Spring 2026 New Investigator Forum

Launch of ICS Travel Award: September 11, 2025
Application Deadline: October 30, 2025
Anticipated Notice of Decision: January 28, 2026
Registration Deadline: February 12, 2026 (details to follow)

The New Investigator Forum

CIHR-III is committed to supporting the next generation of infection and immunity researchers in Canada to achieve the highest possible level of scientific excellence. To support this goal, CIHR-III is pleased to announce it will be hosting the upcoming Spring 2026 New Investigator Forum (NIF) in King City, ON from April 14 to 16, 2026.

Recognizing the unique challenges faced by early career researchers, the objective of this event is to provide practical information and learning opportunities that support and promote the professional development of early career researchers and late-stage post-doctoral researchers or research associates who are actively pursuing an academic career in the areas of infection and immunity.

The CIHR Institute of Infection and Immunity, CIHR Institute of Population and Public Health, CIHR Centre for Research on Pandemic Preparedness and Health Emergencies and CIHR HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted and Blood-Borne Infections (STBBI) Research Initiative have partnered to provide funding for travel support to the NIF through the Spring 2026 ICS Travel Award funding opportunity. To be eligible to participate in the NIF, applicants must apply to the 2026 ICS Travel Award competition. Successful applicants will be invited to attend and register.

Objectives

The objective of the NIF is to provide practical information and learning opportunities to promote the professional development of early career researchers, as well as late-stage postdoctoral fellows or research associates, whose research is relevant to any of the research areas listed in the funding opportunity.

What to Expect

In an interdisciplinary environment, participants will be provided with opportunities to discuss strategies for addressing research career challenges, optimize their ability to leverage their research results, familiarize themselves with the Canadian funding landscape, and develop a range of skills required to establish and maintain a successful research career. Please note the focus of the content will be primarily related to infection and immunity across all four CIHR pillars (biomedical; clinical; health systems; and social, cultural, environmental and population health).

The event will promote the visibility and success of Canadian new investigators in infection and immunity disciplines by:

  • facilitating interaction, learning, collaboration, and networking among new investigators and between investigators and other participants; and
  • facilitating mentoring, training, and knowledge sharing between investigators, senior academics, CIHR staff and other infection and immunity partners within an interdisciplinary environment.

The event will catalyze the development of a range of skills required to establish and maintain a successful research career by:

  • supporting discussion of opportunities and strategies for addressing research career challenges;
  • familiarizing the new investigators with the Canadian funding landscape, including CIHR programs, peer-review, and alternative funding sources; and
  • optimizing the new investigators' ability to communicate and leverage the results of their work with various partners including their communities, people with lived experience, the media, and the public.

Event Details

Dates: April 14 – 16, 2026

Location: Kingbridge Centre, King City, Ontario

Please note that the agenda is still under development. However, we anticipate a networking reception will take place on the evening of Tuesday, April 14, with the main sessions running from approximately 8:00 am on Wednesday, April 15 until 4:00 pm on Thursday, April 16. We invite all participants to stay on-site to make the most of the retreat atmosphere and enhance opportunities for networking. As such, it is recommended that you budget for two nights at the Kingbridge Centre.

Making the Most of Your Experience

The event is intentionally set in a retreat-like environment to foster meaningful connections among a diverse group of new investigators. It provides an opportunity to engage with peers from different disciplines, explore potential collaborations, and connect directly with funders. We encourage you to take full advantage of this unique setting, which is designed to inspire dialogue, reflection, and long-term partnerships that could enrich your future research.

Allowable Costs

Applicants are advised to consult the Use of Grant Funds section of the Tri-Agency (CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC) Guide on Financial Administration (TAGFA) to determine if an expenditure is an appropriate use of grant funds.

To further clarify, the following expenses are examples of appropriate uses of grant funds, provided they satisfy the principles and pertinent directives of the TAGFA:

  • Travel and accommodation (during travel) for participant (all travel will be by the lowest economy fare)
    • Accommodations and meal packages at Kingbridge Centre April 14-16, 2026, have been negotiated for two (2) nights at a rate of $515 per night, excluding taxes ($582). (Confirmation and Registration required; details to follow NOD)
  • Per diem for meals (when not already provided with the conference; applicants must use their home institution's per diem rates)
  • Printing costs (e.g. posters) (re-purposing an existing poster is highly encouraged)
    • Applicants will be required to present a poster on their research at the NIF 2026.
  • There are no other registration costs.
  • Disability accommodation and dependent care costs directly attributable to the NPA's participation at the conference, provided the expense is not already provided by the administering institution.

How to Apply

To be eligible to attend the NIF, individuals MUST apply to the 2026 ICS Travel Award funding opportunity through ResearchNet by October 30, 2025.

To be considered for the ICS Travel Award, applicants must meet the eligibility criteria outlined in the funding opportunity. Successful applicants will receive a travel award to cover costs associated with participating in the event. This includes costs associated with dependent care where eligible.

Funds & Awards Available

  • The maximum amount awarded for a single award is $3,000.
  • Forty (40) awards will be available for early career researchers and late-stage post-doctoral researchers or research associates whose research is relevant to the infection and immunity research area.
  • Ten (10) awards will be available for early career researchers and late-stage postdoctoral researchers or research associates whose research is relevant to HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted and Blood Borne Infections (STBBI) research area.
  • Five (5) awards will be available for early career researchers and late-stage postdoctoral researchers or research associates whose research is relevant to pandemic preparedness and health emergencies research area.
  • Ten (10) awards will be available for early career researchers and late-stage postdoctoral researchers or research associates whose research is relevant to population and public health research area.
  • If applications exceed the number of available awards in any research area, prioritization will be done in the order outlined below:
    • Early career researchers who have not previously attended a NIF hosted by CIHR-III.
    • Late-stage post-doctoral fellows or research associates who have not previously attended a NIF hosted by CIHR-III.
    • Early career researchers who attended the virtual NIF hosted by CIHR-III in 2022.
    • Early career researchers who previously attended a NIF hosted by CIHR-III as a post-doctoral fellow or research associate.
    • Late-stage post-doctoral fellows or research associates who have previously attended a NIF hosted by CIHR-III.
  • A maximum of 20% of awards across all research areas will be awarded to post-doctoral researchers and research associates. CIHR-III and partners may adjust this cap in cases of a low number of applications in one or more research areas.
  • If there are unused funds or a lack of fundable applications in one or more research areas, those funds may be reallocated to other relevant applications in another research area—but will not be used to support applications outside the mandate of the respective sponsoring partner. Any remaining unused funds will be returned to the sponsoring partner.

The 2026 ICS Travel Award competition will launch in September 2025 on ResearchNet.

Contact Information

For all inquiries, please contact CIHR-III Knowledge Translation Manager, Tanya Merke at tanya.merke@cihr-irsc.gc.ca.

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