KBHN Call for Proposals 2025

The proposal must:

• Advance innovative solutions that improve outcomes for children with neurodevelopmental disabilities and their families in at least one of KBHN’s key focus areas; and
• Engage families and/or individuals with lived experience in the design, conduct, analysis and dissemination of the research; and
• Involve knowledge user partners in either the private or public sector who are well-positioned to adopt and implement the research outputs; and
• Include a person with training in implementation science

Applications are required to include:

• Written commitment that funders’ investment in the research will be matched from external sources at a ratio of at least 1:1 matched cash and/or In-kind.
• Detailed plan for sustainability of the initiative beyond the term of this funding (e.g., commercialization strategy, scaling and implementation into practice).

To be considered for Brain Canada support, the following criteria must be met:

• Brain Canada funds must be matched, at a minimum, 1:1 by non-federal funding secured by the applicant. Only cash contributions may be used as matching funds; in-kind contributions are not eligible.

• The Nominated Principal Investigator and a minimum of one other team member must be conducting research at, and affiliated with, an eligible Canadian academic institution for the entire duration of the grant, and must be considered an independent researcher at their institution.

Use the templates below to structure your proposal and supporting materials. For questions, contact cfortier@kidsbrainhealth.ca.

• Proposal
• Abstract
• Lay Summary
• Project Team
• CV Template
• EDI Statement
• Impact Statement
• References
• Budget Template
• Budget Justification

Ensure your submissions follow the designated file naming convention (visible when opening the templates): LastName_FirstNameSSFIMP-SSFINN_FormName

Application submission deadline: October 3, 2025, at 6:00 pm PT

Request for proposals launch: June 19, 2025

Anticipated Award Start Date: March 1, 2026

Applications can be submitted online: submission portal

Late applications will not be considered.

The full application must include the following:

• Description of project team: Nominated PI and/or PI, Co-PIs, co-applicants, collaborators, partners, stakeholders (1 page maximum)
• Equity, Diversity, Inclusivity, and Under-represented Statement (1-page maximum)
• Abstract (1-page maximum)
• Proposal (10 pages maximum)
• Provide a detailed explanation of the project objectives, methods, outcomes and evaluation plan, including timelines and key milestones.
• Describe the role/contribution of each member of the project team.
• Provide a detailed plan for the sustainability of the initiative beyond the term of this funding (e.g., commercialization strategy, scaling and implementation into practice).
• References
• Lay Summary (200 words maximum)
• Impact Statement (2 pages maximum)
• Describe the metrics by which success and impact of the project will be determined (e.g., number of children/families who will benefit from the research, number and type of knowledge user organizations, new policies or practices expected from uptake of the innovation, new intellectual property created, new or expanded market for commercialization of innovative solutions).
• Budget Justification (2-page maximum)
• Budget Template
• Letters of Support confirming scientific, implementation, and financial contributions (cash and in-kind) of key partners and stakeholders
• Required attachments (no other attachments or supplementary information will be considered)
• PI, Co-PI and co-applicant CVs (Canadian Common CV – CIHR Project Bio sketch or equivalent format)

Full Application Review Criteria: KBHN-Reviewer-Template-Public-Copy.docx

The Nominated Principal Investigator must be eligible to receive operating funds from the Strategic Science Fund. However, the Principal Investigator and/or Co-Principal Investigator may be from a partner organization.

These organizations include:

• Federal, provincial, or territorial government agencies
• Post-secondary institutions;
• Research hospitals;
• Not-for-profit organizations;
• Indigenous organizations and governments;
• Municipalities;
• Research networks;
• Public engagement networks;
• Companies that deliver public engagement activities; and
• Industry, including start-up companies housed in Canadian post-secondary-linked incubators.