Deadline: 22-Jul-2026
The HRF Health System Solutions Grant Program 2026 funds applied health system research in Canada to improve patient access to innovative medicines and strengthen care pathways. It offers Tier 1 grants up to $50,000 (6–12 months) and Tier 2 grants up to $250,000 (18–24 months) for projects that improve system efficiency, reduce delays, and support real-world implementation across healthcare systems.
What is the HRF Health System Solutions Grant Program?
The Health Research Foundation (HRF) Health System Solutions Grant Program 2026 is a Canadian funding initiative that supports applied, implementation-focused research.
It aims to improve how patients:
- Access innovative medicines
- Navigate care pathways
- Receive referrals and coordinated care
- Benefit from efficient health system processes
The program focuses on turning health system challenges into practical, scalable solutions.
Core Purpose and Strategic Vision
The program addresses real-world inefficiencies in healthcare systems.
Key Goals:
- Improve patient access to innovative treatments
- Reduce delays in care delivery
- Strengthen coordination across healthcare systems
- Improve implementation of health innovations
- Enhance system performance and efficiency
- Generate actionable evidence for decision-makers
Program Focus Areas (Two Core Pillars)
The funding is structured around two major system-level pillars.
Pillar 1: Patient Journey and Care Pathways
Focuses on improving how patients move through the healthcare system.
Key areas include:
- Referral processes and care coordination
- Patient navigation and treatment access
- System capacity and readiness
- Care pathway design and optimization
- Real-world treatment outcomes
- Implementation barriers in healthcare delivery
Pillar 2: System Performance and Access to Medicines
Focuses on improving regulatory and reimbursement systems.
Key areas include:
- Health technology assessment (HTA) processes
- Drug pricing and reimbursement systems
- Funding and coverage pathways
- System fragmentation and inefficiencies
- Delays in approval and access
- Policy coherence and system alignment
Funding Overview
The program offers two funding tiers based on project scale and complexity.
Tier 1: Early-Stage or Feasibility Projects
- Funding: Up to $50,000
- Duration: 6–12 months
- Purpose:
- Pilot studies
- Feasibility testing
- Early innovation development
- Small-scale implementation research
Tier 2: Large-Scale System Solutions
- Funding: Up to $250,000
- Duration: 18–24 months
- Purpose:
- Multi-site or multi-jurisdiction studies
- Complex system-level interventions
- Scalable implementation solutions
- Cross-organizational collaboration projects
What the Program Supports
The HRF program supports applied and implementation research that can be directly used in healthcare systems.
Supported Activities:
- Development of healthcare system solutions
- Testing of new care pathway models
- Evaluation of referral and coordination systems
- Health technology implementation studies
- Policy and reimbursement system analysis
- Digital health and system efficiency tools
- Real-world evidence generation
Core Requirement:
Projects must move beyond theory and focus on practical, implementable solutions.
Who is Eligible?
The program is open to a wide range of organizations working in health systems.
Eligible Applicants:
- Academic and research institutions
- Healthcare providers and system organizations
- Hospitals and clinical networks
- Not-for-profit organizations
- Community-based organizations
Key Requirement:
- Must include active health system partners
- Must demonstrate real-world implementation potential
- Must show relevance beyond a single institution (preferred)
Collaboration Requirements
The program strongly emphasizes multi-stakeholder collaboration.
Required or Encouraged Partners:
- Patients and patient groups
- Caregivers
- Clinicians and healthcare professionals
- Health system administrators
- Researchers and academic teams
- Policy and system decision-makers
Collaboration Goals:
- Improve implementation success
- Ensure real-world applicability
- Strengthen scalability and adoption potential
- Increase system-wide impact
Key Project Expectations
All funded projects must demonstrate:
Implementation Focus:
- Clear pathway to real-world adoption
- Practical application of findings
- System-level relevance
Scalability:
- Potential for expansion across regions or systems
- Transferability beyond a single site
Actionable Evidence:
- Results usable by health system leaders
- Data that informs operational decisions
- Evidence linked to patient outcomes
How the Program Works
Step 1: Identify Health System Challenge
Applicants define a real-world access or system problem.
Step 2: Build Collaborative Team
Include health system partners and stakeholders.
Step 3: Choose Funding Tier
- Tier 1 for early-stage or feasibility work
- Tier 2 for large-scale implementation research
Step 4: Develop Proposal
Submit:
- Research plan
- Implementation strategy
- Stakeholder engagement plan
- Budget and timeline
Step 5: Evaluation Process
Applications are reviewed for:
- System relevance
- Innovation and feasibility
- Collaboration strength
- Implementation readiness
Step 6: Funding Decision
Selected projects receive funding for execution.
Key Selection Criteria
Applications are assessed based on:
System Impact:
- Improvement in patient access
- Reduction in delays or inefficiencies
- Strengthening of care pathways
Innovation:
- Novel solutions to system challenges
- Use of technology or new models
- Practical applicability
Implementation Strength:
- Clear real-world adoption pathway
- Feasibility within healthcare systems
- Scalability potential
Collaboration:
- Strength of stakeholder engagement
- Inclusion of system partners
- Multi-sector participation
Why This Program Matters
The HRF Health System Solutions Grant Program strengthens healthcare systems by:
- Improving patient access to medicines
- Reducing systemic delays and inefficiencies
- Strengthening care coordination
- Supporting evidence-based health system reform
- Enhancing implementation of health innovations
- Generating actionable, real-world evidence
- Improving overall patient outcomes in Canada
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Submitting purely theoretical research without implementation plan
- Weak or missing health system partner involvement
- No clear pathway to real-world adoption
- Poor definition of care pathway problem
- Overly academic focus without system impact
- Lack of scalability or transferability
- Budget not aligned with tier structure
Key Concepts Explained
Health Technology Assessment (HTA)
A structured evaluation of medical technologies for effectiveness, safety, and cost-effectiveness.
Care Pathway
The structured journey a patient follows through healthcare services.
Implementation Research
Research focused on applying proven interventions in real-world settings.
Real-World Evidence
Data generated from actual clinical practice rather than controlled trials.
System Fragmentation
Breakdowns in coordination across healthcare services and providers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What is the HRF Health System Solutions Grant Program?
It is a Canadian funding program supporting applied research to improve healthcare access and system performance.
2. What is the funding amount available?
- Tier 1: up to $50,000
- Tier 2: up to $250,000
3. How long are the projects?
- Tier 1: 6–12 months
- Tier 2: 18–24 months
4. Who can apply?
Academic institutions, healthcare providers, nonprofits, and community organizations.
5. What is the main goal of the program?
To improve patient access to care and innovative medicines through practical system solutions.
6. Is collaboration required?
Yes, active health system partner involvement is required.
7. What kind of research is funded?
Applied, implementation-focused research with real-world healthcare impact.
Conclusion
The HRF Health System Solutions Grant Program 2026 is a targeted Canadian funding initiative that supports practical, implementation-driven health system research. By funding scalable solutions that improve care pathways, reduce delays, and enhance access to innovative medicines, the program strengthens healthcare system performance and delivers measurable benefits to patients across Canada.
For more information, visit Health Research Foundation.
