Catalyst Grant: Digital Health
Funds research on digital health technologies to improve musculoskeletal, skin, and oral health in Canada, prioritizing equity, inclusion, and active patient and community engagement.
Funder: Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Due Dates: December 16, 2025: Registration deadline | March 17, 2026: Full application deadline
Funding Amounts: Up to $100,000 per grant for one year; ~10 grants; total pool $1,000,000 (may increase with partners).
Summary: Supports research on digital health technologies for musculoskeletal, skin, and oral health, emphasizing equity, inclusion, and patient/community engagement.
Key Information: Early/mid-career researchers and Indigenous health researchers at any stage eligible; patient/community engagement and EDI are mandatory elements.
Description
This opportunity catalyzes discovery and advances research in digital health relevant to the CIHR Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis (IMHA) mandate. It supports integration of technology—such as SMART devices, wearables, IoT, remote monitoring, machine learning, and virtual appointments—into Canadian healthcare, with a focus on improving access and addressing health disparities, especially in remote and rural areas. The grant strongly emphasizes patient and community engagement, equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), and Indigenous health and research sovereignty. Research teams must be diverse and inclusive, with clear roles for all partners, and demonstrate meaningful engagement with knowledge users and patient partners.
