Team Grant : Pan-Canadian Network: Emerging LHS in Perinatal Mental Health

• Tri-Agency CV (TCV) PDF for each key participant (mandatory)
• Research Proposal document (mandatory)
• Sex- and Gender-Based Analysis (SGBA) Certificate of Completion for the Nominated Principal Applicant and EDI Champion (mandatory)
• Indigenous Health Research Cultural Safety Form (mandatory)
• Participant Table (mandatory)

• The lead applicant (Nominated Principal Applicant) must be an independent researcher affiliated with a Canadian post-secondary institution or an affiliated eligible organization (e.g., hospital, research institute, or other non-profit organization with a mandate for health research and/or knowledge mobilization).
• The lead applicant must have their substantive role in Canada for the full duration of the grant term.
• The administering organization (Institution Paid) must be authorized to receive and administer CIHR funds.
• The project must be focused on developing a pan-Canadian learning health system (LHS) network in perinatal mental health, aligned with the opportunity’s objectives (integrating research, practice and care; practice-to-data, data-to-knowledge, knowledge-to-practice).
• The application must include a nationally representative team across provinces/territories with the required roles (including additional principal applicants in different provinces/territories, perinatal mental health service providers, and people with lived/living experience and caregiver/family perspectives).

Eligible expenses

• Salaries (full-time or part-time) for team members working on the funded activities, provided they are not conducting research independently and are not already compensated for that time from other sources.
• Community mobilization and engagement costs that respect Indigenous cultures and traditions (e.g., culturally relevant ceremonial items, feasting, gift giving, and cash reimbursements to compensate community participation, where appropriate).
• Contract and/or consultant fees for knowledge mobilization and communication activities involving Indigenous Elders, community members, and Indigenous Knowledge Keepers.
• Translation and preparation of public-facing information and materials (e.g., website content, pamphlets, guidelines, promotional and event materials).
• Travel and related costs to enable participation in CIHR-required project meetings/workshops, including budgeting for at least one in-person meeting for at least three participants (including the NPA).

Eligible geographic areas

• Canada (pan-Canadian; team members must conduct research in different provinces/territories).

• Approach/Design: clarity, appropriateness and feasibility of the approach; quality of the Learning Health System (LHS) integration (practice-to-data, data-to-knowledge, knowledge-to-practice); quality of integrating people with lived/living experience (PWLLE) and caregivers/families; appropriate partner and Indigenous community engagement; consideration of open science; equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) best practices; quality of the knowledge mobilization plan; quality of the data management plan (including Indigenous data sovereignty considerations where applicable).
• Applicant Team: leadership and expertise of the Nominated Principal Applicant in perinatal mental health; team expertise across required roles (including champions); meaningful involvement of PWLLE and caregivers/families; strength of the EDI Champion and Indigenous Research Champion roles and culturally safe capacity to work with Indigenous communities.
• Impact: potential for substantive and sustainable impact on health outcomes, practice, programs and/or policy; potential to improve outcomes and equitable access to perinatal mental health services; contribution and risk/conflict-of-interest management for any partners (if applicable).
• Feasibility: justification of the requested budget (including engagement and knowledge mobilization costs); ability to deliver within timeline and resources; risk management for timeframe/budget; availability of personnel, facilities and infrastructure to achieve a pan-Canadian LHS network.
• Funding decision rule: the highest ranking application will be funded; applications rated below 3.5 will not be funded (no point breakdown provided).

• Step 1: Access ResearchNet and set up applicant profiles
  • Sign in to ResearchNet to start a Full Application for this funding opportunity.
  • Ensure all participants (except Collaborators) have/obtain a CIHR PIN.
  • Ensure all participants (except Collaborators) complete the Tri-Agency Self-identification Questionnaire.
  • Review and update each participant’s My CIHR Profile, including confirming the correct Primary Affiliation is linked.
• Step 2: Identify participants and upload required CVs
  • Complete the “Identify Participants” task in ResearchNet and list all participants.
  • Ensure the required participants and roles are reflected in the application (as specified in the opportunity requirements).
  • Upload an individual Tri-Agency CV PDF for the Nominated Principal Applicant and all key participants (maximum 15), labelled “TCV – Last name, First Name”, using the “Curriculum Vitae” document type.
  • If applicable, prepare a “Most Significant Contributions” page for applicants (optional).
  • Ensure all participants (including Collaborators) will also be listed in the Participant Table uploaded later under “Attach Other Application Materials”.
• Step 3: Prepare and enter the research proposal content
  • Complete the “Enter Proposal Information” task.
  • Draft the Research Proposal addressing the elements reflected in the evaluation criteria and objectives of the initiative.
  • Capture Elders’ and/or Indigenous Knowledge-Holders’ contributions and meaningful engagement in the proposal, where applicable.
  • Upload references, charts, tables, figures, and photographs under “Attachments – Research Proposal Appendix” (if used).
• Step 4: Complete the sensitive technology research screening (STRAC), if applicable
  • Complete the “Identify Sensitive Technology Research Areas” task.
  • If applicable, answer “Yes” to the screening question when the project aims to advance any listed Sensitive Technology Research Areas.
  • Ensure all researchers with named roles review the List of Named Research Organizations and complete the required attestation form.
  • Combine all attestation forms into one PDF and upload it under this task (by the Nominated Principal Applicant).
• Step 5: Write the summary for relevance review
  • Complete the “Complete Summary of Research Proposal” task.
  • Prepare the Summary of Research Proposal for CIHR’s relevance review.
• Step 6: Build the budget and justification
  • Complete the “Enter Budget Information” task.
  • Provide a detailed budget justification aligned to planned activities and justify all budget items (including cash and in-kind contributions, if relevant).
  • Include budgeting for participant attendance at required meetings/workshops, including at least one in-person event (as per the conditions of funding).
• Step 7: Attach mandatory and optional application materials
  • Under “Attach Other Application Materials,” upload the required documents under “Other,” using the specified labels, including:
  • SGBA Certificate – Name (mandatory for the NPA and the EDI Champion).
  • Indigenous Health Research Cultural Safety Form – Name (mandatory at minimum for the Indigenous Research Champion; may also be provided by others fulfilling this requirement).
  • PWLLE and Family/Caregiver Engagement Plan (mandatory).
  • Knowledge Mobilization Plan (mandatory).
  • Data Management Plan (mandatory).
  • Tri-Agency CV – Name (mandatory if an Elder and/or Indigenous Knowledge-Keeper fulfills a key participant role but is entered in ResearchNet as a Collaborator).
  • Applicant Partner COI Document (mandatory if applicable).
  • Relationships with private industry (mandatory if applicable).
  • Upload the Participant Table (mandatory) using the provided template, ensuring all participants (including Collaborators) are listed and key participants are clearly identified.
  • If used, upload optional materials such as a Publication list and Letters of Support.
• Step 8: Complete the checklist and any optional peer review administration fields
  • Use “Download Supplemental Application Information” to access the application checklist.
  • Complete the fillable “Application checklist” form and upload it as a PDF in ResearchNet.
  • If desired, complete “Peer Review Administration Information” (optional) to suggest appropriate reviewers (avoiding conflicts of interest).
  • If needed, use “Manage Access” (optional) to delegate access to support application completion.
• Step 9: Generate and upload signature pages
  • Complete the “Print Signature Pages” task in ResearchNet.
  • Collect signatures for all other applicants (except Collaborators) and from the individual(s) with signing authority from the Institution Paid.
  • Upload the scanned signed signature pages and the Routing Slip in ResearchNet prior to submission.
• Step 10: Submit the application in ResearchNet
  • Submit the completed application through ResearchNet before the application deadline.
  • Revoke delegate access before completing the Consent and Submit tasks if you do not want delegates to retain access to the submitted application (optional control).

• CIHR conducts an initial relevance review of the application summary; applications not aligned with the opportunity objectives are withdrawn.
• Eligible, relevant applications undergo peer review in accordance with CIHR’s priority-driven initiative review guidelines and peer review principles (including DORA).
• CIHR makes the funding decision based on ranking: the highest-ranked application is funded; applications rated below 3.5 are not funded.
• Applicants are notified according to the anticipated Notice of Decision date (July 10, 2026); the names of successful applicants are published on the CIHR website.
• If funded, the Nominated Principal Applicant must submit annual reports and a final report, and the team may be required to participate in up to three CIHR-hosted meetings/workshops over the 5-year term.

• This funding opportunity uses the narrative-style Tri-Agency CV (TCV); the system may still display references to the CCV during the transition.
• Peer review for this opportunity will be conducted in accordance with the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA).
• The Policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern (STRAC Policy) applies to this funding opportunity.
• CIHR indicates the content of this funding opportunity has been updated (date updated: 2025-07-14).