Closed
Source verified August 27, 2026
Pan-Canadian Single Research Ethics Review Initiative
Streamlined ethics review for clinical trials
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Funding available
$ 5,000,000
Deadline
Unspecified
Location
Canada
Who can apply
Independent researchers or knowledge users affiliated with a Canadian postsecondary institution and/or its affiliated institutions, including hospitals, research institutes and other non-profit organizations with a mandate for health research and/or knowledge mobilization.
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Overview
Pan-Canadian Single Research Ethics Review Initiative provides up to $5,000,000 over 29 months through CIHR for an independent researcher or knowledge user in Canada to build a pan-Canadian ethics review system for multi-site, multi-jurisdictional clinical trials. Eligible support includes mandatory developmental and final evaluations, IT interoperability adaptation, and public materials translation.
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At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Improve governance or administrative structure
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Strengthen organizational capacity
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 5,000,000 $
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- All legal structures
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- All groups
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Availability timeline
2026
Periods: 2
Activities funded
- Implement a streamlined research ethics review system for multi-site, multi-jurisdictional clinical trials in Canada.
- Build a pan-Canadian model with delegated REB review, bilingual communication processes, interoperability, and dispute-resolution mechanisms.
- Align processes and initiatives to achieve the greatest possible pan-Canadian reach and long-term sustainability.
- Complete independent developmental and formal evaluations to track progress, governance, and continued evolution.
Documents Needed
- Tri-Agency CV
- Team Member Expertise and Experience – Name
- Indigenous Health Research Cultural Safety Form
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Independent researchers or knowledge users affiliated with a Canadian postsecondary institution and/or its affiliated institutions, including hospitals, research institutes and other non-profit organizations with a mandate for health research and/or knowledge mobilization.
- Applicant teams with at least 10 people across at least 8 provinces or territories, including research ethics expertise, decision makers, at least 2 People With Lived/Living Experience, and Indigenous perspectives.
Eligible expenses
- Costs related to the mandatory developmental and final evaluations.
- Costs related to the adaptation of IT systems to ensure interoperability with information exchange platforms of other participating jurisdictions.
- Costs related to the translation and preparation of information or materials intended for public consumption.
- Compensation of patient and community partners.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Research projects
Eligible geographic areas
- Canada
Selection criteria
- Leadership and governance, including breadth of expertise, governance structure, EDI and Indigenous rights, engagement with decision makers, and conflict-of-interest management.
- Operational framework, including standardization, compliance with TCPS, privacy regulations and jurisdictional requirements, interoperability, bilingual functionality, training, quality assurance, REB of record designation, and dispute resolution.
- Delivery and impact, including work plan feasibility, milestones, pan-Canadian reach, efficiency gains, and uptake by the research community.
- Planning for the required developmental and formal evaluations, including budgeting and resource planning.
- Financial sustainability, including the self-sustaining model, user-fee structure, and long-term financial projections.
How to apply
- Submit a Full Application.
- Complete the Identify Participants task and ensure all eligibility requirements are met.
- The Nominated Principal Applicant must submit the tri-agency CV.
- The Nominated Principal Applicant must submit a Team Member Expertise and Experience document for each remaining team member in a role other than Collaborator.
- Enter the Proposal Information and complete the application documents in PDF format.
Processing and Agreement
- An iterative peer review approach may be used, and applicants may be asked to provide additional information after submission.
- The final funding recommendation will take applicant responses to peer review comments into consideration.
- CIHR will establish a CIHR Oversight Committee to monitor initiative progress, and the Nominated Principal Applicant and leadership team must participate in the oversight process.
- The oversight process may include written responses to the CIHR Oversight Committee and/or attending a committee discussion, with the Year 1 progress report and developmental evaluation informing the review.
- The final report is due within 3 months of the end of the grant, and the final independent formal evaluation is due within 4 months of the end of the grant.
Additional information
- The funded applicant’s name will be published on the CIHR website.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Pan-Canadian Single Research Ethics Review Initiative Program
What is the Pan-Canadian Single Research Ethics Review Initiative?
Pan-Canadian Single Research Ethics Review Initiative provides up to $5,000,000 over 29 months through CIHR for an independent researcher or knowledge user in Canada to build a pan-Canadian ethics review system for multi-site, multi-jurisdictional clinical trials. Eligible support includes mandatory developmental and final evaluations, IT interoperability adaptation, and public materials translation.
How much funding can be received?
Pan-Canadian Single Research Ethics Review Initiative Funds up to $5,000,000 of admissible expenses.
Who is eligible for the Pan-Canadian Single Research Ethics Review Initiative program?
To be eligible for the Pan-Canadian Single Research Ethics Review Initiative program, you must:
The Nominated Principal Applicant must be an independent researcher or knowledge user affiliated with a Canadian postsecondary institution and/or its affiliated institutions.
The Nominated Principal Applicant must have a substantive role in Canada for the full grant term.
The Institution Paid must be authorized to administer CIHR funds by the application deadline.
What expenses are eligible under Pan-Canadian Single Research Ethics Review Initiative?
Implement a streamlined research ethics review system for multi-site, multi-jurisdictional clinical trials in Canada.
Build a pan-Canadian model with delegated REB review, bilingual communication processes, interoperability, and dispute-resolution mechanisms.
Align processes and initiatives to achieve the greatest possible pan-Canadian reach and long-term sustainability.
Complete independent developmental and formal evaluations to track progress, governance, and continued evolution.
Who can I contact for more information about the Pan-Canadian Single Research Ethics Review Initiative?
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 Pan-Canadian Single Research Ethics Review Initiative available?
The Pan-Canadian Single Research Ethics Review Initiative program is available across Canada.
Is the Pan-Canadian Single Research Ethics Review Initiative a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Pan-Canadian Single Research Ethics Review Initiative is a Grant and Funding