Open Opportunity Funds for Research offered by HRF 2026 Health System Solutions Grant Program Canada, The Health Research Foundation (HRF) has introduced the 2026 Health System Solutions Grant Program to fund innovative applied research that strengthens Canada’s healthcare system and improves patient access to breakthrough medicines. The program supports projects that generate practical, evidence-based solutions capable of enhancing care delivery, improving coordination across healthcare settings, and ensuring patients receive timely access to the treatments they need.
Across Canada, many patients continue to face challenges such as lengthy wait times, disconnected care pathways, and inefficient referral systems that can delay access to innovative therapies. Through this funding opportunity, HRF is seeking research initiatives that move beyond identifying these healthcare challenges by designing, evaluating, and implementing scalable solutions that improve patient experiences, optimize health system performance, and deliver better clinical outcomes.
Applicants are encouraged to carefully review the full details and submit their applications before the specified deadline to seize this grant opportunity.
Last Date of Submission: 22nd July 2026
Pillars for Open Opportunity Funds for Research offered by HRF 2026 Health System Solutions Grant Program Canada
The 2026 Health System Solutions Grant Program is built around two key applied research pillars that reflect the Health Research Foundation’s priority areas for advancing healthcare innovation.
Pillar 1: Health System Factors Influencing Real-World Use and Outcomes
This pillar supports research examining how healthcare pathways, referral mechanisms, system capacity, data availability, and implementation readiness affect patients’ access to innovative medicines and their real-world health outcomes.
Projects submitted under this pillar must focus on the priority research theme, Improving the Patient Journey Through Care Pathways, Referral, and Coordination. Eligible studies should generate practical evidence on how healthcare systems can better identify eligible patients, simplify care pathways, enhance service integration, and promote the successful adoption and effective use of innovative treatments.
Pillar 2: Improving the Coherence and Performance of Review and Reimbursement
This pillar encourages research that explores the relationship between health technology assessment (HTA), pricing, reimbursement, and funding mechanisms. It aims to identify opportunities to reduce system fragmentation, minimize delays, and improve the efficiency of processes that influence patient access to innovative medicines and overall health system performance.
Project Requirements for Open Opportunity Funds for Research offered by HRF 2026 Health System Solutions Grant Program Canada
All proposed projects should:
- Improve patient access to innovative medicines through stronger care coordination and more efficient health system processes
- Enhance care pathways, referral mechanisms, and collaboration across different healthcare settings
- Address practical challenges such as delays, fragmented services, and implementation barriers
- Produce actionable evidence that can support health system leaders and decision-makers
- Demonstrate strong potential for scalability, broader adoption, and meaningful system-wide impact
Collaborative proposals that actively engage patients, caregivers, clinicians, researchers, and health system partners are highly encouraged.
Preference will be given to implementation-oriented projects that leverage technology where appropriate and demonstrate measurable improvements in patient outcomes and health system performance. Through this funding opportunity, the Health Research Foundation aims to foster practical innovations that enhance healthcare readiness, improve access to innovative medicines, strengthen the quality of care, and achieve better health outcomes for patients across Canada.
Funding Overview for Open Opportunity Funds for Research offered by HRF 2026 Health System Solutions Grant Program Canada
The 2026 Health System Solutions Grant Program provides funding through two distinct grant tiers, allowing applicants to select the level of support that best aligns with the size and scope of their proposed research.
Tier 1: Early-Stage and Feasibility Research
- Funding Available: Up to CAD 50,000
- Project Duration: 6–12 months
This funding stream is intended for projects that are in the early stages of development, including:
- Pilot initiatives
- Feasibility assessments
- Early-stage innovation projects
- Small-scale implementation research
Tier 2: Large-Scale Health System Solutions
- Funding Available: Up to CAD 250,000
- Project Duration: 18–24 months
This tier supports larger and more comprehensive initiatives, including:
- Multi-site or multi-jurisdictional studies
- Health system-wide interventions
- Scalable implementation projects
- Collaborative research involving multiple organizations
What the Program Funds
The program focuses on applied and implementation research that delivers practical improvements within Canada’s healthcare system.
Eligible Project Activities
Funding may support projects involving:
- Development of innovative health system solutions
- Design and testing of improved care pathway models
- Assessment of referral and care coordination processes
- Studies on implementing health technologies
- Analysis of reimbursement and healthcare policy systems
- Digital health solutions that improve system efficiency
- Generation of real-world evidence to support healthcare decision-making
Important: Proposed projects should emphasize practical implementation rather than purely theoretical research, with solutions that can be adopted within real-world healthcare settings.
Who Can Apply?
The grant program welcomes applications from a broad range of organizations involved in healthcare research and service delivery.
Eligible Applicants for Open Opportunity Funds for Research offered by HRF 2026 Health System Solutions Grant Program Canada
Applications are invited from:
- Universities and research institutions
- Healthcare providers and health system organizations
- Hospitals and clinical networks
- Not-for-profit organizations
- Community-based organizations
Essential Eligibility Requirements
Applicants should:
- Include active participation from health system partners
- Demonstrate strong potential for real-world implementation
- Show the ability to generate impact beyond a single institution whenever possible
Collaboration Requirements
HRF places a strong emphasis on partnerships that bring together expertise from across the healthcare ecosystem.
Recommended Project Partners
Collaborative teams may include:
- Patients and patient advocacy organizations
- Caregivers
- Clinicians and other healthcare professionals
- Health system managers and administrators
- Academic researchers
- Policymakers and health system decision-makers
Purpose of Collaboration
Strong partnerships help to:
- Improve implementation success
- Ensure solutions address real-world healthcare needs
- Increase opportunities for scaling successful interventions
- Maximize system-wide benefits
Project Expectations
Successful proposals should clearly demonstrate the following characteristics.
Implementation Focus
Projects should include:
- A practical pathway for adoption within healthcare systems
- Clear plans for applying research findings
- Relevance to broader health system challenges
Scalability
Applicants should explain how their solution can:
- Be expanded across regions or jurisdictions
- Be adapted by multiple healthcare organizations
- Deliver benefits beyond a single project site
Actionable Evidence
Projects are expected to generate evidence that:
- Supports informed decision-making by health system leaders
- Guides operational and policy improvements
- Demonstrates measurable benefits for patient outcomes
Application Process
The program generally follows these key stages:
Step 1: Identify a Health System Challenge
Applicants begin by defining a significant healthcare access issue or system-level problem requiring practical solutions.
Step 2: Form a Collaborative Team
Develop partnerships with relevant health system organizations and other key stakeholders.
Step 3: Select the Appropriate Funding Tier
- Tier 1: Early-stage research, pilot projects, or feasibility studies
- Tier 2: Larger implementation projects with broader system impact
Step 4: Prepare the Application
A complete proposal should include:
- Research methodology
- Implementation plan
- Stakeholder engagement strategy
- Project budget and timeline
Step 5: Proposal Assessment
Applications are evaluated based on:
- Relevance to health system priorities
- Innovation and technical feasibility
- Strength of collaboration
- Readiness for implementation
Step 6: Funding Award
Projects selected through the review process receive financial support to carry out the proposed research.
Selection Criteria
Funding decisions are based on several key considerations.
Health System Impact
Preference is given to projects that:
- Improve patient access to innovative medicines
- Reduce delays and system inefficiencies
- Enhance care pathways and coordination
Innovation
Reviewers assess:
- Originality of the proposed solution
- Appropriate use of technology or innovative care models
- Practical value for healthcare systems
Implementation Readiness
Strong proposals demonstrate:
- A realistic strategy for adoption
- Feasibility within existing healthcare environments
- Potential for broader implementation and scale
Collaborative Strength
Applications should show:
- Meaningful stakeholder engagement
- Active participation from health system partners
- Collaboration across multiple sectors and disciplines
Note: For more comprehensive details click the link below
Get full access to the grant information, visit the Official Website Link
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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How much funding is available under the 2026 Health System Solutions Grant Program?
The program offers two funding tiers: Tier 1 provides up to CAD 50,000 for early-stage or feasibility projects, while Tier 2 offers up to CAD 250,000 for large-scale health system solutions.
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Who is eligible to apply for the HRF Health System Solutions Grant Program?
Eligible applicants include academic and research institutions, healthcare providers, hospitals, clinical networks, not-for-profit organizations, and community-based organizations. Applicants must involve active health system partners and demonstrate the potential for real-world implementation.
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What types of projects does the program support?
The program funds applied and implementation research focused on improving patient access to innovative medicines. Eligible projects may involve care pathway development, referral system improvements, health technology implementation, digital health solutions, policy analysis, and real-world evidence generation.
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Is collaboration required for this funding opportunity?
Yes. The Health Research Foundation strongly encourages collaborative projects that involve patients, caregivers, clinicians, researchers, health system administrators, policymakers, and other relevant partners to maximize implementation and system-wide impact.
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What factors are considered during the application review process?
Applications are evaluated based on their potential health system impact, level of innovation, implementation readiness, scalability, strength of collaboration, and ability to improve patient access and healthcare system performance.
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