Training and Career Development at III

The CIHR Institute of Infection and Immunity is committed to building and strengthening Canadian health research capacity by supporting the next generation of researchers. This section includes resources designed to help you throughout your career path.

New Investigators Forum

The CIHR Institute of Infection and Immunity (CIHR-III) recognizes that the ongoing development of new researchers is fundamental to a strong and innovative health research capacity within its mandate.

The next New Investigator Forum, hosted by CIHR-III, will take place in King City (Toronto), Ontario, from April 14 to 16, 2026.

Applications are welcome from early career investigators in the area of infection and immunity, as well as late-stage post-doctoral fellows and research associates who have a minimum of 3 years of postdoctoral experience and are actively looking to pursue an academic career as independent investigator. For more details on the event and the application, please visit the Spring 2026 New Investigator Forum webpage. You may also find additional resources on the Spring 2022 Virtual CIHR-III New Investigators Forum webpage.

Institute Community Support (ICS) Program Funding Opportunities

The ICS Program is designed to foster community development by providing grants and awards to individuals and organizations for the purposes of aiding research and knowledge translation activities where the circumstances fall outside of CIHR's current suite of funding programs, and supporting individuals, organizations and activities whose goals are consistent with CIHR's and its Institutes' vision, mandate and strategic directions.

Under the framework of the ICS Program, III offers the following funding programs designed to encourage excellence in research and foster community development:

• The Bhagirath Singh Early Career Award in Infection and Immunity
  Objective: To recognize the highest ranked new investigator in the field of infection and immunity. Posted in the Spring and Fall Project Grant competitions, this award is a supplemental grant to support research, and must be used in accordance with CIHR Funding Policies. The award is not a personal award and is non-renewable. For more information, visit The Bhagirath Singh Early Career Award in Infection and Immunity webpage.

• III Planning and Dissemination Grants
  Objectives: To support planning activities, partnership development and/or increasing understanding of the health research landscape that will contribute to the advancement of research consistent with the mandate of CIHR and relevant to III; and/or to support dissemination events/activities, relevant to III, that focus on the communication of health research evidence to the appropriate researcher and/or knowledge user audience(s), tailoring the message and medium as appropriate.

  The grants are administered through ResearchNet and are launched twice per year, summer and winter. For more information, please visit the CIHR Funding Opportunities Database under "Other: Planning and Dissemination Grants – Institute Community Support".

  Please note that only currently open funding competitions will appear within the CIHR Funding Opportunities Database.

CIHR Research Excellence, Diversity, and Independence (REDI) Early Career Transition Award

CIHR is committed to supporting the career development of the next generation of health researchers. The CIHR Research Excellence, Diversity, and Independence Early Career Transition Award is available to post-doctoral researchers, clinicians, and research associates from specific underrepresented groups to help them launch their research faculty careers in Canada. This transition award is intended to foster the development of independent research scientists who would benefit from tailored, mentored career development in Phase 1 before transitioning to Phase 2 to establish and sustain their independent research program in academia.

Leadership Award for Excellence in Vaccine Research for Infectious Diseases of Epidemic Potential

Preparing for and responding to current and emerging infectious disease threats is an enduring priority of the Institute of Infection and Immunity (III) — and its importance has been heightened by COVID-19. This initiative aligns with III’s Strategic Goals of Global Health and Building Careers, as described in III’s Strategic Plan 2021–2026. It supports the career development of mid-career researchers and contributes to national and international efforts to prevent and prepare for future global health threats and position Canada as a leader in this research area.

In 2022, six Canadian mid-career researchers were funded to pursue vaccine research projects in epidemic and pandemic preparedness, five in collaboration with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI). In 2025, CIHR-III launched a second competition for this award, adopting an applicant partner model in which applicants co-develop full proposals in a relevant area of interest to a funding partner: either CEPI or the National Research Council Canada (NRC).

The Health System Impact Program

The Health System Impact (HSI) Program provides highly qualified PhD trainees, postdoctoral researchers, and (new!) early career researchers in health services and policy research/related fields an opportunity to develop embedded research projects/programs that address the most pressing problems faced by health system organizations and to support evidence-informed decision-making.

Date modified:

2025-08-13