50,000 for travel and knowledge dissemination costs through their NRC research centre.
Duration: 1 year
Number of awards: Up to 3 Fellowships are awarded each year
Submissions portal open: Mar 25, 2026
Internal MRA deadline for UofT applicants need editorial review: May 19, 2026, noon
Internal MRA deadline for all UofT applicants: May 26, 2026, noon
Final Sponsor deadline: June 9, 2026, 23:59 (applicant's local time)

ELIGIBILITY

UofT Applicant:

be willing and able to travel to an NRC location or locations in Canada to collaborate with an NRC co-PI as required;
obtain a reliability status personnel security clearance;
demonstrate commitment to building Canada’s future and alignment with Killam attributes;
agree to participate in community engagement and knowledge mobilization activities. This may include: participation in the Killam Laureate Network, participation in a Fellows lecture series and invited lectures, and/or participation in dissemination activities with relevant University departments, or with other organizations or appropriate scientific societies.
demonstrate commitment to knowledge exchange with their NRC co-PI;
be a mid-to-late career researcher, although researchers at earlier career stages may be considered in some cases;
receive release time to conduct the proposed research, and will continue to be employed by the same institution for up to 12 months from the start of the Fellowship; and,
consent to disclose any information that may constitute a significant departure from generally-recognized standards of public behaviour and which is seen to undermine the public reputation of the National Killam Program.

Applicant must submit an approved MRA to indicate that the applicant's academic unit supports the application and approves the applicant's teaching/administrative release that they would receive if the Fellowship is awarded.

Proposed projects must align with one or more NRC Challenge Programs. If you do not see an area of research that aligns with your proposed project, please contact KillamProgram-ProgrammeKillam@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca to enquire about eligibility.
Projects may be technical, based on knowledge exchange, or exploratory.
Proposals are co-defined by the NRC co-Pl and the Fellow.

Webinar

English session: March 12, 2026, from 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. ET
French session: March 19, 2026, from 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. ET

Resources

VPRI Funding Opportunity webpage for more details concerning internal deadlines and other supporting information/resources here.
Full sponsor program guidelines and application process here
Results for 2025 Killam NRC Paul Corkum Fellowship.
National Killam Program help webpage.
For more information on preparing your submission package, please consult this video featuring the Chair of the National Killam Selection Committee.

SSHRC Impact Awards

SSHRC Impact Awards are designed to build on and sustain Canada’s research-based knowledge culture in all research areas of the social sciences and humanities. The awards recognize outstanding researchers and celebrate their research achievements, research training, knowledge mobilization and outreach activities funded partially or entirely by SSHRC. Past recipients of SSHRC funding are listed in the Awards Search Engine.

Impact Award recipients are to use award funds for activities that promote and further develop the work being honoured. In recognition of the crucial role postsecondary institutions play in mobilizing research knowledge, at least 10% of each award must be used to promote the recipient’s research achievements. Individual recipients and their institutions can choose to devote additional funds, including a higher percentage of the award funds, to these activities.

A multidisciplinary jury made up of distinguished individuals from academia, as well as the public, private and not-for-profit sectors from Canada and abroad, will select award recipients according to the selection criteria associated with each of the five awards.

Before announcing the names of the award winners and finalists, SSHRC will share competition results through the SSHRC Extranet for Applicants.

Eligible institutions are invited to put forward nominations for the:

Gold Medal ($100,000)
Talent Award ($50,000)
Insight Award ($50,000)
Partnership Award ($50,000)

As a signatory to the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), SSHRC is committed to a more inclusive, diverse and holistic approach to excellence in research evaluation. SSHRC recognizes that the concept of impact is nuanced, and that the assessment of impact may vary depending on numerous factors. As such, the achievements of funded researchers and their academic and non-academic collaborators, and their contributions to the research ecosystem and society at large, should be understood in this light.

Gold Medal ($100,000)

The Gold Medal is SSHRC’s highest research honour. It is awarded to an individual whose sustained leadership, dedication and originality of thought have inspired both students and colleagues.

The recipient’s achievements must have significantly advanced understanding in their respective fields of research in the social sciences and humanities. The exceptional quality and impact of the recipient’s research, and their ongoing efforts to share the results of this work, must have greatly enriched Canadian society, and contributed to intellectual, cultural, social and/or economic life in Canada and/or internationally.

Selection criteria

Challenge—ambition and importance (25%):
1. originality and significance of the body of work within the nominee’s fields of research.
Achievements—impact and outcomes (75%):
1. qualitative and quantitative evidence of the sustained quality, impact and influence of the nominee’s research achievements within and/or beyond the academic community;
2. level of the nominee’s engagement with—and the quality of training, mentorship (formal or informal) and outreach provided to—students, emerging scholars, participants, community members and/or members of the general public, relative to the nominee’s career level;
3. nominee’s national and/or international stature;
4. nominee’s commitment, creativity and successes in mobilizing research knowledge within and beyond the academic community; and
5. nominee’s overall contribution to knowledge.

Talent Award ($50,000)

The Talent Award recognizes outstanding achievement by an individual who, on April 1, 2026, holds a SSHRC-funded doctoral scholarship or postdoctoral award. This includes, but is not limited to, a Canada Graduate Scholarship, Canada Graduate Research Scholarship, Canada Postdoctoral Research Award, SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowship, Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship or Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship.

The Talent Award is given to an individual who maintains academic excellence, has a talent for research and knowledge mobilization, and has demonstrated clear potential to be a future leader within and/or outside the academic sector.

Selection criteria

Challenge—ambition and importance (25%):
1. originality and significance of the body of work within the nominee’s fields of research, relative to the nominee’s career level level.
Achievements—impact and outcomes (75%):
1. originality and significance of the nominee’s body of academic achievement and research, including, but not limited to, quality of publications, creative outputs, intellectual property, policies, etc., relative to nominee’s career level;
2. qualitative and quantitative evidence of impact of the nominee’s work within their fields of research and/or beyond the social sciences and humanities research community;
3. the nominee’s ability and commitment to mobilize research results within and/or beyond the academic community;
4. level of the nominee’s engagement with—and the quality of training, mentorship (formal or informal) and outreach provided to—students, emerging scholars, participants, community members and/or members of the general public, relative to the nominee’s career level; and
5. the nominee’s demonstrated potential for leadership and societal contributions within and/or beyond the academic community.

Insight Award ($50,000)

The Insight Award recognizes outstanding achievement arising from a single or multiple SSHRC-funded initiatives. It is given to an individual or a team of six people maximum (including the nominee) whose initiative or initiatives have significantly contributed to knowledge and understanding about people, societies and the world. The research outcomes must have led to demonstrable impact within the nominee’s fields of research and/or beyond the social sciences and humanities research community.

In the case of team initiatives, the nominee must be the principal investigator. If successful, this person will receive the award on behalf of the team.

The nomination package must include the nominee’s tri-agency CV and those of any team members (up to five), if applicable.

Selection criteria

Challenge—ambition and importance (25%):
1. originality and significance of the body of work within the nominee’s fields of research.
Achievements—impact and outcomes (75%):
1. qualitative and quantitative evidence of contributions within the nominee’s fields of research, including, but not limited to, scholarly literature, and other knowledge mobilization contributions, such as commissioned reports, professional practice, public discourse, public policies, products and services, experience in collaboration, etc.;
2. level of the nominee’s engagement with—and the quality of training, mentorship (formal or informal), outreach and engagement provided to—students, emerging scholars, participants, community members and/or members of the general public, relative to the nominee’s career level; and
3. qualitative and quantitative evidence of influence and impact on research and/or societal outcomes.

Partnership Award ($50,000)

The Partnership Award recognizes outstanding achievement and societal impact of a project funded through SSHRC’s Research Partnerships funding opportunities in advancing knowledge through research partnerships and/or collaborative knowledge mobilization activities, all while supporting the next generation of scholars.

The Partnership Award is awarded to a partnership (at the local, national and/or international level) that, through mutual cooperation and shared intellectual leadership and resources, has demonstrated intellectual, social, cultural and/or economic impact within and/or beyond a local community, the partner organizations and/or the academic sector.

One project lead must be designated as the nominee to administer the award. However, up to two project co-leads from the winning partnership can be invited to accept the award on behalf of the partnership at the Impact Awards ceremony.

The nomination package must include the nominee’s tri-agency CV and those of any team members (up to five), if applicable.

Selection criteria

Challenge—ambition and importance (25%):
1. originality and significance of the research partnership and/or collaborative knowledge mobilization activities.
Achievements—impact and outcomes (75%):
1. qualitative and quantitative evidence of strengthening knowledge and understanding by leveraging perspectives from across multiple disciplines and sectors;
2. genuineness of the collaboration among postsecondary institutions, and between postsecondary institutions and organizations from the public, private and not-for-profit sectors;
3. level of the nominee’s engagement with—and the quality of training, mentorship (formal or informal), outreach and engagement provided to—students, emerging scholars, participants, community members and/or members of the general public, relative to the nominee’s career level; and
4. demonstrated intellectual, social, cultural and/or economic influence and impact through research knowledge mobilization within academia and other sectors.

Jury Prize ($25,000)

The Jury Prize may be awarded to a nomination, in any of the four Impact Award categories, that the jury considered uniquely outstanding in demonstrating excellence in one to many areas related to research, research-creation, communication and/or knowledge mobilization in the social sciences and humanities, within or beyond the academic community.

The Jury Prize is awarded, at the discretion of the jury, to a nomination whether it is or is not the recipient of one of the Impact Awards.

Eligibility

A nominee must:

be a citizen or permanent resident of Canada, or a “protected person” under subsection 95(2) of Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, by the nomination deadline;
be an active social sciences and humanities researcher or student;
hold or have held SSHRC funding relevant to the award category;
be in good standing with SSHRC;
be affiliated with an institution that meets the institutional eligibility requirements; and
maintain affiliation with an eligible institution for the duration of the Impact Award.

Nominees:

cannot nominate themselves;
can be nominated in two sequential years for the same award, following which two years must pass before they can be nominated in the same category;
can be nominated in only one category in any year;
can be nominated in a subsequent year for a different SSHRC Impact Award; and
cannot be a current member of SSHRC’s governing council, a previous Gold Medal winner or a SSHRC Impact Awards jury member.

To be eligible to administer an award, the institution affiliated with an Impact Award winner must provide SSHRC with a promotion strategy (two pages maximum) outlining a proposed approach for promoting and celebrating the impact and outcomes of the award winner’s research initiative.

Institutions affiliated with an Impact award winner are invited to contact SSHRC for help in developing this strategy, and to collaborate with SSHRC’s Communications Division in promoting its winners and/or finalists.

Nomination process

Eligible institutions are invited to put forward nominations for all SSHRC Impact Award categories. Large institutions can submit only one nomination for each award in a given year, up to a maximum of four SSHRC Impact Award nominations. Small or medium institutions, according to the Canada Research Chairs Program’s institution size classification, may choose to wave the nomination quota in each category and submit more than one nomination for any given prize.

Institutions must provide the name and contact information of a person to whom SSHRC will send all questions and correspondence, including results.

Contact information

For more information, contact:

Toll-free: 1-855-275-2861
Email: impactawards-priximpacts@sshrc-crsh.gc.ca

Education Awards

Access Programs University Fund (APUF)

The Access Strategy & Partnerships Office (ASPO) defines “Access Programs” as initiatives that support traditionally underrepresented groups with pathways and opportunities for post-secondary education. Currently, there are over 100 access and outreach programs at U of T. Please see our Access Programs Database for more information.

APUF funds new and enhanced programs, including transition to university, bridging programs for adults with diverse educational backgrounds, and exposure to career paths for underrepresented youth. Access also involves service-based planning and programming within university divisions, departments, learning approaches, technologies, and student services.

APUF priorities include expanding existing programs, developing new initiatives, improving current programs, fostering community partnerships, and providing experiential learning opportunities for U of T students.

Eligibility

Submissions will be accepted from University of Toronto faculty and staff with continuing appointments.

The primary beneficiary of the proposal must be domestic or permanent resident status learners from Ontario who are underrepresented at universities and who might not access or thrive in post-secondary education without the provision of supports, pathways, structured programs and/or opportunities to continue learning at the post-secondary level.

Application Timeline

Anticipated Spring 2026

Additional information

Please visit the APUF website for more information about this program. Please also visit the APUF Funded Initiatives to learn more about the past projects.

Graduate Education Innovation Fund

The Graduate Education Innovation Fund (GEIF) contributes to the mission of School of Graduate Studies, by fostering excellence in graduate education, including an exceptional student experience. The purpose the GEIF is to enrich the learning experience of graduate students in both our research-based and professional degree programmes, by supporting projects within and across academic divisions and units, that create positive, innovative changes in the design and delivery of graduate education at the University of Toronto.

Goals of the Graduate Education Innovation Fund

The goal of the GEIF program is to advance excellence and innovation in graduate education through greater exposure to innovative educational practices within and across programs and curricula, including both the classroom, practica, and field settings. Proposals that accomplish at least one of the following themes are invited. Proposals in areas outside the ones listed are encouraged to liaise with SGS to discuss suitability.

Experiential Learning: Support and enhance the transfer of learning through active learning opportunities, within and beyond traditional educational settings and methods.
Interdisciplinary Learning: Encourage collaborations among instructors across academic disciplines, units and divisions with the purpose of creating exceptional interdisciplinary learning experiences for graduate students.
Technological Innovation: Use of technology to enhance the educational experience.
Indigenous Ways of Knowing: Renewal of graduate education with specific attention to representation of Indigenous ways of knowing.
Diverse Cultural Perspectives: Renewal of graduate education with specific attention to representation of racialized perspectives, other minoritized voices, as well as intercultural experiences and civic engagement. Strengthen opportunities to learn abroad, international work, and bringing global and international experiences into our local environment.
Decolonization, Anti-oppression, and Anti-racism: Enhancing educational practices, such as teaching and curriculum renewal, to build a more just and equitable learning environment.
Professional Development: Create, strengthen and assess professional development opportunities for graduate students.
Public Scholarship: Focusing on engaging the public through a scholarly agenda. Strengthen opportunities for public dissemination of scholarly work (e.g., personal blog post, podcast interview, or op-ed) and for partnerships with a school, community organization, or cultural institution (e.g. museum, theatre, archive) in an ongoing two-way exchange of knowledge and practices.

Research Component

The GEIF is a grant for curricular, teaching, and professional development innovation; it is not a research grant. While a research component to a project may be appropriate, the sole purpose of a proposal should not be the production and dissemination of new research. The fund is for ‘creating’ something innovative that enhances the education, teaching, and curricular capabilities of the University.

If a component of a project proposal involves the production of new research through the engagement of human participants, please ensure that Research Services has been consulted for ethics guidance.

Eligibility

University of Toronto faculty members with continuing appointments are eligible to apply (i.e., assistant professor, associate professor, and professor for both the tenure and teaching streams; part-time assistant, associate, and professor that have undergone continuing review). Typically, applicants will hold Graduate Faculty Membership with SGS. Collaborators can include librarians, graduate students, post-doctoral fellows etc., as appropriate to the project.

Funding Amounts

Ten seed grants of a maximum of $5,000 each will be available on an annual basis. Applicants are encouraged to seek out contributions from their unit or division and document it in their budget.

Application Information

For details on applying, please take a look at the summary of our September 2023 GEIF information session (PDF).

Please refer to our list of previously funded applications. We encourage applicants to re-submit to a subsequent adjudication cycle if unsuccessful.

The deadline for applications is April 2, 2026.

Apply for the Graduation Education Innovation Fund

Contact

Vina Goghari, PhD
Vice-Dean Research and Program Innovation, SGS
sgs.vdeanprograms@utoronto.ca

Angelique Plata
Executive Assistant to the Vice-Deans, SGS
sgs.vdeanea@utoronto.ca

2025 - 2026 Innovations in Pharmacy Education Grant

The Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy is soliciting calls for applications for new and innovative teaching and assessment strategies to be developed within its educational programs. A key component will include a clear mechanism to evaluate the success, value, and impact of the intervention. All course coordinators teaching within the PharmD, the PharmD for Pharmacists, the Graduate, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, and International Pharmacy Graduate programs are eligible to apply.

Description

The Innovations in Pharmacy Education Grant (formerly the Teaching Innovation Award) was established to support innovation in pharmacy education in the area of teaching and assessment, and to establish the transferability and applicability of the innovation to other programs through an evaluation of outcomes.

Deadline

The deadline to submit is March 31, 2026 by 5:00pm.

Proposal

The proposal should include the following information:

Context: Please describe why the proposed innovation is important or necessary. Consider how current teaching/assessment practices engage students and how the innovation will enhance the quality or impact of these current practices.
Description of the Innovation: A clear and concise explanation of the innovation itself and how it will fit within the course/educational program.
Rationale: Outline current evidence to support the innovation. Please discuss if the innovation is based on published literature or on some form of data collection/analysis undertaken by the instructor to ensure it is necessary, feasible, desired and appropriate for the context.
Alignment with Faculty’s Academic Plan: Describe how the innovation fits within the Faculty’s Academic Plan and its program. Also discuss any anticipated impact of the innovation on the quality of the student experience or on student learning.
Program Evaluation Plan: Propose how the success, value, and impact of the innovation will be evaluated, with particular focus on establishing the applicability and transferability of the innovation to other educational programs.
Timeline: Outline the proposed timeline for the various activities/stages of the innovation.
Budget: A detailed budget outlining all expected expenses should be submitted. Please also indicate whether the applicants have received or have applied for funding from other sources.
The Applicants: Provide a brief explanation of who the applicants are for this proposal, how they will accommodate project requirements into their daily work, and any unique qualifications they may have to lead educational innovation and evaluation of outcomes. Although all applicants who meet the criteria are welcome to submit an application, priority may be given to applicants who did not receive this grant in the past two years.
Length: The maximum length of the proposal is five pages, double-spaced. Any appendices provided by the applicant(s) are not included in the page count.

Criteria

The selection committee will consider the following:

Is the innovation feasible?
What will be the impact of this innovation on student learning?
Is this innovation transferable to other courses and programs?

Please see the rubric, attached as Appendix A, for further details.

Award Value

Up to $5,000 and potentially the opportunity to attend an AFPC1 or AACP2 conference to present the innovation.

Additional Information

If you have any questions, please contact the Education Office at educationoffice.pharmacy@utoronto.ca

International Student Experience Fund (ISEF)

The goal of the International Student Experience Fund (ISEF) is to foster a supportive environment on U of T’s campuses by funding initiatives that enhance the experience of the university’s international students, in alignment with the U of T’s international strategy. The ISEF supports two streams of activities; Seed ($5,000-$15,000 per year) and Impact ($15,000-$75,000 per year). This two-tiered system is intended to provide opportunities for projects that explore, implement, and scale up promising practices at different stages of their development and implementation, and create a pathway for projects from their initial inception to their full potential. ISEF grants are awarded for a maximum of 2 years.

Thematic Areas

All proposals should address one or more of the following themes:

Programs, Services, and Policies

Identification and leveraging of existing forums and channels for dialogue. Addressing barriers to participation.

Intergroup interaction across biographies (multilingual speakers/unilingual speakers of English, Canadian/international, interaction amongst communities from various regions of the world, etc.).

Listening to and encouraging the voices of international students

Shift from deficit mindset/approach (international students as a problem to solve) to one of global inclusion (international students as valuable members) among faculty, staff, and students.

Interactional Diversity – Required in a learning environment at a global university

Serving all students well through institutional and operational competence. Consideration of existing programs, policies, and practices from the lens of international students (1/3 of the university’s student population) at all points of the student journey, from pre-arrival to preparing for life after U of T.

Changing Mindset – Building inclusive community and fostering belonging

Eligibility

Submissions will be accepted from U of T faculty and staff with continuing appointments only. The primary beneficiaries of the proposal must be U of T international undergraduate and/or graduate students. Projects must engage each of the U of T’s student, faculty, and staff communities, even if only in an advisory capacity. Projects must also include collaboration with other divisions, either from the start of the project, or as a means of expanding the project in its final year of funding.

Funding Streams

The International Student Experience Fund (ISEF) supports two levels of grant activities:

Seed ($5,000-$15,000) x 2 years maximum Impact ($15,000-$75,000) x 2 years maximum

Impact grants are designed to support large-scale projects with the potential to significantly enhance core elements of international student experience within or across units and divisions at the University. This can range from projects designed to scale, sustain and institutionalize high-impact initiatives that have already experienced successful experimentation in their local contexts, to the development of new mechanisms and tools for proliferating innovative practices.

These two funding streams are intended to provide opportunities for projects that explore, implement, and scale up promising practices at different stages of their development and implementation, and create a pathway from initial inception to a project’s full implementation.

Seed grants are intended to encourage experimentation, as a means of fostering small-scale innovations or pilots with the potential for future scalability. These projects should hold significant promise for scalability within their home unit/division or transferability into other University of Toronto contexts.

2025-2026 Application Deadlines

Applications for the two funding streams will be accepted according to the following timelines:

Seed grants ($5,000-$15,000 per year) will be accepted on a rolling basis.
Details on the application can be found here.

Contact

The International Student Experience Fund is sponsored by the Office of the Vice-President International. For additional information regarding the Fund, please contact international@utoronto.ca.

Funding Opportunities: Researchers

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Internal Opportunities

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External Opportunities

OVERVIEW

How to apply

About the Acceleration Consortium

Funding

Deadlines

Eligibility

Additional Information

Addressing Ableism in Academia

Featured Speakers:

Building Thriving Research Teams

Featured Speakers:

Eligibility Criteria

Learn More and Apply:

Current Call Competitions:

Collaborative Team Grant

Rolling Call Competitions:

Translational Grant

Strategic Initiatives Grant

Cluster 4: Digital Calls Matchmaking Platform

Artificial Intelligence in Horizon Europe Calls

New European Bauhaus Info Day

Cluster 3 Civil Security for Society Info Day

Cluster 2: Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society – Information Day

Deadlines:

Submission Guidelines:

Additional Information:

Examples of previously funded research include:

Objectives

Eligibility and Scope for Basic Science Proposals

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Eligibility and Scope for Clinical Trial Proposals

Exclusions

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

The Accelerate program aims to:

Eligibility

How to apply

Session Information and Registration

Value and duration

SSHRC deadlines

Matching funds required?

Subject Matter Eligibility

SSHRC’s review/selection process

UofT internal deadlines and selection process

Key Research Areas

START Program Process

Awards

Amount and Duration of Fellowship

Eligibility

Deadlines

Information Sessions:

Sponsor contact information

Resources

PROGRAM DETAILS

ELIGIBILITY

Project:

Webinar

Resources

Gold Medal ($100,000)

Selection criteria

Talent Award ($50,000)

Selection criteria

Insight Award ($50,000)

Selection criteria

Partnership Award ($50,000)

Selection criteria

Jury Prize ($25,000)

Eligibility

Nomination process

Contact information

Education Awards

Eligibility

Application Timeline