HFSP Research Grants

Eligibility

Scientists applying for a HFSP research grant must be organized as an international research team (with emphasis on intercontinental collaborations). Applications from individual researchers are not eligible. The HFSP research team may include 2 to 4 (rarely 5) members; one member of the team is designated as the Principal Applicant and the others as Co-Applicants. 

All team members must hold a research doctoral degree (PhD or equivalent) and lead a research group (of any size). Post-doctoral fellows are not eligible. All team members must be able to independently determine the course of the HFSP-funded project and have freedom to administer the awarded grant.

Please consult the full program guidelines for additional eligiblity information. 

Summary

The International Human Frontier Science Program Organization (HFSPO) develops and implements the Program. The aim of the Program is to promote, through international cooperation, basic research focused on the elucidation of the sophisticated and complex mechanisms of living systems, for the benefit of all humankind. It aims to complement, not duplicate, the frontier life science programs of the countries that financially support HFSPO. HFSPO attaches highest importance to novelty, scientific merit, internationality, and interdisciplinarity. 

Research topics may include biological functions at all levels of analysis, for example: studies on genes and individual molecules, intracellular networks, intercellular associations in tissues and organs, and networks underlying the complex functions of entire organisms including cognitive functions, as well as populations or ecosystems.

Overhead

No more than 10% of the direct costs covered by the award, at each research institution, may be used for indirect costs.

Pre-application deadlines

RSO internal deadline

Pre-application program deadline

Application deadlines

RSO detailed review deadline

RSO final internal review deadline

Program application deadline

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 rsotrainee@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.

Summary of the Application Process 

The first step in the application process for Research Grants is to connect to the application site (see section 8) and initiate a Letter of Intent by 18 March 2025. The deadline for submission of this letter is 27 March 2025 for awards to be announced in March 2026. Projects will be pre-screened by a small scientific committee (three HFSP Scientific Directors and two Review Committee members) for the eligibility of the applicants and for concordance with the scientific scope (see section 2, below). Any project that does not meet the requirements (see sections 3 and 4) will not be sent for further review, and the Principal Applicant will be informed as soon as possible. 

The remaining Letters of Intent will be evaluated by the Review Committee (see a list of present members here), following the criteria of novelty/originality/frontierness, interdisciplinarity as well as the qualification and integration of the team (see the reviewers guidelines with the confidentiality/conflict of interest statement. ). In a second step, a Selection Committee will decide which applicants are invited to submit a full proposal. Applicants will be notified in July 2025 whether they are invited to submit a full proposal, with a deadline mid-September 2025. More details are provided in “How to Apply” in the program guidelines. Decisions on awarded grants will be announced end of March 2026.

Additional Resources

Using RMS:

RMS: Creating a Pre-Award LOI

RMS: Creating a Pre-Award Application

Support for projects involving Indigenous Research:

Support with the development of your grant application is available internally through the Indigenous Research Support Team (IRST). Applicants can reach out by email to IRST at IRST@ucalgary.ca in advance of the RSO internal deadline. For more information about IRST, please visit the IRST webpage.

Support for Knowledge Engagement:

Support for knowledge mobilization/engagement/translation is available internally through the Knowledge Engagement Team. Applicants can reach out by email to the KE team at knowledge.engagement@ucalgary.ca in advance of the RSO internal deadline. For more information, please visit the KE team webpage.

Support for Research Data Management:

For information on research data management plans, processes, or best practices for your research program, please contact research.data@libanswers.ucalgary.com and/or visit https://libguides.ucalgary.ca/researchdatamanagement.

Support for EDI in Research:

RSO can provide resources and support to research teams on the integration of equitable and inclusive practices in research design and research practice. Contact Erin.OToole@ucalgary.ca for more information.