Grant and Funding Programs Offered by Canadian Intensive Care Foundation (CICF)

The Canadian Intensive Care Foundation (CICF) is a national charitable foundation created in 1992 to respond to the intensive care community’s need for dedicated funding. It raises and distributes money to support patient‑centred critical care research and educational activities for clinicians, patients and families across Canada. Over its history, CICF has raised roughly 1.5 million dollars to back numerous investigators, with a strong emphasis on junior and mid‑career researchers, as well as professional development for ICU nurses, respiratory therapists and other team members.

CICF’s core mandate is to channel donations and membership revenues into competitive grants and educational support. The foundation provides research and education funding through targeted calls and programs. A recent example is the Early Career Investigators in Alberta Research Grant, which offers two $30,000 grants to eligible early‑career investigators conducting critical care research. The program includes defined eligibility criteria, membership requirements, timelines for application and independent peer review by an adjudication committee.

Beyond structured calls, the foundation has historically supported a range of projects and investigators at different career stages, from junior to senior scientists. Its accomplishments include funding work by prominent Canadian critical care researchers and sponsoring many educational events that enhance ICU care quality, safety and outcomes.

CICF focuses on multidisciplinary critical care teams and the patients and families they serve. Physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, dietitians and scientists can benefit from its research grants and educational opportunities, particularly when they are members of the foundation. Membership also provides insight into how research and education dollars are invested, and creates a national network interested in improving ICU care.

The foundation’s stated mission is to raise funds to support excellence in Canadian critical care research and education, with the vision of ensuring the best possible care and outcomes for all those affected by critical illness. Its values highlight compassion, respect, equity, diversity and inclusion, research integrity, innovation, excellence, education and interdisciplinary collaboration. Grants are awarded through transparent calls, clear deadlines and independent review, and recipients are expected to report on their work and acknowledge CICF support in resulting publications and presentations.