CIHR – Research Excellence, Diversity and Independence (REDI) Early Career Transition Award
Well-being, Health and Biomedical Discovery
Deadlines
Academic Unit: Inquire with unit
Memorial Deadline: Thursday 11th, June 2026
External Deadline: Tuesday 16th, June 2026
Description
The CIHR Research Excellence, Diversity and Independence (REDI) Early Career Transition Award Program is intended to advance scientific excellence and foster diversity in Canada’s research ecosystem. It supports the professional development and career progression of trainees to establish and sustain strong, independent research programs in academia.
Diverse perspectives strengthen scientific quality, creativity, and innovation, with racial and gender diversity shown to have a strong correlation with scientific impact1-6. Yet, while Canada’s population is diverse, academic data shows its science and medicine faculties are less diverse than the students and trainees in these programs7-8.
Systemic barriers in Canada’s academic and health system institutions continue to limit the participation, hiring, and advancement of individuals from underrepresenteda groups,9-14 particularly at the critical career stage of transitioning from trainee to independent researcher.7,8,15-24 Underrepresentation is especially evident using an intersectional lensb, and this attrition perpetuates a lack of diversity in academic faculty and leadership.
The REDI program aligns with Government of Canada and Tri-agency priorities to address systemic racism, sexism, and other forms of discrimination in Canadian institutions through an intersectional lens25, 26, 27, to reduce systemic barriers that limit the full participation of talented individuals28, and to increase equitable and inclusive participation in the research system29.
Building on the success of the 2022 launch of the REDI program, which supported career transitions for racializedc women and Black scholars (who are among the most underrepresented populations in Canadian faculties), the 2025 launch of the program (REDI 2025) expands its focus to include racialized gender-diverse people and First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples, and reaffirms CIHR and its partners’ commitments to advancing scientific excellence by fostering a research environment that values and supports diversity, representation, equity, inclusion and Indigenous rights.
First Nations, Inuit, and Métis scholars provide necessary knowledge and leadership within academia; however, systemic barriers, discrimination and existing colonial structures continue to limit their representation and inclusion in attaining academic appointments7,8,21,23. The impact of systemic barriers is also evident in employment outcomes for Indigenousd (First Nations, Inuit, Métis) professors, who experience high unemployment rates similar to those professors who identify as racialized women or Black23.
Gender-diverse people also face discrimination and significant barriers to employment30,31,32. Although data gaps obscure the degree to which racialized and gender-diverse faculty face barriers in academia, REDI 2025 uses an expanded intersectional framework for race and gender that includes racialized, gender-diverse people.
Application Deadline: 2026-06-16
See ResearchNet for more information.
Join a special webinar to learn more about the program and hear how you can support REDI applicants!
When: November 12, 2025 | 1:30 to 3:00 PM ET | Register