Overview
Where CIHR stands on contributorship and open research
CIHR Open Access Policy and the tri-agency framework defer to journal practice on contributorship. CRediT is referenced in CIHR team-grant FAQs but is not mandated in formal policy text. Most CIHR-funded biomedical publications nonetheless carry CRediT statements because the journal layer already requires them.
CRediT status: Encouraged - Guidance or programme calls reference CRediT, but formal policy text is silent.
Open access
Tri-Agency Open Access Policy on Publications (CIHR, NSERC, SSHRC)
Peer-reviewed publications resulting from CIHR funding must be freely accessible within 12 months of publication, either through deposit in PubMed Central / PubMed Central Canada or through publication in an open-access journal. The tri-agency policy is under review and a stricter immediate-OA position is anticipated.
Research data management
Data sharing requirements
Tri-Agency Research Data Management Policy (effective 2023).
Submission and reporting
How CIHR researchers apply and report
| Primary submission system | ResearchNet (CIHR application platform); CCV (Canadian Common CV) for biographical sketches |
| Biosketch / CV format | Canadian Common CV (CCV) - tri-agency standardised format |
| Reporting cycle | CIHR Final Report; tri-agency annual financial reports |
CIHR applicants submit through ResearchNet and must use the Canadian Common CV (CCV) - the standardised biosketch format shared across the three federal granting agencies. A Data Management Plan is required under the tri-agency RDM policy effective 2023; institutional RDM strategies must also be in place. ORCID is recommended and integrates with the CCV. For clinical trials, CIHR requires prospective registration on a WHO-recognised registry. Patient and community engagement (the CIHR Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research, SPOR) is encouraged across all CIHR-funded health research.
Contributorship guidance
How CIHR handles contributor attribution
CIHR defers to journal practice for contributorship on publications. CIHR team-grant guidance references CRediT informally as accepted practice for multi-PI authorship attribution.
For authors
Publishing from CIHR funding
When publishing from CIHR funding, deposit the accepted manuscript in PubMed Central, PubMed Central Canada, or an institutional repository within 12 months of publication; immediate deposit is encouraged. Acknowledge CIHR using the standard funding-acknowledgement format that names the operating grant or programme. Include a CRediT statement at the publisher's request. For data-generating studies, ensure your Data Management Plan is implemented and data deposited in a recognised repository. For clinical trials, the trial registration number must appear in the manuscript. Update your Canadian Common CV with the publication for future tri-agency applications.
For general CRediT submission guidance across publishers, see CRediT for authors.
Notable initiatives
CIHR programmes and infrastructure
- Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR)
- 13 CIHR Institutes
- Brain Canada partnership
- Pan-Canadian Health Data Strategy
Notes
Caveats and context
The Canadian tri-agency framework is moving incrementally toward harder OA and RDM requirements; researchers should expect tightening over the next two to three application cycles.
Frequently asked
Common questions about CIHR
- Does CIHR require CRediT?
- CIHR does not require CRediT at the policy-text level, but guidance and programme materials reference it. CIHR Open Access Policy and the tri-agency framework defer to journal practice on contributorship. CRediT is referenced in CIHR team-grant FAQs but is not mandated in formal policy text. Most CIHR-funded biomedical publications nonetheless carry CRediT statements because the journal layer already requires them.
- What is CIHR's open access policy?
- Tri-Agency Open Access Policy on Publications (CIHR, NSERC, SSHRC). Peer-reviewed publications resulting from CIHR funding must be freely accessible within 12 months of publication, either through deposit in PubMed Central / PubMed Central Canada or through publication in an open-access journal. The tri-agency policy is under review and a stricter immediate-OA position is anticipated.
- How do I report contributorship to CIHR?
- CIHR defers to journal practice for contributorship on publications. CIHR team-grant guidance references CRediT informally as accepted practice for multi-PI authorship attribution.
- Where do I submit a CIHR application?
- CIHR applications are submitted through ResearchNet (CIHR application platform); CCV (Canadian Common CV) for biographical sketches. CIHR applicants submit through ResearchNet and must use the Canadian Common CV (CCV) - the standardised biosketch format shared across the three federal granting agencies. A Data Management Plan is required under the tri-agency RDM policy effective 2023; institutional RDM strategies must also be in place. ORCID is recommended and integrates with the CCV. For clinical trials, CIHR requires prospective registration on a WHO-recognised registry. Patient and community engagement (the CIHR Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research, SPOR) is encouraged across all CIHR-funded health research.
- What is CIHR's data sharing requirement?
- Tri-Agency Research Data Management Policy (effective 2023). Researchers should follow the data-management plan submitted with the application and deposit data in a recognised repository where appropriate.
References
Sources
- Tri-Agency Open Access Policy on Publications
- Tri-Agency Research Data Management Policy
- CIHR Guidelines for Health Research Involving Indigenous People
