Notice of Upcoming Funding Opportunity for a Nursing in Indigenous Research in Action (NIRA) Chairs Funding Opportunity

Introduction

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and partners are pleased to announce the upcoming launch of an expanded Nursing in Indigenous Research in Action (NIRA) Chairs Program Funding Opportunity, formerly known as the Indigenous Research Chairs in Nursing Initiative. This expanded program builds on the success and learnings of the original initiative, while creating new opportunities to strengthen Indigenous-led nursing research, mentorship, and leadership across Canada.

The upcoming Nursing in Indigenous Research in Action (NIRA) Chairs Program Funding Opportunity is a multi-institute, strategic initiative led by the CIHR Institute of Indigenous Peoples' Health (IIPH), in partnership with CIHR's Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health (ICRH), Institute of Gender and Health (IGH), Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health (IHDCYH), Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis (IMHA), Institute of Population and Public Health (IPPH), and the Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR). Additional partnership support for activities undertaken through the NIRA Chairs program has been received from the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA), Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ), Research Manitoba, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and Memorial University (MUN), and the Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation (SHRF).

Overview

The program is designed to advance Indigenous-led, community-driven nursing research that supports culturally safe, anti-racist, and gender-responsive health systems for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples across the lifespan. With an emphasis on mentorship, capacity building, and meaningful impact, the NIRA Chairs Program will support researchers to undertake research that reflects community-identified health priorities, strengthens nursing and health systems knowledge, and contributes to the development of future nursing and health research leaders.

The funding opportunity will support Chair awards that:

• build on the first phase of the NIRA Chairs Program through the renewal of three (3) existing Chairs and the establishment of ten (10) new Chairs, in provinces and territories across the country;
• advance nursing research, knowledge, standards, and practice in response to Indigenous health priorities;
• strengthen mentorship, training, and leadership opportunities for students, trainees, and emerging scholars;
• support partnerships with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities, organizations, and health systems;
• support activities that contribute to the uptake, relevance, and impact of research undertaken through the Chair;
• contribute to national capacity in Indigenous health research, nursing leadership, and knowledge mobilization;
• work collectively as a network of NIRA Chairs to advance shared priorities, foster collaboration and mentorship across jurisdictions. They are encouraged to connect with national research networks, health organizations, community-based organizations, and collectives, such as the Network Environments for Indigenous Health Research (NEIHRs) and the Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR); and
• support the development and mobilization of knowledge products, and strengthen broader efforts related to Indigenous health research, community research capacity, culturally safe, and anti-racist health systems, and nursing leadership.

Webinar(s)

CIHR will be hosting webinar(s) to inform participants about the requirements of this funding opportunity and to answer questions. To find out more information and to register, visit the Webinars page.

Funds Available

The total amount available for this funding opportunity is anticipated to be $15,275,000, enough to fund thirteen (13) Chairs: one per province and territory. The maximum amount per award is anticipated to be $235,000 per year for up to five (5) years, for a total of $ 1,175,000 per award. 

This includes three (3) awards for renewal, restricted to current Indigenous Research Chairs in Nursing Initiative awardees, and ten (10) new Chair awards.

Renewal Chair Awards – 3 awards:

• British Columbia: $1,175,000 is available to fund one (1) award
• Manitoba: $1,175,000 is available to fund one (1) award
• Saskatchewan: $1,175,000 is available to fund one (1) award

New Chair Awards – 10 awards:

• Alberta: $1,175,000 is available to fund one (1) award
• Newfoundland and Labrador: $1,175,000 is available to fund one (1) award
• New Brunswick: $1,175,000 is available to fund one (1) award
• Northwest Territories: $1,175,000 is available to fund one (1) award
• Nova Scotia: $1,175,000 is available to fund one (1) award
• Nunavut: $1,175,000 is available to fund one (1) award
• Ontario: $1,175,000 is available to fund one (1) award
• Prince Edward Island: $1,175,000 is available to fund one (1) award
• Quebec: $1,175,000 is available to fund one (1) award
• Yukon: $1,175,000 is available to fund one (1) award

Each award consists of:

• $90,000 per year in salary support to help offset the Chair's protected time and leadership responsibilities.
• $90,000 per year for research activities.
• $40,000 per year for mentorship and trainee support.
• $15,000 per year supplement to support other eligible costs such as knowledge mobilization activities.

Eligibility

Applicants must also be nurses who hold, at minimum, a master's degree.

For New Chair Awards, applicants must self-identify as First Nations, Inuit and/or Métis (Indigenous).

Anticipated Timelines

Launch Date: October 2026
Information Webinar: 13 October 2026, from 12:30pm to 2pm ET. Register
Application Deadline: February 2027
Funding Start Date: August 2027

The official CIHR funding opportunity will be posted on ResearchNet in the coming months.

For a full list of CIHR funding opportunities, please visit ResearchNet.

Contact Information

CIHR Contact Centre at 613-954-1968 or support-soutien@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

Date modified:

2026-09-25