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Operating Grant: Human Frontier Science Program - Research Grants - Canada
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Source verified April 21, 2026

Operating Grant: Human Frontier Science Program - Research Grants

International collaborative research in the life sciences
Offered by
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
Official source: researchnet-recherchenet.ca
Latest source update
Last Update: May 19, 2026
Latest change: The HFSP Research Grants page now adds detailed eligibility, funding, timeline, and application instructions, including LOI deadlines and ProposalCentral steps.
View change
HFSP Research Grants updated
The HFSP Research Grants content now spells out major program details that were previously summarized more broadly, including team composition rules, early career criteria, ineligible applied research, and the fixed-sum structure tied to team size. It also adds a much more specific application flow through ProposalCentral, with letter of intent initiation and submission dates, co-applicant approvals, and fuller instructions for the full proposal stage. The program scope remains focused on novel, interdisciplinary basic life science research, but the page now presents that scope with more explicit limits and conditions.
Funding available
$ 300,000 - $ 500,000
Deadline
Open continuously
Location
Canada
Who can apply

International teams of independent researchers.

See full eligibility

Overview

This program supports teams of scientists working on innovative basic research in the life sciences. It provides fixed-sum funding for collaborative projects that bring together interdisciplinary expertise across national boundaries.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.

At a glance

Funding available

Financing goals
  • Conduct research and development activities
Eligible Funding
  • Maximum amount : 500,000 $
  • Minimum amount : 300,000 $
Funds Providers

Eligible candidates

Eligible Industries
  • All industries
Location
  • Canada
Legal structures
  • Public or Parapublic institution
Annual revenue
  • All revenue ranges
Organisation size
  • All organization sizes
Audience
  • All groups

Next Steps

1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility

Activities funded

  • Innovative basic research on fundamental biological questions.
  • Interdisciplinary collaborative research across national and disciplinary boundaries.
  • New research directions developed through team collaboration.

Documents Needed

  • Letter of Intent
  • Full proposal
  • Scientific abstract
  • Research plan
  • List of team publications and co-publications

Official resources

Official page

Research Net - Recherche Net

Program guide

HFSP Research Grants

Research Grants - Human Frontier Science Program

Research Net - Recherche Net

Supporting document

the PEER Review Process

Writing a Letter of Intent

• Submenu “Principal Applicant”

Eligibility

Who is eligible?

  • International teams of independent researchers.
  • Research teams in the life sciences.
  • Early career research teams meeting the program’s timing requirements.

Who is not eligible

  • Individual scientists applying alone.
  • Projects with a purely applied focus.
  • Teams that are not international.
  • Teams based only at one institution.
  • Research teams whose work is mainly incremental or not novel.

Eligible expenses

  • Project-specific costs directly linked to the collaborative research.
  • Salaries or stipends for essential research assistants, post-doctoral scientists, graduate students, and technicians.

Ineligible Costs and Activities

  • Salary support for the Principal Applicant, Co-Applicant, or other faculty and institutional staff.
  • Student tuition fees.
  • Applied research, including medical research normally funded by national health agencies.
  • Projects focused on diagnosis, treatment, drug targets, or drug development.
  • Purely observational, descriptive, or screening studies.

Eligible geographic areas

  • Principal Applicants must have their primary laboratory in an HFSP member country.
  • Other team members and their laboratories may be based anywhere in the world.

Selection criteria

  • Novelty.
  • Interdisciplinarity.
  • Team integration.

How to apply

  • Step 1: Initiate the Letter of Intent
    • Access the HFSP application site through ProposalCentral.
    • Obtain a proposal identifier before submission.
  • Step 2: Prepare the team and LOI
    • Designate one Principal Applicant.
    • Add all co-applicants and secure their approval in the online form.
  • Step 3: Submit the Letter of Intent
    • Complete and submit the LOI online by the deadline.
  • Step 4: Submit the full proposal if invited
    • Selected teams are invited to submit a full proposal later in the process.
    • The full proposal deadline is provided to invited applicants.

Processing and Agreement

  • Letters of Intent are pre-screened for applicant eligibility and scientific scope.
  • Eligible Letters of Intent are reviewed by the Review Committee and then by the Selection Committee.
  • Selected teams are invited to submit a full proposal.
  • Full proposals are reviewed by Review Committee members and external experts.
  • Final recommendations require approval before awards are announced.

Additional information

  • Letters of Intent are required before invited full proposals.
  • Invited Full Proposals must be submitted through ProposalCentral, not ResearchNet.

Contacts

grant@hfsp.org
33 3 88 21 51 ext. 26 or 37

Other components of this program

Explore related funding streams and grants that belong to the same program.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Operating Grant: Human Frontier Science Program - Research Grants Program

What is the Operating Grant: Human Frontier Science Program - Research Grants?

This program supports teams of scientists working on innovative basic research in the life sciences. It provides fixed-sum funding for collaborative projects that bring together interdisciplinary expertise across national boundaries.

How much funding can be received?

Operating Grant: Human Frontier Science Program - Research Grants Funds up to $500,000 of admissible expenses.

Who is eligible for the Operating Grant: Human Frontier Science Program - Research Grants program?

To be eligible for the Operating Grant: Human Frontier Science Program - Research Grants program, you must: Basic life science research. International collaborative team. Novel project beyond ongoing work.

What expenses are eligible under Operating Grant: Human Frontier Science Program - Research Grants?

Innovative basic research on fundamental biological questions. Interdisciplinary collaborative research across national and disciplinary boundaries. New research directions developed through team collaboration.

Who can I contact for more information about the Operating Grant: Human Frontier Science Program - Research Grants?

You can contact Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) by email at grant@hfsp.org or by phone at 33 3 88 21 51 ext. 26 or 37.

Where is the Operating Grant: Human Frontier Science Program - Research Grants available?

The Operating Grant: Human Frontier Science Program - Research Grants program is available across Canada.

Is the Operating Grant: Human Frontier Science Program - Research Grants a grant, loan, or tax credit?

Operating Grant: Human Frontier Science Program - Research Grants is a Researchers And Facilities