CIHR Health System Impact Fellowship

Eligibility

Eligibility: 

Nominated Principal Applicant (NPA):

• Must have obtained (or will obtain by the award start date) a PhD or DrPH in HSPR or a related field* and must not have held an HSI postdoctoral award.
• Must not hold or be on leave from an independent research position.
• Must not be a current/past employee or current owner/shareholder of the proposed host organization (see FAQ for exceptions).

Supervision Requirements:

• Health System Supervisor must be a senior decision-maker in the host organization (different from the academic supervisor) who:
  • Commits to hosting the NPA;
  • Confirms the organization will contribute 30% of the award funding and has a mechanism to transfer it;
  • Commits to mentorship for the fellowship’s duration.
• Academic Supervisor must hold a university-based appointment in Canada and be:
  • Able to secure postdoctoral status for the NPA by the award start date.

Indigenous Research Considerations:
If the research involves First Nations, Inuit, or Métis Peoples, the NPA and both supervisors must either self-identify as Indigenous or demonstrate meaningful and culturally safe involvement with Indigenous communities (see How to Apply). Failure to include required documentation will result in ineligibility.

Summary

The Health System Impact Fellowship objectives are to:

• Support impact-oriented career paths and elevate the career readiness of  post-doctoral researchers studying health services and policy research (HSPR) (or related fields) by supporting embedded research opportunities within health system organizations (e.g., public, private for-profit, not-for-profit, and Indigenous health organizations) outside of the traditional university environment, with enriched competency development (e.g., leadership, project management) and opportunities for mentorship and networking.
   
• Expand and enrich the traditional post-doctoral training environment by engaging health system organizations in preparing a cadre of emerging leaders - inclusive of those from equity-denied communities and those who have historically faced systemic barriers in the research ecosystem, including, but not limited to, those marginalized by gender, Indigenous Peoples (First Nations, Inuit, and Métis), communities impacted by racism, persons with disabilities, and members of 2SLGBTQI+ communities – for impact-oriented careers in academic and health system organizations; and
   
• Provide health system organizations with direct opportunities to realize and harness the benefits that research-trained individuals can bring to such organizations for rapid learning, improvement and evidence-informed decision-making that advances health system improvements.

Application deadlines

RSO detailed review deadline

RSO final internal review deadline

Program application deadline

Application deadlines

Anticipated Notice of Decision

Funding Start Date

NOTE: Consult your Faculty Associate Dean (Research) (ADR) regarding Faculty-specific deadlines and submission processes.

Principal Investigators: Complete a Research Management System (RMS) record, including a copy of your complete application, and submit this for approvals in RMS.

Postdocs, students, and trainees: For fellowships and externally-sponsored research training awards or opportunities, you must complete the Research Funding Application Approval (RFAA) Trainee PDF form, and submit it, along with a complete copy of the application, to Research Services at fellowships@ucalgary.ca. Trainees should not use RMS at this time.

Approvals: The University of Calgary requires that all funding applications be approved prior to submission. Approval requires signatures via either RMS or the RFAA Trainee form, in the following order:

• Principal Investigator
• Department Head
• Faculty ADR/Dean
• Research Services (on behalf of the Vice-President Research)

Read the Meaning of Grant Signatures policy to understand what your approval means. Please see the agency guidelines for details about which signatures are required on your application, as it may differ from internal requirements.

Late submissions: Late submissions will only be accepted in cases of medical or family emergencies, or other exceptional circumstances. If you submit your RMS record to Research Services after the internal deadline has passed, you must secure additional approvals. Please read: Late Applications Process.

Additional Requirements:

• For Canadian host organizations: NPA may be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, Protected Person, or foreign national.
• For international host organizations: NPA must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or Protected Person.
• NPA must be registered at an eligible institution by the award start date.
• Applicants may apply for other federal awards in the same year.
• NPA must complete one of CIHR’s sex and gender training modules and include the certificate in the application.
• Only one application per HSI Fellowship competition is allowed.