Pre-announcement: CIHR Research Excellence, Diversity, and Independence (REDI) Early Career Transition Award

This funding opportunity is now available on ResearchNet.

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and partners are pleased to announce the upcoming CIHR Research Excellence, Diversity, and Independence (REDI, pronounced "ready") Early Career Transition Award. See the Message from the CIHR President and Scientific Director of the CIHR-Institute of Infection and Immunity introducing this award.This preannouncement contains information on the funding opportunity for potential applicants.

Partners

The CIHR Institute of Infection and Immunity, Institute of Aging, Institute of Cancer Research, Institute of Genetics, Institute of Gender and Health, Institute of Health Services and Policy Research, Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health, Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis, Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes, the CIHR Centre for Research on Pandemic Preparedness and Health Emergencies, the CIHR HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted and Blood-borne Infections Research Initiative, in partnership with the Alzheimer Society of Canada, the Arthritis Society of Canada, the Azrieli Foundation, BrightFocus Foundation and Fighting Blindness Canada, JDRF Canada, and the Kidney Foundation of Canada.

Anticipated Timelines

These dates are estimates and subject to change.

  • Program Launch: December 2022
  • Webinar #1 with Q&A:
    • 19 December from 1-2:30 pm ET (English) | Register
    • 20 December from 1-2:30 pm ET (French) | Register
  • Webinar #2 with Q&A:
    • 1 February from 12-1:30 pm ET (English) | Register
    • 2 February from 12-1:30 pm ET (French) | Register
  • Application Deadline: May 2023
  • Notice of Decision: September 2023
  • Funding Start Date: 1 July 2023

Overview

The CIHR REDI Early Career Transition Award is available to post-doctoral researchers, clinicians, and research associates from specific underrepresented groups to help them launch their research faculty careers in Canada. This transition award has two phases across a maximum of 6 years to increase independence and support the transition of successful applicants to independent research careers.

This program addresses the impact of racism and gender inequality on early career researchers. It uses an intersectional framework for race and gender and the first launch is open to racialized women and Black people.  Future launches of the REDI award will support additional populations and will continue to promote the growth of diverse research communities.

Please note

  • If you are interested and available to volunteer as a peer reviewer, please reach out to CIHR at REDI-EDIR@cihr-irsc.gc.ca.

Objectives

The objectives of this funding opportunity are to:

  1. Promote research independence and academic research career readiness of highly qualified post-doctoral researchers, clinicians and PhD-holding research associates belonging to specific underrepresented groups;
  2. Increase the number of funded researchers from specific underrepresented groups conducting excellent research who secure their first independent research faculty position in a Canadian academic, health system or research institution; and
  3. Provide funded researchers from specific underrepresented groups with early career support to enhance their probability of future success in obtaining independent research funding and launching successful research faculty careers in Canada that will contribute to the creation and/or use of health-related knowledge to improve the health of Canadians.

Eligibility

For an application to be eligible:

  • The Nominated Principal Applicant (NPA) must:
    • self identify with at least one of the following groups: racialized women or Black people; and
    • be a trainee by the Funding Start Date at a CIHR eligible academic institution, health system or research institution and, specifically, one of the following: a PhD-holding post-doctoral researcher; a clinician holding an MD, DVM, DDS or a PhD or equivalent doctoral degree-holding allied health professional in either a post-doctoral position, or a faculty position denoting independence in clinical responsibilities but not in research; or a research associate or equivalent who is a PhD-holding researcher.

  • The Primary Mentor must be an independent researcher with an academic appointment and be either the NPA's current supervisor or a principal investigator who will function as the NPA's Primary Mentor for their Phase 1 REDI project. Additional mentors do not need to hold an academic appointment.

    Note: In relation to these criteria, eligibility will be determined using the response(s) provided in the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Self-identification Questionnaire. The Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Self-Identification Questionnaire will be updated in December and therefore will be unavailable at launch. Once updated, applicants will be required to complete the questionnaire by the application deadline, in addition to all the other application requirements, in order to be considered for this funding opportunity.

Refer to the funding opportunity for the complete set of eligibility criteria.

Research Areas

This funding opportunity will support projects relevant to the following research areas:

  • Health-related research across CIHR's mandate
  • Aging Person in an Aging Society
  • Arthritis
  • Brain Health and Cognitive Impairment
  • Eye Diseases
  • Health Systems
  • HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted and Blood-borne Infections (STBBI)
  • Human Development, Child and Youth Health
  • Infectious Disease and Immune System
  • Musculoskeletal Health
  • Pandemic Preparedness and Health Emergencies
  • Rare Diseases

Additional information on each funding pool will be provided in the funding opportunity.

Funds Available

The total amount available for the 2022 funding opportunity for Phase 1 and 2 is $25,080,000 (CIHR investment of $22,222,200 and partner contributions of $2,857,800), enough to fund approximately thirty-eight (38) awards. This amount may increase if additional funding partners participate.

  • The mentored Phase 1 (2-3 years) includes a $20,000/year research allowance, a $70,000/year stipend, mentorship, and career development. Applicants will propose a Research Project for Phase 1 that will establish the foundation for their independent research program as faculty members in Phase 2. Applicants must work with their Primary Mentor to identify how they will distinguish their proposed research project from their Primary Mentor's research program.
  • The independent Phase 2 (3-4 years) includes at least $240,000/year in research allowance and salary support, and faculty mentorship. Awardees are expected to transition to an independent research faculty position – marking the start of Phase 2 – within 2 to 3 years of the funding start date.
    (This includes minimum 1:1 matching of CIHR funds by the Phase 2 host institution.)

Contact Information

For general inquiries, please contact:

CIHR Contact Centre
Telephone: 613-954-1968
Toll Free: 1-888-603-4178
Email: support-soutien@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

Email Specific to this Funding Opportunity: REDI-EDIR@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

Terminology in this Funding Opportunity

The terminology related to equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) is evolving and it is understood that most terms have strengths and weaknesses. Terms are defined in the funding opportunity and will be reviewed and updated for future launches.

Underrepresented groups include, but are not limited to, women, Indigenous Peoples (First Nations, Inuit and Métis), persons with disabilities, members of visible minority/racialized groups and members of 2SLGBTQI+ communities (see the Dimensions Charter for more information). As defined by the Tri-Agency Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan. 2018-2025.

The term woman refers to a person who internally identifies and/or publicly expresses as a woman.Footnote 1 This may include cisgender and transgender individuals. Cisgender means that one's gender identity is the same as one's sex assigned at birth. A transgender person's gender identity differs from what is typically associated with the sex they were assigned at birth.

In this funding opportunity, we use the term "racialized" as an alternative to "visible minorities".Footnote 2 Note that the term "visible minorities" is the term used in the Employment Equity Act and the Self-identification Questionnaire.

The term "Black" refers to people of Black African descent, which includes those who identify as Black Africans, and those found worldwide who identify as descendants of Black African peoples.Footnote 3

Disclaimer: The information contained in this funding opportunity preannouncement is subject to change and does not commit CIHR or partners to the requirements outlined in this version. The final funding opportunity will be published by CIHR in the Funding Opportunity Database in ResearchNet in December 2022.

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