The Canadian public is becoming increasingly concerned about research involving humans, particularly when that research concerns health and healthcare. The need for research in the ethics of health and healthcare services has, therefore, never been more apparent.

The CIHR Ethics Office offers funding opportunities for research in ethics related to health, health research and/or health policy. A systematic analysis of bioethics or ethics issues associated with health, health care, health research or health policy must be a significant focus of proposed studies. Scientific, social or legal issues, if addressed, should expand the discussion or understanding of bioethical or ethical issues.

Funding opportunities lead by the Ethics Office include:

• Priority Announcements, which offer additional sources of funding for highly rated applications relevant to research in ethics related to health, health research and/or health policy. Priority Announcements are offered in the following competitions:
  • Operating Grant
  • Doctoral Research Award: The Douglas Kinsella Award for Research in Bioethics is offered annually to the highest ranking candidate who applies to the Doctoral Research Award competition, whose research focuses on ethical issues related to health and/or health research.
  • Meetings, Planning and Dissemination Grants:
    • Planning Grants: to help researchers establish relationships and build trust with Aboriginal communities, and to reach consensus on the terms of a research project in order to develop Research Agreements for future applications for funding
    • Dissemination Events: to support relevant dissemination activities
    • KT Supplements: to support the analysis of bioethics or ethics issues associated with the research undertaken and/or its results following the successful completion of a CIHR grant/award or component of a grant/award
• Catalyst Grants in Ethics are meant to encourage applicants to embark on research in ethics that could lead to successful future applications for operating grants; develop themes in the areas of interest using relevant methodologies; promote conceptual and/or empirical research from a wide range of disciplinary perspectives; and encourage post-doctoral trainees to apply as co-applicants.

The Ethics Office is dedicated to identifying and developing collaborations with other CIHR institute(s), branch(es) or office(s), funding organizations and stakeholders to enhance the availability of funding for its own strategic initiatives or those of others.

All current and archived funding opportunities, as well as Funding Decisions, can be viewed at Ethics Funding Opportunities.

For questions about the objectives of these funding opportunities contact:
Lynne Cayer
Ethics Policy Advisor
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Telephone: 613-952-4264
Fax: 613-954-1800
Email: lynne.cayer@cihr-irsc.gc.ca