SickKids Foundation 2026 New Investigator Research Grant

Eligibility

The Principal Investigator must be eligible to apply for grants as an independent researcher (autonomous regarding their research activities and has an academic or research appointment) and be formally affiliated with an Eligible Institution, where that institution is willing to financially administer the grant.

The Principal Investigator will usually hold a doctoral degree (Ph.D) or equivalent medical/health care degree and have had formal research training. If there will be two applicants (Principal Investigator and Co-Principal Investigator) on the same project, both must be eligible as a New Investigator. Co-Investigators are researchers who may or may not have a formal affiliation (faculty appointment) with the Eligible Institution but will take responsibility for particular administrative and scientific aspects of the research project. Trainees (i.e. doctoral students or fellows) cannot be Principal Investigators butthey may be Co-Investigators.

Eligible applicants are required to work with a clearly-identified Mentor/Mentors (up to two). The mentor will work with the applicant on a plan; review the application before submission; provide advice throughout the project to ensure it is competitive in terms of both scientific excellence and relevance to child health.

The applicant must be a new investigator at the date of application; i.e. at the application deadline of April 20, 2026. For the purpose of this award, a new investigator is defined as an individual who:

• As a Principal Investigator has not been awarded combined Operating Grant funding of $500,000 or more Canadian dollars. An "Operating Grant" is defined as a grant that can be used to cover administrative or any other research-related costs (including salary of trainees or students) in order to carry out a research project. This does not include startup funds, salary awards, equipment or infrastructure funds.
  Note: Should an Operating Grant be received after the application is submitted, the applicant must notify SickKids Foundation immediately.
• Is within 5 years of their first academic appointment. Academic appointment is defined as an appointment that allows an individual to apply for research grants as an independent researcher. (See page 5, ‘Recognition of a break in research career’ for additional considerations).
• Has at least 50% of protected research time for the duration of the project.

Summary

New Investigator Research Grants provide important early career development support to child health researchers. It is intended this program will enhance the grant recipient’s ability to compete with more senior investigators for research grants from other funders. Through this grants program we are seeking to fund research carried out by new investigators across Canada who successfully lead, participate in, and translate outstanding child health research that will respond to children’s health challenges and needs.

The New Investigator Research Grant Program is a jointly sponsored program of SickKids Foundation and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research ("CIHR") - Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health (IHDCYH). Grant recipients may obtain up to three years' support for research in biomedical, clinical, health systems and services, and population and public health sectors.

Full guidelines document available here.

Submission Instructions:

1. Complete Full Application on the Sick Kids Foundation's Online Application Portal and download a preview to pdf format.
2. To initiate internal approvals, complete the Pre-Award/Application record in RMS (https://research.ucalgary.ca/conduct-research/additional-resources/resea...), attach your completed Application, and submit for approvals from your department head and/or faculty Associate Dean (Research). *Important: when submitting in RMS, please ensure that you allow time for academic approvals prior to the Research Services review deadline of 12:00pm on Wednesday April 15, 2026.
3. Once these approvals are obtained, RMS will automatically forward the Application record to Research Services for institutional review and approval.
4. Research Services will review, provide feedback (by email) if necessary, and will provide the institutional approval. RSO will provide the capping institutional signature if needed and will advise when ready.
5. Full Applications should be submitted to the agency via the portal on April 20, 2026 by 3:00PM Mountain Time.

Overhead

Not eligible.

Application deadlines

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.

RESOURCES

Reminder: The sooner the researcher engages with Research Services, the more help we can be!

Contact the following Research Service units for support with:

Projects Involving Indigenous Research:

Support with incorporating wise practices in Indigenous research, community engagement, and Indigenous data management is available 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.

Knowledge Mobilization, Research Impact Assessment, DORA:

Support for knowledge mobilization/engagement/translation, community partnerships, research impact, responsible research assessment (DORA), and open science, is available through the Knowledge to Impact team.

Applicants can reach out by email to the KI team at knowledge.impact@ucalgary.ca.

For more information and access to resource archives, please visit the KI team webpage.

Research Data Management:

For information on research data management plans, processes, or best practices for your research program, please contact research.data@ucalgary.ca.

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 edi.rso@ucalgary.ca for more information.

Research Security:

The Research Security Division is available to ensure researchers adhere to research security guidelines and policies, including the National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships (NSGRP) and the policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern (STRAC).

Visit the Research Security website to learn more or contact researchsecurity@ucalgary.ca.

Pre-Award Submissions:

RMS: Creating a Pre-Award LOI
RMS: Creating a Pre-Award Application