2026 Key Dates:

Program Launch: January 14, 2026

Application Deadline: February 20, 2026

Internal Review: March/April 2026

Decisions Communicated: Early May, 2026

Award Presentation: 2026 CAHSPR Conference

CIHR Institute of Cancer Research & ARCC Research Awards

The Canadian Centre for Applied Research in Cancer Control (ARCC) was established in 2009 with a mission to improve cancer control and the delivery of cancer care through interdisciplinary, pan-Canadian leadership in health economics, services, policy and ethics research, education and knowledge translation. We are pleased to announce a new partnership with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Institute of Cancer Research (CIHR-ICR) to establish the CIHR Institute of Cancer Research & ARCC Research Impact Award and Early Career Researcher Award, which will be given out annually between 2026-2028

Program Description (PDF) Online Application/Survey Contact Us
Awards

Awards Available: There are two CIHR Institute of Cancer Research & ARCC awards available; one Research Impact Award and one Early Career Researcher Award.

Award Value: $1,500 CAD

Both awards will be based upon the successful applicant’s record of research and evidence of research leadership and impact in the past three (3) years , with the Early Career Researcher (ECR) award dedicated to applicants who qualify as an ECR as per CIHR Guidelines.

Eligibility

Eligibility: The CIHR Institute of Cancer Research & ARCC awards will recognize exceptional contributions to research which have earned distinction for the researchers because of the characteristics of their work in any of the fields encompassed by ARCC. ARCC has four main Program Areas: Health Technology Assessment; Health Systems, Services, and Policy; Societal Values and Public Engagement; and Survivorship. We welcome applications across a range of these research areas.

Specific Criteria: See program guidelines for full details

  1. Applicants must be a member of ARCC in good standing prior to the launch of the annual Awards Program.
  2. Applicants must hold an academic appointment at a Canadian institution
  3. Awards will be conferred annually and are non-renewable. An individual recipient will not be eligible to receive more than one award in a three-year period.
  4. ARCC Co-Directors, Program Managers, and Program Leads are not eligible to apply.
Application Process

Individuals are asked to self-nominate themselves for consideration. Application packages must be completed by the submission deadline of February 20, 2026. A completed application includes the following:

  1. Completion of the Application Form Document at the following link: CIHR Institute of Cancer Research & ARCC Research Awards Application Form (https://forms.office.com/r/VL8eDxN9qH)
  2. Submission of Supporting Documents Package (combined as a single file in PDF format) by email to arcc@cc-arcc.ca . Supporting documents must include the following:
    1. A complete up-to-date CIHR Common CV – Biosketch format (maximum 10 pages)
    2. A maximum 3 page submission prepared by the applicant describing their research and how it contributes to the broader cancer care continuum, and how it aligns with ARCC and the Research Excellence Awards program.
    3. At least one letter of support from an Institutional Representative (e.g. Department Chair/Dean)

Previous Winners

2026 - Early Career Researcher

Recipient: Perri Tutelman, PhD, RPsych
Institution: Department of Psychology, University of Calgary

ARCC and CIHR-ICR are pleased to recognize Dr. Perri Tutelman as the recipient of the 2026 Early Career Researcher Award for her leadership and contributions to adolescent and young adult (AYA) oncology and patient-oriented cancer research.

“I am deeply honoured to receive the 2026 ARCC and CIHR-ICR Early Career Researcher Award. I am proud to contribute to a growing movement in cancer research that centers the voices and priorities of people with lived experience and aims to create more equitable and supportive systems of care for people living with and beyond cancer in Canada.”-Dr. P. Tutelman

An ARCC member since 2018, Dr. Tutelman has established a research program focused on improving psychosocial care and health system supports for children and young adults living with and beyond cancer. Her work integrates patient engagement, digital health innovation, implementation science, and health systems research to advance more accessible and patient-centered cancer care.

Since beginning her independent faculty position in 2024, Dr. Tutelman has demonstrated exceptional research productivity, leadership, and commitment to research capacity-building through interdisciplinary collaboration, trainee mentorship, and strong partnerships with patients, community organizations, and health system leaders.

ARCC and CIHR-ICR congratulate Dr. Tutelman on this well-deserved recognition.

2026 - Research Impact Award

Recipient: Sylvie Lambert, PhD, RN
Position/Institution: Ingram School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University and St. Mary’s Research Centre.

ARCC and CIHR-ICR are pleased to recognize Dr. Sylvie Lambert as the recipient of the 2026 Research Impact Award for her internationally recognized contributions to cancer supportive care, caregiver research, self-management interventions, and implementation science.

An ARCC network member since 2013, Dr. Lambert has developed a highly impactful research program focused on improving outcomes for people living with cancer and their caregivers as care increasingly shifts to ambulatory and home settings. Her work has advanced innovative psychosocial and digital self-management interventions, including the Coping-Together and TEMPO programs, while also leading large-scale implementation initiatives integrating patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) into oncology care across Quebec.

ARCC and CIHR-ICR congratulate Dr. Lambert on this well-deserved recognition and thank her for her longstanding contributions to the ARCC community and the broader cancer research field.

ARCC acknowledges the CIHR Institute of Cancer Research’s support of researchers in the field of applied cancer control research through their sponsorship of these awards.