BHI Scholarship Program

The Brain-Heart Interconnectome (BHI) is a transformative research initiative targeting the leading causes of complications arising from interconnections of the brain and heart. The initiative is led by the University of Ottawa in collaboration with its affiliated research institutes - Bruyère Health Research Institute, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Institut Savoir Monfort, The Royal’s Institute for Mental Health Research, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, University of Ottawa Brain & Mind Research Institute – and institutional partners McGill University/McGill University Health Centre and University of Saskatchewan.

BHI represents a paradigm shift grounded in the understanding that the brain–heart axis operates as an integrated system, and disruptions within the system can lead to wide range of conditions that impair function, reduce quality of life, and increase hospitalization and mortality. Also fundamental to the BHI is an understanding that there are marked inequities in the risk, prevalence, and treatment of brain-heart conditions, with higher risk and worse outcomes for women, Indigenous and ethnic, and rural communities 

As a mission driven research initiative, the interdisciplinary research, cross-cutting enablers, infrastructure, capacity building and other elements of the BHI work synergistically to achieve the following long-term outcomes:

• reduced incidence of co-occurring brain-heart conditions;  
• better patient experience for those with brain-heart conditions;
• better tools and experience for health care providers addressing brain-heart conditions;
• economic benefits through reduced costs and new investments; and improved health equity 

The development and launch of the BHI Scholarships, Fellowships and Training Program are critical components of BHI’s strategy. Since its inception, BHI has funded 83 training awards aligned with its foundations and themes. These awards have supported 11 undergraduate interns, 18 master’s students, 28 doctoral students, and 26postdoctoral fellows, for a total investment of $3.08 million.

Building on this momentum, BHI will launch its second round of competitive training award programs in June 2026, to support a new cohort of trainees. These efforts are central to strengthening Canada’s capacity for innovative, interdisciplinary research and advancing a more inclusive scientific culture. 

Please see the BHI website for further information on the BHI, its scientific pillars, and cross-cutting enablers. 

Mandatory 

• Applicants must be accepted to or enrolled in a master’s or doctoral program at the University of Ottawa, McGill University, the University of Saskatchewan or the University of Waterloo.
• The proposed research project must use or study an interdisciplinary approach to study the interconnection between brain and heart health.
• The applicant must have a primary supervisor who is a core academic member of the BHI.
• Applicants must be Canadian or international students with a valid study visa.

Highly encouraged: 

• Applications from individuals who identify as Indigenous or as members of equity-deserving groups — including racialized individuals, African, Caribbean and Black communities, persons with disabilities, women and 2SLGBTQIA+ persons.
• A co-supervisor or mentor for students with expertise in a distinct scientific discipline from that of the primary supervisor (e.g., experts in health sciences and social sciences, in medicine and economics, in neuroscience and cardiology). The co-supervisor or mentor can be from a different institution involved in the BHI research program. 

Limitations:

• Applicants cannot concurrently hold any other scholarship or award whose total value exceeds 50% of the amount offered by the BHI Scholarship Program. This obligation is ongoing throughout the full duration of the scholarship. Students who, at any point during the program, receive additional funding that causes their total external support to exceed 50% of the BHI scholarship amount have the duty to promptly inform BHI in writing. 
• Trainees receiving funding through a BHI grant (e.g., Baseline or Exploration Projects) are eligible to apply for BHI scholarships, but must declare this information on the application form. If such trainees receive a BHI scholarship, they are no longer eligible for funding through the BHI grant.
• BHI scholarship holders are encouraged to apply for competitive external awards (e.g., HSF, Tri-Agency Canada Graduate Scholarships). This is mandatory for BHI doctoral-level scholarship recipients in the first three years of their program. 
• If trainees receive an external award, they must inform BHI of this. Trainees funded through other sources will continue to be part of the BHI network and Training Program.

All applications submitted to the BHI Scholarship Program will undergo a structured two-step review process designed to ensure fairness, impartiality, transparency and alignment with the program’s strategic objectives:

1. Administrative review
   Conducted by the BHI administrative team to confirm that applications are complete and that applicants meet all eligibility requirements for program funding.
2. Peer review
   Eligible applications will be evaluated by an interdisciplinary peer review panel. The panel will assess applications based on the following criteria:

i) Research potential

• Quality of research proposal: specific, focused and feasible research question(s) and/or objectives; clear description and soundness of proposed methodology.
• Research approach: development and/or application of methodologies that promote co-production to advance brain-heart research (e.g., activities to co-design/conduct research with patients/community; research publications, training and mentorship).
• Relevance of research contributions to BHI’s mandate and strategic objectives: significance of and expected contributions of research to interdisciplinary brain-heart science; appropriate integration or consideration of the BHI cross-cutting enablers(IDEAS, co-production and knowledge mobilization, open science, Indigenous engagement, patient engagement, commercialization) into research project.

ii) Experience and achievements

• Relevant learning including academic education, lived or living experience, and traditional teachings.
• Professional, academic and extracurricular activities and collaborations (e.g., with supervisors, colleagues, peers, students, community members).
• Academic record, awards and distinctions.

iii) Training environment and support

• Demonstration that the research environment will foster and enable a truly interdisciplinary and inclusive approach to brain-heart research.
• Documented commitment of the proposed supervisor(s) and mentor(s) (if applicable) to support the applicant through the provision of a research environment (e.g., lab facilities, equipment, networks, etc.), relevant training, and supportive mentorship that enable them to conduct their research in line with the BHI cross-cutting enablers.  

Final funding decisions will be made by the BHI Executive Committee based on peer review scores, strategic alignment and available funding, including matched funding from partner institutions. In cases where multiple excellent applicants have similar scores and funds are limited, the Executive Committee may balance distribution based on factors such as research institution, research disciplines and/or BHI scientific pillars. 

BHI also reserves the discretion to prioritize and fund projects that demonstrate stronger relevance and clearer alignment with the BHI mandate and strategic priorities.

• All applicants will be notified by email of the results of the competition and successful principal applicants will be sent a notice of award. Applicants and their institutions are required to ensure all relevant institutional and Tri-Agency guidelines and policies are followed.
• Before the release of funds, applicants must complete the mandatory training requirements for BHI core trainee members. 
• Successful applicants will be expected to:
• Acknowledge BHI support in all research outputs (e.g., presentations, publications).
• Submit a final report at the end of the funding period to support BHI’s reporting obligations to CFREF and to help monitor the performance and impact of the initiative. Further details on reporting requirements and timelines will be provided by the BHI Secretariat following notification of the award.
• Actively participate in BHI training activities, including the annual IDEAS event, the State of the Science Summit and other BHI-organized events.
• Apply for external scholarship opportunities to complement BHI support and enhance their research training.
• Complete the Count Me In self-identification questionnaire, which is mandatory before the release of any funding.

• Prior to preparing the application, applicants must discuss their proposed project with their supervisor (who must be a core academic member of the BHI) to ensure it is aligned with the BHI mission. They are encouraged to also discuss the proposed project with BHI foundation and theme leads.
• Applicants must complete the online application form (including attachments) by July 26, 2026. 
• Applicants are encouraged to review the resources available on the BHI website related to the BHI cross-cutting themes, including, for example, Indigenous engagement; co-production and knowledge mobilization; patient engagement; and inclusion, diversity, equity, accessibility and social justice (IDEAS) and incorporate respective principles into their application.

The online application form will include the following sections:

• Project details (e.g., title, applicant, supervisors, keywords)
• Plain language summary (maximum 150 words) Applicants must clearly explain the purpose of their research project, how it is relevant to brain–heart health and aligned with the BHI mandate (maximum 150 words).
• Description of the project (maximum 2,000 words) including:
  • Purpose, objectives and research questions
  • Background and rationale
  • Research methods to address research questions and objectives. 
  • How inclusion, diversity, equity, accessibility and social justice (IDEAS) and the other BHI cross-cutting enablers are incorporated into the research project.
• Career interests and relevance to brain-heart health (maximum 500 words): Describe your research interests and career aspirations, within and/or beyond academia, and how they relate to brain-heart health and the BHI mandate. Comment on your interest in and commitment to participating in the BHI Training Program.  

Include the following items as attachments with your application: 

• Research proposal attachments: essential tables or figures and reference list 
• OPTIONAL: Explanation of leave, interruption and/or other personal circumstances (maximum 250 words) 
• CV: Provide a brief CV (five pages or less) for the applicant (preferred format is the new Tri-Agency CV template) 
•  Letter of support – primary supervisor (maximum two pages). The letter from the primary supervisor is a critical component of the application and must provide a comprehensive and detailed account of the support that will be provided to the applicant throughout the duration of the BHI scholarship. 

The letter must address the following elements: 

1. Interdisciplinary nature of supervision 
2. Clearly describe how the applicant’s research project reflects an interdisciplinary approach relevant to brain-heart health. 
3. Identify any co-supervisors, collaborators or cross-disciplinary mentors involved in the trainee’s supervision and explain how this interdisciplinary team will support the trainee’s development. 
4. Mentorship plan 
5. Describe how the supervisor will guide the trainee’s academic, professional and career development. 
6. Indicate how the supervisor will support the trainee in achieving key milestones and navigating interdisciplinary research challenges. 
7. Training environment 
8. Describe the research environment and how it is conducive to high-quality interdisciplinary training. 
9. Highlight relevant institutional resources (e.g., research centres, labs, interdisciplinary groups, partnerships with hospitals or communities) that the trainee will be part of. 
10. Supervisor’s commitment 
11. Clearly demonstrate the supervisor’s commitment to supporting the trainee’s success and active engagement in the BHI Training Program. 
12. Discuss plans to encourage applicant participation in core BHI activities, such as the IDEAS event, and other relevant BHI opportunities. 
13. Resources and support 
14. Provide specific details about the resources that will be made available to the trainee. These may include: 
15. Cash contributions (e.g., top-up funding, travel support) 
16. In-kind support (e.g., research assistance, access to patient cohorts or datasets) 
17. Equipment and infrastructure (e.g., lab facilities, specialized instruments, computing resources) 
18. Professional development opportunities (e.g., conference travel, networking, community engagement) 

General letters that provide only vague or generic endorsements will not be accepted. The letter must contain concrete, tailored details demonstrating both the supervisor’s and institution’s commitment to the applicant’s interdisciplinary research and training experience.

INFORMATION SESSION AND CONTACT INFORMATION 

Those applying for funding are encouraged to reach out to the cross-cutting enabler stafffor additional support in the development of applications.  

For all inquiries, please contact:

[email protected]