Looking for research funding? Get an overview of internal and external research funding and how to find it.

Updated September 18, 2023

What are the funding streams for Fraser Health researchers?

Learn about the types of funding opportunities available to Fraser Health researchers who are either employees or privileged physicians. 

Internal funding

Are there any Fraser Health research grants that I can apply to?

  • Seed Grant - $10,000

    Seed grants provide initial 'start-up' funding to new researchers who have never received funding as a principal investigator. These funds help researchers in completing a definitive research study or to engage in preliminary research in Fraser Health ($10,000 each lasting up to one year and time for knowledge dissemination). 

    This competition is currently closed.

  • Strategic Priorities Grants - $25,000

    Strategic priorities grants provide funding to researchers to undertake research that addresses one of Fraser Health's strategic priorities and supports the development of new collaborations and partnerships ($25,000 each lasting up to one year and time for knowledge dissemination).

    The competition is currently closed.

  • The Liz da Silva "Someone believes in me" Dietitian Award - $1500

    The purpose of this award is to motivate dietitians, novice to research, evaluation or quality improvement to start new projects that will generate new practice-based knowledge in dietetics.

    Full application deadline: June 30, 2023  

  • Physician Research Planning Salary Award - $20,000

    This award is intended for physicians with privileges in Fraser Health facilities who have demonstrated past success in obtaining a research grant and managing research projects. The main deliverable is for the successful applicant to produce a detailed three-year plan that describes how they are going to develop their program of research and the main planning activities they propose to undertake.

    This competition is currently closed.

     

Who won these grants previously?

Congratulations to our previous Seed Grant and Strategic Priority winners. We thank all funders who have made these projects possible.

  • Seed Grant Winners

    Grant funders
    Principal investigators
    Study title
    Year
    Department of Evaluation and Research Services
    Erin Brown
    A Description of Weight Bias Among Hospital Dietitians Working in British Columbia
    2021/22
    Professional Practice Department
    Harinder Dhaliwal
    Language localization and lateralization using magnetoencephalography and functional magnetic resonance imaging in bilingual healthy population
    2021/22
    Virtual Health
    Shabana Kapadia
    Exploring healthcare providers' perspectives on cultural competence, cultural safety, and cultural humility in virtual care: A phenomenological study
    2021/22
    Mental Health and Substance Use Department
    Aven SIdhu
    The impact of substance use in British Columbia during COVID-19 pandemic: trend analysis and economic impact
    2021/22
    Mental Health and Substance Use (MHSU) Department
    Leighla Cuff and Darcee Cooper
    COVID-19 Pandemic: Exploration of Healthcare Social Workers’ Work Experiences and Potential Effects on their Mental Health
     
    2020/21
    Professional Practice (PP) Department
    Jessica Kromhoff
    Examining Nurse Practitioner Experiences in Delivering Virtual Care during the Covid-19 Pandemic
    2020/21
    Innovation and Virtual Health
    Joshua Paulton and Amanjot Gill
    Brief Virtual Mindfulness Mediation Group Therapy Effectiveness for Anxiety and Depression in Community Mental Health Clients During COVID-19 Global Pandemic
    2020/21
    Department of Evaluation and Research Services
    Hannah Varto
    Serious Health Complications following Non-Fatal Strangulation as Interpersonal Violence: Prevalence and Health Care System Utilization
    2020/21
    Mental Health and Substance Use (MHSU) Department
    Benny Bloomfield
    Assessing the Knowledge and Attitudes of Healthcare Professionals within Fraser Health Authority Toward Emerging Treatments for Substance Use Disorders.
    2019/20
    Professional Practice (PP) Department
    Courtney Wedemire
    The association between sarcopenia and energy expenditure in critically ill patients who are obese: a feasibility study
    2019/20
    Department of Evaluation and Research Services
    Alysone Martel
    Content Validation and Inter-rater Reliability Testing of a Dietitian Priority Intervention Criteria (PIC) Tool for Adult Inpatients
    2018/2019
    Innovation, Planning and Transformation
    Dr. Amir Behboudi
    A Randomized Controlled Trial of Virtual Reality vs. Standard of Care for Comfort During Care of Musculoskeletal Injuries in Children
    2018/2019
    Professional Practice
    Dr. Martina Smit
    Adapting standard Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to a public community mental health program: exploration of barriers and alternatives to 24/7 phone coaching
    2018/2019
    Ridge Meadows Hospital Foundation
    Ronda Field
    TeleHealth exercise for fall prevention
    2017/2018
    Mental Health and Substance Abuse Program
    Erin Henthorne
    In from the cold: A qualitative investigation of the service impact, needs and voices of homeless patients in the Fraser Health region
    2016/2017
    Professional Practice Department
    Fraea Renaerts
    System-based barriers to accessing emergency care among women experiencing suspected or confirmed sexual assault who use drugs and are street-engaged
    2016/2017
    Population and Public Health Program
    Anne Todd
    Perceptions of food retailers as potential public health partners in reducing food insecurity
    2016/2017
    Rehabilitation and Acquired Brain Injury Program
    Tina Moran (with Dr. Lynne Feehan as co-principal investigator)
    Inter-rater reliability of bed-side assessment scales for evaluation of shoulder pain, mobility and spasticity in patients with low level of consciousness following acute stroke. A pilot study
    2015/16
    Professional Practice Department
    Pet Ming Leung
    Effect of a pre-dialysis rehabilitation exercise program for elderly haemodialysis patients on mental and physical health outcomes
    2015/16
    Population and Public Health Program
    Katayoon (Kathy) Riyazi
    Transitioning patients from nurse practitioners (NPs) to family physicians (FPs): Identifying barriers, alternatives, and predictors
    2015/16
    Ridge Meadows Hospital Foundation
    Dr. Caroline Mariano
    Clinical utility of a chemotherapy-toxicity prediction tool for elderly cancer patients in a community oncology setting
    2015/16
     

  • Strategic Priorities Grant Winners

    Grant funders
    Prinicipal investigators
    Study title
    Year
    Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation
    Courtney Wedemire
    Impact of co-existing malnutrition and sarcopenia on ICU length of stay in adults requiring mechanical ventilation
    2022/23
    Department of Evaluation and Research Services
    Lisa Symons and Lisa Jaman
    Shifting away from weight: A pilot study accessing the feasibility of handgrip strength as a measure of physical health in children enrolled in a healthy lifestyle intervention
    2022/23
    Peace Arch Hospital Foundation
    Fiona Howarth
    Impact of using a continuous processed neurological monitor to guide sedation management in ventilated patients in the Intensive Care Unit on length of delirium, days spent on a ventilator and Post-Intensive Care Syndrome - a prospective observational study
    2022/23
    Peace Arch Hospital Foundation
    Andrea Lai
    Consensus-Developing of a Quality Framework for Nutrition Care in Long Term Care
    2021/22
    Surrey Hospitals Foundation
    Maurie Maitland
    The impact of post-discharge calls on emergency department visits and unplanned readmission rates in patients with high LACE scores
    2021/22
    Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation
    Perseus Missirlis
    A genetic survey of cytochrome P450 2D6 haplotypes and clinical response to codeine and tramadol in postoperative pain management
    2021/22
    Ministry of Health
    Stephanie Assmann and Sonya Chan
    Comparing Pneumonia Rates in Adult Inpatients with Oropharyngeal Dysphagia
    2020/21
    Surrey Hospital Foundation
    Laurie Parker
    Exploring Inpatient Unit Staff Experience with Emergency Department Crowding, Access and Flow and Associated Patient Outcomes
    2020/21
    Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation
    Dr. George Medvedev
    Application of ketamine for sedation in patients with cardiac arrest: feasibility, safety and potential impact on neurological outcomes.
    2019/20
    Surrey Hospital Foundation
    Dr. Belinda Rodis
    Perioperative Optimization of Senior Health (POSH): a quasi-experimental study improving outcomes in older adults going through surgery.
    2019/20
    Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation
    Dr. Artak Stepanyan
    Review of mechanical ventilation strategies in ELBW neonates and short to intermediate term outcomes in 3 tertiary level nurseries in BC
    2018/2019
    Surrey Hospital Foundation
    Dr. Aaron MacInnes
    Use of functional neuroimaging for discovery of thalamocortical dysrhythmia in chronic pain patients
    2018/2019
    Department of Evaluation and Research Services
    Dr. Dennis Orton
    Development of an enzyme phenotyping assay to predict adverse reactions for patients requiring chemotherapy
    2018/2019
    Surrey Hospital Foundation
    Reena Parhar
    Assessing swallowing and respiration following prolonged intubation: A feasibility study
    2017/2018
    Surrey Hospital Foundation
    Dr. George Medvedev et al
    Automation of CT-based hemorrhage volume assessment for improved clinical diagnosis and intervention outcomes in hemorrhagic stroke
    2016/2017
    Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation
    Susan Lee
    Implementation of a perioperative smoking cessation bundle in a tertiary care hospital – can better timing improve outcomes?
    2016/2017
    Surrey Hospital Foundation
    Michelle Tsai
    Examining how well the 3ST can prospectively explain suicidal behavior in a psychiatric sample of suicidal adults
    2015/16
    Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation
    Dr. David Erickson, PhD
    A randomized feasibility study of clozapine vs adjunctive CBT for refractory psychosis
    2015/16
    Professional Practice Department
    Liz da Silva
    Reliability testing of a nutrition acuity tool
    2015/16
     

External funding

Several external agencies offer funding programs to support your research. Common sources of external funding include:

Be sure to pay particular attention to the eligibility criteria listed by specific funders to ensure your suitability in applying.     

Are there any specific competitions I should consider applying to as a Fraser Health researcher?

  • Michael Smith Health Research BC funding programs

    • Research Trainee Program: supports health researchers (health professional <10 years post degree completion) in the training phase of their research career to enable career development and the long-term success of the B.C. health research landscape.
      • Up to three years, $45,000/year and research stipend
      • Please refer to the MSFHR website for deadlines.
    • Health Professional-Investigator (HP-I) Program: supports clinical health professionals (e.g. MD, RN, PT) to develop and advance research with the goal of bringing research evidence into practice within the health system.
      • Five years, $90,000/year 
      • Please refer to the MSFHR website for deadlines.
    • Innovation to Commercialization (I2C) Program: supports researchers to advance their discoveries or inventions towards practical application, helping ignite and enrich B.C.’s health innovation ecosystem.
      • Phase 1: Two years, $150,000/year
      • Phase 2: Two years, $75,000/year (matching funding required)
      • Please refer to the MSFHR website for deadlines.
    • Convening and Collaborating (C2) Program: supports collaborative activities between health researchers and research users to build capacity for knowledge exchange and promote the use of research evidence in practice, policy and further research.
      • Up to 18 months, $15,000
      • Please refer to the MSFHR website for deadlines.
    • Reach Program: supports health researchers and research users to disseminate the outputs of health research.
      • Up to 18 months, $15,000
      • Please refer to the MSFHR website for deadlines.
  • Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) funding programs

    • Project Grant: support ideas with the greatest potential for important advances in fundamental or applied health-related knowledge, the health care system, and/or health outcomes, by supporting projects with a specific purpose and a defined endpoint.
      • Up to five years; $100,000 to $2,000,000
      • Two cycles per year
      • Registration: August and February
      • Full Application: September and March
    • Fellowship Program: support health professionals to add to their experience by engaging in health research either in Canada or abroad.
      • Up to four years; $40,000 to $50,000/yr + $5,000/year research stipend
      • Please refer to ResearchNet for deadlines.
    • Meetings, Planning and Dissemination Grant: support for meetings, planning and/or dissemination activities.
      • One year; $25,000
      • Application: varies, usually three cycles/year
    • Knowledge Synthesis Grant: support teams of researchers and knowledge users to produce knowledge syntheses and scoping reviews that will contribute to the use of synthesized evidence in decision-making and practice.
      • One year: $100,000
      • Application: varies

How do I find funding?

Contact our research development specialist for assistance in finding potential funding opportunities that are personalized to you and your research interests. 

Want to do the search yourself?

Here are some tips to get you started:

  • Do a keyword search using a search engine, such as Google, to find opportunities.
  • Funding agencies often list successful grants and awards on their websites. Browse through the websites to understand what the agencies are looking for in winning applications.
  • See lists of research funders that are hosted on some academic institution’s websites.
  • Sign up for notifications of upcoming grant competitions on individual funder websites.