THRIVE

The Health Researcher Intensive at UVic Experience 

Group photo of the THRIVE program participants, including award recipients, mentors, and the IALH Director (center), standing together on the steps of a white wooden building during their final lunch gathering
THRIVE 2024-25 Cohort. Back L-R: Katelin Albert, Nathan Lachowsky, Brian Christie. Middle L-R: Stephen Tuffs, Megan Ames, Theone Paterson, Kelli Stajduhar. Front L-R: Christine Ou, Mariko Sakamoto, Jodie Gawryluk (IALH Director), Allie Slemon, Jae-Yung Kwon

Why THRIVE? Health research funding is increasingly competitive. Securing a major award, such as a Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR) Project Grant, can provide transformative resources for a researcher’s program, including critical financial support for trainees and research staff. For early career scholars in particular, receiving such funding can significantly shape career trajectories and expand the scope and impact of their research. IALH is committed to investing in our scholars by supporting their health research funding applications to be as strong and competitive as possible.

We are accepting applications for THRIVE 2026-27. Deadline: Friday, May 15 at noon. 
Application Form and Overview (PDF)

The first round of THRIVE was hosted by the Office of Vice-President Research and Innovation. The second iteration, in 2024-25, led by the Institute on Aging and Lifelong Health (IALH), offered an intensive group and individual development program to support health scholars in preparing CIHR research grant applications.

Dr. Kelli Stajduhar, Special Advisor, Health Research, and IALH Research Fellow facilitated THRIVE 2024-25 and the following seven IALH Research Fellows were selected as participants: Katelin Albert, Megan Ames, Jae-Yung Kwon, Christine Ou, Mariko Sakamoto, Allie Slemon, Stephen Tuffs. In addition, the following UVic faculty members served as mentors to the participants: Brian Christie, Jennifer Cobb, Nichole Fairbrother, Marilou Gagnon, Nathan Lachowsky, Theone Paterson, Karen Urbanoski, and Cathy Worthington.