Internal CIHR Project Grant Review Process

CIHR is transitioning to a narrative-style tri-agency CV format (Please note: CIHR will implement this for the Project Grant program in Fall 2027 at the earliest). This change provides applicants greater flexibility to contextualize their work, emphasizing research quality and impact over traditional metrics. This narrative approach allows for a more comprehensive portrayal of a researcher’s career, enabling peer reviewers to better assess the full breadth of their contributions.

To assist applicants in adapting to this new format, we are providing "Practical Tips for Narrative CVs" presentation. Developed by Dr. Ibironke Popoola (VPRI Office), this resource provides guidance on:

• Understanding narrative CV principles.
• Structuring sections to highlight key contributions.
• Best practices and examples for impactful statements.
• Avoiding common preparation pitfalls.

Use these guides to align your application with CIHR expectations and better showcase your expertise, collaborations, and research contributions

Baseline Competencies for Writing a Compelling Narrative CV

Narrative CV's: Guidance for Researchers

Narrative CV Assistant

For more information on the transition to the narrative CV format, please refer to the Message from the Vice-President and Associate Vice-President, Research Programs (Operations). 

For additional support, consult the CIHR Tri-Agency CV instructions or contact Dr. Ibironke Popoola, Research Development Officer, VPRI Research Development and Success.

• Mandatory for researchers who have never received a CIHR Project Grant as principal applicant and who have received start-up funding from FoMD, Institute or Department in the last 5 years, in addition to the University-Wide CIHR Competition enrolment.
• Strongly recommended for all principal investigators even if they have a record of CIHR Project funding it they wish to be eligible for bridge funding.
• The internal review process described below (2 stages for new submissions and debrief and 1 review for re-submissions) is required for eligibility for bridge funding from the FoMD. Note: Research institutes offering bridge funding have their own requirements for eligibility. Members should contact their institute(s) for more information.
• The process outlined below is for new applications and resubmissions from the Spring 2026 competition. The funding results for the Spring 2026 competition are expected to be available July 26, 2026.
• View the summarized process one-pager here. 

Important Note: For a new submission it is expected that applicants had gone through concept discussion sessions with Co-PIs, collaborators, Institute/Group/Department members months before deciding to apply. The majority of successful CIHR project applications contain multi-disciplinary approaches and often involve (co)applicants from other institutions. As such the development of new CIHR project submissions takes significant planning and refining. The University of Alberta Internal Review Process dates are applicable.

• Applicant informs department chair about intention to apply.
• Applicant to identify a minimum of 2 internal reviewers (if known) – at least 1 reviewer preferably holds CIHR funding from their targeted CIHR review committee and/or is a member of targeted CIHR review committee. Chairs, institute directors, centre/group directors may assist in identifying suitable reviewers. Reviewers do not have to be from the University of Alberta, but ideally at least one of them would not be associated with the project (arms-length expert).
• To assist in the identification of potential internal reviewers, the applicant will be able to identify suitable reviewers from a list of funded U of A CIHR projects and review committee members in the applicant’s research area. Once the applicant identifies suitable reviewers, he/she can either contact the reviewers directly or inform the FoMD Office of Research who would contact the individuals on behalf of applicant. It is preferable that the applicant contacts the potential reviewers.

June 2026 – July 13, 2026:

• Applicant secures reviewers (this is the applicant’s responsibility unless the Office of Research is asked for assistance).
• Applicant completes a draft of research proposal (the quality should be at an advanced level – analogous to a manuscript submitted to the journal for publication, i.e. complete, ready-for-prime time effort) and distributes it to reviewers by January 9, 2026.
• Applicant organizes meeting(s) with reviewers.

• Reviewers should provide written reports to the applicant on the strengths and weaknesses of the proposal as well as suggested improvements. This can be done by either using report template, which is based on CIHR reviewer assessments or by providing comments directly in the draft proposal (track changes, comments).
• Applicant notifies the department chair that the 1^st internal review process has been completed. Reviewer forms/corrections may be required Follow up by the chair with the applicant by July 24, 2026 if notification is not received.

July – August, 2026:

• Applicants should consult research support facilities (cores, animal facilities) for fees and incorporate the appropriate amounts in the budget, taking into account that fees may increase over the 5-year period to be comparable with other Canadian U15 Institutions. If required, applicants may request Faculty support letters (core facilities, etc.) from the Office of Research (vdradmin@ualberta.ca).
• Applicant organizes 2^nd internal review with reviewers and should submit the revised proposal to the reviewers (same as the 1^st round) by August 4, 2026.

• Reviewers provide additional suggestions for improvement in writing (report template or directly in the proposal).
• Applicant notifies the department chair that the 2^nd internal review process has been completed. Follow up by the chair with the applicant after August 10, 2026 if notification is not received.

• Completion of application.
• Submission of complete application to the RAS for administrative and compliance review. Log into the Researcher Home Page, complete a new proposal request and submit for online approvals before the Research Administration Services' (RAS) 8 business day internal deadline. Also check with your department and faculty for their deadlines.
• Checklist: CIHR Project Grant Submission for internal administrative review.
• September 9, 2026 (10 a.m. Edmonton time): Institutional deadline (last day to submit in ResearchNet)

• Final submission of application to CIHR.

• The notice of recommendations are expected to be released July 8th and the notice of decisions released July 22nd.

End of July – August 11, 2026:

• Feedback debrief with internal reviewers of the Spring 2025 submission or new reviewers (reviewers should have been secured well ahead, since it is easier to cancel sessions than setting up sessions and the CIHR success rate is ~15-17%, so the majority of submissions will unfortunately not be successful). 
• Provide internal reviewers with a copy of the reviewer comments received from CIHR in advance of the scheduled meeting.
• Applicant informs department chair about intention to re-apply.

End of July – August 20, 2026:

• Revision of the proposal.
• Applicant organizes internal review with reviewers and should submit the revised proposal to the reviewers by August 12, 2026.

Internal review process:

• Reviewers provide additional suggestions for improvement in writing (report template or directly in the proposal). It is recommended that the internal reviewers are the same as those involved in the feedback debrief.
• Applicant notifies the department chair that the internal review process has been completed. Follow up by the chair with the applicant after August 21, 2025 if notification is not received.

• Completion of application.
• Submission of complete application to the RAS for administrative and compliance review. Log into the Researcher Home Page, complete a new proposal request and submit for online approvals before the Research Administration Services' (RAS) 8 business day internal deadline. Also check with your department and faculty for their deadlines.
• Checklist: CIHR Project Grant Submission for internal administrative review.
• September 9, 2026 (10 a.m. Edmonton time): Institutional deadline (last day to submit in ResearchNet).

• Final submission of application CIHR.

• Notifies department chair of intention to apply.
• Notifies Office of Research or institute directors if assistance with selection of reviewers is required.
• Organizes meetings with internal reviewers.
• Notifies department chair of review completion (new - both stages, resubmission - one stage). Please also include the names of your internal reviewers in your communication.
• Requests support letters from Office of Research (core research facilities, etc.).
• Submits all application components to RAS by the institutional deadline.

• Same or increased engagement as per reviewer from an actual CIHR peer review committee.
• Written reports (template) of strengths and weaknesses and additional constructive comments.

• Follow up with applicants about the progress of applications (if notification of internal reviews are not received).
• Provides additional support as required.

• Assist in selection of internal reviewers.
• Provide additional support as desired.

• Assists in selection of internal reviewers if requested.
• Provides support letters (i.e. core research facilities, etc.).
• Provides additional assistance as required.

Contact vdradmin@ualberta.ca if you require assistance.

• Completes the final review, approval, and submission to CIHR. 
• Click here for the Institutional Approval for Grant Applications.
• Click here for contacts within Research Administrative Services.

Research Administration Specialists

• Provide hands-on help to researchers with policy and procedure-related aspects of grant application and fund management.
• Provide tactical research administration navigational support.

For CIHR grant development support and general CIHR help please contact Gareth Corry, Research Partner, College of Health Sciences.