Current funding opportunities
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2025 Early Career Researcher Award in Asthma
About the award
The CIHR Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health is proud to partner with the Canadian Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Foundation (CAAIF), Asthma Canada and the Canadian Lung Association to jointly commit $200,000 total to fund two Early Career Researcher (ECR) Awards in Asthma.
Asthma is one of the most common chronic respiratory diseases in Canada, affecting over 11.82% of the population (4.7 million people). It disproportionately affects children and youth, leading to frequent emergency room visits and hospitalizations in children. Chronic airway inflammation also significantly reduces the quality of life for individuals and those caring for patients with asthma.
The ECR Award in Asthma aims to support researchers at Canadian institutions early in their independent careers, enabling them to pursue basic, clinical, health services or population health research in the field of asthma.
Objectives
The ECR Awards are expected to:
- Increase Canadian research capacity in the area of asthma;
- Support the research career of promising researchers;
- Produce high-quality research in asthma;
Funds available
There are two awards available. The maximum amount for an award is $100,000 total. The following limits must be respected for the use of the funds:
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Salary contribution: up to a maximum of 50% or $50,000 per annum, including benefits;
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Research allowance: a minimum of 50% or $50,000 per annum.
Eligibility
The following eligibility requirements must be met at the time of application:
- The Applicant must be an Independent Researcher appointed at an eligible institution as defined by CIHR.
- The Applicant must have at least 50% protected time for research and have a written commitment from their institution that confirms this commitment.
- The Applicant must be an Early Career Researcher within the first 60 months of their first academic appointment by the application deadline.
- In the case of the creation of a new faculty position, applicants must submit confirmation via a letter from their Dean or Chair or Division Director to clarify the specifics of their new appointment (e., amount of protected time available, local infrastructure in place). This information can be included within the required institutional support letter.
- The Applicant must have successfully completed one of the sex- and gender-based analysis training modules available online through the CIHR Institute of Gender and Health and submit a Certificate of Completion.
- Projects must fall within the missions of the Partnered Organizations (CIHR-ICRH, CAAIF, Asthma Canada and the Canadian Lung Association)
- Preference will be given to investigators who have not received this award previously.
Important dates
Application deadline: December 3, 2025, by 11:59 pm in the same zone of the applicant
Adjudication: January 2026
Notice of decision: March 2026
Start date: April 1, 2026
How to Apply
To apply for this award:
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Review the full instructions on the CAAIF ECR Call Webpage. This page includes important details about eligibility and application requirements.
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Complete the online application form for the ECR Award in Asthma.
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Submit your application online via smarterselect.com to the CAAIF Administration Centre no later than December 3, 2025, by 11:59 pm in the time zone of the applicant.
For more information
For all inquiries related to the Early Career Researcher Award in Asthma, please e-mail Andrea Waserman at CAAIF.