Agency
An organization or institution that provides funds to support research, training, or public service activities.
Allocation
The distribution of funds or resources to specific projects or budget categories.
Award
Financial support granted to an individual or organization to carry out a research project or activity. Includes grants, scholarships, and contributions.
Award Cycle
The recurring timeline or period during which a funding agency announces a funding opportunity, accepts applications, conducts peer review, makes funding decisions, and notifies applicants. It encompasses the entire process from call for proposals to award notifications.
Biomedical Research
Research focused on understanding how every part of the human body works by studying these workings at the molecular, cellular, organ system, and whole-body levels. Typically aligned with CIHR Pillar 1.
Budget
A detailed financial plan outlining estimated project costs, including salaries, equipment, supplies, and other expenses necessary to complete the research.
Budget Justification
A narrative explanation accompanying the budget that details and justifies the need for each budget item.
Career Establishment Research Award (CERA)
A Lung Health Foundation award supporting mid-career investigators (6 to 15 years from first academic appointment) with operating funds to conduct independent lung health research. Provides up to $75,000 for one year. The award aims to help mid-career scientists lead impactful research and expand their programs.
Collaborator
Individuals who provide specific services or expertise to the research project, such as statistical analysis, access to patient populations, specialized training, equipment, or reagents. Collaborators contribute but do not direct the research.
Co-Applicant
Researchers who actively participate in the proposed research activities but are not responsible for directing them.
Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI)
Researchers who share responsibility for leading the intellectual direction of the research project. (Note: ESRA and CERA currently do not allow Co-PIs; only the Nominated Principal Applicant leads.)
Early Career Investigator
Investigators within five (5) years (up to 60 months) of their first independent research appointment, excluding eligible leaves such as maternity, parental, sick, family medical, or bereavement leave.
Emerging Scholar Research Award (ESRA)
A Lung Health Foundation award supporting early career investigators (within 0–5 years of first independent appointment) to conduct independent lung health research. Provides up to $50,000 for one year. The award aims to foster the next generation of lung health researchers.
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI)
Principles and practices aimed at promoting fair treatment, representation, and participation of diverse groups in research. Applicants must describe how their research addresses health equity and diversity considerations.
Ethics Approval
Formal permission granted by an institutional ethics committee to conduct research involving human or animal subjects, ensuring compliance with ethical standards
Grant
Funds provided to support the direct costs of research projects, typically with specific eligibility criteria and reporting requirements.
Granting Term
The official duration during which a grant or award is active and funds are available to the recipient for conducting the approved research or project. It defines the start and end dates of the funding period as specified in the grant agreement. The granting term corresponds to the period when the Nominated Principal Applicant can spend the funds and complete the project activities.
Independent Researcher
An individual who:
- Holds an academic or research position by the full application deadline
- Conducts research independently, not under the direction of another
- Is able to supervise or co-supervise students or postdoctoral fellows (per institutional policy)
- Is eligible to hold funds as a Principal Investigator at their institution
Indirect Costs
Expenses not directly attributable to a specific research project, such as facility maintenance, administrative support, and regulatory compliance. LHF awards do not cover indirect costs.
Letter of Intent (LOI)
A preliminary document submitted by applicants to indicate their intent to apply for funding, often required before full application submission.
Mid-Career Investigator
Investigators who are six to fifteen (6–15) years (61 to 180 months) from their first independent academic appointment, excluding eligible leaves.
Nominated Principal Applicant (NPA)
The individual who submits the application, holds the award, and is responsible for coordinating both the financial/administrative aspects and the intellectual leadership of the research. The NPA must meet all eligibility criteria for the award.
Operating Grant Funds
Funds awarded to support the direct costs of research operations, such as personnel, equipment, and supplies, excluding salary support or institutional start-up funds.
Patient, Health Systems and Population Research
Research projects focused on clinical research, health services research, social, cultural, environmental, and population health research, and other applied research projects. These typically align with CIHR Pillars 2, 3, and 4.
Peer Review
A process where experts evaluate grant applications for scientific merit, feasibility, and relevance.
Principal Investigator (PI)
The lead researcher responsible for the overall design, conduct, and management of a research project.
Progress Report
A document submitted during the award period detailing the progress and outcomes of the funded research.
ProposalCentral
An online platform used for submitting grant applications and related documents.
Research Environment
The institutional and resource context in which the research will be conducted, including facilities, equipment, and collaborative opportunities.
Review Committee
A group of experts who assess and score applications to recommend funding decisions.
Salary Support
Funds provided to cover the salary of research personnel. LHF awards do not provide salary
Tri-Agency
A collective term referring to the three major federal research funding agencies in Canada:
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)
- Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)
These agencies collaborate on policies, programs, and guidelines to support research across health, natural sciences, engineering, social sciences, and humanities disciplines.
Tri-Council
An earlier term synonymous with Tri-Agency, historically referring to the three federal research funding councils in Canada: CIHR, NSERC, and SSHRC. The term is still commonly used in policy documents and funding guidelines to describe joint initiatives or shared frameworks among these agencies.
Unspent Balance
Any remaining funds at the end of the award period that have not been used and may need to be returned or approved for extension.
Use of Grant Funds
The allowable expenses and activities for which awarded funds may be used, typically outlined in funding guidelines.