Reach program

The Michael Smith Health Research BC Reach Program promotes knowledge translation (KT) activities by supporting researchers and research users* in disseminating research evidence through co-developing events, activities and/or tools to “extend the reach” of their work.

This helps teams “reach” audiences who can directly use the knowledge to ultimately improve health and care for British Columbians and their communities. Reach awards also help build KT capacity, experience and skills in BC’s research and health professional trainees.

Researchers who need support to disseminate their research through projects like a social media initiative, patient forum or a learning curriculum should consider applying to the Reach Program.

*Research users might include patients, caregivers, health practitioners, government policy makers, health charities or the public.

New for 2024: Introducing Health Research BC’s priority areas 

Health Research BC has undertaken a priority-setting process to determine where our funding and support can provide increased research attention and impact. This approach aligns with provincial priorities and is empowered by our strategy to build talent, catalyze change for a stronger health research system, and mobilize communities for research impact.

Priority areas have been incorporated into the 2024 Reach competition to help advance these priorities. This additional funding is being made available to support proposals focused in four priority areas: population aging; climate change and health; the health human resources crisis; and public health emergencies.

Details about how this impacts the competition can be found in the guidelines document.

Health Research BC will continue to fund applications from across the full range of health research topics.

Learn more about Health Research BC’s approach to priority-based funding.

New for 2024: The maximum amount for each Reach award has been increased to $20,000.

  • This competition is

    CLOSED

  • Important Dates

  • Applications Open

    April 2024

  • Application deadline (applicant)

    May 13, 2024, 4:30 p.m. PT

  • Application deadline (host institution)

    May 21, 2024, 4:30 p.m. PT

  • Anticipated notice of funding decision

    September, 2024

  • Anticipated start of funding

    October 01, 2024

  • Award Term

    18 months

  • Award Amount

    Up to $20,000

Program details

  • Award term: 18 months (projects must be planned to be completed within 12 months).
  • Supports meaningful collaboration and knowledge sharing between health researchers and research users.
  • Supports the co-development of research questions and processes.
  • Builds knowledge translation (KT) capacity, experience and skills in BC’s research and health professional trainees.

Partnered awards are available for this program!

Learn more

Eligibility

  • Each team must include:
    • A minimum of one researcher and one research user as co-leads.
    • At least one BC research/health professional trainee (e.g. undergraduate, graduate, post-doctoral and/or clinical fellow) as a team member included in a meaningful way to enhance their knowledge translation experience and skills.
  • The researcher co-lead must serve as the primary applicant, be based in BC, and be affiliated with an eligible BC host institution that has a signed memorandum of understanding with Health Research BC (formerly known as MSFHR) to administer award funds.
  • All award funds must be used in BC.

If your intended KT activity is focused on the co-development of a research question or process (i.e. integrated KT activities occurring earlier in the research process), consider applying for our C2 competition.

How to apply

Applications to our funding competitions are coordinated through Health Research BC's ApplyNet, our online grants management system that allows users to manage their entire award lifecycle, from application submission to post-award monitoring.

Log in to ApplyNet:

Applynet
Learn more about Health Research BC's ApplyNet
View the Health Research BC ApplyNet quick start guides

Application resources

2024 Guidelines

Download

2024 Evaluation Criteria

Download

2024 Conditions of Award

Download

Sample PDFs

Full Application

Download

Research Use Co-Lead

Download

Department Head

Download

Webinar

The C2 and Reach webinar will take place on April 10, 2024 at 10 a.m. PST. Register for the webinar.

A recording will be made available after the webinar.