Research Allowance for CIHR New Investigators

CIHR has a program in place which allows funded CIHR New Investigators from competitions prior to and including October 2010 to hold a minimum of $50,000 a year in peer reviewed operating funds for the full term of their award. If you are supported by a CIHR New Investigator award and were not successful in securing a minimum of $50 000 in peer reviewed operating funds, you may be eligible to receive top-up funding to bring your total level of operating support to $50,000.

Requests for top-up funding are administered on an annual basis from July 1 to June 30. Renewals of the funds are subject to annual review of the award recipient's current funding status. Note that after the third consecutive year of research allowance support, the award recipient may be required to submit a progress report before further funds may be released.

In order to be considered eligible for this research allowance, you must submit an application for operating support, as a Nominated Principal Applicant or Principal Applicant, to a funding agency with an external peer review process. The operating grant application(s) must be submitted within 12 months preceding the research allowance request submission deadline, which is July 1.

If you think you qualify for this research allowance, please submit your request to CIHR no later than July 1. The following documentation is required:

  • A signed letter from the recipient requesting the research allowance;
  • An updated Common CV (validated for CIHR);
  • A letter from the Dean of Faculty or Research Director from the recipient's institution that confirms the level of funding from July 1 to June 30.

CIHR staff will review the request and assess the award recipient's eligibility to receive a research allowance. CIHR will review the award recipient's Common CV and the letter from the Dean of Faculty/Research Director to confirm:

  • That the award recipient submitted an application for operational support, as a Nominated Principal Applicant or Principal Applicant, to a funding agency with an external peer review process, within the 12 months preceding the July 1st deadline of the Research Allowance request. 
  • The level of funding received by the award recipient for the period of July 1 to June 30.

Should the award recipient be in receipt of funding during the above-mentioned period, the top-up provided by CIHR will be pro-rated, bringing the award recipient's total of operating support, from all peer reviewed sources, to $50,000.

Please review the Use of Grant Funds section of the Tri-Agency (CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC) Financial Administration Guide for a complete listing and description of allowable cost and activities.

Decisions and revised Authorizations for Funding (when applicable) will be mailed to all applicants within 60 days. Should you have any questions please contact the Program Delivery Coordinator, by email: newinvestigators@cihr-irsc.gc.ca.