Deadline: November 3, 2025
Applications are open for the Banting Discovery Foundation Discovery Award Program 2026. The Banting Discovery Foundation provides feasibility and pilot grants that help early career scientists establish their independence and launch their research programs. These funds support the day-to-day realities of running a research program—from hiring trainees to acquiring essential equipment—empowering researchers to pursue bold ideas that push the boundaries of health and biomedical science.
Each year, they fund groundbreaking projects led by emerging investigators. With a success rate of under 15% for the Discovery Award, recipients represent some of the most promising scientific talent in Canada. Impressively, nearly 90% go on to secure Tri-Agency funding within five years.
Benefits
- The Discovery Award is a year-long grant offering up to $30,000, from July 1 to June 30.
Eligibility
To apply for the Banting Discovery Award, you must:
- Be a health or biomedical researcher.
- Applicants must be within three years of their first academic appointment (e.g., Assistant Professor or equivalent) at a Canadian university or research institute.
- This appointment should have begun within eight years of completing their most recent graduate or professional degree (PhD, MD, or MD/PhD).
- Have not received external peer-reviewed grant funding such as from CIHR or NSERC, at the time of application. Support from the Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI) does not count towards the funding limit.
- Have not received external research funding exceeding over $50,000 per year at the time of receiving the Banting Discovery Award. If the external funding exceeds $50,000, the candidate may still apply for up to $30,000 providing the total operating funds including the Banting Discovery Award do not exceed $80,000 in the funding year.
Assessment Criteria
Each application is assessed based on:
- The innovative potential of the project.
- The applicant’s research track record and environment.
- The merit of the proposal, project feasibility, and justification of the request.
- The proposal’s consideration of EDI (i.e., equality, diversity, and inclusion).
- Impact of the Banting Discovery Foundation Discovery Award on the research program.
- The letter of nomination from the department or division head
Application
- Step 1: Notice of Intent: You must complete the Note of Intent online by November 3, 2025. The NOI form comprises:
- The title of the research proposal (125 characters or fewer). The same title must be used for the full application (step 2).
- Keywords identifying the research focus of the project (5 – 7 keywords).
- An abstract that highlights the project objectives and deliverables and shows research excellence and innovation (up to 1800 characters, approximately 300 words).
- Have not received external research funding of over $50,000 and/or external peer-reviewed grant funding at the time of application. Support from the Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI) does not count towards the funding limit.
- Ensure your department or division head is supportive of your application.
- Step 2: Full Application: If they deem you eligible after reviewing your NOI, you will be invited by email to access the online portal to complete a full application. The letter of nomination from your primary appointment department or division head must address the following:
- Be explicit about the candidate’s attributes and contributions.
- All eligibility criteria mentioned above have been met.
- Description of the space and access to the institutional infrastructure necessary to conduct the proposed research available for the candidate.
- Description of the mentorship plan that is in place for the candidate as they launch their career. The mentor who will guide the applicant must be identified.
For more information, visit Discovery Award Program.
