Ministry of Health Research Seed Grant Program

Who is eligible to apply?
Faculty members who hold a tenure-stream position at UBC, including Professors, Associate Professors, Instructors, Senior Instructors, and Professors of Teaching, are eligible to apply as the primary applicant. Those with term appointments or affiliations with UBC (including Professors, Associate Professors, Assistant Professors, Instructors, Senior Instructors, Professors of Teaching, Adjunct Professors, Clinical Faculty, Honorary and Partner Faculty, and Research Associates) are also eligible to apply, provided that they have written approval from the appropriate UBC Department Head and Dean. Written approval must be submitted alongside the application. Students and visiting scholars are not eligible to apply but can be collaborators.

Do I need to include a reference list with my application?
Consistent with the character limits, extensive referencing is not required for the application. Key references may be cited within the character limits or be included as in-text citations in APA style (i.e., first author last name, publication year). While this is not an expectation or requirement, applicants may submit a reference list by email as a PDF before the submission deadline.

Do I need to complete a Research Project Information Form (RPIF) before I submit my application?
No. This process will begin after the review committee funding recommendations are approved. However, funds will not be distributed until research ethics approval is granted, if required.

Can the funding be used to fund an existing project, or must the research be entirely new?
Funding can support the addition of a new piece of work to an existing study or project, such as adding a new module to a pre-existing planned survey. However, it cannot be used to fund a piece of work that was already funded and/or in progress but contains no new components.

When will the Full Application Form be available?
The Full Application Form will be accessible through the SM Apply portal once applicants are shortlisted. Applicants will then be able to view, complete, and submit the Form. The 2023 Full Application Form can be viewed here. Please note that there may be updates or changes to the 2025 Form.

Can I budget for activities that occur after the research project ends?
While applicants are expected to plan how the project will generate impact and outcomes for knowledge-users, the budget must cover only the direct costs of conducting the research and any required engagement during the project. Budget items for dissemination or knowledge mobilization may be included only if they are clearly identified in the original budget submission, and accompanied by a justification showing how the activity is integral to the research or engagement process (e.g., a planned presentation of summative findings to community partners). Requests to re-allocate funds to such activities after an award will not be permitted.

What costs does this funding opportunity allow?
Allowable costs are those directly required to carry out the proposed research and related engagement activities. These include items needed to complete the project as described (e.g., salaries for research staff; materials and supplies for data collection or analysis; services or consultation needed for interest holder engagement; travel directly tied to research or engagement activities). If costs for sharing or mobilizing findings are included, these must be identified in your original budget with justification, as outlined above, and will be eligible only if pre-approved.

If invited during the Notice of Intent stage, what specific information are project teams expected to bring to the consultation with the Ministry of Health?
Teams should be prepared to provide a high-level description of the project they are proposing, including highlighting if they suggest any deviations from the topic or scope proposed in the question or set of questions. They should also include any questions for the Ministry and an outline of any key supports they will require from the Ministry to complete the project.

Is the selection process different if I have an existing relationship or collaboration with the Ministry of Health? 
No, all eligible applications will be considered regardless of prior relationships or collaborations with the Ministry of Health. An existing relationship or collaboration does not guarantee project funding. In past competitions, both new and existing collaborations have been funded. Capacity and preparedness to collaborate with Ministry of Health knowledge users will be assessed alongside other criteria during the review process. 

How does the Ministry of Health choose priority questions?
Program areas across the Ministry of Health are invited to identify and prioritize key objectives—specifically, the kinds of information they hope to gain from BC-based research. Each program area goes through a prioritization process to determine its most pressing research needs. These proposed questions are then shared with the Ministry of Health leadership to ensure alignment across divisions, avoid conflicts, and identify opportunities for collaboration or partnership across different areas.

What kind of support will the Ministry of Health provide during the research project?
Typically, the Ministry’s role is to explain how they hope to use the research and, therefore, what aspects of the question(s) they hope it will address. However, additional support may be requested or provided. Some examples include helping to connect researchers with health authority or agency contacts and facilitating connections with other teams and resources doing related work.

What are the expectations of knowledge mobilization activities related to funded projects?
Applicants will be assessed on their team’s capacity and planning for health research knowledge translation, including the likelihood of generating post-funding outcomes. The Ministry and UBC Health are supportive of external knowledge mobilization efforts. Teams can contact UBC Health to coordinate. Internal (Ministry-focused) knowledge mobilization activities may include presenting to the Ministry’s knowledge exchange (a large group of Ministry staff from a variety of areas), presenting to specific groups within the Ministry, or developing resources to help policymakers understand and use the results. Please note that any associated budget costs must be clearly included and justified in your original budget request.