Québec Regional Team

This training award competition aims to support the development of new skills and knowledge in the fields of HIV and STBBIs, in order to increase participants’ capacity to actively engage in research, particularly in the design, implementation, and conduct of innovative adaptive clinical trials.

It is open to learners from diverse backgrounds — students, research staff (e.g., technicians, coordinators, research nurses), researchers, clinicians, pharmacists, and community workers, as well as people with lived or living experience of HIV or STBBIs.

Five (5) awards of $10,000 are offered each year, one per training area, renewable for up to two (2) years (total of $20,000).

The Quebec training platform promotes the development of personalized pathways, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the meaningful integration of people with lived experience in research. Applicants must select one primary research area based on their background and interests and include activities from at least one additional area.

1. People with Lived Experience of HIV or STBBIs – Meaningful participation in research, with or without prior experience.
2. Basic Sciences – Fundamental and translational research in HIV and STBBIs.
3. Clinical Sciences – Clinical research and clinical trials in HIV and STBBIs.
4. Methods and Biostatistics – Study design, methodological analysis, and evaluation.
5. Community-Based and Person-Centred Research – Participatory research, health equity, and knowledge mobilization.

To be eligible, applicants must:

• Be engaged or intend to engage in HIV or STBBI research;
• Have their primary activities based in Canada for the duration of the award;
• Obtain support from a supervisor or mentor to assist them in the process. The supervisor or mentor must be affiliated with CTN+ and eligible to hold and administer funds from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

There are no citizenship restrictions.

Applications may be submitted in French or English to QuebecTraining@thectn.ca. See submission directions in the application form for specific requirements.

The application package must include the following components:

personal statement

Describe your research background and relevant professional, scientific, and/or lived experiences. You may include any information relevant to your trajectory, including scholarships and awards, publications, academic or professional achievements, and short- and long-term career goals.

Maximum 1 page.

objectives & motivations

Describe your interest in HIV and STBBI research in relation to your background and experiences. Explain how this award will contribute to your development and specify the skills you wish to acquire or strengthen during Year 1. Also indicate how mentorship and cross-axis activities within the platform will support your professional progression.

Maximum 0.5 page.

training proposal

Applicants must submit a one-year training proposal describing planned activities and their contribution to research skill development, including participation in cross-area activities and anticipated outcomes. Applicants must identify a platform mentor and justify their choice in relation to their training objectives.

The Year 1 budget must total $10,000, of which up to $6,000 may be used as a salary award. Selected candidates will be invited to co-develop, with their mentor, a structured Year 2 training plan to further optimize professional development.

Maximum 0.5 page.

For the three sections combined, a maximum of 2 pages is permitted (2 cm margins, Times New Roman 12-point font, single spacing; references may exceed this limit). Sections must be combined into a single PDF file and uploaded.

CV

Applicants must submit an up-to-date curriculum vitae. The Canadian Common CV (CIHR biosketch format) is recommended, but other formats appropriate to your situation or field of expertise are also accepted.

letter of support

Provide a signed letter of support from the primary supervisor, including the proposed supervision plan.

Maximum 1 page.

Each application will be evaluated by at least three reviewers, including one person with lived experience of HIV or STBBIs.

Evaluation criteria (scored 0–5):

• Relevance of background and alignment with the selected area;
• Productivity or prior engagement (not applicable to Area 5);
• Clarity of objectives and motivation;
• Quality and feasibility of the training curriculum;
• Quality of the supervision and mentorship plan.

If an award is not granted within a specific axis, it may be reassigned to an outstanding application in another area.

One $10,000 award is granted per training area per year.

Up to 60% of the award may be used as a salary stipend.

Remaining funds may cover training, travel, internships, or conference expenses.

Equipment purchases are not eligible.

The award is renewable for a second year, conditional upon submission of a satisfactory progress report and a new training plan developed in collaboration with the mentor. An additional $10,000 will then be awarded.

Competition launch: March 24, 2026

Application deadline: May 24, 2026

Results announcement: July 2026

Start of awards: Fall 2026

The Platform applies practices that promote equity, diversity, and inclusion, including broad dissemination of the funding call, representative committees, bias-aware evaluation processes, respect for Canada’s official languages, and flexible training pathways. Parental or medical leave may result in an equivalent extension of the award.