The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) has announced a major funding opportunity aimed at investigating the health impacts of ultra-processed foods (UPFs). This Team Grant program offers $7.56 million to support interdisciplinary research that will generate evidence to inform policies and regulations related to UPFs across Canada.

Background and Context

Ultra-processed foods, as defined by the NOVA classification system, are “industrial formulations made mostly or entirely with substances extracted from foods, often chemically modified, and from additives, with little if any whole food added.” These foods have become increasingly prevalent in the Canadian food supply, accounting for nearly half of all energy consumed.

Current statistics reveal the scope of UPF consumption in Canada:

• Canadian adults aged 18 and older derive approximately 45% of their total daily energy intake from UPFs
• Children and adolescents under 18 consume even more, with UPFs making up more than half of their daily energy intake
• High UPF consumption is consistently observed across all sociodemographic subgroups

Health Impact Evidence

A growing body of epidemiological evidence links UPF consumption to multiple adverse health outcomes, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, certain cancers, poor mental health, and increased all-cause mortality. A recent report commissioned by Heart & Stroke found that high UPF consumption was associated with 38% of all cardiovascular disease events in Canada in 2019.

Research indicates that the nutritional profile of UPFs alone does not fully explain the observed health risks, suggesting other mechanisms may be involved. Studies have also shown that certain groups, particularly those experiencing food insecurity, may be disproportionately affected by high UPF consumption.

Research Priority Areas

The funding opportunity supports projects in five distinct research pools:

1. Mechanisms of Health Effects of UPFs Pool

This pool focuses on understanding the biological mechanisms triggered by UPFs or their specific components that contribute to non-communicable diseases. Research includes investigating the role of UPFs in modulating the microbiome and contributing to immune/metabolic perturbations.

2. Health Effects of UPFs on Older Persons Pool

Research in this area examines how UPFs affect older adults’ health, particularly mechanisms that could result in tissue injury contributing to non-communicable disease development and accelerated biological aging with frailty and cognitive decline.

3. Biological Mechanisms of UPFs and Cardiovascular Diseases Pool

This pool supports research on biological mechanisms triggered by specific UPF components that contribute to increased cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease risk, with particular focus on early life stages before age 18.

4. Health Effects of UPFs in Human Development, Child and Youth Health Pool

Research here investigates UPF effects on human development and child/youth health, requiring a clear link to health and well-being from preconception to youth.

5. Structural Determinants of UPFs Pool

This pool examines the structural determinants of UPF production, distribution, regulation, and consumption, including barriers to implementing UPF regulation and evaluating population health interventions.

Funding Details

Letter of Intent Stage

• Development grants up to $10,000 per grant for successful LOI applications
• Total LOI funding: $160,000
• Supports approximately 16 Letters of Intent

Full Application Stage

• Total available: $7,400,000
• Maximum $250,000 per year for up to four years ($1,000,000 total per grant)
• Supports approximately 7 Team Grants

Key Requirements

Team Composition

• Maximum of four Principal Applicants plus one Nominated Principal Applicant
• Must include at least one Early Career Researcher
• Research teams must be interdisciplinary
• For Indigenous population research, must include Indigenous team member or evidence of meaningful involvement

Design Elements

Applications must incorporate several key design elements:

• Interdisciplinary team-based approaches crossing disciplinary boundaries
• Integration of equity, diversity, and inclusion considerations
• Knowledge mobilization with meaningful engagement of knowledge users
• Robust data and biosample governance strategies
• Clear roles and contributions of all applicant partners

Important Dates

• Letter of Intent Deadline: January 22, 2026
• Full Application Deadline: November 24, 2026
• LOI Decision Notification: June 4, 2026
• Full Application Decision: June 15, 2027
• Funding Start Dates: May 1, 2026 (LOI) / June 1, 2027 (Full)

Partnerships

The funding opportunity is led by CIHR’s Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes in collaboration with multiple CIHR institutes and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. Health Canada’s Food and Nutrition Directorate offers in-kind support for relevant projects.

Application Process

The competition involves a two-stage process requiring both Letter of Intent and Full Application submissions. Applications use the tri-agency CV format and must address specific evaluation criteria including research approach, team composition, research environment, and potential impact.

Successful applicants will participate in virtual informational workshops and must meet specific reporting requirements throughout the grant period, including progress reports and final research outcomes summaries.

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO APPLY

Exclusions

The funding opportunity specifically excludes research focused solely on nutrients highly associated with non-communicable diseases (high fat, salt, and sugar) or research exclusively examining excess energy intake.

This major funding initiative represents a significant investment in understanding ultra-processed foods’ health impacts and developing evidence-based policies to improve Canadian health outcomes across the lifespan.

For all inquiries, please contact:

CIHR Contact Centre
Telephone: 613-954-1968
Toll Free: 1-888-603-4178
Email: support-soutien@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

For service hours, please consult the CIHR Contact Centre page.

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