Purpose
The purpose of the RCH Research Fund is to provide a new source of funding for research projects at RCH which align with the funding principles of the Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation.
Objectives
To support research projects at RCH and to develop the ability of RCH based research competitive in applications to external funding agencies. Research projects that receive funding must be completed within a three (3) year timeframe and may be either new projects, senior research projects already established or projects that are in their early stages and need funding to move forward and/or to build their potential to be able to arrange further funding from other sources through:
• Providing preliminary data to demonstrate the need for further research or to provide justification for the required sample size based on a power calculation
• Providing evidence of preliminary work and demonstrating that the researcher can conduct research from beginning to end by providing a ‘deliverable’, i.e. a completed research report
Examples of studies that can be funded through this opportunity include:
• Studies that collect pilot data to support an application for funding by an external granting agency
• Studies involving primary or secondary data and intervention studies
• Chart reviews
• Systematic review activities
Fall Timeline
| LOI Submission Deadline | June 5, 2026 |
| LOI Review Decision | July 7, 2026 |
| Full Proposal Submission Deadline | September 18, 2026 |
| Full Proposal Review Decision | October 20, 2026 |
Winter Timeline
| LOI Submission Deadline | November 27, 2026 |
| LOI Review Decision | December 4, 2026 |
| Full Proposal Submission Deadline | January 29, 2027 |
| Full Proposal Review Decision | February 23, 2027 |
Funds Available
This funding is meant to support studies that are under way within 4 months of receiving the
grant and continue for a maximum of 3 years. The maximum award for a single grant is
$25,000, with the intention of offering multiple smaller awards.
The following types of studies are not eligible for funding:
• Activities normally funded from the FH operational budget, for example, program
evaluation and quality improvement initiatives
• Team building or project planning activities
• Trainee residency projects
Eligibility Criteria
• The Principal Investigator (PI - project lead and primary applicant) must be an RCH
staff member or a privileged physician.
• Projects must be accessible to the lay person to easily understand the impact the
research could potentially have.
• If the applicant does not have previous research experience, preference will be given
to applicants who have an academic partner for the project. The academic partner
could be someone acting as a mentor/advisor to the application team or someone
who is integral to the project.
• Special consideration will be given to:
- Research that has the opportunity to change, for the better, the way health
care is delivered at RCH, in BC and beyond. - Projects that play a role in the recruitment or retention of high caliber doctors
& staff. - Projects which have the potential to significantly impact the growing
reputation of RCH.
If you have previously received funding through this competition you may apply
again in the future for a different research project.
Review Process
Applications for the RCH Research Fund will be evaluated by a task force struck each year
specifically for this purpose and appointed the by the Foundation. The task force has the
authority to make recommendations for funding to the Foundation. The Foundation will provide
final approval for funding.
Completion and Reporting Requirements
Projects must be completed within a 36-month period. A launch report must be submitted
within 6 months of receiving funds, a yearly report must be submitted annually and a final
report must be submitted to the Foundation and FH Research within 6 weeks of study
completion. Reports should be written in lay person language. In addition, the team will be
expected to present their research at FH Research Week or FH Researcher’s Café.
Additional Resources Available to Applicants
The Fraser Health Department of Evaluation & Research Services (DERS) can
offer assistance with your proposal and/or finding other funding sources.
Contact: Ashley Kwon, Research Development Specialist
Ashley.kwon@fraserhealth.ca
https://www.fraserhealth.ca/employees/research-and-evaluation
BC SUPPORT Unit Fraser Centre was created to support, streamline and increase
patient-oriented research throughout BC. There may be an opportunity for top-up funds
if you are doing patient-oriented research which means that patients and/or families are
partners on the project.
Contact: Magdalena Newman, Regional Centre Lead/Manager
Magdalena.newman@fraserhealth.ca
604-953-5150 ext. 765870
http://bcsupportunit.ca/fraser-centre/
RCHF Research Fund (CARE Committee)
Purpose
The purpose of the RCH Research Fund is to provide a new source of funding for research projects at RCH which align with the funding principles of the Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation.
Objectives
To support research projects at RCH and to develop the ability of RCH based research competitive in applications to external funding agencies. Research projects that receive funding must be completed within a three (3) year timeframe and may be either new projects, senior research projects already established or projects that are in their early stages and need funding to move forward and/or to build their potential to be able to arrange further funding from other sources through:
• Providing preliminary data to demonstrate the need for further research or to provide justification for the required sample size based on a power calculation
• Providing evidence of preliminary work and demonstrating that the researcher can conduct research from beginning to end by providing a ‘deliverable’, i.e. a completed research report
Examples of studies that can be funded through this opportunity include:
• Studies that collect pilot data to support an application for funding by an external granting agency
• Studies involving primary or secondary data and intervention studies
• Chart reviews
• Systematic review activities
Fall Timeline
| LOI Submission Deadline | June 5, 2026 |
| LOI Review Decision | July 7, 2026 |
| Full Proposal Submission Deadline | September 18, 2026 |
| Full Proposal Review Decision | October 20, 2026 |
Winter Timeline
| LOI Submission Deadline | November 27, 2026 |
| LOI Review Decision | December 4, 2026 |
| Full Proposal Submission Deadline | January 29, 2027 |
| Full Proposal Review Decision | February 23, 2027 |
Funds Available
This funding is meant to support studies that are under way within 4 months of receiving the
grant and continue for a maximum of 3 years. The maximum award for a single grant is
$25,000, with the intention of offering multiple smaller awards.
The following types of studies are not eligible for funding:
• Activities normally funded from the FH operational budget, for example, program
evaluation and quality improvement initiatives
• Team building or project planning activities
• Trainee residency projects
Eligibility Criteria
• The Principal Investigator (PI - project lead and primary applicant) must be an RCH
staff member or a privileged physician.
• Projects must be accessible to the lay person to easily understand the impact the
research could potentially have.
• If the applicant does not have previous research experience, preference will be given
to applicants who have an academic partner for the project. The academic partner
could be someone acting as a mentor/advisor to the application team or someone
who is integral to the project.
• Special consideration will be given to:
- Research that has the opportunity to change, for the better, the way health
care is delivered at RCH, in BC and beyond. - Projects that play a role in the recruitment or retention of high caliber doctors
& staff. - Projects which have the potential to significantly impact the growing
reputation of RCH.
If you have previously received funding through this competition you may apply
again in the future for a different research project.
Review Process
Applications for the RCH Research Fund will be evaluated by a task force struck each year
specifically for this purpose and appointed the by the Foundation. The task force has the
authority to make recommendations for funding to the Foundation. The Foundation will provide
final approval for funding.
Completion and Reporting Requirements
Projects must be completed within a 36-month period. A launch report must be submitted
within 6 months of receiving funds, a yearly report must be submitted annually and a final
report must be submitted to the Foundation and FH Research within 6 weeks of study
completion. Reports should be written in lay person language. In addition, the team will be
expected to present their research at FH Research Week or FH Researcher’s Café.
Additional Resources Available to Applicants
The Fraser Health Department of Evaluation & Research Services (DERS) can
offer assistance with your proposal and/or finding other funding sources.
Contact: Ashley Kwon, Research Development Specialist
Ashley.kwon@fraserhealth.ca
https://www.fraserhealth.ca/employees/research-and-evaluation
BC SUPPORT Unit Fraser Centre was created to support, streamline and increase
patient-oriented research throughout BC. There may be an opportunity for top-up funds
if you are doing patient-oriented research which means that patients and/or families are
partners on the project.
Contact: Magdalena Newman, Regional Centre Lead/Manager
Magdalena.newman@fraserhealth.ca
604-953-5150 ext. 765870
http://bcsupportunit.ca/fraser-centre/