Frequently Asked Questions - Health System Impact (HSI) Embedded Early Career Researcher Award

Last update: March 2023

• Can current Health System Impact Fellows apply?

  Yes. Health System Impact Fellowship alumni are able to apply, as long as all other eligibility criteria are met.

• For the new ECR stream, can Health System Impact Fellowship postdoctoral fellows apply with the same host health system organization and academic partner?

  The award does not put restrictions around this. Therefore, Health System Impact Fellows may apply with the same partners.

• Can a current employee of the host organization apply?

  If an existing employee applies to the program, it will need to be explicit and clear how the award will add value to the organization/their professional development and expand the organization’s research capacity. In other words, status quo positions will not be funded. We encourage you to review the application requirements and peer review criteria.

• Can the host institution use CIHR-awarded funds or any other federal grant money as "matching" money?

  Contributions from existing CIHR or Tri-Council grant funds are ineligible. Partner contributions cannot be funds that have previously been leveraged for other CIHR initiatives.

• Can I hold another research award?

  To increase capacity and allow as many researchers as possible to benefit from federal, peer-reviewed funding, the HSI awardee is not permitted to hold another CIHR or any other federally funded salary award including Canada Research Chairs, Clinician Scientist (Phase 2) and Senior Research Fellowships (Phase 2) and including partnered salary opportunities.

• The Award requirements states that the awardee must have a confirmed embedded scientist or equivalent role at a health system organization and a confirmed academic faculty appointment at an eligible Canadian university by the start date of the award. Can the confirmed position at the health system organization and faculty position can be contingent on a successful application?

  Individuals who do not hold an independent research appointment at the time of application, but who expect to be appointed by the beginning of the funding period, may apply. If the application is successful, funds will only be released to the Institution Paid once the applicant’s status is confirmed.

• Does my academic mentor need to be from the academic institution where I have/will have an appointment?

  Yes. The academic mentor must be from the host academic institution and be an academic leader who holds an independent research appointment with relevant expertise.

• Is there a requirement for both the health system organization and academic institution to contribute some amount to the $100k per annum partner contribution, or can the full amount be provided by one source?

  1-1 matching is required by the health system and academic institution, but it is not prescribed who contributes what. So, the full amount may be funded by one source. A budget template that articulates funding contributions from each party will need to be completed and submitted alongside the CIHR application.

• Are there any requirements around the nature of the academic appointment?

  The award does not specify the type or level of academic appointment required (e.g., status, adjunct, tenure, assistant, associate), but it does specify that it must be with an eligible CIHR Canadian university. There is built in flexibility for how the embedded scientist role may be designed between the university and host health system organization. Please see questions 10 and 11 for more information on the university appointment requirement.

  Importantly, the ECR must be deemed an “independent researcher” and be able to conduct autonomous research, hold funds, and supervise students – as per CIHR’s definition. In addition, the appointment must last the full 4-year duration of the award.

• My host health system partner organization is also listed as a CIHR Eligible Institution Authorized to Administer Grant and Award Funds. Do I still need to be affiliated with a university?

  All awardees are required to be an independent researcher at Canadian university (an academic appointment at a university is required for this award). In situations where a host partner organization is a CIHR Eligible Institution Authorized to Administer Grant and Award Funds, they may serve as the “institution paid” for the purpose of flow of funds. However, indication of a university appointment must be clearly demonstrated in the CIHR application. See question 11.

• If my host health system organization will be serving as my institution paid (and not my university, or academic host), what does this mean for the required letters of support?

  The Institution Paid is the institution on a funding application that receives and administers the funds on behalf of the nominated principal applicant. In the situation where a host health system partner organization is a CIHR Eligible Institution Authorized to Administer Grant and Award Funds, the applicant may list the host organization as the Institution Paid in their application. In all cases, applicants are still required to include a letter of support that is signed by the Dean or Director of the university (letter of support #2).

Date modified:

2023-03-02