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We have a national research fund to encourage research that advances current knowledge pertaining to the kidney, diseases of the kidney, organ donation and transplantation. We provide funding for researchers working across all four themes of research (basic/biomedical, clinical, health services, and social, cultural, environmental and population health research), for allied health professionals (through research grants, fellowships and scholarships), and capacity building and trainee support through the KRESCENT program.

Please note that some of the competition deadlines have changed. Click below to see the anticipated timelines for each competition.  These dates are estimates and subject to change.

The following opportunities are currently available:
  • Kidney Health Research Grant
  • Allied Health Kidney Research Grant
  • Allied Health Kidney Doctoral Fellowship
  • Allied Health Kidney Scholarship
Upcoming opportunities:
  • PARTNERSHIP GRANT (CIHR): Team Grants: Embracing Diversity to Achieve Precision and Increase Health Equity
  • Kidney Health Research Grants
    Kidney Health Research Grants provide financial support to researchers in defraying research operating costs, including the purchase of materials, supplies and equipment and the payment of laboratory assistants. Grants are available for one, two or three years. The research must be carried out in Canada.

    The 2024 Kidney Health Research grant will include Priority Announcements. Please review the links below to learn more about the announcements.

    Timeline  Open
    Application Platform Opens:  August 28, 2023
    Letter of Intent Deadline:  October 2, 2023
    Notice of LOI Eligibility:  October 09, 2023
    Full Application Deadline:  November 13, 2023
    Anticipated Date for Notice of Award:  March 2024 
    Funding Start Date:  July 2024

    The Kidney Health Research Grants Competition has moved to an on-line application system. All forms, guidelines and procedures can be found on the proposalCENTRAL website. Please click here to reach proposalCENTRAL. To apply through this site, you will have to set up a profile, and then search for “Kidney Foundation of Canada” or “Kidney” and fill out the Kidney Health Research Grant application.
     
    Resources  Open
    Kidney Health Research Grant Policies
    Priority Announcements/Partnerships 2024
    Checklist-LOI
    Checklist-Full Proposal
    Best Practices for Writing a Plain Language Abstract
    Policy on Indirect Costs of Research
    CSN-Otsuka Vicky Karoutas Memorial Award-Guidelines 2024
     
  • Allied Health Kidney Research Grants
    The purpose of the Allied Health Kidney Research Grant is to encourage allied health professionals to pursue research relevant to the areas of nephrology and organ donation, including clinical, health services, social, cultural, environmental and population health research. To be eligible for this grant the principal applicant must be an allied health professional.

    The grant can be awarded for up to two years. The project must have a clearly demonstrated relevance and outcome relevant to our mission, and the research must be carried out in Canada.

    We recommend that researchers with biomedical or basic projects apply to the Kidney Health Research Grants Competition. Post-doctoral fellows are encouraged to apply to the KRESCENT program.

    Anticipated Competition Timelines*  Open
    Application Platform Opens:  September 27, 2023
    Registration Deadline:  N/A
    Full Application Deadline:  November 1, 2023
    Anticipated Date for Notice of Award:  May 2024 
    Funding Start Date:  July 2024
    *These timelines are estimates and subject to change.

    The Allied Health Kidney Research Grant has moved to an on-line application system. All forms, policies and procedures can be found on the proposalCENTRAL website. Please click here to reach proposalCENTRAL. To apply through this site, you will have to set up a profile, and then search for “Kidney” and fill out the Allied Health Kidney Research Grant application.

    Resources  Open
    Policies - Allied Health Kidney Research Grant
    Checklist - Allied Health Kidney Research Grant
    Best Practices for Writing a Plain Language Summary
    Policy on Indirect Costs
  • Allied Health Kidney Doctoral Fellowships
    The Kidney Foundation offers a limited number of fellowships that fund full-time academic study and preparation for research at the doctoral level. The objective of this program is to promote and enhance the development of allied health investigators in Canada in the field of nephrology and / or organ donation. Fellowships are awarded for amounts up to $31,000/year and can be held in Canada or abroad. Note that for programs outside Canada the applicant must provide a statement indicating their intention to return to Canada.

    Anticipated Competition Timelines*  Open
    Application Platform Opens:  September 27, 2023
    Registration Deadline:  N/A
    Full Application Deadline:  November 1, 2023
    Anticipated Date for Notice of Award:  May 2024 
    Funding Start Date:  July 2024
    *These timelines are estimates and subject to change.

    The Allied Health Kidney Doctoral Fellowship has moved to an on-line application system. All forms, policies and procedures can be found on the proposalCENTRAL website. Please click here to reach proposalCENTRAL. To apply through this site, you will have to set up a profile, and then search for “Kidney” and fill out the Allied Health Kidney Doctoral Fellowship application.

    Resources  Open
    Policies - Allied Health Kidney Doctoral Fellowship
    Checklist - Allied Health Kidney Doctoral Fellowship
    Best Practices for Writing a Plain Language Summary 
    Policy on Indirect Costs
  • Allied Health Kidney Scholarships

    The purpose of the Allied Health Kidney Scholarship award is to encourage students with a demonstrated interest in nephrology and / or organ donation to pursue education at the Masters level, and in turn to promote and enhance the development of allied health investigators in the nephrology field in Canada.

    Anticipated Competition Timelines*  Open
    Application Platform Opens:  September 27, 2023
    Registration Deadline:  N/A
    Full Application Deadline:  November 1, 2023
    Anticipated Date for Notice of Award:  May 2024 
    Funding Start Date:  July 2024
    *These timelines are estimates and subject to change.

    To apply to the Allied Health Kidney Scholarship competition, the forms and policies can be found below.

    Resources  Open
    Policies - Allied Health Kidney Scholarship
    Application Form - Allied Health Kidney Scholarship
    Assessment Form - Allied Health Kidney Scholarship
    Best Practices for Writing a Plain Language Summary 

  • KRESCENT Program: New Investigator Award
    The KRESCENT program New Investigator Award is awarded to individuals who have clearly demonstrated excellence during their pre-doctoral and post-doctoral training in kidney disease and provides salary support for up to three years of the faculty appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor or equivalent at a Canadian University. The purpose of this award is to support the investigator in becoming established as a fully independent investigator in the field of kidney disease.

    Anticipated Competition Timelines*  
    Application Platform Opens:  January 15, 2024
    Registration Deadline:  N/A
    Full Application Deadline:  February 20, 2024
    Anticipated Date for Notice of Award:  May 2024 
    Funding Start Date:  July 2024
    *These timelines are estimates and subject to change.

    The KRESCENT program has moved to an on-line application system. All forms, guidelines and procedures can be found on the proposalCENTRAL website. Please click here to reach proposalCENTRAL. To apply through this site, you will have to set up a profile, and then search for “KRESCENT” or “Kidney” and fill out the KRESCENT New Investigator Award application.

    Resources  Coming Soon
    KRESCENT New Investigator Award Guidelines
    Best Practices for Writing a Plain Language Abstract 
     
  • KRESCENT Program: Post-Doctoral Fellowships
    A KRESCENT program post-doctoral fellowship is an “in-training” award intended for applicants with a PhD, MD or equivalent degree. The objective is to attract and foster young investigators to initiate and/or continue their training in kidney research.

    Anticipated Competition Timelines*  
    Application Platform Opens:  January 15, 2024
    Registration Deadline:  N/A
    Full Application Deadline:  February 20, 2024
    Anticipated Date for Notice of Award:  May 2024 
    Funding Start Date:  July 2024
    *These timelines are estimates and subject to change.

    The KRESCENT program has moved to an on-line application system. All forms, guidelines and procedures can be found on the proposalCENTRAL website. Please click here to reach proposalCENTRAL. To apply through this site, you will have to set up a profile, and then search for “KRESCENT” or “Kidney” and fill out the KRESCENT Post-Doctoral Fellowship application.

    Resources  Coming Soon
    KRESCENT Post-Doctoral Fellowship Guidelines
    Best Practices for Writing a Plain Language Abstract 
     
  • KRESCENT Program: Allied Health Kidney Doctoral Award
    The KRESCENT Allied Health Kidney Doctoral Award is designed to provide for full-time academic and research preparation at the doctoral level. The objective of this program is to promote and enhance the development of nephrology/organ donation allied health investigators in Canada. The award is for up to $35,000/year and is tenable in Canada or abroad (for programs outside Canada, the applicant must provide a statement indicating the intention to return to Canada).

    To apply for this program, applications must be made through the Allied Health Kidney Doctoral Fellowship program (below) with the applicant specifying that they have an interest in being considered for KRESCENT. Please note that only top ranked applications receiving a score in the excellent range will be considered eligible.
     
  • Other Funding Partnerships

    PARTNERSHIP GRANT (CIHR): Team Grants: Embracing Diversity to Achieve Precision and Increase Health Equity - Coming Soon

    The Kidney Foundation of Canada is pleased to announce our partnership in this innovative initiative from The Canadian Institutes of Health Research; Team Grants: Embracing Diversity to Achieve Precision and Increase Health Equity.
     
    The Kidney Foundation of Canada is dedicated to improving kidney health for all Canadians, and supporting groundbreaking research which embraces the diversity of the Canadian population is key to increasing health equity and inclusion for all.
     
    Please see details of the pre-announcement below
     
    Notice of Upcoming Funding Opportunity - Team Grants: Embracing Diversity to Achieve Precision and Increase Health Equity - CIHR (cihr-irsc.gc.ca)

    _____________________________________________________________________________________

    Alport Syndrome Research Funding Program - Closed

    Offered in conjunction with the Pedersen Family and the Alport Syndrome Foundation Inc. (ASF), the principal goal of this funding program is the development of novel treatments to prevent kidney failure and hearing loss in patients with Alport Syndrome.

    Letters of intent will be evaluated by an independent peer review process. They should be no longer than 2 pages in length and must be in accordance with the instructions detailed in the ASF & Partners Alport Syndrome Research Funding Program. Authors found to have the best merit for funding will be invited to submit a full proposal application 10–15 pages in length for further independent peer review. Final grant recipients will be selected from this pool. There are no geographical limitations for this funding.

    Resources
    Letter of Intent Guidelines and Requirements