The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), in collaboration with numerous health research institutes and partners, has launched the 2025 Health System Impact (HSI) Fellowship to support doctoral trainees and post-doctoral researchers in health services and policy research (HSPR) or related fields.
What is the HSI Fellowship?
The HSI Fellowship provides a paid experiential learning opportunity for highly qualified doctoral and post-doctoral researchers to embed within Canadian health system organizations—public, private, for-profit, not-for-profit, or Indigenous—to address pressing health system challenges using applied research.
Participants gain:
-
Exposure to real-world decision-making environments
-
Dual mentorship from a health system leader and academic supervisor
-
Opportunities to grow core professional competencies through a national training platform and cohort retreat
Fellowship Streams
-
Doctoral Fellowship (1 year): $50,000 total
-
$45,000 stipend
-
$5,000 for professional development and research
-
-
Post-Doctoral Fellowship (2 years): $155,000 total
-
$70,000/year stipend
-
$7,500/year for professional development and research
-
Important Dates
-
Program Launch: April 15, 2025
-
Application Deadline: July 3, 2025
-
Anticipated Decision: February 18, 2026
-
Funding Start Date: April 1, 2026
Program Objectives
-
Support impact-oriented careers for HSPR researchers by embedding them in organizations outside traditional academia.
-
Enhance professional competencies such as leadership, project management, and knowledge mobilization.
-
Build capacity within health system organizations to support learning health systems and evidence-informed improvements.
Who Can Apply?
Applicants must:
-
Be enrolled in or have completed a doctoral program in HSPR or a related field
-
Be affiliated with a CIHR-eligible academic institution
-
Secure dual supervision from both an academic and a health system supervisor
-
Not be current or former employees of the host partner organization (with exceptions)
-
Commit 60–100% (doctoral) or 70–100% (post-doc) of time to embedded research
Applicants must also complete a CIHR training module on sex and gender in research and include a certificate of completion.
Research Focus Areas
All proposed research must align with CIHR’s Pillar 3 mandate (health services/policy/system research). Specific focus areas vary by partner institute and include:
-
Aging and cognitive health
-
Cancer prevention and survivorship
-
Public health and health equity
-
Indigenous health and anti-racism
-
Pandemic preparedness
-
Drug safety and real-world evidence
Funding Details
-
Total available funding: $3,412,500
-
~41 awards anticipated
-
Applicants must secure 30% matching funds from their host organization
-
Supplemental funds available for Northern and International placements
Regional Funding Pools
Applicants apply to a specific pool based on the location of their host partner organization (e.g., Western, Central, Eastern, Northern, or International). Details on regional allocations are available in the full funding guidelines.
How to Apply
Applications are submitted via CIHR’s ResearchNet platform and must include:
-
Project proposal and work plan
-
Letters of support from both supervisors
-
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) plan
-
Sex and Gender-Based Analysis (SGBA) certificate
-
Transcripts (doctoral applicants only)
-
Confirmation of partner funding support
Applicants may also use the optional Partner Linkage Tool to find host organizations.
Apply for the 2025 HSI Fellowship today!
Webinars & Support
CIHR will host webinars to guide applicants through the process. Check the CIHR website’s Webinars section for dates and registration details.
Contact
For more information, contact the CIHR Contact Centre:
📧 support-soutien@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
📞 1-888-603-4178
Make a difference in Canada’s health systems. Apply for the 2025 HSI Fellowship today!
