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Health Effects of Ultra-Processed Foods - Canada
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Health Effects of Ultra-Processed Foods

Funds interdisciplinary research on ultra-processed foods health impacts
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health (ICRH)
Last Update: March 12, 2026
Funding available
$ 1,000,000
Timeline
  • Closing date : January 22, 2026
Location
Canada

Overview

This CIHR Team Grant funds new interdisciplinary research on the health effects of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) to generate evidence that can inform policies and regulations and improve health equity across the lifespan, with up to $250,000 per year for up to four years (maximum $1,000,000 per grant). Eligible activities include projects in one selected funding pool, such as investigating biological mechanisms and disease pathways (including microbiome and immune/metabolic perturbations), studying UPF impacts in older adults or in child and youth health, examining cardiovascular and cerebrovascular mechanisms (including early-life stages), or analyzing structural determinants of UPF production, distribution, regulation, interventions, and consumption.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.

At a glance

Funding available

Financing goals
  • Increase social or community impact
  • Develop strategic partnerships
  • Conduct research and development activities
Eligible Funding
  • Maximum amount : 1,000,000 $
Timeline
  • Closing date : January 22, 2026

Eligible candidates

Eligible Industries
  • Professional, scientific and technical services
  • Educational services
  • Health care and social assistance
Location
  • Canada
Legal structures
  • Non-profit
  • Public or Parapublic institution
Annual revenue
  • All revenue ranges
Organisation size
  • All organization sizes
Audience
  • All groups
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
  • All industries
Target groups
  • All the groups
Revenue structures
  • All structures
Scope
  • All dimensions

Next steps

1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility

Activities funded

  • Interdisciplinary research to investigate the biological mechanisms through which ultra-processed foods (as a whole) contribute to non-communicable diseases, including via microbiome-related and immune/metabolic pathways.
  • Interdisciplinary research to study how specific ultra-processed food components (e.g., additives or by-products of processing) contribute to disease risk, including cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, with an emphasis on early-life stages (before age 18, including fetal development) where applicable.
  • Interdisciplinary research on the health effects of ultra-processed foods in older persons, including mechanisms linked to tissue injury, cardiometabolic processes, accelerated biological aging, frailty, and cognitive decline.
  • Interdisciplinary research on the effects of ultra-processed foods on human development, child health and/or youth health (from preconception to youth).
  • Interdisciplinary research on structural determinants of ultra-processed food production, distribution, regulation and consumption, including identifying barriers/solutions to regulation in Canada and evaluating population-level interventions that affect ultra-processed food consumption.

Documents Needed

  • Tri-agency CV (for the Nominated Principal Applicant and all Principal Applicants)
  • Research proposal (with optional 1-page references appendix)
  • Budget justification
  • Sex and Gender-Based Analysis training certificate(s) (for the Nominated Principal Applicant and all Principal Applicants)
  • Participant Table (listing all team members and roles)

Processing and Agreement

  • CIHR conducts a relevance review at both the Letter of Intent and Full Application stages to confirm alignment with the program objectives and the selected funding pool; applications deemed not relevant are withdrawn.
  • Eligible and relevant applications are sent to peer review, conducted under CIHR’s Priority-driven initiative review guidelines and in accordance with DORA principles.
  • Funding decisions are made within each funding pool in rank order; applications rated below 3.5 are not funded.
  • CIHR notifies applicants of the decision (notice of decision) and publishes the names of successful applicants on the CIHR website.
  • If co-funded by Heart & Stroke, the Host Institution must enter into a separate Research Grant Agreement with Heart & Stroke and comply with additional reporting requirements.

Additional information

  • This funding opportunity uses the tri-agency CV (narrative-style CV); applicants must follow the tri-agency CV instructions even if the system still displays references to the CCV.
  • CIHR will host webinar(s) to support participants with the requirements of this funding opportunity and to answer questions.
  • Peer review for this opportunity will be conducted in accordance with the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA).
  • Applications with a rating below 3.5 will not be funded.

Contacts

support-soutien@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
613-954-1968

Frequently Asked Questions about the Health Effects of Ultra-Processed Foods Program

Here are answers to the most common questions about the Health Effects of Ultra-Processed Foods. This section explains what the program is, how much funding is available, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and other important details to help you determine if this grant is right for your business.

What is the Health Effects of Ultra-Processed Foods?

This CIHR Team Grant funds new interdisciplinary research on the health effects of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) to generate evidence that can inform policies and regulations and improve health equity across the lifespan, with up to $250,000 per year for up to four years (maximum $1,000,000 per grant). Eligible activities include projects in one selected funding pool, such as investigating biological mechanisms and disease pathways (including microbiome and immune/metabolic perturbations), studying UPF impacts in older adults or in child and youth health, examining cardiovascular and cerebrovascular mechanisms (including early-life stages), or analyzing structural determinants of UPF production, distribution, regulation, interventions, and consumption.

How much funding can be received?

Health Effects of Ultra-Processed Foods Funds up to $1,000,000 of admissible expenses.

What expenses are eligible under Health Effects of Ultra-Processed Foods?

Interdisciplinary research to investigate the biological mechanisms through which ultra-processed foods (as a whole) contribute to non-communicable diseases, including via microbiome-related and immune/metabolic pathways. Interdisciplinary research to study how specific ultra-processed food components (e.g., additives or by-products of processing) contribute to disease risk, including cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, with an emphasis on early-life stages (before age 18, including fetal development) where applicable. Interdisciplinary research on the health effects of ultra-processed foods in older persons, including mechanisms linked to tissue injury, cardiometabolic processes, accelerated biological aging, frailty, and cognitive decline. Interdisciplinary research on the effects of ultra-processed foods on human development, child health and/or youth health (from preconception to youth). Interdisciplinary research on structural determinants of ultra-processed food production, distribution, regulation and consumption, including identifying barriers/solutions to regulation in Canada and evaluating population-level interventions that affect ultra-processed food consumption.

Who can I contact for more information about the Health Effects of Ultra-Processed Foods?

You can contact Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) by email at support-soutien@cihr-irsc.gc.ca or by phone at 613-954-1968.

Where is the Health Effects of Ultra-Processed Foods available?

The Health Effects of Ultra-Processed Foods program is available across Canada.

Is the Health Effects of Ultra-Processed Foods a grant, loan, or tax credit?

Health Effects of Ultra-Processed Foods is a Researchers And Facilities

Who are the financial supporters of the Health Effects of Ultra-Processed Foods?

Health Effects of Ultra-Processed Foods is funded by Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health (ICRH)

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