Notice of Upcoming Funding Opportunity: Emerging Learning Health Systems in Mental Health

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) is pleased to announce the upcoming launch of the Networks of Excellence: Emerging Learning Health Systems in Mental Health.

This funding opportunity is a planned collaboration between the Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction, and philanthropic partners.

Overview

This funding opportunity will support the development of two national learning health systems (LHSs) in the following research areas:

  • Early Psychosis Intervention (EPI)
  • Perinatal Mental Health (PMH)

The LHS approach integrates research, data, and knowledge for continuous improvement in care to help ensure that the most effective treatments are consistently updated and implemented equitably across Canada. Both the EPI and PMH areas have seen significant research and service delivery investment/advancement locally and regionally in recent years but lack dedicated funding support for the establishment of integrated networks who can apply lessons learned across jurisdictions and advance the distinct service and research activities into true LHSs. With a critical mass of established centres and programs across the country, both communities are ready to apply to implement a pan-Canadian network of excellence in each area.

The objectives of this funding opportunity are to:

  • Develop a national LHS that integrates research, practice, and care across jurisdictions to strengthen the implementation of evidence-based practices for EPI or PMH.
  • Enhance equitable and timely access to specialized mental health services for EPI or PMH to improve the quality of life for affected individuals and to better reach underserved populations.
  • Facilitate multi-site, multidisciplinary research and knowledge mobilization collaborations to generate and disseminate evidence for new treatment options and early intervention/prevention strategies, while also refining and improving existing treatments and models of care for EPI or PMH.
  • Develop and implement quality indicators for service delivery, access, and outcomes of care for continuous improvement in the fields of EPI or PMH.

Both EPI and PMH share a strong focus on people with lived/living experience (PWLLE) and families/caregivers; the networks will be expected to involve PWLLE in all aspects of the research. Furthermore, applications to the funding opportunity will be expected to incorporate concrete equity, diversity and inclusion considerations in all aspects of the proposal, including the populations impacted, the needs/barriers, and the benefits/risks entailed in engagement. Given that the EPI and PMH LHSs will operate across jurisdictions, cross-jurisdictional collaborations will be strongly encouraged.

Anticipated Timelines

These timelines are estimates and subject to change

  • Launch: Spring 2025
  • Application Deadline (Registration or Expression of Interest dates may be used): Fall 2025
  • Funding Start Date: Winter 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
Toll Free: 1-888-603-4178
Email: support-soutien@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

Disclaimer: The information contained herein is anticipatory only and does not represent an official funding commitment by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. Accordingly, the information, contained herein may differ from the official funding opportunity that will be published on ResearchNet.

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