Aging in the Community Research Initiative

The Aging in the Community Research Initiative is a five-year (2026-2031) strategic research initiative designed to strengthen the evidence base for approaches that support older persons to age safely, independently, and with dignity in the community. The initiative encompasses funding opportunities with targeted investments in evaluation, data analysis, and implementation science, as well as a broader set of complementary strategies, including leveraging strategic priority areas within CIHR programs, knowledge mobilization, and partnerships, to increase the scope of the initiative and drive impact across policy and health and social care systems.

Objectives and Expected Outcomes of the Aging in the Community Research Initiative:

• Produce data to support equitable, sustainable, and scalable community-driven initiatives and innovations.
• Strengthen health system capacity by improving care pathways and ensuring older adults can access community supports, reducing unnecessary institutional care.
• Foster partnerships between academic and community-based organizations to co-create and support more equitable, high-impact, and inclusive programming and innovation.
• Generate evidence to drive meaningful health policy change.

Funding Opportunities

Funding Opportunity	Status	Funding Decision
2027 Summer Program in Aging Trainee Travel Award Theme: Building care and services to support community-dwelling older Canadians	Open
Evaluation Grants Evaluating community-based programs and social innovations that support aging in the community	Closed
Priority Announcement Canada Postdoctoral Research Award 2026-2027 Supporting postdoctoral fellowships that focus on aging in the community and community based innovative health and care programs and services.	Open
ICS Planning and Dissemination Grants Summer 2026 Competition Aging in the community research priority setting/think tank meeting funding pool	Closed
Catalyst Grants: Analysis of CLSA Data Healthy aging and functional ability in aging funding pool	Closed	Results
Summer Program on Aging Host Competition 2027 Theme: Building care and services to support community-dwelling older Canadians	Closed	Results
ICS Planning and Dissemination Grants Winter 2026 Healthy aging and functional ability in aging funding pool	Closed

Partnerships

The Aging in the Community Research Initiative is led by the CIHR's Institute of Aging and made successful through partnership with other CIHR Institutes and a variety of organizations. We would like to thank our partners for their generous support and involvement in this exciting initiative.

• Canadian Institute for Military and Veterans Research (CIMVHR)
• HelpAge Canada
• Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health
• Institute of Health Services and Policy Research
• Institute of Indigenous Peoples' Health
• Institute of Neuroscience, Mental Health and Addictions
• Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis