CIHR-IPPH Trailblazer Award

Eligibility

For an application to be eligible:

The Nominated Principal Applicant must:

• be an independent researcher.
• be appointed at an eligible institution (see CIHR’s Institutional Eligibility Requirements for eligibility process and associated timelines) at the time of application; and
• hold their primary academic appointment at a Canadian institution.

The Nominated Principal Applicant must be a population and public health researcher with an active research program in population and public health and:

• be an early career researcher for the early career award;
• be a mid-career researcher for the mid-career award;
• be a senior researcher  for the senior award.

The applicant must be nominated by a member of the Canadian health research community. Nominators may have previously worked or be currently working with an individual they nominate.

The applicant must be endorsed by the executive head of the institution where they hold their primary academic appointment (i.e. from the President, Provost, Rector, Dean of the Faculty, Research Director or similar appropriate authority from the applicant’s faculty) through a letter of support.

Current and past members of the CIHR Governing Council, current and past CIHR Scientific Directors and current CIHR-IPPH staff are not eligible for these awards.

Summary

The CIHR-IPPH Trailblazer Award is designed to recognize the exemplary efforts and activities of exceptional Canadian researchers at different career stages who have created a highly influential body of work that has had a substantial impact on the field of population and public health research. The award also recognizes the leadership, mentorship, and innovative contributions of the recipients.

The CIHR-IPPH will consider applications for this award that are determined to be relevant to the Institute mandate to the definition of CIHR Pillar 4 Research (social, cultural, environmental and population health), and in keeping with the Institute values of:

• Coherent intersectoral action for population health improvements;
• Scalable population health solutions;
• Community engagement, co-design and knowledge sharing;
• Equitable population health impacts.

Applicants will also be expected to demonstrate how the concept of health equity is incorporated and integrated throughout the applicant’s body of work.

Up to three awards will be given, for exceptional researchers at different career stages:

• $2,500 is available to fund up to one early career population and public health researcher.
• $2,500 is available to fund up to one mid-career  population and public health researcher.
• $2,500 is available to fund up to one senior career  population and public health researcher.

Application deadlines

Program application deadline

In 2024-25, the IPPH Trailblazer award is being administered and run by the Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA). The IPPH Trailblazer awardees and their work will be featured in IPPH and CPHA communication channels (e.g., newsletters, social media), and will be celebrated at Public Health 2025 (either in-person or virtually through an acceptance video). The awardee is responsible for covering their travel and costs to attend this conference.

The nomination package must include (for complete details on nomination materials, please follow this link).

Impact statement outlining accomplishments and impacts (maximum 5 pages for English applications, 6 pages for French applications).

A signed letter of nomination (maximum 2 pages) from a peer in the field or a community member who has a working relationship with the nominee. Self-nominations will not be accepted. For research projects involving First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples, a letter from a relevant community member is encouraged.

Nominator contact information: Contact information of the nominator, including name, title, organization, address, phone number and email must be included.

Institution letter of support (maximum 2 pages) from the Faculty Dean, Research Director, or similar role from the applicant’s institution.

Completed Canadian Common CV (CCV).

Final deadline: December 13, 2024