The CCRF is pleased to offer this Fall 2026 Request for Proposal (RFP) to researchers and clinicians in chiropractic and related healthcare fields who meet the eligibility requirements. Grant awards for individual projects will range from $5,000 to $20,000.
Prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to review the following
This RFP focuses on funding studies that advance occupational health and safety (OHS). OHS encompasses the rules, practices and protections that help keep people safe and healthy at work. It’s a collaborative system involving government, workers, employers, industry associations and professional bodies. This broad scope invites applicants to explore selected aspects of OHS and develop creative proposals with practical, real-world applications.
Within the OHS sector, musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are a leading cause of work-related claims in Canada, accounting for 40–50% of lost-time days. They cause pain and suffering for thousands of workers each year and cost employers hundreds of millions of dollars through absenteeism and lost productivity. Thus, CCRF is committed to funding research that addresses these issues and related areas, such as mental wellness and population health.
Proposals that use extractable federal and/or provincial OHS data are of particular interest, as are those that include multidisciplinary contributions and/or support knowledge translation.
Prospective applicants are also encouraged to review the following:
- CCRF’s National Research Priorities: Basic Science, Clinical Science, Health Systems
and Population Health. - CCRF’s FAQs: They contain information which may impact the success of your proposal.
Granting decisions will be approved by the CCRF Board of Directors, based on its Research Committee’s recommendations.
CCRF grants are made possible thanks to the very generous support of the Canadian Chiropractic
Association, the Canadian Chiropractic Protective Association (CCPA), and our provincial associates, representing clinicians from across Canada. We would also like to express our appreciation to all private donors – the chiropractic visionaries who have made a strong personal commitment to evidence-based national research.
Steps to Apply
1
Letter of Intent (LOI)
Step 1: Applicants review current RFP guidelines and submit an LOI outlining project concept, scope, output and funding requested.
2
Evaluation
Step 2: Following LOI evaluation, applicants will either be invited to prepare a Grant Application or notified a grant will not be offered this cycle.
3
Grant Application
Step 3: Following the Grant Application evaluation, submitters will receive an approval of funding or be notified a grant will not be offered this cycle.
How To Apply
To ensure equal access for submitters and support timely grant awards, CCRF uses a three-step application process. Before applying, please review this specific RFP and its associated eligibility criteria and the FAQs.
Step One: Letter of Intent (LOI)
- Grant seekers submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) to provide a succinct overview of their proposal, including a summary of the project concept, the anticipated output and amount of funding requested.
- LOIs must follow the submission format and instructions below.
- LOIs must be received by 11:59 pm on Friday, November 20th, 2026.
LOI Submission Format
- English language on your organization’s letterhead.
- LOI should be no more than two pages in length, single-sided, single-spaced, Calibri 11-point
font, and 1-inch margins with page numbers at the bottom.
- Page One should include:
- Project title
- General research design
- Applicant’s name, degree, contact information and professional affiliation
- Amount of grant requested
- Page Two should contain the research abstract, which describes the scope, purpose, methodology, hypothesis of your project and content of the proposed work. Please indicate the anticipated impact of this research and why it is important to further knowledge within one or more of the four CCRF Areas of Focus (Basic Science, Clinical Science, Health Systems, Population Health).
- Supporting materials, such as peer reviewed publications and biographical information, are optional and can be provided as attachments (maximum two pages).
- Proposals must be dated and signed by principal applicant.
- Signed proposals must contain the following declarations: “We/I confirm, that to the best of our/my knowledge, this LOI submission is accurate. We/I also certify all identified investigators will fully participate in the proposed work. We/I have read and understood the most recent CCRF Request for Proposal and LOI Guidelines.”
Submission Instructions
- A single PDF file containing the LOI and all supporting documents should be emailed
to info@chiroresearch.ca no later than 11:59 pm on Friday, November 20th, 2026.
- PDF files should be saved as “LOI_lead submitter last name_institution_year.” (e.g.,
LOI_Harris_University of Toronto_2026).
- A confirmation email will be sent within 3 business days of receipt.
Proposal evaluation is overseen and administered by the CCRF Research Committee.
• Each LOI is evaluated by the Research Committee and assessed for methodological merit and rigour.
• Grant applications are provided only to selected projects that align with the objectives and areas of focus outlined and areas of focus in the current RFP.
• All submitters will be notified of the status of their project. Those who do not receive an application will be notified that a grant will not be offered this cycle.
Based on the LOI, CCRF will provide selected teams with a grant application.
- Grant Applications include a cover letter, project overview, phases and timeline, monetary
request, submitter background/qualifications, references, other funding sources (projected and confirmed) and multimedia components (if any).
- For grant requests over $20,000, a 30-minute videoconference presentation may be requested.
- The Grant Application and LOI budget are usually identical. If a budget increase is requested during the Grant Application stage, it should be justified by the submitter.
- Final funding recommendations are approved by CCRF’s Board of Directors.
- Applicants are informed about proposal status with a letter indicating:
– A grant will not be offered during this cycle.
– A grant is approved contingent on standard CCRF terms and conditions.
To be considered for funding by CCRF in this RFP cycle, your project must:
- Be executed by researchers in good standing within their professional associations and meet these eligibility requirements:
- At least one Canadian Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) team member residing in Canada is required.
- A Canadian project lead is preferred but not required.
- A PhD is beneficial but not required if sufficient research, publication experience and institutional support can be demonstrated.
- Submissions that identify additional funding sources or financially beneficial partnerships are strongly encouraged.
- Adhere to the parameters set out in this Fall 2026 Request for Proposal (RFP).
- Be conducted in accordance with Canadian legal, regulatory and ethical guidelines.
- Be eligible for publication in an accredited, peer-reviewed journal.
For funding consideration in this RFP cycle, we invite applicants to consider these guiding points when developing submissions:
- Explore gaps in current knowledge or expand on existing studies in meaningful ways.
- Demonstrate fresh thinking and/or innovative use of technology, including Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence.
- Explore diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) factors.
Important Dates
- LOIs must be received by 11:59 pm EST on Friday, November 20th, 2026
- CCRF will inform applicants if a Grant Application (based on the LOI) will be requested on or before Friday, December 18th, 2026
- Final grant decisions are scheduled to be determined in March 2027
Have a question? Check Grant FAQs
For all other inquiries, please contact us at info@chiroresearch.ca