SPIKE Hub - IMPaCT Training Awards

IMPaCT is proud to partner and support the newly launched SPIKE Hub as part of CIHR Pan-Canadian Network for HIV and STBBI Clinical Trials (CTN+). Funded by CIHR, SPIKE Hub aims to build capacity for trainees, clinicians, and community-based researchers to be ready to design, lead, and conduct inclusive, equity-focused clinical trials that address the needs and priorities of diverse populations affected by HIV and sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBIs). 

The SPIKE Hub - IMPaCT Trial Leaders training awards facilitate participation in a 1-year immersive learning experience with assigned mentors and deliverables.  This training program is designed to prepare emerging trial leaderswith the skills and network to design, lead, and conduct high-quality clinical trials. 

For the 2027-28 competition, four training awards are available for community-based researchers, PhD students, post-doctoral fellows, early-career researchers, and clinical fellows or faculty enrolled in a Master’s program, working or living in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. 

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    • Direct support ($10,000 CAD) to enable your full participation in the program  

    • A supportive mentorship team that includes a trialist, HIV/STBBI expert, and a person with lived experience and/or patient engagement mentor  

    • A well-developed funding application that addresses the needs and priorities of diverse populations affected by HIV and STBBIs to help turn your trial idea into a reality 

    • Key competencies and skills in trial design, patient and community engagement, trial operations, and communications 

    • Hands on, funded experiential learning and professional development. At least one experience must be directly relevant to working with the key populations of interest (valued at $2,500) 

    • Summit registration, travel, and accommodations for in-person professional development and national networking (valued at $2,500) 

    1. Location of awardee:  Community-based researchers must be employed by a Canadian community organization that is based in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and/or Alberta. For all other applicants, the award must be held at an Academic Institution, Research Institute, or Hospital affiliated with a Canadian University in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, or Alberta.

    2. Career stage: Candidates must be enrolled in a doctoral program, in a postdoctoral program (any year of program), an Early Career Researcher (defined using CIHR definitions at the time of accepting the award), Clinical Fellow or Faculty enrolled in a Master’s program for the duration of the IMPaCT fellowship, or be employed as a Community-Based Researcher.  

    3. Citizenship: This program is open to Canadians and permanent residents of Canada.  

    4. Eligible clinical trial questions:  As the primary deliverable is to develop a funding proposal for a new trial, the clinical trial question you submit must be in the idea/protocol development phase. The trial must address the needs and priorities of diverse populations affected by HIV and Sexually Transmitted and Blood-Borne Infections. The intervention can be any type (drug, behavioural, vaccine, device) and can include any trial phase, including early-phase and pragmatic trials. Trial ideas focused on women, people who inject drugs, or people experiencing homelessness are strongly encouraged. 

    If you have questions about your eligibility, please consult of FAQ or email us at impactrials@gmail.com

  • All applications are to be submitted by October 16, 2026 at 5pm central in English or French. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered. Documents to support your application are available in the IMPaCT shared folder.

    1. CV: Your CV must be the new Tri-agency narrative CV and submitted as a PDF. Other formats will not be reviewed. The template is available on the IMPaCT shared folder.

    2. Letter of support: A maximum 2 page letter signed by the primary supervisor (for PhD students, Postdocs), Department Head (for ECRs and Clinical Fellows/Faculty), or Director (for Community-Based Researchers) describing: (1) The commitment towards the candidate's research training and endorsement of the candidate by the institution or organization, (2) The space, facilities and personnel support, including the interdisciplinary nature of the training or community environment in relation to clinical trials, (3) How the award funding will be used to help ensure that the learner can fully participate in the core curriculum and deliverables. 

    3. Trial question: As the primary deliverable is to develop a funding proposal for a new trial, the clinical trial question you submit must be in the idea/protocol development phase. The trial must address the needs and priorities of diverse populations affected by HIV and Sexually Transmitted and Blood-Borne Infections. The intervention can be any type (drug, behavioural, vaccine, device) and can include any trial phase, including early-phase and pragmatic trials. Trial ideas focused on women, people who inject drugs, or people experiencing homelessness are strongly encouraged. 

    4. EDI-I+ questionnaire: SPIKE Hub and IMPaCT are committed to increasing representation amongst the clinical trials landscape in Canada. All mentors and applicants must complete and submit the EDI-I+ questionnaire. You may choose not to self-identify by selecting the option "I prefer not to answer". Applicants will be prioritized for acceptance who are from the Prairies and/or have lived experience with the most affected populations by the current HIV and STBBI diagnoses: Indigenous people, women, people who use substances, in particular injection drug use, and people experiencing homelessness. 

    Note: IMPaCT adheres to the ECR criteria, which stipulates that individuals should be within 5 years of their first independent research-related appointment as per CIHR (https://cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/34190.html) with related extensions for e.g., parental leave and the COVID-19 pandemic.  

  • Please see the draft SPIKE Hub- IMPaCT training award evaluation criteria in the shared folder that will be used to score each complete application received. Applicants will receive de-identified comments from the review committee. 

  • Who is considered a community-based researcher? Am I eligible to apply?

    Community-based researchers broadly include individuals working in community organizations who are interested in developing the skills and network to lead clinical trials. This may include those working in community health centres, public health, non-profit organizations, patient advocacy groups, Indigenous health organizations, or other community-based health or social service organizations. To help build trial capacity in the Prairies, community-based researchers must be employed by a community-based organization that is based in either Manitoba, Saskatchewan, or Alberta. 

    Candidate eligibility is based on a combination of your educational background and work experience. Advanced training such as a Master’s degree (any field) or a clinical background (e.g., RN) is strongly recommended. A doctoral degree is not required.  

    If you are unsure whether you meet the eligibility criteria, please contact us at impactrials@gmail.com. We are happy to discuss your background and help determine whether this opportunity is a good fit.  

    How much time does the program take? 

    The program time commitment varies throughout the year but averages approximately 5 hours per week over the duration of the program. The majority of the program components are completed virtually, with the exception of the in-person Summit and some immersive learning experience opportunities that are offered in person.  

    What does the award support? 

    The $10,000 training award should be used to support the community-based researcher’s time (~5 hours per week) to fully participate in the one-year program. 

    Who is included as part of "diverse populations affected by HIV and STBBIs"?

    For the purpose of your trial idea and application, diverse populations affected by HIV and STBBIs includes people living with HIV, people diagnosed with STBBIs, and populations that are disproportionately affected by HIV and STBBIs or experience barriers to accessing prevention, testing, treatment, and care. This may include women, Indigenous Peoples, people who use substances (including people who inject drugs), people experiencing homelessness or unstable housing, people living in poverty, and people living in rural or remote communities. 

    Your application should clearly describe which populations are relevant to your proposed trial and how they will be meaningfully engaged. 

    If you are unsure whether your trial idea meets this criteria, please contact us at impactrials@gmail.com.

    Does my trial idea need to include pediatric or perinatal populations? 

    No. For the SPIKE Hub-IMPaCT Trial Leaders Fellowship, your proposed trial does not need to include pediatric or perinatal populations.  

    How do I develop my PICO question?

    Not sure where to start? These resources can help:

    What does STBBIs stand for?

    STBBIs stands for sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections.

    What is the deadline to apply?

    All applications are to be submitted by October 16, 2026 at 5pm Central in English or French. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.