Funding Opportunities

A healthy, successful research program takes time, initiative, perseverance and funding. The more common funding sources are listed below; however, subscribing to Research Services listservs is the best way to stay current.  Follow the Research Way to a thriving and successful program of research.

Internal Funding

Community Engagement and Outreach
A range of funding is available for researchers pursuing community engagement; e.g. seed funding, graduate student catalyst awards, community engaged experiential learning and engagement communications. The University’s Community Outreach and Engagement Office at Station 20 West can advise on potential community partners, provides free research and meeting space and hosts a monthly community engaged scholar discussion group.

Faculty Recruitment and Retention Program
Provides start-up funds to all newly tenured, tenure-track and continuing status faculty to help establish a research program at the University. Support includes a new computer and up to $25,000 over five years to match college support for new faculty. Existing faculty may apply for funding to help re-activate a research program.

OVPR Matching Grant Program
The OVPR may contribute up to $100,000 ($20,000 per year for five years for graduate student support) for large, collaborative grants of strategic significance to the University.

Proposal Development Assistance (Maximum $1,000)
Assists with preparation of a Tri-Agency (CIHR, SSHRC, NSERC) application. Funds cannot be used to cover costs of research.

President's SSHRC Research Fund (Maximum $7,000)
Provides seed funding. Priority is given to new researchers and must demonstrate eligibility and intention to apply to SSHRC on completion of proposed project.

Publications Fund (Maximum $2,000)
Assists with preparation and publication costs of journal articles and books.

Research Acceleration Program (Maximum $10,000)
Supports proposal and group development activities related to large scale grant applications (Tri-Agency and non Tri-Agency). Funds cannot be used to cover costs of research.

External Funding

Canadian Cancer Society Research Institute (CCSRI)
The CCSRI recently revamped its research programs. Funding is targeted to support research in three areas: cancer prevention and risk reduction; biomedical/translational; quality of life.

Canadian Diabetes Association
Grants fund research into the prevention, treatment and management of diabetes.

Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR)
The national funding agency for health research in Canada, CIHR offers two major funding cycles per year (spring and fall) and funds a wide range of research activities for new and experienced researchers. CIHR consists of 13 institutes with specific research mandates and related funding calls.

Heart & Stroke Foundation
Of primary interest to faculty is the Grants-in-aid program, which supports research across four themes including health systems and population health.

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)
NSERC offers research funding for new and experienced scholars, as well as studentships and fellowships for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. Nursing faculty may be interested in the Collaborative Health Research Projects (CHRP) Program, which supports interdisciplinary collaborative research projects involving any field of the natural sciences or engineering and any field of the health sciences.

Royal University Hospital Foundation Research Grant
Maximum $25,000 for a pilot project. Proposed research must be clinically relevant and ultimately benefit patients who for the most part are treated at RUH.

Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation (SHRF)
As the provincial health research funding agency, SHRF offers funding for New Investigators, research group development, fellowships, workshops and conferences and research chairs. Typically deadlines occur in March and October each year and the annual Awards Guide is issued in December and available online from SHRF. Print copies of the Awards Guide are available on request from SHRF; contact the Funding Programs Manager

Sigma Theta Tau International
Offers small grants to fund nursing education and nursing practice research.

Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)
SSHRC is the national funding agency for social science and humanities research in Canada and offers a range of programs for individual and team-based research and partnerships through its Insight and Connection Programs. This Tri-Agency is more appropriate for Nursing faculty engaged in educational or leadership research outside the traditional health disciplines. Be sure to review SSHRC's eligibility guidelines for health research.