Grants to Canada researchers affiliated with research institutions for studies related to strokes. Applicants must register prior to submitting a grant application. Funding is intended for research addressing the causes and treatment of strokes. Studies must involve patients with acute stroke, transient ischemic attack, or established stroke.

The purpose of the Canadian Stroke Consortium-Brain Canada-Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada 2022 Stroke Clinical Research Catalyst Grants program is to increase capacity for clinical stroke research within Canada. The primary aim is to provide seed funding to develop new lines of research and generate preliminary data that would support successful applications to larger grants from granting agencies, while broadening the researcher’s clinical research program. Projects which fall under the scope of this funding opportunity aim at reducing the burden of stroke through clinical research geared towards improving understanding of stroke and advancing stroke care with the ultimate goal of preventing stroke recurrence and improving patient outcomes. The project's primary focus should be the brain and it should contribute to improved care along the continuum of stroke including acute care, secondary prevention, rehabilitation, and recovery. Successful projects will be those that demonstrate value to the research and clinical community. 

The Canadian Stroke Consortium, Brain Canada, and Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada recognize that early-career investigators are at a unique position to formulate innovative and impactful research projects but funding and resources to obtain preliminary data required to apply for larger grants are often scarce. Given this, early-career investigators who are within seven years of their first academic appointment are strongly encouraged to apply.

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Evidence clearly shows that increasing equity, diversity and inclusion in research environments enhances excellence, innovation and creativity. In addition, incorporation of principles of EDI in the design and execution of research involving human participants is critically important for broadening the potential impact of the work and the potential for new knowledge to be translated into health benefits. Given this heterogeneity and the diversity of the Canadian population, applicants must consider biological variables (i.e., sex, age, etc.) and social determinants of health (i.e., gender, socioeconomic status, etc.) in the research design, where appropriate. Applicants are encouraged to refer to CIHR’s guidance on how to integrate sex and gender into research for more information (https://cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/50836.html). Applicants are also encouraged to consider how their proposed research addresses EDI consistent with the partners position on EDI and articulated in CIHR’s position on EDI, available in the Tri-Agency Statement on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. See: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/InterAgency-Interorganismes/EDI-EDI/Action-Plan_Plan-dAction_eng.asp

Funds must contribute towards the direct costs of the research project for which they were awarded and should be directly attributable to the project or activity being performed. These funds may be used to support any aspect of the operating costs of the research project, including:

• Supplies and materials;
• Provision of special services and user fees;
• Maintenance of essential equipment;
• End-of-Grant Knowledge Mobilization costs; including, but not limited to, travel of the principal investigator and trainees for presentation of results at conferences, publication costs in peer-reviewed and open-access journals or repositories (including article processing charges), knowledge exchange activities (workshops, brochures, books), knowledge diffusion activities via online technologies (webinars, podcasts);
• Salaries for technical personnel;
• Stipends of trainees;
• New equipment that is currently unavailable but essential for the project.