The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) has opened the 2027 Health System Impact Fellowship (HSI Fellowship), a major research and professional development opportunity designed for highly qualified doctoral trainees and post-doctoral researchers working in health services and policy research (HSPR) and related fields.
The fellowship provides researchers with an opportunity to move beyond the traditional university research environment and work directly within health system organizations on research projects addressing real-world health system challenges. Through this embedded research model, fellows can apply their research, analytical and professional skills to issues affecting health services, health policy, public health and health system performance.
The 2027 competition offers two streams: a one-year fellowship for doctoral trainees and a two-year fellowship for post-doctoral researchers. Successful applicants can receive funding of up to $50,000 for the doctoral stream or $155,000 for the post-doctoral stream, including stipends and professional development and research allowances.
The application deadline for the 2027 competition is January 12, 2027.
Overview of the CIHR Health System Impact Fellowship
The Health System Impact Fellowship is organized by CIHR’s Institute of Health Services and Policy Research (IHSPR) in partnership with several CIHR institutes, initiatives and organizations working across areas of health research.
The fellowship is designed around the idea of embedded research. Instead of conducting research exclusively within a university environment, successful fellows become embedded within a host health system organization and work on research that is directly relevant to that organization’s priorities and challenges.
The program is intended to help researchers:
- Gain practical experience within health system organizations.
- Apply research and analytical skills to real-world health system challenges.
- Develop professional and leadership competencies.
- Build networks across academic and health system environments.
- Contribute to evidence-informed decision-making.
- Develop experience working with health system leaders and organizations.
- Strengthen the capacity of health organizations to use research for learning and improvement.
The fellowship therefore combines academic research with practical experience, professional development, mentorship and networking.
What Does the Health System Impact Fellowship Offer?
The HSI Fellowship has two principal streams.
- HSI Award for Doctoral Trainees
The doctoral stream provides a paid one-year experiential learning opportunity.
Doctoral fellows are embedded within their host health system organization and must spend at least 60% of their time working on an impact-oriented embedded research project that is directly relevant to the host organization.
The remaining time, where applicable, is protected for doctoral program commitments such as:
- Coursework
- Comprehensive examinations
- Dissertation work
- Other approved doctoral responsibilities
The maximum value of the doctoral award is $50,000 for one year.
This includes:
- $45,000 stipend
- $5,000 professional development training and research allowance
The structure allows doctoral researchers to continue their academic development while gaining direct experience applying their research capabilities within a health system organization.
- HSI Award for Post-Doctoral Researchers
The post-doctoral stream provides a paid two-year experiential learning opportunity.
Post-doctoral researchers must spend at least 70% of their time working with their host health system organization on an impact-oriented embedded research program.
Up to 30% of the fellow’s time may be protected for academic research and related activities under the supervision of their academic supervisor.
The maximum value of the post-doctoral award is $155,000 over two years.
The funding consists of:
- $70,000 stipend per year
- $7,500 professional development training and research allowance per year
Certain Northern and international awardees may receive an additional $5,000 per year for professional development training in recognition of higher living and travel costs, subject to the conditions of the opportunity.
Mentorship and Professional Development
The fellowship goes beyond financial support.
Both doctoral and post-doctoral fellows receive a dual supervision and mentorship structure involving:
- A health system leader within the host organization; and
- An academic supervisor at the fellow’s affiliated university.
This arrangement allows fellows to receive guidance from both the practical health system environment and the academic research environment.
Fellows also participate in professional development and networking through the Health System Impact Training Platform and the annual National Cohort Retreat.
The program specifically emphasizes enriched core competencies, including areas such as leadership and project management.
Research Areas Supported by the Fellowship
The HSI Fellowship covers a broad range of health services, systems and policy research areas.
All applications must first align with the General Pool, which focuses on health services, systems and policy research.
Applicants may also apply to up to two additional funding pools where their research meets the relevant requirements.
The available research areas include:
Health Services, Systems and Policy
The general pool supports research with a primary and substantive focus on health services, health systems and health policy.
Research should align with CIHR’s Pillar 3 research definition, IHSPR’s mandate and one or more of its strategic research priorities.
The proposed research must also address a significant health system challenge or priority identified by the applicant’s host organization.
Primary Health Care
This stream supports research focused on innovations that can transform primary health care delivery systems.
Projects should contribute to the transformation of primary health care and address the Quintuple Aim, which encompasses population health outcomes, patient and care experience, provider satisfaction, value and health equity.
Northern Research
Applicants working with health system organizations located in Yukon, Northwest Territories or Nunavut may qualify for the Northern research area, provided the proposed research aligns with a health system priority in Northern Canada.
Eastern Canada
The Eastern research area covers Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick.
Applicants must be embedded within an eligible health system organization in Eastern Canada and their research must address a relevant regional health system priority.
Indigenous Peoples’ Health
This area supports research focused on Indigenous health and wellness.
Applicants must meet the opportunity’s requirements concerning Indigenous identity and/or meaningful, culturally safe and reciprocal engagement with Indigenous Peoples, communities, organizations or governments.
Potential areas include:
- Indigenous self-determination in health system design.
- Indigenous-led primary health care models.
- Health equity and culturally grounded health services.
- Digital health equity and data governance.
- Cross-jurisdictional health care coordination.
- Health system preparedness and resilience.
Aging
Research in this area must align with the CIHR Institute of Aging Strategic Plan 2023–2028.
Cancer
Research must align with the mandate and priorities of the CIHR Institute of Cancer Research, including areas such as:
- Cancer prevention
- Early detection
- Cancer survivorship
Circulatory and Respiratory Health
Projects should align with the relevant CIHR mandate and address at least one stage of the care continuum:
- Pre-acute care
- Acute care
- Post-acute care
Sex, Gender and Health
Research can focus on women’s health and/or Two-Spirit and LGBTQI+ health, subject to the requirements of the relevant research area.
Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis
Applications must have a primary focus aligned with the mandate of CIHR’s Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis.
Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes
Research must align with the mandate of CIHR’s Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes.
Infection and Immunity
Projects must align with the mandate of the CIHR Institute of Infection and Immunity.
Pandemic Preparedness and Health Emergencies
This area supports research focused on preparing for or responding to pandemics and other health emergencies.
Population and Public Health
The Population and Public Health stream focuses on core public health functions such as:
- Disease prevention
- Health promotion
- Population health
- Health equity
The trainee must be hosted by a governmental public health institution or a community-based organization with a public-health-related mandate.
Post-Market Drug Safety and Effectiveness
Research may examine areas including:
- Drug safety
- Drug effectiveness
- Real-World Evidence
- Pharmacoepidemiology
- Drug policy
- Health policy and biostatistics
- Administrative health data
Patient-Oriented Research
This stream requires alignment with CIHR’s Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research.
Applications must demonstrate co-leadership with people with lived and living experience and community partners, with the research grounded in priorities identified by those partners.
How Much Funding Is Available?
The 2027 competition has substantial funding available across the two fellowship streams.
The source indicates a total amount of approximately $3.2 million for the opportunity, with additional funding associated with Health Research BC. The competition is expected to support approximately 38 awards, although funding is subject to the availability of contributions from CIHR and its partners.
Doctoral Fellowship Funding
Doctoral trainees can receive up to:
$50,000 for one year
Breakdown:
- $45,000 stipend
- $5,000 professional development training and research allowance
Post-Doctoral Fellowship Funding
Post-doctoral researchers can receive up to:
$155,000 for two years
Breakdown:
- $70,000 stipend per year
- $7,500 professional development training and research allowance per year
The professional development allowance can support eligible expenses associated with professional competency development and participation in program activities, including travel and accommodation related to the National Cohort Retreat.
Partner Matching Contribution Requirement
One important feature of this fellowship is the requirement for a contribution from the host health system organization.
CIHR and Health Research BC can contribute up to 70% of the total award value.
The host health system organization must provide the remaining 30% in cash at the time of application.
For example:
- For a $50,000 doctoral award, the maximum CIHR/Health Research BC contribution is $35,000, while the remaining $15,000 must come from the host organization.
- For a $155,000 post-doctoral award, the maximum CIHR/Health Research BC contribution is $108,500, while the remaining $46,500 must be secured from the host organization.
The host organization can obtain the required contribution from alternative sources in certain circumstances, but the required 30% contribution must be confirmed when the application is submitted. Existing CIHR or Tri-Agency grant funds cannot be used for this contribution.
Who Can Apply for the CIHR Health System Impact Fellowship?
The fellowship is specifically designed for doctoral trainees and post-doctoral researchers working in health services and policy research or related fields.
Doctoral Stream
For Stream A, the nominated principal applicant must be a trainee who:
- Is enrolled full-time in a doctoral degree by the award funding start date.
- Is studying HSPR or a related field.
- Is undertaking doctoral training at a Canadian CIHR-eligible institution.
- Has not previously held an HSI doctoral award.
Post-Doctoral Stream
For Stream B, the applicant must:
- Have obtained a PhD or DrPH in HSPR or a related field, or obtain the degree by the award funding start date.
- Have not previously held an HSI post-doctoral award.
- Maintain trainee status throughout the award period.
Examples of related fields include:
- Health services and systems research
- Health economics
- Health policy
- Population health
- Indigenous Peoples’ health
- Artificial intelligence
- Public health
- Epidemiology
- Gerontology
- Data science
The source states that these are examples and that related fields may extend beyond this list.
Additional Eligibility Requirements
Meeting the academic requirements alone is not sufficient.
Applicants must also satisfy several other conditions.
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Applicants Cannot Hold an Independent Research Position
The nominated principal applicant cannot hold or be on leave from an independent research position.
Previous Employment With the Host Organization
The applicant generally cannot be a current or past employee of the proposed host health system organization, nor a current owner or shareholder of the proposed host organization, subject to the special-case exception identified by the program.
Two Supervisors Are Required
Each application must identify both:
Health System Supervisor: A health system leader at the proposed host organization who has committed to hosting and supervising the applicant.
Academic Supervisor: A university-based academic supervisor with an appointment in a Canadian university graduate training program.
For doctoral applicants, the academic supervisor must be the applicant’s primary PhD supervisor.
For post-doctoral applicants, the academic supervisor must secure the applicant’s post-doctoral status at the university by the award start date.
Citizenship and Residency Requirements
The opportunity allows different citizenship categories depending on where the award is held.
For awards held at host health system organizations in Canada, the applicant may be:
- A Canadian citizen
- A Canadian permanent resident
- A Protected Person under subsection 95(2) of Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
- A citizen of another country
For awards held at host health system organizations outside Canada, the applicant must be a:
- Canadian citizen
- Canadian permanent resident
- Protected Person under subsection 95(2) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
In all cases, the applicant must be registered at an eligible institution at the start of the award.
This means the opportunity is not presented as being restricted to one race or ethnic group. However, applicants must meet the specific institutional, academic, host-organization and citizenship requirements applicable to the proposed fellowship arrangement.
International Applicants and International Research Opportunities
The fellowship does provide for certain international circumstances.
For awards involving a host health system organization located outside Canada, additional citizenship restrictions apply. The eligible international host organization must also meet specific requirements.
An international health system host organization must:
- Be multinational in scope.
- Include Canada as a country in its multinational partnership or membership.
- Offer an HSPR-relevant project to prospective applicants.
- Ensure the proposed project is applicable to the Canadian context.
- Have potential to generate learning that can benefit Canada.
Therefore, being located outside Canada does not automatically make an organization eligible to host an HSI Fellow. The organization and proposed research must satisfy the program’s requirements.
What Organizations Can Host a Fellow?
The fellowship permits a broad range of health system organizations to serve as hosts.
Eligible types of organizations may include:
- National health organizations
- Ministries of health
- Community hospitals
- Academic teaching hospitals
- Health authorities
- Public health organizations
- Health charities
- Consulting firms undertaking health-related work
- Pharmaceutical companies
- Health-related professional associations
- Indigenous health organizations
- Public organizations
- Not-for-profit organizations
- Private for-profit organizations
The organization may operate at local, regional, provincial/territorial or federal/national levels.
However, universities and research institutes whose primary mandate is to conduct or fund research are not eligible to serve as the host health system organization under this competition.
Partner Linkage Tool
CIHR is providing a Partner Linkage Tool to help applicants connect with organizations interested in hosting doctoral or post-doctoral researchers.
The tool is optional.
Applicants are not required to use the linkage tool or contact organizations listed through it.
CIHR also states that using the tool does not provide an advantage in the evaluation or funding decision.
The information supplied by participating organizations is provided voluntarily and the database is expected to be updated regularly until the application deadline.
Important Research and Indigenous Engagement Requirements
Applications involving Indigenous health or First Nations, Métis and/or Inuit populations are subject to additional requirements.
Where Indigenous populations are involved at any stage of the research, including data collection or data access, the applicant and both supervisors must meet the program’s requirements concerning Indigenous self-identification and/or meaningful and culturally safe involvement with Indigenous Peoples.
The requirements are intended to support:
- Indigenous leadership in research agendas.
- Culturally safe research.
- Respectful relationships with Indigenous communities.
- Indigenous research methodologies and frameworks.
- Development of Indigenous trainees and researchers.
- Indigenous data sovereignty.
Applicants who are required to submit the Indigenous Health Research Cultural Safety Form must do so, as failure to attach the form when required may result in withdrawal of the application.
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
The fellowship incorporates equity, diversity and inclusion considerations into its research and training environment.
CIHR states that the program seeks to support the inclusion and advancement of groups that have historically experienced exclusion from science and research.
The program objectives specifically recognize emerging researchers from equity-denied communities and groups that have historically faced systemic barriers within the research ecosystem, including:
- Indigenous Peoples
- Communities affected by racism
- Persons with disabilities
- Members of 2SLGBTQI+ communities
- Groups experiencing gender-based barriers
Applicants are expected to integrate equity, diversity and inclusion considerations, including sex and gender considerations, and Indigenous Rights considerations where appropriate to their research design and practices.
Time Commitment During the Fellowship
The fellowship requires significant engagement with the host organization.
Doctoral Fellows
Doctoral awardees must spend between 60% and 100% of their time working with the host health system organization on an embedded research project or program.
Any remaining time may be devoted to doctoral commitments.
The program explains that 60% corresponds approximately to three days per week based on a 37.5-hour work week, although the time does not have to be distributed equally every week.
Post-Doctoral Fellows
Post-doctoral awardees must spend between 70% and 100% of their time working with the host health system organization.
Any remaining time may be dedicated to academic research and related activities, including publishing, teaching or developing a research program under the academic supervisor.
Both streams also require participation in professional development activities and the Health System Impact Training Platform.
Professional Development Requirements
Successful fellows are expected to actively participate in professional development.
Each awardee must identify at least three enriched core competencies for development during the fellowship.
The professional development and research allowance can support expenses associated with eligible training and competency development.
Awardees must also participate in:
- Orientation activities.
- The annual HSI Conference/National Cohort Retreat.
- Professional development training.
- Health System Impact Training Platform activities.
These activities are intended to complement the research experience with leadership, professional and networking opportunities.
Can Applicants Apply for Other Awards?
Applicants may apply for the HSI Fellowship and other federal awards programs during the same year.
However, applicants cannot receive funding from more than one federal award at the same time.
Where another federal award is held, the funding may need to be formally deferred or interrupted before HSI Fellowship funding begins.
The program also specifies that all awards must begin on September 1, 2027, and deferment is not permitted.
Application Deadline and Important Dates
Applicants should pay close attention to the competition timeline.
Key Dates
- Program launch: September 24, 2026
- Application deadline: January 12, 2027
- Anticipated notice of decision: August 11, 2027
- Funding start date: September 1, 2027
The application deadline is therefore January 12, 2027. Applicants should allow sufficient time to identify a host organization, secure supervisors, develop the research proposal and complete the required application components.
What Applicants Need to Prepare
Applicants should familiarize themselves with the official HSI Fellowship application instructions before beginning their application.
The application requirements include several important administrative components.
Applicants and supervisors must have:
- A ResearchNet account.
- A CIHR PIN.
- A completed Self-identification Questionnaire.
- An updated My CIHR Profile.
- The appropriate institutional affiliation information.
A new requirement for this competition is that the nominated principal applicant must submit a Tri-Agency CV (TCV).
Supervisors do not need to submit a TCV. Instead, the applicant is responsible for providing a narrative description of the research team’s expertise and experience.
Applicants are also required to complete one of CIHR’s three interactive modules on sex and gender in research and include the certificate of completion with the application.
How Applications Are Evaluated
Applications go through a relevance review and peer-review process.
All applications must be relevant to the mandate of the Institute of Health Services and Policy Research (IHSPR) and the General Pool.
Applications submitted to additional research pools are also reviewed for relevance to those particular areas.
An application that does not meet the requirements of a particular additional pool may remain active if it remains relevant to another eligible pool, including the General Pool.
Peer review is conducted according to CIHR’s peer-review principles, with the process also referencing the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA).
The funding decision process provides that funding is distributed to applications in the relevant pools and subsequently across the competition according to the program’s stated funding process.
The source states that applications receiving a rating below 3.5 will not be funded.
What Happens After an Award Is Offered?
Successful applicants must accept the award within 15 working days of the date of the offer.
If an award is not accepted within that period, the award may be cancelled and offered to the next fundable applicant.
The fellowship must begin on September 1, 2027.
Doctoral applicants must provide official confirmation of registration in their doctoral program before starting the award.
Post-doctoral applicants must provide official confirmation that their PhD requirements have been completed, including the required evidence concerning graduation, oral defense or a confirmed oral defense date.
Reporting and Participation Requirements
Fellows are required to participate in monitoring and evaluation activities associated with the program.
The nominated principal applicant must complete:
- Enriched Core Competency Self-Assessments.
- A final report containing an Impact Narrative.
The fellow may also be required to participate in evaluation studies, surveys, workshops and audits and provide relevant data or reports to assist CIHR in assessing the progress and results of its programs.
For research involving First Nations, Inuit or Métis communities whose traditional and ancestral territories are in Canada, data must be managed according to the data-management principles established and approved by the relevant communities, including considerations relating to Indigenous data sovereignty and free, prior and informed consent.
Why the Health System Impact Fellowship Is Different
The HSI Fellowship is structured around the connection between research and practical health system impact.
Rather than limiting fellows’ activities to academic research, the program places them inside health system organizations where they can observe how decisions are made and how evidence can contribute to organizational learning and improvement.
The fellowship therefore combines several components:
- Financial support through stipends and professional development allowances.
- Embedded research experience within a health system organization.
- Academic supervision through a university-based supervisor.
- Health system mentorship from an organizational leader.
- Professional competency development.
- Networking opportunities.
- Exposure to evidence-informed decision-making.
- Opportunities to contribute to health system improvement.
This structure is intended to develop researchers who can work across academic and health system environments.
Important Considerations Before Applying
Potential applicants should carefully examine the eligibility requirements before investing significant time in an application.
In particular, applicants should establish:
- Whether their doctoral or post-doctoral field qualifies as HSPR or a related field.
- Whether they will have the required doctoral status by September 1, 2027.
- Whether they can identify an eligible host health system organization.
- Whether an appropriate health system supervisor is available.
- Whether an eligible Canadian academic supervisor is available.
- Whether the host organization can secure the required 30% financial contribution.
- Whether their proposed research fits the General Pool.
- Whether they qualify for an additional research area.
- Whether they meet the relevant citizenship and residency requirements.
- Whether they can satisfy the required sex and gender research training.
- Whether they can commit the required proportion of time to the host organization.
- Whether they can meet the September 1, 2027 start date.
These requirements are particularly important because the fellowship is not simply a conventional scholarship or academic stipend. It requires a structured relationship among the researcher, academic institution and host health system organization.
Conclusion
The CIHR Health System Impact Fellowship 2027 provides a structured opportunity for doctoral trainees and post-doctoral researchers in health services and policy research and related disciplines to combine academic research with practical experience inside health system organizations.
The program offers up to $50,000 for one year for doctoral trainees and up to $155,000 for two years for post-doctoral researchers, together with professional development, mentorship, networking and embedded research experience.
The fellowship covers a wide range of research areas, including health policy, health systems, primary health care, public health, population health, Indigenous health, aging, cancer, sex and gender, pandemic preparedness, patient-oriented research, drug safety and effectiveness, and other related areas.
However, applicants must satisfy detailed eligibility conditions involving academic status, research field, host organizations, supervisors, citizenship or residency, funding contributions and research alignment.
For researchers who meet these requirements, the program provides an opportunity to develop experience at the intersection of research, health policy, health systems and evidence-informed decision-making.
The application deadline is January 12, 2027, with the anticipated notice of decision scheduled for August 11, 2027, and the funding start date set for September 1, 2027.
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Prospective applicants should review the complete HSI Fellowship application instructions and eligibility requirements carefully before submitting an application.
