Health research grants: a starter guide to CIHR and NIH funding
A starter guide to health research grants in Canada and the US: how CIHR and NIH funding works, registrations, finding opportunities and applying.
Health research funding on both sides of the border is dominated by two public agencies: the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) in Canada and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the US. Both are highly competitive, peer-reviewed systems. This guide explains how each is organized and how a new applicant can get started.
CIHR: Canada's federal health research funder
CIHR describes itself as Canada's federal funding agency for health research. It is composed of 13 institutes that work with partners and researchers on discoveries and innovations to improve health and strengthen the health care system.
Key resources CIHR points applicants to:
- Funding opportunities on ResearchNet, where current and archived opportunities are listed and applications are submitted.
- The Application Administration Guide, which explains administrative requirements.
- The Canadian Common CV and Tri-agency CV, used for researcher CVs.
- Funding decisions and news, which publish results.
CIHR runs investigator-initiated competitions, such as the Project Grant, and priority-driven research initiatives on issues of strategic importance. It also lists priority areas including Indigenous health research, equity, diversity and inclusion, health research training and knowledge mobilization.
Most CIHR funding goes to researchers affiliated with eligible institutions, usually universities, hospitals and research institutes. If you are not at such an institution, look for a partner who is.
NIH: the US federal health research funder
The NIH grants site is the central resource for NIH research grants. It organizes guidance for applicants into areas such as:
- New to NIH, covering how NIH structure affects funding and how to register to do business with NIH.
- Grants process overview, from planning and submission through award and closeout.
- Find a fit for your research, explaining the missions and interests of each NIH institute, center or office.
- Policy and compliance, anchored by the NIH Grants Policy Statement, which recipients agree to follow when they accept an award.
Applicants generally apply through an institution, which must be registered in SAM.gov and Grants.gov. NIH also uses its own systems for researcher accounts and post-submission tracking. See our Grants.gov guide.
Small businesses doing health research can also look at NIH's SBIR and STTR programs. See our SBIR and STTR explainer.
Other public funders
- US: The grant-making agencies list on Grants.gov includes other health-related agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services. The NSF funds some health-adjacent basic science.
- Canada: Provincial health research funders and health charities fund research too, often with smaller awards and different deadlines.
How to approach a first application
Find the right home. At NIH, identify the institute or center whose mission fits your question. At CIHR, find the competition and, where relevant, the institute priority. Talking to program staff early is normal and useful.
Read the funding notice line by line. Eligibility, budget limits, page limits and review criteria differ between opportunities.
Build your team. Reviewers look at whether investigators and environment can deliver. Collaborators with complementary expertise strengthen an application.
Write for reviewers. State the gap, the aims or objectives, the approach and the expected impact. Address limitations and alternative approaches honestly.
Get internal review. Most institutions have a research office that checks compliance and budgets. Use it, and leave time for its deadlines, which come before the funder's.
Plan for resubmission. Peer review is competitive. Use reviewer feedback to revise and resubmit when the program allows.
Budgets and indirect costs
US federal research budgets follow the cost principles in 2 CFR Part 200, and institutions typically have negotiated indirect cost rates. See indirect cost rates explained. CIHR has its own eligible expense rules in its guides.
Early-career researchers
Both agencies have programs and considerations for early-career investigators. Check the current definitions and opportunities on each agency's site, and ask your research office about internal pilot funds that can generate preliminary data.
Health research funding is competitive, but both CIHR and NIH publish detailed guidance. Researchers who read it closely, find the right program home and plan for revision give themselves the strongest chance.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply to NIH from outside the US? Some NIH opportunities accept foreign institutions; many do not. Each notice lists eligible organizations.
Can I apply to CIHR without a university? CIHR funding is generally administered through eligible institutions. Independent researchers usually partner with one.
How long does review take? Both agencies publish review and decision timelines for each competition. Check the specific opportunity and plan your project start date accordingly.
What if my application is not funded? Read the reviewer comments carefully, talk to program staff, revise and resubmit if the program allows. Resubmission is a normal part of research funding.
Before you apply: a quick checklist
- Read the current official program page and applicant guide, not a summary of last year's version.
- Confirm you are eligible: organization type, size, location and years in operation.
- Confirm your project is eligible: the activities and costs the program actually funds.
- Classify the money: grant, repayable contribution, loan, tax credit or service.
- Work out your share: cost share, matching funds and the cash you need before reimbursement.
- Note the intake window or deadline and the time zone, and plan to submit days early.
- Ask the program contact any question you cannot answer from the guide.
- Do not start spending until you have a signed agreement or written approval.
Mistakes that sink otherwise good applications
- Applying to a program that does not fit, in the hope that reviewers will stretch the rules. They rarely do.
- Copying last year's application without checking what changed in the guide.
- Vague outcomes. Say what will change, for whom, and how you will measure it.
- A budget that does not match the narrative. Every cost should connect to an activity you describe.
- Submitting at the last minute, when portals are busy and there is no time to fix errors.
Keep exploring on GrantSift
Find the programs that fit you
Official program pages are the source of truth, but finding them is the slow part. GrantSift pulls grants and funders from official sources such as Grants.gov and Government of Canada open data into one searchable database covering the US and Canada across every sector. Each listing links back to the official page, and paid plans unlock funder contacts, deadlines you can track, and filters that match programs to your business or organization. Search grants on GrantSift or see plans and pricing.