The CIHR REDI Early Career Transition Award 2025 is a fully funded Fellowship in Canada supporting underrepresented researchers to build independent academic careers. Deadline: June 16, 2026.

About the CIHR REDI Fellowship

The CIHR REDI Early Career Transition Award 2025 is a prestigious Fellowship offered by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). This program promotes research excellence, diversity, and independence in Canadian academia by empowering early-career researchers from underrepresented backgrounds to transition into independent research positions.

Launched in partnership with organizations such as the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada and Breakthrough T1D Canada, the Fellowship provides structured mentorship, salary support, and research funding for emerging scientists committed to advancing equity and innovation in health research.

Program Overview

The REDI Fellowship supports trainees—including post-doctoral researchers, clinicians, and research associates—who are preparing to launch independent research careers. The program runs for up to six years, divided into two phases:

• Phase 1 (Mentored Development): Participants receive mentorship, a stipend, and a research allowance to build skills, leadership capacity, and a foundation for their independent projects.

• Phase 2 (Independent Research): Fellows transition to faculty roles with continued research and salary support, plus a 1:1 institutional funding match.

Throughout both phases, fellows benefit from structured career development, mentorship plans, and networkingthrough the CIHR REDI Forum, held every two years to foster collaboration and scientific exchange.

More details are available on the official CIHR REDI program page.

Funding Details

The Fellowship provides up to CAD 660,000 over six years, distributed across research support and salary contributions.

• Phase 1: Up to CAD 90,000 per year for three years (CAD 70,000 stipend + CAD 20,000 research allowance).

• Phase 2: Up to CAD 120,000 per year for three years, with institutional matching funds.

• Additional funding of up to CAD 30,000 is available for community engagement and knowledge mobilizationactivities.

The total program budget exceeds CAD 34.5 million, supporting approximately 50 fellowships across multiple health research areas, including cancer, aging, neuroscience, gender and health, pandemic preparedness, Indigenous health, and public health.

Eligibility Criteria

The Fellowship welcomes applicants who self-identify as belonging to underrepresented groups, including:

• Racialized women

• Racialized gender-diverse people

• Black scholars (any gender)

• First Nations, Inuit, or Métis peoples

Eligible applicants must be trainees at the start of funding (e.g., postdoctoral researchers or clinicians in early academic appointments) and must demonstrate readiness to transition into independent research roles.

Applicants must also:

• Hold or be eligible for a position at a CIHR-recognized Canadian academic or health institution.

• Submit a Tri-Agency CV (narrative format).

• Complete the sex- and gender-based analysis online training module through CIHR’s Institute of Gender and Health.

For Indigenous applicants, culturally safe and meaningful community engagement is required as part of the research proposal.

Learn more about eligibility and application components on the CIHR ResearchNet portal.

Selection and Evaluation

Applications undergo peer review aligned with the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA)principles, valuing diverse contributions, mentorship quality, and community engagement.

Selection is based on:

• Research excellence and originality

• Career development and mentorship plans

• Equity, diversity, and inclusion integration

• Potential for research independence and societal impact

Applications will be funded in order of ranking, with results published on the CIHR website.

Key Dates

• Program Launch Date: October 15, 2025

• Application Deadline: June 16, 2026

• Notice of Decision: January 6, 2027

• Funding Start Date: February 1, 2027

📍 Apply here: CIHR REDI Early Career Transition Award 2025 Application Portal

Why Apply for This Fellowship

The REDI Fellowship is more than a funding opportunity—it’s a pathway toward inclusive scientific leadership. Fellows gain access to high-level mentorship, secure research funding, and a national platform to drive change in Canada’s academic landscape.

By addressing systemic inequities and empowering racialized, gender-diverse, and Indigenous scholars, the Fellowshipensures that Canada’s health research ecosystem better reflects the diversity of its population.

Participants will also strengthen their professional visibility, contribute to transformative research, and position themselves for future leadership in health, academia, and policy.

Conclusion

The CIHR REDI Early Career Transition Award 2025 is a fully funded Fellowship supporting emerging researchers to achieve independence and leadership in Canadian academia.

📅 Deadline: June 16, 2026
🔗 Apply here: https://researchnet-recherchenet.ca

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