This guide helps support New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF) applicants and reviewers, in addition to applicants to other federal research funding programs, in achieving greater equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in their research practice and design. It is expected that applicants will clearly demonstrate their strong commitment to EDI in their applications and in the implementation of their research projects, if funded.

This guide outlines expectations and provides definitions, examples, guiding questions and resources for Partnership Grant applicants to draw on when incorporating EDI considerations in the development of their partnerships and conceptualization of their research projects.Footnote1

This Guide for Applicants document provides applicants with resources regarding what equity,
diversity and inclusion mean in natural sciences and engineering research teams and research design
and how their incorporation contributes to research excellence.iv For an updated and more detailed
elaboration on what it means to incorporate EDI considerations in the five stages of research
(research questions; design; methodology and data collection; analysis and interpretation; and
dissemination of results) see the document: Equity, diversity and inclusion considerations at each
stage of the research process.

This section is designed to assist natural sciences and engineering (NSE) researchers in understanding how EDI considerations are relevant to the building of teams, to recruitment and retention, and to the roles of team members in research design, research execution, analysis and interpretation of findings, and the dissemination of results.

NSERC is committed to promoting equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in research teams and their environment through the Tri-agency EDI Action Plan. For Alliance applications, consideration of EDI in the training plan is part of the evaluation criteria: providing specific, concrete practices of how EDI is considered in your training plan is mandatory, and this will be assessed in the review process. Failure to provide this information will result in the rejection of your application.

The following tools are available to help researchers:
- Distinguish between and define sex and gender in health research;
- Identify sex and gender differences in the mechanism, disease or treatment under study;
- Identify methods for integrating sex and gender variables in health research contexts; and
- Assess a research protocol or publication based on the integration or omission of sex and/or gender.

First, sex-disaggregated data reveal that more males are dying from COVID-19 than femalesFootnote1. Biological factors and/or comorbidities likely play a role. Second, pandemics can compound differential exposures and outcomes for girls, women, sexual and gender minorities, caregivers, and other essential workers involved in gendered occupations. It is essential that the impacts of COVID-19 are considered through an intersectional lens to create effective, equitable policies and interventions. For example, consider how gendered racism may modify the impacts of COVID-19 on racialized womenFootnote2. Learn more about what intersectionality isFootnote3 and how it can be applied to quantitative health research.

This guide is provided as a tool for individuals and institutions as they determine how best to address areas for improvement identified when assessing their recruitment practices and work environment. For the program’s specific nomination and recruitment requirements which must be followed by all institutions when recruiting and nominating a Canada Research Chair, refer to the Requirements for recruiting and nominating Canada Research Chairs.

The TCPS 2 (2022) has replaced TCPS 2 (2018) as the official human research ethics policy of the Agencies.