Funding, News and Announcements

Earlier this year, Canada’s three federal research granting agencies, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), announced a harmonized approach to funding eligibility that aligns more clearly with the Treasury Board Policy on Transfer Payments (PTP), with regard to the eligibility and funding of research projects or programs submitted by applicants who are employed by the federal government.

Each agency is implementing this policy in their own programs, funding opportunities, and competitions.

This message is a reminder that federal employees applying for tri-agency funding should consult the following resources before beginning their applications:

• CIHR’s webpage: Frequently asked questions: Are you a federal employee applying for tri-agency funding?
• Tri-agency update: Harmonization of tri-agency policy on the use of funds for federal government employees applying to granting agency programs

Institutions should review all applications for alignment with the policy before submission to CIHR, where the Nominated Principal Applicant is a federal employee. If the applicant’s proposed research falls within their federal employer’s mandate (i.e., the Department or Agency conducts health research) and is to be carried out using federal facilities or resources, the budget must request funding only for support of students or postdoctoral researchers (salaries or stipends and travel costs). We request also that officials at Federal Department and Agencies communicate these requirements to all employees who conduct health research.

If you have any questions, please reach out to the CIHR Contact Centre.