Examples
Worked examples
- Is an instance
A principal investigator self-registers a ResearchNet account, then separately registers a CIHR PIN and links Common CV access, before completing the on-screen tasks for a CIHR Project Grant application ahead of the competition deadline.
- Is an instance
A CIHR Peer Review Committee member logs into their existing ResearchNet account to complete the Confidentiality and Conflict of Interest stage of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Self-Identification Questionnaire before opening the applications assigned to them for review.
Counter-examples
Looks similar, but isn't
- Not an instance
An NSERC or SSHRC applicant preparing their own agency's competition generally does not use ResearchNet for that application -- NSERC and SSHRC route applicants through the Tri-Agency's separate Research Portal, even though all three agencies share the same Common CV format.
- Not an instance
Submitting the Common CV itself is not done inside ResearchNet -- Common CV is a separate, shared Tri-Agency system that a ResearchNet-registered applicant links to, not a module of ResearchNet.
Editorial commentary
Quick answer: ResearchNet is the Canadian Institutes of Health Research’s (CIHR) web-based grants portal — the system where applicants and CIHR Peer Review Committee members complete every task-based step of a CIHR funding application and its review, from account creation through signature-page upload and submission. It is a real, distinct account system from a CIHR PIN and from Canada’s Tri-Agency Common CV, though all three are usually needed together to apply.
What ResearchNet is
ResearchNet (researchnet-recherchenet.ca) is CIHR’s online application and peer-review-administration portal. Unlike NIH’s eRA Commons, which an institutional Signing Official must create on a researcher’s behalf, a ResearchNet account is self-registered: an applicant goes to ResearchNet, selects “Register” from the sign-in box, fills in the online form, and the account is created immediately. CIHR’s own guidance is explicit that a person should hold only one ResearchNet account — if you have ever registered before, do not create a second one.
ResearchNet sits alongside, but is not the same system as, two other CIHR prerequisites for applying:
- A CIHR PIN — a separate personal identifier required to actually apply for CIHR funding. Once a ResearchNet account exists, an applicant either registers for a new CIHR PIN or validates a PIN obtained before the ResearchNet account existed. New-PIN requests are processed Monday to Friday, 7 a.m.-5 p.m. ET, with a confirmation email expected within 24 business hours; CIHR’s contact for PIN issues is 1-888-603-4178 or [email protected].
- Common CV access — Canada’s shared, Tri-Agency-wide CV format (see CASRAI’s Tri-Agency Common CV worked example). CIHR lists Common CV and ResearchNet side by side as the two “related services” a registrant needs.
Who uses it, and for what
Two distinct groups work inside ResearchNet, on the same platform but for different purposes:
- Applicants (principal investigators, co-applicants, and delegated staff) use ResearchNet to complete every task listed for a given funding opportunity — for example CIHR’s Project Grant program (see CASRAI’s CIHR Project Grant writing guide) or Team Grants/Emerging Team Grants. CIHR’s general application process runs entirely inside ResearchNet: complete the on-screen tasks in one of Canada’s official languages, determine which parts of the application need signatures, print the signature pages generated inside ResearchNet, obtain those signatures offline, scan them, and upload the signed pages back into ResearchNet before the competition deadline. CIHR requires that everything in the application package be self-contained — an uploaded document cannot rely on an external hyperlink (for example, to a shared drive) to supply required content.
- CIHR Peer Review Committee members use the same account system to access the applications assigned to them for review. Before a committee member can open assigned applications, CIHR requires them to complete the Confidentiality and Conflict of Interest stage of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Self-Identification Questionnaire inside their ResearchNet account.
Applicants at the full-application stage face the same Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Self-Identification Questionnaire requirement — CIHR recommends completing it as soon as a ResearchNet account exists, rather than waiting for a specific competition to open, since it must be finished by every application participant before submission is possible.
ResearchNet vs. related systems — avoiding the common mix-ups
| System | What it actually is |
|---|---|
| ResearchNet | CIHR’s own application and peer-review portal. Self-registered by the individual. |
| CIHR PIN | A separate identifier, registered or validated after a ResearchNet account exists, required before an application can be submitted. |
| Tri-Agency Common CV (CCV) | A CV format shared across CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC (see Canada’s Tri-Agency Research Funding System) — not a CIHR-specific account system. |
| NSERC/SSHRC application portals | NSERC and SSHRC applicants generally do not use ResearchNet for their own agencies’ competitions — they use the Tri-Agency’s separate Research Portal system, even though CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC applicants all draw on the same Common CV. |
Frequently asked questions
Is ResearchNet the same as the Canadian Common CV?
No. ResearchNet is the CIHR application and review account system; the Common CV is a separate, shared CV format used across CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC applications. CIHR lists them as two related but distinct services a registrant needs.
Do I need a CIHR PIN in addition to a ResearchNet account?
Yes. A ResearchNet account and a CIHR PIN are both required before an application can be submitted — CIHR treats them as two separate registration steps, even though the PIN request is completed from inside a ResearchNet account.
Can I register my own ResearchNet account?
Yes — this is a real difference from some equivalent US systems. An applicant self-registers directly on ResearchNet and the account is created immediately, with no institutional administrator step required first.
Related CASRAI resources
- Writing the CIHR Project Grant Proposal
- The Tri-Agency Narrative CV: Canada’s 2027 Shift Away From the Common CV
- Tri-Agency Common CV (CCV) Worked Example
- Canada’s Tri-Agency Research Funding System: CIHR, NSERC, and SSHRC
- CIHR Postdoctoral Fellowship
Content verified directly against cihr-irsc.gc.ca (Register with CIHR; Team Grants / Emerging Team Grants — ResearchNet “Application” Phase Instructions) on 2026-08-31.
Machine-readable encodings
Use in your systems
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