CIHR Health System Impact Fellowship 2027: Up to $155,000 Funding for Doctoral and Post-Doctoral Researchers in Health Systems and Policy

Overview

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Health System Impact Fellowship (HSI Fellowship) is a professional development and research initiative designed to connect doctoral trainees and post-doctoral researchers with real-world health system organizations. Instead of remaining exclusively in a traditional university environment, successful fellows are embedded within host health system organizations to address practical health system challenges, improve health services, and contribute to evidence-informed decision-making.

The 2027 competition features two main streams: a one-year fellowship for doctoral candidates and a two-year fellowship for post-doctoral researchers. In addition to financial support, the fellowship provides a dual supervision structure involving both a health system leader and an academic supervisor, along with participation in the Health System Impact Training Platform and national cohort retreats.

Benefits

Doctoral Stream: Up to $50,000 total for one year, consisting of a $45,000 stipend and a $5,000 professional development training and research allowance.
Post-Doctoral Stream: Up to $155,000 total over two years, consisting of a $70,000 stipend per year and a $7,500 professional development training and research allowance per year.
Additional Allowances: Certain Northern and international awardees may receive an extra $5,000 per year for professional development training to offset travel and living costs.
Mentorship & Training: Dual supervision from a health system leader and an academic supervisor, alongside leadership competencies and network building.

Eligibility

Doctoral Stream (Stream A): Nominated principal applicants must be enrolled full-time in a doctoral degree in health services and policy research (HSPR) or a related field at a Canadian CIHR-eligible institution by the award funding start date, and must not have previously held an HSI doctoral award.
Post-Doctoral Stream (Stream B): Applicants must have obtained or be about to obtain a PhD or DrPH in HSPR or a related field by the award start date, maintain trainee status throughout, and must not have previously held an HSI post-doctoral award.
Supervisors & Host Organizations: Applicants must secure both a health system supervisor at an eligible host organization and an academic supervisor at a Canadian university. Host organizations must also provide a mandatory 30% cash contribution toward the award.
Citizenship & Residency: Varies depending on whether the fellowship is held at a host organization inside or outside Canada (Canadian citizens, permanent residents, Protected Persons, or citizens of other countries under specific conditions).

How to Apply

Applicants must carefully review the official HSI Fellowship application instructions and prepare all administrative components using ResearchNet, My CIHR Profile, and a CIHR PIN. Key application steps include:

Completing a Self-identification Questionnaire and a Tri-Agency CV (TCV) for the nominated principal applicant.
Completing one of CIHR’s interactive modules on sex and gender in research and attaching the certificate of completion.
Submitting the required proposal, supervisor commitments, and confirmation of the host organization's 30% financial contribution by the deadline.

Deadline

The application deadline for the 2027 competition is January 12, 2027. All awards must begin on September 1, 2027.

Overview

Benefits

Doctoral Stream: Up to $50,000 total for one year, consisting of a $45,000 stipend and a $5,000 professional development training and research allowance.

Post-Doctoral Stream: Up to $155,000 total over two years, consisting of a $70,000 stipend per year and a $7,500 professional development training and research allowance per year.

Additional Allowances: Certain Northern and international awardees may receive an extra $5,000 per year for professional development training to offset travel and living costs.

Mentorship & Training: Dual supervision from a health system leader and an academic supervisor, alongside leadership competencies and network building.

Eligibility

Doctoral Stream (Stream A): Nominated principal applicants must be enrolled full-time in a doctoral degree in health services and policy research (HSPR) or a related field at a Canadian CIHR-eligible institution by the award funding start date, and must not have previously held an HSI doctoral award.

Post-Doctoral Stream (Stream B): Applicants must have obtained or be about to obtain a PhD or DrPH in HSPR or a related field by the award start date, maintain trainee status throughout, and must not have previously held an HSI post-doctoral award.

Supervisors & Host Organizations: Applicants must secure both a health system supervisor at an eligible host organization and an academic supervisor at a Canadian university. Host organizations must also provide a mandatory 30% cash contribution toward the award.

Citizenship & Residency: Varies depending on whether the fellowship is held at a host organization inside or outside Canada (Canadian citizens, permanent residents, Protected Persons, or citizens of other countries under specific conditions).

How to Apply

Completing a Self-identification Questionnaire and a Tri-Agency CV (TCV) for the nominated principal applicant.

Completing one of CIHR’s interactive modules on sex and gender in research and attaching the certificate of completion.

Submitting the required proposal, supervisor commitments, and confirmation of the host organization's 30% financial contribution by the deadline.