Cystic Fibrosis Canada is a national non-profit charity that has supported the cystic fibrosis community since 1960. Created by parents of children with CF, it now serves more than 4,000 people living with the disease across Canada. The organization combines research funding, care and clinic support, data collection, advocacy and community engagement to reduce the burden of cystic fibrosis and move toward a cure.
Role of Cystic Fibrosis Canada in the funding ecosystem
The charity is a major funder of CF research and healthcare initiatives. It administers a broad portfolio of competitive grants and awards, including Basic Science Research Grants and Clinical Research Grants that support multi‑year projects aimed at improving understanding of CF and translating discoveries into better care. Seed Grants and Seed Clinical Trial Planning Grants back high‑risk, high‑reward ideas and early trial design work, while large Team Grants mobilize multi‑disciplinary teams on priority topics such as airway infection detection.
Training awards and clinical support
Cystic Fibrosis Canada invests heavily in people as well as projects. Early Career Investigator Awards, Research Fellowship Awards and Clinical Fellowship Awards provide salary and, in some cases, lab support to develop the next generation of Canadian CF scientists and clinician‑researchers. Additional clinic education and clinic incentive grants help strengthen care teams and improve treatment experiences at CF clinics nationwide.
Grant programs, data and clinical trials
The organization runs an annual national grant competition, with calls for proposals, published deadlines and peer review by scientific experts and individuals with lived experience of CF. Its Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Registry and the CF CanACT clinical trials network give researchers access to rich real‑world data and trial infrastructure, complementing direct research funding. Over its history, the charity reports more than $200 million invested in research and over $280 million in research and healthcare initiatives in total.
Advocacy, transparency and community impact
Beyond research, Cystic Fibrosis Canada leads advocacy to secure equitable access to life‑changing CF drugs, improve financial support systems and adapt models of care. It regularly publishes impact reports, registry reports and audited financial statements to demonstrate how donor dollars are invested. Through this combination of grant-making, awards, clinical support and policy work, the organization plays a central role in advancing longer, healthier and fuller lives for Canadians living with cystic fibrosis.