Clinical Research Scholars (CC) 2025-2026

1. OBJECTIVES

This program aims to facilitate the recruitment of qualified clinical researchers who wish to undertake or pursue an independent career in human health research. In this way, the FRQS aims to promote continuity in health research activities in Quebec and ensure the availability of a high-calibre scientific workforce tailored to the needs of the university, hospital and industrial sectors.

Candidates are clinical researchers who hold a professional university degree in human health, and who carry out their research activities on a part-time basis (at least 50% of their professional activities).

The program is divided into four research areas, and applicants must submit their application in one of them:

Basic science

This area includes the basic biological mechanisms of health at the molecular, cellular, tissue and integrative levels, including all research that uses intact animal organisms or their cellular components, cell lines, or human cells and tissues. Research that involves the participation of human subjects is included under this heading as long as it involves basic mechanisms.

Clinical and epidemiological science

In general, this area includes all biological, medical and epidemiological research that involves the participation of human subjects.

Health and society

This area includes research on individual, social and cultural factors and interactions among them that are linked to health status or behaviors. There are many social and cultural factors that are relevant to health: the organization and provision of health care, social and health-care policy, education, economics and employment, the media, ethical issues, the environment in which we live, and so on.

Health and technologies

The health and technologies research area focuses on research whose main objective is to create, develop or evaluate innovative technologies applicable to human health such as biomaterials, biomechanics, tissue engineering, biomedical imaging, artificial intelligence, nanomedicine, nanotechnologies, regenerative medicine, electrophysiology, radiobiology, telemedicine and health information sciences, rehabilitation engineering, etc. Please note that projects using new technologies to meet other objectives should be submitted to the other research areas, according to the objectives and the corresponding methodologies.

It is possible to combine two research areas; for example, basic science and clinical and epidemiological science may intersect in research projects that involve human subjects.

After reviewing the Notices of Intent, the FRQS may ask that an applicant redirect his or her application to the research area in which the Review Committee possesses the most appropriate expertise for reviewing the file. In doubt, applicants are invited to contact the FRQS.

2. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Applicants must meet the following requirements :

• hold a professional university degree in health sciences at the doctoral level (MD, DDS, etc.), a valid license to practice, and at least two continuous years of additional research training, with at least 50% of time devoted to research. The license must remain valid throughout the duration of the award.
• be employed by a managing institution and reside in Quebec at the inception of the award. The managing institution must confirm, each award year, that the person is employed continuously (including the maintenance of appropriate visas, if applicable).
• meet the criteria relating to research status “University clinician researcher” (see the Definition section of the Common General Rules).
• devote at least 50% of their working hours to research while carrying on clinical activities at a level satisfactory to the FRQS (at least 25%).
• Meet the definition of clinical researcher (see Definitions section of the CGR) for clinical researchers.
• Be employed by a managing establishment in the network of the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (MSSS) du Québec at the start of the fellowship. The managing establishment must confirm that the person is employed for the entire duration of the fellowship (including maintenance of appropriate visas, where applicable).
• Be authorized by the clinical director and research director of a FRQS-recognized institution to carry out research activities.
• Obtain the university approval requested by the FRQS. This approval is made in the institutional portal by a deadline set by the university, which precedes the FRQS deadline (see Application for funding).
• Obtain a commitment from the university of affiliation to appoint the candidate to an academic title as soon as the fellowship begins.
• Comply with the provisions of the Quebec Health Insurance Act (section XII, articles 95 to 104) concerning the granting of research scholarships, in particular article 96.

“No one shall be entitled to a research scholarship if, in the opinion of the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Santé under the Act respecting the Ministère du Développement économique, de l’Innovation et de l’Exportation.” (chapter M-30.01):

• He/she is not domiciled in Québec;
• He/she does not have a working knowledge of the official language of Québec;
• He/she is not pursuing, for a university body or for an institution, research in connection with one of the health sciences.”

Health-care professionals who hold a valid license to practice in Québec and spend at least 75% or more on their working hours on research may apply for the following program: Research Scholars – Junior 1 and Junior 2, Senior.

Candidates may apply:

• A maximum of three times within the four years during which they are classified as Junior 1 (0 to 3 years’ experience).
• A maximum of two times within the four years during which they are classified as Junior 2 (4 to 7 years’ experience).
• A maximum of two times within the four years during which they are classified as Senior (8 to 11 years’ experience). See the Research experience section.

The following individuals are not eligible :

• Directors or associate scientific directors of research centres funded by the FRQS or senior managers in university-level teaching institutions (unless permission in writing has been obtained from the FRQS)
• Holders of a scholarship with a remaining period of more than 12 months at the end of the current competition
• Holders of a Canada Research Chair

3. FUNDING APPLICATION

The procedure for submitting applications is described in section 3.2 of the RGC.

Applications are submitted in two separate, mandatory phases :

1. transmission of the pre-application

2. submission of the funding application

To complete a pre-application or funding request, you must first create an FRQnet user account on the Fund’s website, if you have not already done so.

The only font accepted is Times New Roman, size 12 (on the website, a light bulb would be added).

Regarding the language of forms and documents submitted, please refer to article 3.6 of the GCRs.

Important : It is the applicant’s responsibility to duly complete the pre-application form and submit it to the FRQS by the deadline set by his or her institution (university), which precedes the FRQS submission date, in order to obtain university approval. This automatically triggers transmission of the form to the FRQS. Specific instructions are provided in the pre-application and application forms.

Pre-application

The pre-application stage enables applicants to obtain university approval. For the FRQS, the purpose of the pre-application stage is to establish the applicant’s eligibility, and to verify the type of program and component chosen by the applicant, to classify him or her appropriately according to his or her research experience. It is also used to gather the information needed to set up the peer review committees responsible for evaluating applications. Please note that no scientific evaluation is based on this pre-application.

Research experience

The FRQS will classify the applicants as a Junior 1, Junior 2 or Senior Clinical Researcher and will notify them of their classification. On receiving such notice, applicants have 7 business days to request a review of their classification, specifying the reasons for the claim.

Classification is based on a given reference year as of which applicants demonstrate their capacity for independent research. As defined by the FRQS, this capacity is demonstrated or should have been demonstrated:

• At the time when an application for the Junior 1 Clinical Research Scholars or the Career Transition award National Institute of Health NIH-FRQS (Phase 2) is filed;
• When applicants obtain a career award comparable to a Junior 1 Research Scholar award or a grant awarded by an organization recognized by the FRQS for a project in which they were the principal investigator;
• Or, at the latest, 6 years after obtaining the last university degree (Ph.D., MD, M.Sc., D.D.S., ), or after certification as a medical specialist (C.S.P.Q., FRCPC or any other clinical fellowship)

When one of these conditions is met, applicants are classified Junior 1 with 0 years of experience, and, as of this point, the number of years of experience is updated annually. Applicants with 4 to 7 years’ experience are classified Junior 2, and those with 8 to 11 years’ experience are classified Senior. For the FRQS, each year of experience is calculated on July 1st, at the effective starting date of the award.

Once the counting of years of experience has started, there is no going back. However, during the calculation of the number of years of experience, the FRQS does consider particular situations that may cause applicants to temporarily put their research on hold (e.g. parental leave, sick leaves, professional activities not involving research: clinical, treatment, management, etc.) and may subtract such years when counting years of experience.

For more information, please consult the document Calculation of research experience and particular situations, available in the Toolbox.

As soon as one of these conditions is met, the applicant is classified as Junior 1 with 0 years of experience, and the years of experience count is then updated annually. Applicants with 4 to 7 years’ experience are classified as Junior 2, and those with 8 to 11 years’ experience are classified as Senior. For the FRQS, the year of experience is calculated at the time the scholarship takes effect (July 1).

Once the calculation of years of experience begins, there is no going back. However, when calculating years of experience, the FRQS considers special situations that have caused a candidate to interrupt his/her research temporarily (parental leave, sick leave, disability and family obligations, professional activities with no research content: clinical, care, management, etc.) and excludes these years from the years of experience count.

For further information, please refer to the document Calculation of research experience and special situations available in the Toolbox.

The pre-application form available in the FRQnet electronic Portfolio under the heading “Available competitions”, must be sent before August 22nd, at 4 pm.

The following documents must be attached to the pre-application form, where indicated :

• Canadian Common CV version of the FRQS Funding CV – updated within the last year of the competition end date
• detailed contributions updated within the last year of the competition closing date (to be attached to the FRQS e-Portfolio on the Canadian Common CV page); see Guidelines for detailed contributions and the Canadian Common CV in the Toolbox.
• PDF copies of the candidate’s qualifying degrees (Ph.D., M.D., D.D.S., etc.), except for those already FRQS clinical fellows.
• copy of most recent specialist certificate (C.S.P.Q., FRCPC, etc.) and second degree (M.Sc.), if applicable

The FRQS will confirm by e-mail whether applicants can submit a full application in September.

Full application

The funding application form will be available in the FRQnet electronic portfolio, under “Available competitions”, in September, according to the date indicated in the e-mail.

In addition to the application form, the following documents are required :

• Canadian Common CV version of the FRQS funding CV – updated within the last year of the competition closing date
• Detailed contributions updated within the last year of the competition end date (to be attached to the FRQS e-Portfolio on the Canadian Common CV page), see Instructions for detailed contributions and the Canadian Common CV for career researchers in the Toolbox.
• Copies of awards and grants received in the last 5 years, except for FRQS awards and grants.

Directors of university research centers or departments

Electronic form

Two respondents (for Junior 1 applicants only)

Electronic form to be completed by each respondent including a letter of recommendation. The respondents must be familiar with the applicant’s works. One of them must have been involved in the applicant’s most recent research training.

The application will be rejected if one of the two respondents is missing.

Under no circumstances may the applicant create an account in the name of another person (respondent, manager, etc.) to submit documents him/herself. In this case, the applicant will be considered ineligible.

Mentor (For Junior 1 applicants only)

Electronic form including the applicant’s mentorship plan. The letter must include the mentorship plan for the first fellowship year, and a 4-year perspective (maximum 2 pages). The plan should detail the support offered by an experienced researcher in terms of preparing applications, planning and carrying out the research program or any other aspect of the candidate’s career.

Resubmission

In the case of a resubmission in the same category, the applicant must indicate this on the application form and answer any questions from previous reviewers. The application will be rejected if the resubmission is not indicated.

Applicants will be notified by e-mail, no later than November, whether their application has been accepted for peer review.

4. EVALUATION

Procedure

All applications are reviewed:

• by peer review committees whose members represent the various disciplines and methodologies of health research
• according to research focus (fundamental, clinical and epidemiological, health and society or health and technology) and research experience (Junior 1, Junior 2 or Senior)

The FRQS has set up 4 evaluation committees for clinical fellows:

• Committee 1 – Clinical and epidemiological component; health and society component: Junior 1
• Committee 2 – Clinical and epidemiological component; health and society component: Junior 2 and Senior
• Committee 3 – Fundamentals: Junior 1, Junior 2 and Senior
• Committee 4 – Health and technology: Junior 1, Junior 2 and Senior

Criteria

In addition to the specific evaluation criteria, the candidate must demonstrate the ability or potential :

• be a nationally and internationally competitive clinical researcher
• collaborate with clinical researchers from other disciplines

The criteria are used according to the field of research, and their relative weight in the overall evaluation by the peer review committees varies according to classification as Junior 1, Junior 2 or Senior:

• the evaluation of the applicant’s research training and proposed research program is relatively more important at the Junior 1 level
• the evaluation of the candidate’s outreach and productivity in terms of training students and obtaining grants becomes increasingly important at the Junior 2 and Senior levels

The evaluation criteria specific to each level are detailed in the Junior 1, Junior 2 and Senior grids (see Toolbox).

5. AWARDS AND FOLLOW-UP

Effective date : July 1 to October 1, 2025

The salary range for the clinical researcher-fellow is determined by the Quebec government and published in Section XVI, Article 52 of the Quebec Health Insurance Act regulations, from $18,005 to $53,082, including 12% fringe benefits, depending on years of experience.

The amount of the bursary must be used exclusively as a salary for the recipient and may not, under any circumstances, be converted into research funds.

Junior 1 : 4 years for all applicants

The duration of the Junior 1 fellowship will be four years, regardless of the level of experience calculated at the time the candidate is awarded the fellowship. At the end of the four years of Junior 1 scholarship, the candidate’s experience will be nominally set at Junior 2 level, with 4 years of research experience, and the years of experience will be updated annually from this new reference year.

Junior 2: 4 years maximum, depending on years of experience

At the Junior 2 level, the duration of the scholarship is a maximum of four years, decreasing with increasing years of experience. For example, the duration of a Junior 2 scholarship will be four years if the classification is at the level of 4 years’ experience, three years for 5 years’ experience, two years for 6 years’ experience and one year at the Junior 2 level (with a second year brought forward to the Senior level) for a person who obtains the scholarship with 7 years’ experience.

Senior: 4 years maximum depending on years of experience

For the Senior category, the FRQS is committed to remunerating the award holder on a decreasing basis, as indicated below. The purpose of this policy is to ensure that the host establishment is committed to supplementing the grant-holder’s remuneration and integrating him or her into its ranks.

8 years of experience      100 %
9 years of experience      100 %
10 years of experience       75 %
11 years of experience       50 %

The conditions governing the announcement and management of grants are set out in the RGC (parental leave, sick leave, accumulation of grants, various reports: sections 5 to 8).

Sabbatical leave

Award recipients will receive their full stipend during a sabbatical year as long as they meet the following requirements :

• Be a Senior or Junior 2 clinical researcher-scholar who has completed 6 years of experience according to the FRQS classification. Exceptionally, Junior 1, Junior 2 – 4 years and Junior 2 – 5 years may also benefit from this sabbatical leave
• Send the FRQS a request for a sabbatical of up to 12 months, at least 3 months before the leave, as well as the description of the complementary training program, or of the activities that will help advance the awardees research project
• The FRQS must give his written approval of the program at least 60 days before the starting date of the sabbatical
• Send the FRQS a copy of the sabbatical approval signed by the university authorities or by the administrators of the institution where he/she works
• If applicable, send the FRQS official notice that a laboratory has agreed to host the awardee

Starting grant for young clinician investigators – Junior 1

Individuals who apply to the FRQS competition for Junior 1 clinical research scholars will also receive a Starting Grant for young clinician investigators – Junior 1 from the FRQS valued at $15,000/year for four (4) years, non-renewable.

Restriction
When a person receives this Starting Grant but also receives an Starting Grant from another research funding organization, the FRQS will deduct from his or her grant the amount received from the other research funding organization. Grant holders and managers administering grants are jointly responsible for notifying the FRQS of a double award.

Eligible expenses

Expenses directly related to research activities:

• Purchase research material or carry out the research project
• Purchase or rent equipment (only individuals who have not received a Leaders Opportunity Fund grant from the Canada Foundation for Innovation)
• Pay out salaries to technical and clinical research staff
• Take part in conferences (presentations, posters), up to $15,000 for the duration of the Grant

Non-eligible expenses

• Rent or renovate premises, or cover heating or electricity costs, or any other indirect costs related to the research activities for a researcher working in an institution of the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (MSSS) or a Québec university
• Pay student and postdoctoral awards

Unspent funds may be carried forward as described in section 6.10 of the Common General Rules. In addition, any unspent balance at the end of the budget year may be transferred to the following year. Any balance remaining at the end of the grant must be repaid to the FRQS.

University authorities’ agreement

Approval
The university approves applications and assumes the responsibilities listed below jointly with the head of the department with which the applicant is affiliated, and the research centre where the research will be conducted (if applicable).

This approval is done in the Institutions portal at a date that is determined by the university, and which is before the FRQS deadline (see Required Documents section).

Salary supplement

University authorities supporting an application for a Clinical Research Scholar must ensure that the applicant will receive a salary supplement equal to the difference between the award and the remuneration that the individual would receive from the university as a full-time professor, to the satisfaction of the FRQS.

Should the applicant have a mixed affiliation involving a company, the university and the partner must jointly endorse the Clinical Research Scholar’s application.

Under such circumstances, the partners must ensure that the applicant will receive a salary supplement equal to the difference between the award and the remuneration that the applicant would receive from the university, or from the partner as a full-time professor or employee. A protocol of agreement must be signed with the FRQS to cover this partnership.

Confirmation of position – Senior Clinical Research Scholars
For applications in the Senior Clinical Research Scholar competition:

The university must agree to integrate the researcher on completion of the award and offer the applicant a full-time permanent position or a contract position for at least five years after the end of the award (at a salary commensurate with the applicant’s university rank).

Benefits and laboratory or research premises
The awardee must be eligible to join the pension plan and enjoy other benefits available to full-time staff working at the university. These obligations imply that the researcher’s salary will be administered by the university even if he or she works at a research centre.

The host institution agrees to provide the functional laboratory or research premises and basic equipment the awardee requires for research purposes.

Protected time for research
University and host institution administrators must jointly ensure that the awardee is released from his/her administrative, clinical and teaching duties so that he/she may fulfill the obligation to devote at least half (50%) of his/her professional activities to research.

6. EFFECTIVE DATE

These rules apply to fiscal year 2025-2026.

7. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Search location

Choice of research location

• A research center funded by the FRQS, an establishment of the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (MSSS) or a Quebec university.
  • Candidates may carry out their research program outside an establishment in the MSSS network or outside the FRQS network of research centers, provided they are part of a team or laboratory whose health research concerns are recognized by the FRQS.
• An industrial setting
  • An agreement must be signed between the FRQS, the host company and a university, according to terms specific to each candidate. This agreement must enable the candidate to carry out an innovative research program and take on graduate student training activities.

Change of research location

The FRQS expects that, for the entire duration of the award, the grantee will work at the institution or university that endorsed his/her application.

Grant holders wishing to change their place of research must first submit a written request to the FRQS (change request form – see Toolbox). This request must state the reasons for the change and describe any possible consequences on the research program.

Any change to a grant holder’s situation must also be declared in the Manage my funding module of the electronic Portfolio, as specified in section 6.5 of the Common General Rules.

The university authorities must notify the FRQS in writing that they approve the change.

The management of the new research center or university department must then notify the FRQS in writing that it accepts to host the grant holder, and that it will provide him/her with conditions equivalent to those specified in the form submitted by the management of the previous center.

Research ethics training

Basic training in research ethics is mandatory for all FRQS Career Award holders when their research project or program involves human beings.

Research involving human beings involves :

• the participation of human beings
• the use of human biological material (parts, products, tissues, cells, genetic material from the human body, from a living or deceased person)
• assisted procreation activities or the use of embryos derived therefrom, within the meaning of the Act respecting clinical and research activities related to assisted procreation (RLRQ chapter A-5.01)
• the use of administrative, scientific or descriptive data derived from human beings.

This training consists of completing levels 1 and 3 of the online tutorial developed by the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux as a training program in research ethics.

Award holders must have completed this basic training within one year of receiving a positive response from the FRQS concerning their award.

In addition, all career award holders must participate, as an observer, in a meeting of a research ethics board (REC) attached to a university or an establishment in the health and social services network. This participation must take place within two years of the FRQS’s positive response to their grant.

Grant holders must have completed this basic training within one year of receiving a positive response from the FRQS concerning their grant.

In addition, all career award holders must participate, as an observer, in a meeting of a research ethics board (REC) attached to a university or an establishment in the health and social services network. This participation must take place within two years of the FRQS’s positive response to their award.

Important changes since the last competition

Starting with this competition, the format of the program rules has been modified.

SANTÉ DURABLE (in French only)

8. AWARDS IN PARTNERSHIP

The FRQS offers a number of awards in collaboration with partners. The share of funding from the FRQS and the partner may vary according to the agreements in effect.

Eligible applicants are selected through a three-step process :

1. The applicant selects, in the Partnership section of the application form, one or more partners whose targeted research areas correspond to the theme of their application.
2. The FRQS sends to the partners a list of candidates and useful information for them to assess the relevance of the request according to their research priorities and strategy.
3. After evaluation of the applications by a committee of experts or peers, applications having obtained the scientific excellence rating of 70 % and which have been deemed relevant by one or more partners, may receive a partnership award offer.

As with all the awards offered by FRQS, the awards granted in partnership are based on merit following a scientific evaluation by a committee of experts or peers.

Note that by choosing to be considered for an award in partnership, and that you obtain such an award, you agree that the partner communicates with you for activities related to the award.