The Mental Health & Addictions Research Funding Award supports Nova Scotia-based career researchers who are advancing knowledge on mental health and addictions with a strong emphasis on the social, structural, and environmental determinants that shape mental wellbeing. This opportunity aims to strengthen evidence that can inform community-led solutions, improve equity in mental health outcomes, and address the lived / living experiences of communities that are underserved by the province’s health system.
This one-time grant will provide up to $100,000 over two years for established or emerging researchers at any stage, excluding student researchers and Post-Doctoral Fellows.
Funding may support new or existing programs of research that deepen understanding of the determinants of mental health and addictions, enhance community impact, and contribute to sustainable, culturally relevant approaches to wellness in Nova Scotia.
This opportunity is presented by the Nova Scotia Office of Addictions and Mental Health and is powered by Research Nova Scotia.
News release:
https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2026/01/12/applications-open-addictions-mental-health-research-grants
| This competition is | OPEN |
| IMPORTANT DATES | |
| Applications Open | Monday, January 12, 2026 |
| Expression of Interest Deadline | Wednesday, February 11, 2026 at 1:00 PM (AST) |
| Invitation to Full Application | April 2026 |
| Full Application Deadline | Wednesday, June 10, 2026 at 1:00 PM (ADT) |
| Anticipated Notice of Funding Decision | September 2026 |
| Anticipated Start of Funding | October 2026 |
| AWARD TERM | Up to 2 years |
| AWARD AMOUNT | Up to $100,000 |
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Program Details
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
- Supports Nova-Scotia based career researchers who are advancing knowledge on mental health and addictions with an emphasis on the social, structural and environmental determinants that shape mental wellbeing
- Open to established and emerging career researchers at any stage, excluding student researchers and Post-Doctoral Fellows.
- Supports new or existing programs of high-quality research that strengthen the province’s capacity to respond to mental health and addictions challenges through evidence-informed, equity-focused approaches
Primary Applicant Eligibility
TYPE OF RESEARCHER
To apply for a Mental Health & Addictions Research Funding Award, the applicant must be:
- A Nova Scotia-based career researcher at a university/college or have an appointment with research responsibilities at an affiliated hospital
- Engaged in research that deepens understanding of the determinants of mental health and addictions, enhances community impact, and contributes to sustainable, culturally relevant approaches to wellness in Nova Scotia.
Student researchers and Post-Doctoral Fellows are not eligible.
ACADEMIC/RESEARCH APPOINTMENTS
The following academic appointments are eligible to hold this award:
- Tenured appointments
- Tenure-track appointments
- Probationary tenure-track appointments
- Research Scientist (NSCC)
- Limited-term appointments*
- *Applicants with limited term appointments are eligible to apply, however, if funded, applicants will be asked to provide institutional confirmation that their term end date is after the estimated grant completion date.
- Affiliated scientists, medical staff or other appointments/affiliations approved by a senior official (i.e., CEO or VP Research)
Adjunct and instructor positions are NOT considered academic appointments.
RESIDENCE AND APPOINTMENT IN NOVA SCOTIA
During the full term of the award, all award holders must reside in Nova Scotia, work at an eligible Nova Scotia organization, and maintain an academic or research appointment. For any questions regarding eligibility please contact apply@researchns.ca.
CURRENT NEW INVESTIGATOR IN ADDICTIONS AND MENTAL HEALTH GRANT HOLDERS
Current New Investigator in Addictions and Mental Health Grant holders are eligible to apply, provided their award ends prior to September 30, 2026. Applicants may not simultaneously hold both a New Investigator in Addictions and Mental Health Grant and a Mental Health & Addiction Research Funding Award.
Subject Matter Eligibility
The Mental Health & Addictions Research Funding Award supports research that advances knowledge on mental health and addictions with a strong emphasis on the social, structural, and environmental determinants that shape mental wellbeing. The opportunity aims to strengthen evidence that can inform community-led solutions, improve equity in mental health outcomes, and address the lived/living experiences of communities that are underserved by the province’s health system.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to align their proposals with the Province’s Action for Health plan:
- Solution One: Become a Magnet for Health Providers
- Solution Two: Provide the Care Nova Scotians Need and Deserve
- Solution Three: Cultivate Excellence on The Frontlines
- Solution Four: Build in Accountability at Every Level
- Solution Five: Be Responsive and Resilient
- Solution Six: Address the Factors Affecting Health and Well-Being
How to Apply
EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI) PROCESS
To apply for a Mental Health & Addictions Research Funding Award, applicants must first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to apply. This is a mandatory step and allows for the review process to begin. A review committee will verify subject matter alignment with the priorities for this competition. Those EOI applications that are in alignment will be invited to submit a full application for consideration by an external peer review committee. Scientific review does not occur at this stage.
STEP 1: CONFIRM ELIGIBILITY
Consider whether you are eligible for this opportunity using the criteria outlined above.
If you are unsure of your eligibility, please contact apply@researchns.ca for confirmation before beginning your EOI application.
STEP 2: DISCUSS APPLICATION WITH YOUR ORGANIZATION
All EOI submissions must undergo organizational review and receive approval before they will be considered. Applicants must connect with their Research Office well in advance of the submission deadline to confirm any internal deadlines and processes.
STEP 3: REGISTER FOR A JURA ACCOUNT
All EOIs will be submitted via Research Nova Scotia’s online portal, Jura. If you do not already have a Jura account, create a Jura account following the steps outlined in the ‘How-to’ document below.
The main contact person for the submission is considered the Primary Applicant (PA). To access the application, this individual must create an account in Jura by clicking the ‘Register’ button found here.
Please be aware that all applications submitted through Jura must be accompanied by a completed EDIA self-declaration form. Instructions for setting up a Jura account and completing or updating this declaration (if you are an existing user) can be found below:
STEP 4: SUBMIT EOI APPLICATION
To complete submission of the EOI, log in to Jura using the credentials created in ‘Step 2’. Application forms can be found under the ‘Funding Opportunities’ section of your Jura homepage.
Carefully review all application requirements for the EOI, as outlined in the document below, before beginning your application:
APPLICATIONS THAT DO NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS LISTED WILL BE MARKED AS INELIGIBLE.
You can save your application and return to it at any time. When logging in to the system during subsequent visits, your application will be found under the ‘In Progress Applications’ section of your Jura homepage.
When your application is complete, select ‘Submit’. Confirmation of successful submission will be available in your applicant portfolio and will be sent to you via email.
STEP 5: OBTAIN ORGANIZATIONAL APPROVAL
All submissions must receive organizational approval before the EOI deadline. This process is completed via an organizational representative in Jura.
APPLICANTS WHO ARE SUCCESSFUL IN THIS PROCESS WILL BE INVITED TO SUBMIT A FULL APPLICATION.
FULL APPLICATION PROCESS
IMPORTANT: ONLY APPLICANTS WHO HAVE BEEN INVITED TO SUBMIT A FULL APPLICATION MAY COMPLETE THIS PROCESS.
STEP 1: DISCUSS APPLICATION WITH YOUR ORGANIZATION
All application submissions must undergo organizational review and receive approval before they will be considered. Applicants must connect with their Research Office well in advance of the submission deadline to confirm any internal deadlines and processes.
STEP 2: SUBMIT FULL APPLICATION
Log in to Jura using the credentials you created in during the EOI phase. Application forms can be found under the ‘In Progress Applications’ section of your Jura homepage.
When you receive an invitation to complete a full application, carefully review all application requirements, as outlined in the document below:
APPLICATIONS THAT DO NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS LISTED IN THE GUIDELINES WILL BE MARKED AS INELIGIBLE.
You can save your application and return to it at any time.
When your application is complete, select ‘Submit’. Confirmation of successful submission will be available in your applicant portfolio and will be sent to you via email.
STEP 3: OBTAIN ORGANIZATIONAL APPROVAL
All submissions must receive organizational approval before the application deadline. This process is completed via an organizational representative in Jura.
Review & sELECTION Process
EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI)
Step 1.
All Expression of Interest (EOI) submissions are assessed to determine whether they are complete and meet the eligibility criteria. Applications that do not meet basic administrative and eligibility criteria will be marked ineligible and not considered by the review committee.
Step 2.
Eligible EOI submissions are reviewed by a committee comprised of representatives from the Office of Addictions and Mental Health. This committee will determine whether the proposed project topic aligns with the requirements for the program.
Step 3.
Successful EOI applicants will be invited to submit a full application for consideration.
FULL APPLICATION
Step 1.
All applications are assessed to determine whether they are complete and meet the eligibility criteria. Applications that do not meet basic administrative and eligibility criteria will be marked ineligible and not considered by the review committee.
Step 2.
Eligible applications will be reviewed for scientific merit by a peer review committee.
Step 3.
All applicants are notified of the results, and successful applicants will receive information on how to accept their award.
The following criteria will be used to assess Mental Health & Addictions Research Funding Award applications:
PRIMARY APPLICANT
- PA has appropriate productivity to undertake suggested project
- PA has clearly demonstrated an independent program of research or the potential to develop an independent program of research
- Appropriateness of the PA’s environment to enable the conduct and success of the research project
PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY
- Summary provided uses clear language suitable for a non-scientific audience
PROJECT OBJECTIVES
- Objectives provided appropriately cover the overall goals of the proposed project
- Objectives provided can be reasonably achieved within the period identified
- Objectives provide an accurate overview of the activities described in the project description
BUDGET
- Appropriateness and adequacy of budget expenses and justification
- Availability of in-kind contributions and other sources of funding
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
- Clarity, appropriateness, and scope of objectives
- Clarity and appropriateness of methodology
- Where applicable and appropriate, the research design is sex and gender equitable and EDIA-informed
- Clarity and feasibility of project timeline
- Clarity and feasibility of project activities
- Alignment of timeline and work plan with objectives
- The extent to which potential challenges and limitations are identified and adequately addressed
- Appropriateness of knowledge mobilization plan for sharing results with Nova Scotians who will benefit from this project
- Appropriateness of how success will be identified and clarity of approach to determine success
RESEARCH BENEFICIARIES
- Impact of research on mental health and addiction outcomes in community is clearly articulated
- Clear demonstration of engagement with Nova Scotians who will benefit from the research
TEAM COMPOSITION
- Clarity and appropriateness of team member roles and responsibilities
- Relevance and scope of expertise and experience of the PA and team members, including peer reviewed publications, presentations and previous research awards or grants
- Potential of team to successfully conduct proposed research
- Evidence that required elements to undertake the proposal work are in place
OVERALL MERIT OF PROPOSAL
- Significance of proposed research and expected contribution to strengthening the province’s capacity to respond to mental health and addictions challenges
- Evidence that research accounts for the social determinants of mental wellbeing
fREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI)
Q: Am I able to submit multiple proposals as the Primary Applicant?
A: No. Applicants may only submit one proposal as the Primary or Co-Primary Applicant. Applicants may, however, act as a co-investigator on multiple proposals.
Q: Am I able to include citations with my Expression of Interest submission?
A: Yes, applicants may include in-text citations in their Project Alignment Description and should upload these citations in the ‘Attachments’ section of their application.
Applicants should, however, keep in mind that the EOI submissions will be reviewed by a committee of government representatives and should be written for a non-scientific audience.
FULL APPLICATION
Q: Which team members require a CV?
A: All key team members must submit an up-to-date, PDF version of a detailed CV to the Primary Applicant (PA) to be uploaded in the ‘Attachments – Team Member CVs’ section of this application.
Q: Does a team member need to be affiliated with a post-secondary institution to be a co-investigator?
A: No. A team member may be a co-investigator without a post-secondary institution affiliation. The affiliation is only required for Primary Applicants AND Co-Primary Applicants.
Q: Can I use my Mental Health & Addictions Research Funding Award to leverage funds from Mitacs?
A: Award holders may use a portion (up to a maximum of 90%) of their award to leverage additional funds from the Mitacs Accelerate program. If your project would benefit from having a student or postdoc working with an industry or clinic-based partner, you are eligible to apply to Mitacs using the portion of your budget you planned to allocate to trainees as the match funding.
The intention to apply to Mitacs must be made clear in your full application.
Q. I am unable to submit my application because of Error #145. How do I fix the issue and submit my application?
A. Error 145 comes up when you have more than one objective listed in the text boxes provided or when you hit enter at the end of one of your objectives and sent the cursor to the next line. To fix the issue, ensure that you only have one objective in each text box and that an additional line hasn’t been started after each objective.
Application Support
Technical issues related to application submission via Jura can be directed to:
RNS Jura Helpdesk:
helpdesk@researchns.ca | 902.200.8555
Jura Helpdesk Hours are 8am-4pm; Monday to Friday.
Responses will be provided as soon as possible but please allow up to 24 hours for a response.
If you require any application support or have questions about this funding opportunity, please contact apply@researchns.ca.