The Clinician Scientist Award is offered to highly qualified and motivated clinicians who have been identified by a Canadian medical or dental school as having strong potential to become clinician-scientists.
The program has two phases: Phase 1 provides stipends for up to six years of support. Phase 2 provides a contribution to the salary of the recipient for up to six years. Applications for Phase 2 awards are restricted to holders of Phase 1 awards.
CIHR expects that the nominating medical or dental school or affiliated institution will offer successful candidates a full-time faculty or equivalent position as a clinician-scientist at the completion of the training, subject to satisfactory performance in the research training period. This commitment is required at the time of the initial application and with each request for renewal of support. The institution must be prepared, at each renewal stage, to confirm a plan concerning its commitment of a full-time faculty position for the clinician-scientist. During Phase 2, when CIHR provides a contribution to the recipient's salary, both the candidate and the institution must make a commitment that not less than 30 hours per week will be spent on research.
At the time of application, a candidate must hold a health professional degree in medicine or dentistry and have completed at least two years of post graduate clinical training. For those with a medical degree, the specialty clinical training must be in an area accredited with or without certification by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada or the College of Family Physicians of Canada.
The closing date for receipt of new and renewal applications for both phases is September 15. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
A complete application consists of:
Only the original application and attachments are required.
The award is tenable in Canada or abroad. Awardees are encouraged to seek training in more than one location. Candidates who are neither Canadian citizens nor permanent residents may apply only for awards to be held in Canada.
During Phase 1, the candidate must undertake research training for a minimum of three years. For holders of a PhD degree, the minimum period of research training is two years. CIHR will provide support for Phase 1 for a maximum of six years.
The value of the stipend for Phase 1 is $52,500 per annum. A yearly research allowance of $5,000 is provided.
During Phase 1, candidates are discouraged from seeking a change in the nominating institution, but may undertake training in more that one institution. In addition to the documents listed in the section entitled CIHR Research Personnel Awards Guidelines, Transfers, a letter from the nominating institution indicating knowledge of the transfer must also accompany the request to transfer.
Applications to Phase 2 are restricted to current holders of Phase 1 awards.
Applications should be made by the President or Principal of the university, or the Head of the institution. A complete application consists of:
Although it is not a requirement, the candidate may establish contacts with a research mentor to assist in the initial phases of a research career. Plans by the institution and/or the candidate to develop contacts with such a mentor should be described in the application.
The award must be held in a Canadian medical or dental school or affiliated institution.
During Phase 2, the candidate will receive three years of support, renewable once for a total of six years.
During Phase 2, CIHR's contribution to the investigator's salary is $50,000 per annum. In addition, CIHR will refund the employer's share of contributions to employee benefit plans in which the institution staff members participate.
For the first three years of Phase 2, CIHR will provide a research allowance of $40,000 per annum.
During Phase 2, the awardee may receive local remuneration for clinical work in amounts consistent with institutional policies. This support should respect the institutional commitment that not less than 30 hours per week will be spent on research.
The award must be held in the nominating university or in one of its affiliated institutions for at least the first three years.
During the final three years of support, CIHR will consider a transfer of the award.
This will require:
