Grant and Funding Programs Offered by Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging (RIA)

The Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging (RIA) is a charitable, non-profit research institute dedicated to changing the way we age in Canada. Founded in 2005 through the vision and philanthropy of Dr. Ron Schlegel, the RIA operates out of the Centre of Excellence for Innovation in Aging, a purpose-built teaching long-term care home where all profit is donated back into research activities. From this base, the RIA supports research, education and practice initiatives that enhance the quality of life and care of older adults.

The RIA plays a direct funding role by supporting research positions and projects in partnership with universities and other organizations. It is home to a portfolio of Schlegel Research Chairs and Schlegel Specialists whose positions are jointly or partially funded by the RIA in collaboration with post-secondary institutions. These investments enable interdisciplinary teams of researchers and students to tackle priority topics such as dementia, culture change in senior living, workforce development, technology-enabled aging and co-design.

RIA’s funding is largely oriented toward building research capacity and translating evidence into practice. Its support includes joint funding of endowed or term research chairs, partial funding for specialist roles, and contributions to multi-partner research projects and knowledge mobilization initiatives. Through these mechanisms, the RIA helps launch, incubate and scale programs and tools that respond to real-world needs in long-term care, retirement living and community settings.

The institute’s work is structured around its Incubation Acceleration Mobilization® (IAM) Model, which maps how an idea moves from early research to wider implementation. Philanthropic gifts and partner contributions flowing through the RIA are used to support pilots in clinical or community environments, evaluate effectiveness, refine interventions with end-users, and develop training, toolkits and other resources that can be shared across the sector.

RIA’s grants and investments primarily benefit older adults, people living with dementia and their care partners, as well as the organizations and professionals who support them. Funding reaches university-based researchers, affiliated colleges, long-term care homes, community agencies and multi-site initiatives across Canada. Areas of impact include dementia care and stigma reduction, person-centred culture change in senior living, workforce education and retention, intergenerational inclusion, nutrition and mealtimes, mental health of care staff, and technology-based solutions for safer, more connected aging.

Beyond research positions, the RIA supports a range of evidence-informed programs such as LIVING the Dementia Journey, CHOICE+ for mealtimes, Living Classroom, Ontario Centres for Learning, Research and Innovation in Long-Term Care, and community-focused initiatives like Building Belonging. These programs are often developed and maintained through blended funding that combines RIA resources, government program dollars and partner contributions.

As a registered charity, the RIA emphasizes transparency and accountability in its use of funds. It publishes annual impact and financial reports and a multi-year strategic plan outlining research priorities, partnership models and expected outcomes. The institute’s commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion is embedded in its funding and collaboration practices, with explicit attention to equity-deserving communities and the co-design of projects with people who have lived experience of aging and dementia.