1. Funding
  2. External Funding
  3. Health Sciences
  4. Funding from Physician Services Inc. (PSI) Foundation

Funding from Physician Services Inc. (PSI) Foundation

The Physician Services Inc. (PSI) Foundation provides health research grants with an emphasis on research relevant to patient care. Only Ontario MDs and medical residents are eligible to apply for funding.

Most PSI grants do not have application deadlines and are accepted on an ongoing basis. Applicants can expect a decision within 6 months. The PSI Areas of Non-Support Policy applies to all funding streams. PSI will not consider projects that focus on problems associated with cancer, heart & stroke, or pharmaceutical drug development.

For more information, please visit the .

Summary of Funding Programs

Type of Grant Focus Funding Overview Eligibility Information Submission Process
Health Research Grant Funds health research in three eligible areas of research:
  1. Clinical research
  2. Medical education at the post-M.D. level
  3. Health systems research
 Amount: Up to  $250,000 (max. $100K in any one year)

Duration: Up to 3 years

 

 Eligible PIs:
  • College  of Physicians & Surgeons of Ontario licensed M.D. with an academic appointment, OR
  • Fellow who is a College of physicians & Surgeons of Ontario M.D., and who has a supervising co-PI on the project with an academic appointment
  • Ineligible applicants:
  • Residents
  • PIs without an M.D.
  • Graduate students or trainees
  • Investigators outside of Ontario
  • Submitted by PI in online portal
Resident Research Grant Funds health research projects initiated by a medical resident in eligible areas of research:
  1. Clinical research
  2. Medical education at the post-M.D. level
  3. Health systems research
 Amount: Up to $30,000 total 

Duration: Up to 2 years

 

 Eligible Residents: 
  • Must have PGY status as per the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario.
Ineligible Residents: 
  • Applicants whose residency will end prior to the project end date
  • Principal Investigators who hold a Ph.D. but not an M.D.
  • Resident based outside of Ontario
  • Clinical Fellows
Eligible Supervisors:
  • Must be a College of Physicians and Surgeons licensed M.D. with an academic appointment
  • Submitted by PI in online portal
New Investigator Grant Funds health research by a new investigator in eligible areas of research:
  1. Clinical research
  2. Medical education at the post-M.D. level
  3. Health systems research
 Amount: Up to $300,000 total (max. $100,000 in any one year)

Duration: Up to 3 years
 		 Eligible PIs:
  • College of Physicians & Surgeons of Ontario licensed M.D. within five years of their first academic appointment, OR
  • Fellow who is a College of Physicians & Surgeons of Ontario M.D., and who has a supervising co-PI on the project with an academic appointment
Ineligible Applicants:
  • Residents
  • PIs without an M.D.
  • Graduate students or trainees
  • Investigators outside of Ontario
  • Submitted by PI in online portal
Graham Farquharson Knowledge Translation Fellowship Salary support for a new investigator conducting high impact KT research (funds must protect 50% of Fellow鈥檚 time to conduct research) Amount: Up to $300,000

Duration: $150,000/year for 2 years or $100,000/year for 3 years

PSI will consider up to 25% of the award to support a research study (Fellow must have minimum $30K in operating funds from another source)
 		 Eligible Applicant:
  • Practicing physician with a College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario licensed M.D. with an academic appointment
  • Within 5 years of their first academic appointment 
  • Dedicate at least 50% of a full-time schedule to the Fellowship, OR 
  • Clinical fellow who is a practising physician, with a supervisor who has an academic appointment 
Ineligible Applicants:
  • Residents
  • PIs without an M.D.
  • Investigators outside of Ontario
 Submitted by PI in online portal
Mid-Career Knowledge Translation Fellowship Salary support for mid-career physician researcher conducting high impact KT research (funds must protect 50% of Fellow鈥檚 time to conduct research)  Amount: Up to $200,000 from PSI (1:1 matching required)

Duration: 2 or 3 years

Sponsoring institution is required to match PSI contribution 

PSI will consider up to 25% of the award to support a research study (Fellow must have minimum $30K in operating funds from another source)

 Eligible Applicant:
  • Practicing physician with a College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario licensed M.D. with an academic appointment
  • Within 5-15 years of their first academic appointment 
  • Dedicate at least 50% of a full-time schedule to the Fellowship 
Ineligible Applicants:
  • Residents
  • PIs without an M.D.
  • Investigators outside of Ontario
  • Submitted by PI in online portal 
     
  • Yearly deadline for this award
Research Trainee Award Provide research opportunities for M.D鈥檚 enrolled in PhD or MSc Programs at Ontario universities  Amount: Up to $50,000 from PSI (1:1 matching required)

Duration: $25K/year for 2 years

Sponsoring institutions are required to co-fund 50% of the amount requested from PSI (e.g. if $20K/year is request from PSI, the sponsoring institution must provide $10K/year).
 

 Eligible Applicant:
  • M.D. licensed by College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario in a Ph.D or MSc. program  OR 
  • Trainee in a combined M.D./Ph.D or MSc. program  OR 
  • Trainee in the Clinician Investigator Program (CIP) 
Ineligible Applicants:
  • Residents
  • PIs without an M.D.
  • Investigators outside of Ontario
  • Submitted by Queen鈥檚. An internal selection is held to select 2 applicants to submit to PSI.
     
  • Yearly deadline for this award

Submission Process

  1. PI submits a TRAQ DSS. The TRAQ must include a draft of the proposal & budget/budget justification. Hospital-based research projects must be submitted 15 business days before the PI intends to submit their grant to PSI. Non-hospital-based projects must be submitted 5 business days in advance of submitting to PSI. Please note: A TRAQ DSS is only required for Resident Research Grants upon receiving a Notice of Award from PSI. 
     
  2. PI collects signatures from co-applicants, Department Head, and Vice Dean Research on the PSI signature page, and then contacts a Research Projects Advisor to obtain the sign-off from University Research Services as the 鈥淕rant Administrator of Sponsoring Research鈥.  
     
  3. PI submits the finalized PSI application via the .

Additional Resources 

  • 鈥 FAQ lists: For Applicants, Applicant Procedures, For Grantees

Completing the TRAQ DSS Form for Hospital-Based Research

Completing the TRAQ DSS Form for Research that is not Hospital-Based

  •  - Step-by-step instructions on how to complete the TRAQ DSS Form for research that is not hospital-based

Contact Information

Jennifer Robinson, Ph.D.
Research Projects Advisor (Health Sciences)
University Research Services / Faculty of Health Sciences

Phone: 613-533-6000 ext. 32944
Email:  j.robinson@queensu.ca