CIHR Reviewer in Training (RiT) Program

• Your CIHR PIN, if known.
• A PDF of your CIHR Biosketch CV completed using the Canadian Common CV interface; draft CCVs are not accepted.
• A recent letter from a CIHR eligible institution attesting that you meet CIHR's definition of Early Career Researcher and hold an independent research-related appointment at the institution; the letter must include the institution name, your position title, and start date, and repurposed letters such as job offer letters are not accepted.
• A ranked list of up to two peer review committees for which you have the appropriate expertise to review and in which you would be comfortable participating.

Who is eligible?

• Early Career Researchers applying as Mentees.
• Early Career Researchers applying as ECR Reviewers who hold at least one recent federally funded peer reviewed research grant, or equivalent, as a Principal Investigator.
• Candidates submitting as a Nominated Principal Applicant or Principal Applicant in the current Project Grant competition.
• Indigenous Researchers and/or those with experience in Indigenous Health Research for the Indigenous Health Research committee.

Who is not eligible

• Mentee applicants who have previously participated in the RiT Program.
• Mentee applicants who have previously participated as a reviewer in the Project Grant competition.
• ECR Reviewer applicants who have previously participated in the RiT Program as an ECR Reviewer.
• ECR Reviewer applicants who have previously participated as a reviewer for the Project Grant competition.

Eligible expenses

• Out-of-pocket expenses incurred while participating in peer review meetings.

• Up to two RiT Mentee applicants are selected per Project Grant Program committee.
• Mentee applicants are selected by lottery for each of the peer review committees chosen during application.
• At least one ECR Reviewer is selected per committee based on the expertise and eligibility of the applicants.

• Collect your CIHR PIN, CIHR Biosketch CV, letter from a CIHR eligible institution, and ranked list of up to two peer review committees before applying.
• Click Apply Online and submit the application by July 28, 2026 at 23:59 Eastern time.
• Complete your Reviewer Profile and the Self-identification Questionnaire in ResearchNet within 5 business days of receiving the acknowledgement email.

• All submissions receive an acknowledgement email within 5 business days of receipt.
• All individuals who express their interest are informed of the results by September 23, 2026.
• Upon receiving the invitation, candidates have 2 business days to accept; if no response is received, the opportunity is offered to the next candidate.
• After the committee meeting, Chairs, Scientific Officers, and CIHR staff provide feedback to Mentees through the Reviewer Quality Assurance Process, and following completion of the program Mentees receive a letter stating whether they met the expectations in all areas or did not meet the criteria in one or more areas.
• Following completion of the program, ECRs who hold grant funding may be invited to join the College of Reviewers and may also be invited to review for other CIHR programs within the Reviewer Pathway if they meet the expertise requirements and selection criteria.

• Participation in this program is not a prerequisite for becoming a CIHR peer reviewer.
• Unselected applicants may be contacted for a subsequent RiT program if an available spot opens in one of their preferred committees during the next round.