Funding Opportunities

What are the CBRF/BRIF Pandemic Funding Initiatives?

Stage 1 Funding Creates Hubs (2022-2023)

In March 2023, five Pandemic Preparedness Hubs were created through a federal Canadian Biomedical Research Fund (CBRF) Stage 1 competition.

The Hubs have a mandate to bring together and mobilize regional knowledge, expertise, and resources to pursue a program of research that aligns with CBRF strategic objectives and the priorities of Canada’s Biomanufacturing and Life Sciences strategy (CBLSS) response to emerging pandemic threats.

The five Hubs are:

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Stage 2 Funding Builds Pandemic Initiatives (2023-2024)

The Hubs coordinated teams from academia, industry, non-profit and government sectors to submit research, training and infrastructure CBRF/BRIF Stage 2 grants covering areas of surveillance and diagnostics, vaccines, antivirals, infrastructure, and biomanufacturing training. 

  • The Stage 2 proposal deadline was Sept 7, 2023. 
  • Awards will be announced in March 2024.

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Applications to the PRAIRIE Hub followed these requirements:

  1. A focus on countering members of zoonotic and other virus families that could emerge as the next pandemic. 
  2. Multi-partner applications (see partner page) to promote biomanufacturing across the prairies and Canada.
  3. Support talent development

Total dollars available in this funding call:

  • CBRF (Research and/or Training): $215 million over four years
  • BRIF (Infrastructure): $360 million ($277M Infrastructure, $83M operating costs)

Total grants submitted from the five Hubs on Sept 7, 2023: 103

The PRAIRIE Hub submitted 15 proposals:

  • Research, Training, Infrastructure: 1
  • Research, Training: 1
  • Research, Infrastructure: 3
  • Research: 4
  • Training: 1
  • Infrastructure: 5

CBRF/BRIF Funding Timeline 2023-2024

Funding initiative launch: March 2, 2023

PRAIRIE Hub Expression of interest (EOI) form: Available through PRAIRIE Hub on April 11, 2023

The Tri-agency Institutional Programs Secretariat (TIPS) hosted CBRF Notice of Intent (NOI) Webinar: April 12, 2023, 11 - 12:30 p.m. MDT

PRAIRIE Hub EOI public townhall: April 13, 2023, 1 - 3 p.m. MDT

PRAIRIE Hub in-person (hybrid) town hall (in Edmonton, Alberta): April 18, 2023
This hybrid information session is intended to outline the PRAIRIE hub's objectives and Stage 2 proposal guidelines, and how they align with our priorities, vision and program of research. The EOI process is also discussed here.

TIPS NOI available on Convergence Portal: April 27, 2023 (instructions here)

Prairie Hub EOI deadline: May 5, 2023

TIPS webinar "Safeguarding Science": May 24, 2023, 2 - 3:30 p.m. EDT
Led by Public Safety on research security in the context of the CBRF-BRIF competition. TIPS staff will also explain how to complete the revised Risk Assessment Form, a requirement for all applications that include at least one private sector partner.

TIPS NOI deadline: June 8, 2023. NOIs are available online at the CBRF site.

Full application available on convergence portal: June 15, 2023

TIPS webinars:

  • French information webinar on the Canada Biomedical Research Fund and Biosciences Research Infrastructure Fund (CBRF-BRIF) Stage 2 full application process: June 20, 2023, 1 - 2:30 p.m. EDT
  • English information webinar on the Canada Biomedical Research Fund and Biosciences Research Infrastructure Fund (CBRF-BRIF) Stage 2 full application process: June 22, 2023, 1 - 2:30 p.m. EDT

Virtual Biomanufacturing and Life Sciences Innovation Symposium organized by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, in collaboration with Health Canada. June 28, 2023

PRAIRIE Hub full application deadline: August 2, 2023

Scientific Core review of proposals: August 16-17, 2023

Management Board review and endorsement of proposals: August 28, 2023

Application deadline: September 7, 2023

Administrative Review: October/November, 2023

Scientific/Technical Review: November/December 2023

Strategic Review Committee Review: Week of February 5, 2024

CBRF/BRIF Awards Announcement: March 2024