Date/Time
Date(s) - 31/07/2025
All Day

Introduction

The CIHR Institute of Infection and Immunity is pleased to announce the upcoming funding opportunity: Leadership Award for Excellence in Vaccine Research for Infectious Diseases of Epidemic Potential (2025).

Overview

Building on the previous CIHR-CEPI Leadership Award for Excellence in Vaccine Research for Infectious Diseases of Epidemic Potential, this award will support the career development of mid-career researchers and contribute to national and international efforts to prevent and prepare for future global health threats. To learn more about the types of projects and awardees funded in the previous competition, please visit the Leadership Awards for Excellence in Vaccine Research page.

CIHR is planning a 2-step process for this competition: an Expression of Interest (EOI) stage, and a Full Application stage. Applicants will be required to identify one (1) applicant partner with whom they would like to work at the EOI stage to develop their Full Application:

• The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) (will at least match CIHR’s level of support in cash contribution), or;
• The National Research Council Canada (NRC) (will at least match CIHR’s level of support in in-kind contribution).

CEPI and NRC will contribute cash and/or in-kind resources (in addition to CIHR’s financial contributions) to support mid-career researchers who will work on specific projects related to vaccine research for infectious diseases of epidemic potential.

Objectives

The specific objectives of this funding opportunity are to:

• Promote the career development of mid-career investigators from Canadian academic institutions
• Create and mobilize new knowledge in vaccine research for infectious diseases
• Position mid-career researchers as national and international leaders in vaccine research

Research Areas

This funding opportunity will support Canadian mid-career investigators to undertake vaccine-related research projects in any of the following research areas:

In partnership with CEPI

• Preclinical vaccine research and development
• Clinical immunology
• Epidemiology and vaccine safety studies
• Surveillance and diagnostics
• Systems immunology and bioinformatics
• Application of artificial Intelligence
• Vaccine technology

In partnership with NRC

• Organ-on-chip technology platforms
• Bioprocess innovation

Webinars

CIHR will be hosting webinars to inform participants about the requirements of this funding opportunity and to answer questions. To find out more information and to register, visit the Webinars page.

Funds and Support Available

The total amount available for this funding opportunity is $1,800,000, enough to fund up to six (6) awards. This amount does not include applicant partner contributions, which must at least match CIHR’s level of support (but can include in-kind contributions). The maximum amount per award is $100,000 per year for up to three (3) years, for a total of $300,000 per grant (CIHR’s contribution). Of this $1,800,000:

• $1,200,000 is available to fund four (4) grants relevant to the CIHR-CEPI funding pool.
• $600,000 is available to fund two (2) grants relevant to the CIHR-NRC funding pool.

Additional details regarding partner support, including in-kind contributions, will be provided in upcoming webinars with applicant partners.

Anticipated Timelines

Launch: Mid-May 2025
Information session #1 for applicants: Early June 2025
Application deadline (EOI): Mid-July 2025
Notice of decision (EOI): Mid-August 2025
Information session #2 for applicants: Early September 2025
Application deadline (full application): Mid-February 2026
Notice of decision (full application): Mid-June 2026

The official CIHR funding opportunity will be posted on ResearchNet in the coming weeks.

For a full list of CIHR funding opportunities, please visit ResearchNet.

Contact Information

For general inquiries please contact:

CIHR Contact Centre
Telephone: 613-954-1968
Email: support-soutien@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

https://cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/54296.html