The Office of the Vice President, Research & Innovation (VPRI) supports and oversees nominations for Research Chairs and institution-led Awards and Honours.

Please review the eligibility criteria for each Award. For any questions, or to submit your name or a colleague’s name for consideration, contact VPRI@unityhealth.to.

Also available is a searchable database of national and international Honours and Awards Opportunities , maintained by the University of Toronto Division of the Vice-President, Research & Innovation.

Sponsor TypeAward TitleAmount and DurationDescription Deadline
International ARVO Foundation for Eye Research (AFER) - Bert M. Glaser, MD Award for Innovative Research in Retina: USD $10,000.This award is given to an early-career investigator in recognition of the discovery of a drug or technique, or the understanding of a mechanism of disease, that is novel and has profoundly changed our understanding and/or treatment of a retinal disease or condition. The discovery must have taken place within five years of the date of application. --
International ARVO Foundation for Eye Research (AFER) - Carl Camras Translational Research Awards: USD $12,000. This award for young investigators working in areas of translational research honors Dr. Carl Camras, who is highly respected for his work as a glaucoma specialist and a research scientist. --
InternationalAmerican Academy of Neurology (AAN): Ted Burns Humanism in Neurology AwardThe recipient will receive a certificate of recognition from the American Brain Foundation (ABF) along with a monetary award. This is to acknowledge the influence of the most benevolent and innovative in the field, who through their work, advance the field of neurology and make knowledge more accessible through their innovative teaching. The award aims to celebrate neurologists whose work embodies humanism—in patient care, in education, in advocacy, and even in everyday encounters and to inspire neurologists to improve healthcare delivery and the lives of their colleagues and patients, now and in the future, locally and internationally. October 31, 2024.
2025 University of Toronto (U of T) President’s Impact Awards$10,000 per year for 5 years to be used toward research. Designated by the University as members of the President’s Impact Academy for a minimum of five years.These annual awards celebrate and honour faculty members or teams whose research has led to significant impact beyond academia.
Eligibility:
• Nominees must be current faculty members in any discipline who hold full-time academic appointments (tenure stream, teaching stream, clinical or status) and have completed research, primarily during their appointment at the U of T, that has had a significant impact beyond academia.
• Teams of eligible faculty may be nominated for significant impacts that have emerged from their collaborative research. Nominated team members must include the director(s) or leader(s) of the collaborative research, and all nominated faculty must have significantly contributed to both the research and impacts.
• Nominees whose research impact is related to public policy may be simultaneously nominated for the Carolyn Tuohy Impact on Public Policy Award, a separate award that is presented annually under the banner of the U of T Awards of Excellence
If you are interested in being considered for nomination, please submit a 1 page (maximum) description of your impact outside of academia (not publications, grants, keynote lectures, etc. – but impact outside of the academic sphere that has occurred as a result of your research) to VPRI@unityhealth.to and attach your recent CV by October 31, 2024.
U of T Deadline: February 19, 2025.
CIHR-IPPH Trailblazer Award in Population and Public Health Research 2025$2500 per awardThis recognizes the exemplary efforts and activities of exceptional Canadian researchers at early-career, mid-career, and senior career stages who have created a highly influential body of work that has had a substantial impact on the field of population and public health research. The award also recognizes the leadership, mentorship, and innovative contributions of the recipients
Internal Deadline: If you are interested in being considered for nomination, please submit your recent CV to VPRI@unityhealth.to by November 1, 2024.
Anticipated submission deadline: December 16, 2024.
InternationalWarren Alpert Foundation PrizeUSD $500,000 (to be split equally if more than one recipient is selected), a citation and plaque.This prize, in association with Harvard Medical School, recognizes and honors one or more scientists, physicians and researchers whose scientific achievements have led to the prevention, cure, or treatment of human disorders or for seminal research that holds great promise to change our ability to treat disease. If you are interested in being considered for nomination, please send an email to VPRI@unityhealth.to by September 20th, 2024.November 8, 2024.
International Broad Institute: 2025 Richard N. Merkin Prize in Biomedical TechnologyUSD $400,000This recognizes pathbreaking technologies that are improving human health and the key individuals who contributed to their development. For the purposes of this prize, a technology is defined as an innovation or invention of a method or device, such as a technique used in a research or clinical laboratory, a computational method, a therapeutic medical device, or a diagnostic test. The prize illuminates the important work taking place across multiple disciplines, and in doing so supports and inspires continued innovation. The Merkin Prize has an intentional focus on real-world impact, and a goal of shining a light on novel technologies and how these advances are transforming health care. U of T Deadline: February 19, 2025.
The Canadian Cancer Society Inclusive Excellence PrizeA personalized glass plaque commemorating their award and a $20,000 contribution to the recipient’s research programThis award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated leadership in the advancement of equity, diversity inclusion and accessibility as it relates to the cancer research ecosystem in Canada. Nominations due: December 11, 2024, 5:00 pm
The Canadian Cancer Society Lifetime Contribution PrizeA personalized glass plaque commemorating their award and a $20,000 contribution to the recipient’s research programThis award recognizes an esteemed investigator whose contributions to cancer research extend beyond traditional research accomplishments and outputs in Canada. Nominations due: December 11, 2024, 5:00 pm
The Canadian Cancer Society Robert L. Noble PrizeA personalized glass plaque commemorating their award and a $20,000 contribution to the recipient’s research programThis award recognizes an esteemed investigator and their achievements in basic biomedical cancer research in Canada.Nominations due: December 11, 2024, 5:00 pm
The Canadian Cancer Society O. Harold Warwick PrizeA personalized glass plaque commemorating their award and a $20,000 contribution to the recipient’s research programThis award recognizes an esteemed investigator and their significant contributions to cancer control in Canada.Nominations due: December 11, 2024, 5:00 pm
The Canadian Cancer Society Bernard and Francine Dorval PrizeA personalized glass plaque commemorating their award and a $20,000 contribution to the recipient’s research programThis award is given to an outstanding early career investigator whose basic biomedical cancer research contributions have the potential to lead to, or have already led to, improved understanding of cancer treatments and/or cures.Nominations due: December 11, 2024, 5:00 pm
The Canadian Cancer Society William E. Rawls PrizeA personalized glass plaque commemorating their award and a $20,000 contribution to the recipient’s research programThis award is given to an outstanding early career investigator whose research in cancer control research has the potential to lead to, or has already led to, important advances in cancer control.Nominations due: December 11, 2024, 5:00 pm
Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (CAHS) Fellowship--Fellows elected to the Academy will be health and biomedical science leaders who have achieved national and international peer recognition for their contributions to the health sciences (awards, invited lectures, invited reviews and editorials) and have a demonstrated track record of exceptional accomplishment and impact. CAHS expects candidates to be at the academic rank of Full Professor. Due to capacity, the Awards and Honours Selection Committee will determine which candidates Unity Health Toronto will support this year. If you are interested in being considered for nomination, please send your CV to VPRI@unityhealth.to by November 15, 2024.
Sponsor Deadline (Expected): Early March, 2025.

InternationalUS National Academy of Sciences (NAS) Membership--Members are elected to the National Academy of Sciences in recognition of their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research. Nominations are accepted at any time from current NAS members based in the US.
International American Psychiatric Association (APA): Various opportunitiesvaries by award.These awards recognize psychiatrists and other mental health advocates for their contributions to the APA and the field of psychiatry, for career recognition, lifetime service, outstanding research, and other categories that improve the lives of people with mental illness. If you are interested in being considered for nomination, please contact VPRI@unityhealth.to.varies by award.