Continuing the conversation: Strengthening investigator-initiated research together
Message from the Acting Vice-President, Research Programs

October 2, 2025

Dear colleagues,

This summer, CIHR hosted a meeting with a small group of Project Grant committee Chairs and University Delegates to discuss ways to strengthen investigator-initiated research programming. Thank you to those who participated. These conversations are vital to ensuring that our programs remain responsive, predictable and rooted in the principles of excellence, fairness and transparency.

We engaged in open dialogue and sought feedback on topics that are top of mind for many of you: reducing churn and improving efficiency in the system, alternate approaches to scoring and resubmissions and considerations for implementing the Tri-agency CV (TCV) in the Project Grant program.

Several themes emerged:

  • The need to strike a balance between predictability and innovation as we adjust programs and processes.
  • Strengthening and potentially expanding the role of Chairs and Scientific Officers in peer review and ensuring these members are equipped with appropriate support and data to ensure clear and constructive feedback is provided to all applicants.
  • The value of improving reviewer continuity and scoring calibration to enhance the consistency and continuity of reviews.

Our funding analytics team is now modeling the potential impacts of the ideas discussed, and we will share updates as this work advances.

These discussions are part of an ongoing dialogue, and your insights are shaping the path forward.

I also want to thank Dr. Paul Hébert, CIHR’s President, for joining the conversation and sharing his priorities for the agency. His emphasis on peer review as the foundation of the agency and an area for continued improvement will help guide our collective efforts to improve the health, well-being and prosperity of Canadians through research.

Looking ahead, we intend to continue these discussions with Project Grant Chairs over the coming months, with a focus on the role of Chairs and Scientific Officers.

Thank you again for your engagement, candour and commitment to strengthening Canada’s health research ecosystem. Together, we are making the system stronger, more responsive and better positioned to deliver the impact Canadians deserve.

Sincerely,

Adrian Mota
Acting Vice-President, Research
Canadian Institutes of Health Research

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