External Grant Opportunities

    Requirements for External Grants

    Notice of Intent to Apply

    All Island Health employees or affiliates who plan to submit an external grant application must complete a Notice of Intent to Apply. Once we receive your notification, we can connect you with the right people and departments, help you develop your budget, and request letters of support on your behalf.

    Notifications must be submitted as soon as possible and are requested at least:

    • Two months in advance of the first deadline in the application process that requires approvals or letters from Island Health (whether pre-application, letter of intent, draft, or full application) for grants over $100,000
    • One month in advance of the first deadline in the application process that requires approvals or letters from Island Health (whether pre-application, letter of intent, draft, or full application) for grants under $100,000.
    Requesting Letters of Support

    We can assist external researchers in requesting letters from Island Health to support grant applications aligned with our strategic priorities.

    Requests must be made at least three weeks in advance of the application deadline. All notifications and requests must be submitted online through this form. 

    Current Funding Opportunities

    Canadian Institutes of Health Research

    Planning to submit an application to CIHR?

    All CIHR applications are submitted through ResearchNet, an online portal. Multi-factor Authentication is coming to ResearchNet in September. Learn more.

    Health Research BC
    • Scholar Program (Letter of Intent due Nov. 19, 2024; Full Application Deadline Jan. 23, 2025)
    • Health Professional-Investigator Program (Letter of Intent due Nov. 19, 2024; Full Application Deadline Jan. 23, 2025)
    • Research Trainee Program (Letter of Intent due Dec. 12, 2024; Full Application Deadline Feb. 13, 2025)
    • CANTRAIN Clinical Research Internships
      • Applications accepted on a rolling basis until March 2025.
      • 6 awards of $10,000 each are available.
      • The program is for clinical research professionals and new investigators, integrating online training with experiential learning opportunities and expert mentorship.
      • Internships can be in-person, virtual or hybrid engagements. 
      • Funding may be used for protected time and/or travel expenses for in-person training. 
      • Successful applicants will have up to 12 months to complete the internships.
    • Industry-Based Funding
      • Supports graduate students and postdoctoral fellows to gain experience working within BC’s life sciences sector.
      • Letter of Intent Deadline (to Health Research BC): Jan 24. – Dec. 1, 2024.
      • Full Application Deadline (to Mitacs): Dec. 20, 2024.
    • Health System Focused Funding
      • Supports graduate students and postdoctoral fellows to gain experience working with a BC-based health organization or municipality focused on improving health.
      • Letter of Intent Deadline (to Health Research BC): Aug. 1, 2024 – Jun. 30, 2025.
      • Full Application Deadline (to Mitacs): Jul. 31, 2025.
    BioTalent Canada
    • Science Horizons Youth Internship Program
      • a wage subsidy that helps graduates acquire work experience in an environment-related STEM field. It covers the cost of a participant’s salary by 80% up to a maximum of $25,000
    • Student Work Placement Program
      • covers co-op student wages at 50% up to a maximum of $5,000 and 70% up to a maximum of $7,000 for first-year students and under-represented groups.
      • The application window for placements between August 1, 2024 and December 31, 2024 opens August 1, 2024.
      • The application window for placements between December 1, 2024 and March 31, 2025 opens December 1, 2024.
    Worksafe BC

    Application deadline for all competitions: January 4, 2025 at 4 pm PST

    Contact

    For a targeted grant search

    Email: Isabel.Moore@islandhealth.ca

    Additional Resources
    Health Research Funding Announcements from the University of Victoria