WCB-Alberta Research Grants 2026

Eligibility

Any researchers within Canada may apply for WCB’s research funding, but grants are most commonly awarded to Alberta-based researchers.

WCB-Alberta promotes the development of effective disability management services and strategies, optimal approaches to recovery and return to work following workplace injury, and improved understanding of the factors involved in workplace injury, including social and economic factors. In order to inform better practice, WCB-Alberta provides financial support for research projects that address certain areas of interest.

Researchers specializing in Occupational or Clinical Medicine, Epidemiology, Population Health, Psychology, Rehabilitation Medicine, Kinesiology, Sciences, Law, Economics and other Social Sciences are encouraged to apply for funding.

Summary

Priority topics: In 2026, the review committee is particularly interested in receiving proposals that focus on: 

• The assessment and treatment of work-related psychological injuries
• Outcomes of medical and other interventions
• Treatment or service outcomes for individuals from traditionally underrepresented or equity-seeking groups
• The unanticipated additional costs and psychosocial impacts of experiencing a work injury
• Employment services and return-to-work outcomes for injured workers at or beyond age 50
• Improving access to timely, quality health care for injured workers in Alberta
• Improving disability management by limiting unnecessary medical interventions and services

Research related to the broader themes below will also be considered:

• Disability management and rehabilitation
• Return to work
• Medical/rehabilitative interventions
• Changing nature of work and the work environment
• Improving the predictability of workers’ compensation financing (including economic and demographic factors)
• Policy, system-design, and decision-making in workers’ compensation
• Technological change and innovation
• Knowledge transfer to communities of interest

WCB-Alberta Research Grants 2026 Program Guide
WCB-Alberta Research Grants 2026 Priority Areas
WCB-Alberta Research Grants 2026 LOI Application Form
Program Contact: research@wcb.ab.ca

This is a two-stage process consisting of a Letter of Intent (LOI) and Full Application, which is by invitation only. Both stages of this competition will be part of the Research Management System (RMS), and approvals will be obtained electronically. Research Funding Application Approvals (RFAA) forms are not required as approvals are collected electronically in RMS. 

1. Letter of Intent (LOI) 

The LOI, plus approval in the Research Management System (RMS) using a Pre-Award/Letter of Intent record, must be submitted to RSO by March 17, 2026 at 12:00 pm. Please be sure to select 'Submitted for approval' (under Save & Progress) in RMS in good time to allow for approvals from your Department Head and/or ADR prior to the RSO internal deadline. Consult your department and faculty for more information on their approval processes and timelines. 

Once you have received RSO approval, you must submit the LOI by via email to research@wcb.ab.ca by March 20, 2026. 

2. Full Application (by invitation only) 

If invited to full application, WCB will provide an application template and a submission deadline via email. 

Please do not create a new Pre-Award/Application record in RMS. Continue with the same RMS number by updating the status of the Pre-Award/Letter of Intent record to 'Invited for full application' (under Save & Progress). The system will generate a Pre-Award/Application record, and you can proceed as usual. 

The Full Application, plus approval in the Research Management System (RMS), must be submitted to RSO 3 business days ahead of the deadline assigned to you by WCB. Please be sure to select 'Submitted for approval' (under Save & Progress) in RMS in good time to allow for approvals from your Department Head and/or ADR prior to the RSO internal deadline. Consult your department and faculty for more information on their approval processes and timelines. 

Do not submit to the agency until RSO's approval has been granted in RMS. Once this institutional approval has been obtained, the Principal Investigator will receive an automated message from RMS to their @ucalgary email address. You can then proceed with submitting your application to WCB (deadlines variable). 

This application requires a signed signature page from the RSO prior to submission (this document will be available for download in RMS).

Overhead

N/A. Overhead is an ineligible expense for this competition. 

Pre-application deadlines

RSO internal deadline

Pre-application program deadline

Application deadlines

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