Funding Opportunities

Description

This Project Grant is a part of the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA), Northern Health (NH) and University of Northern BC (UNBC) partnership and the focus of this call reflects the funders priorities. There will be a seed grant competition next year with a focus on emerging priorities.

The goal of the Project Grant Program is to enable collaborators from UNBC, NH, and PHSA to work in partnership and initiate new research projects that focus on improving the quality of health services and the health of the population in northern BC.

The Project Grant is guided by the following principles:

Addresses the needs and realities of northern BC in the overall context of BC through respectful engagement and attending to issues of equity, diversity, and inclusion.
A research-based collaborative relationship for the purposes of improving the quality of health services and improving the health of the population.
Mutual respect and acknowledgement of the skills and expertise each organization brings to the partnership.
Builds capacity for partnered research and leaves a legacy of capacity across all three organizations.
Builds sustained research capacity in the North for the North.
Creates a culture of learning.
Open and transparent communication between the Partners.

The UNBC Health Research Institute (HRI) serves as the Secretariat to support UNBC, NH, and PHSA in their commitment to enhance research collaboration among the three organizations.

Award Amount and Duration

The 2025 intake will fund up to 2 research teams. The maximum amount for each award is $45,000 for a 24-month period starting August 1, 2025.

*These funds can be matched through MITACS. Contact cystal.carptenter@unbc.ca for further information.

Eligibility Criteria

A research team (3 or more applicants) led in partnership by at least one individual each from UNBC, NH, and PHSA.
- The nominated Co-Principal Investigator (in role of Researcher) can be from UNBC, NH or PHSA but they must be eligible to hold funding, i.e., if from UNBC they must hold an academic appointment that allows them to hold funds, and from all institutions they may not be a trainee or in a subordinate position with respect to the subject matter of the proposed research. The nominated Co-PI will be responsible for managing all aspects of the project, including financial oversight, and will provide a final report to hri@unbc.ca.
- One Co-Principal Investigator from UNBC.
- One Co-Principal Investigator (in role of Researcher and/or a Knowledge User1) from NH. Eligible applicants will be primarily affiliated with NH.
- One Co-Principal Investigator (in role of Researcher and/or a Knowledge User) from PHSA. Eligible PHSA applicants will be primarily affiliated with a PHSA agency. The list of eligible PHSA agencies is:
  - BC Cancer Agency
  - BC Centre for Disease Control
  - BC Children’s Hospital and Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children
  - BC Emergency Health Services
  - BC Mental Health & Substance Use Services
  - BC Renal Agency
  - BC Transplant
  - BC Women’s Hospital + Health Centre
  - Cardiac Services BC
  - Perinatal Services BC

*To be eligible, all researchers who have received this grant or the Collaboration for Health in Northern BC Seed Grant must have completed all past project/seed grant activities, including final reports.

Northern/Rural/Remote Health Focus

The proposed team and research activity/plan must address a health challenge identified in northern BC. The focus of this call for proposals is on research relating to the following areas:

Create connections across NH Service Networks and PHSA Health Improvement Networks to enhance planning and delivery of services
Strengthen human health resource planning and workforce development. The need to grow, retain and support the health and wellness of a skilled workforce

*Applications will be asked to identify which area they are applying to.

Impact of Research

Research proposals should demonstrate (and will be evaluated based on) consideration of the following principles:

Build research capacity by encouraging early career researchers and trainees to engage in the projects.
Include partners, patients and the public.
Be guided by principles of equity, diversity and inclusion.
- Include appropriate knowledge translation and mobilization plans as an important part of the research design

Key Competition Dates

Action	Target Date
Proposal Submission Deadline	June 1, 2025 (noon)
Anticipated Notice of Funding Decision	July 4, 2025
Funding Term	August 1, 2025 - July 30, 2027 (24-Months)

Conditions of Funding

The project grant funding can be requested for a 24-month term and will be administered by the nominated Principal Investigator (and their organization). Within 4 weeks of project completion, award recipients must submit a final report to the Secretariat, using the template that will be provided, submit a financial report and return any unused funds to the HRI. It is expected that award holders will present their work at UNBC, NH, and/or PHSA Knowledge Translation events, and alert the HRI of KT products and acknowledge the funding in publications and any other outputs produced as a direct result of the research project (e.g., conference papers, presentations, knowledge translation activities, etc.)

Submission Deadline and Information

Applications must be submitted by noon on June 1, 2025 via email as a single PDF attachment to hri@unbc.ca.

Application Details and Submission Form

Please download the following forms for additional application details, as well as an Application Cover and Signatory Form:

Application Details

2024 Winners

Title: Addressing Moral Distress for Lasting Workforce Sustainability: A Comprehensive Intervention Strategy in the sector of Long -Term and Assisted Living in Northern BC
Principal Investigator (NH): Esther Alonso-Prieto
Co-Applicant (PHSA): Alice Virani
Co-Applicant (UNBC): Davina Banner-Lukaris
Title: Closer to Home: Decentralizing Clinical Trials to Improve Access for Rural Cancer Patients in Northern BC
Principal Investigator (NH): Damanpreet Kandola
Co-Applicant (PHSA): Roel Schlijper
Co-Applicant (UNBC): Davina Banner-Lukaris