Notice of upcoming funding opportunity: Health System Impact (HSI) Fellowship

The Health System Impact Fellowship is led by CIHR’s Institute of Health Services and Policy Research (IHSPR) in partnership with CIHR’s Institute of Aging (IA), Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health (ICRH), Institute of Gender and Health (IGH), Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health (IHDCYH), Institute of Infection and Immunity (III), Institute of Indigenous Peoples’ Health (IIPH), Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis (IMHA), Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes (INMD), Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction (INMHA), Institute of Population and Public Health (IPPH), Centre for Research on Pandemic Preparedness and Health Emergencies (CRPPHE), Drug Safety and Effectiveness Network (DSEN), Michael Smith Health Research BC (Health Research BC), and Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation (SHRF).

Overview

The Health System Impact (HSI) Fellowship provides highly qualified doctoral trainees and postdoctoral researchers in health services and policy research (or related fields) with the opportunity to develop embedded research projects/programs that address the most pressing problems faced by health system organizations and to support evidence-informed decision-making.

Central to this program is participation in a national cohort, co-mentorship from research and system leaders, and professional development aligned to the HSPR Refreshed Enriched Core Competency Framework.

Program components

The HSI Fellowship comprises two streams aligned to different career stages: PhD & Postdoctoral Streams: These streams are for doctoral trainees and postdoctoral researchers who are currently enrolled in a doctoral program or have completed their doctoral degree (PhD or DrPH), and provides a one or two-year embedded research experiential learning opportunity within a health system organization.

• Doctoral trainees receive a one-year experiential learning opportunity where they are embedded in their health system partner organization for at least 60% of their time focused on an impact-oriented project of direct relevance to their partner organization. The remaining time (up to 40%), is protected to continue with their Doctoral program commitments.
• Postdoctoral researchers receive a two-year experiential learning opportunity where they are embedded in their health system partner organization for at least 70% of their time focused on their impact-oriented program of work. The remaining time (up to 30%), is protected for academic research.

Funds Available

• HSI Fellowship for Doctoral trainees: The maximum amount per doctoral award is $50,000 per year for up to 1 year ($45,000 stipend plus $5,000 professional development training and research allowance).
• HSI Fellowship for Postdoctoral researchers: The maximum amount per post-doctoral award is $155,000 total for 2 years ($70,000 stipend per year, plus $7,500 professional development training and research allowance per year)
  • Note: CIHR, and Health Research BC will contribute up to a maximum of 70% of the total award value (i.e., $35,000 of the $50,000 doctoral award, and $108,500 of the $155,000 post-doctoral award). Applicants must secure the remaining 30% of the award value in cash from the host partner organization at the time of application.
  • SHRF has expressed interest in supporting the 30% host partner organization funding contribution for applicants working with host partner organizations in Saskatchewan.

How to find a host partner organization

Our host Partner Linkage Tool will feature a list of organizations that have expressed interest in hosting doctoral trainees or post-doctoral researchers. Note: This is not a mandatory tool. Applicants may pursue opportunities with organizations featured in the Partner Linkage Tool and/or organizations that are not. All organizations must meet the program’s eligibility criteria.

Are you a health system organization looking to host a fellow?

• Fill out our Partner Linkage Tool online form to ensure your profile is posted on our web page by the funding opportunity launch dates!

Anticipated Timelines

Launch Date: Late Spring 2025
Information Webinars: 

• April 2, 2025, 2pm-3pm ET for prospective Health System Organizations. Register
• May 8, 2025, 12pm-1pm ET for prospective applicants. Register.

Applications Due: Summer 2025
Fellowship start date: Spring 2026

Contact Information

For general inquiries please contact:

CIHR Contact Centre
Telephone: 613-954-1968
Email: support-soutien@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

Date modified:

2025-02-24