NSH & QEII Foundation Health Equity Research and Innovation Fund

Program Overview

The Health Equity Fund (HEF) internal funding competition, a collaboration between Nova Scotia Health and the QEII Health Sciences Centre Foundation, supports researchers and innovators dedicated to integrating health equity principles and objectives into their work. The program aims to address inequitable and avoidable differences in social determinants of health, health outcomes, and the impact of interventions for specific populations. The HEF will provide funding opportunities to develop and implement innovative approaches, advanced technologies, inclusive research, and related policies to mitigate implicit bias in the healthcare system.

Key Dates and Deadlines (preliminary and may be subject to adjustment):

• Expression of Interest Due: March 31, 2026
• Selected Applicants Invited to Submit Full Proposal: May 31, 2026
• Application Portal Opens to Invited Applicants: May 31, 2026
• Full Applications Due: August 04, 2026
• Application Review: August 04 - October 04, 2026
• Successful Applicants Announced: October 30, 2026

Objectives

The HEF program is designed to empower researchers and innovators to:

• Advance health equity: Apply research and innovation to increase health equity in equity-deserving communities and populations throughout the Province.
• Build internal capacity: Enhance the integration of health equity considerations into research conducted within the Nova Scotia Health research community.
• Eliminate systemic barriers: Promote excellence in identifying and addressing obstacles that impede the career advancement, recruitment, and retention of underrepresented and disadvantaged groups.

Aligned with the Department of Health and Wellness Health Equity Framework, this program supports research teams working to:

• Remove red tape and barriers affecting various equity communities.
• Increase equity representation in health leadership and frontlines.
• Focus on collecting and analyzing equity-based data.

Award Streams

The CAB will select one application to fund from each of the available award streams:

Research Stream ($100,000): Intended for projects that contribute to advancing knowledge and understanding of health equity. Initiatives are focused on rigorous research, data collection, and analysis to identify, address, or evaluate barriers to equitable healthcare access and outcomes.

Innovation Stream ($100,000): Intended for projects involving creative and practical solutions aimed at improving health equity. Involves the implementation or development of innovative programs, tools, technologies, or approaches that directly address disparities and promote inclusive healthcare practices.

Eligibility Requirements

Scientific Co-PI: Must be affiliated with Nova Scotia Health as an employee, physician or Scientific Affiliate. 

Serves as the lead applicant for the project, with overall responsibility for its scientific and methodological direction. Oversees project design, execution, analysis, and interpretation, ensuring alignment with Health Equity Fund objectives and best practices. Acts as the primary contact with the funder and ensures all team members fulfill their roles. 

Note: Casual employees are ineligible to serve as Scientific Co-PI/award holder. 

• Casual Employee: An employee appointed to work on a non-regular, as-needed (i.e., no guaranteed hours) basis, depending on funding and assigned a contracted timeline. 

Administrative Co-PI: 

Shares primary responsibility for the administrative and operational aspects of the project. Works closely with the Scientific Co-PI to ensure institutional alignment, resource allocation, and long-term adoption of successful project outcomes. 

Must possess:

• Signing authority for the relevant departmental or unit budget at Nova Scotia Health;
• Authority to approve and support the implementation of a health care improvement plan; and
• Authority to sustain a successfully implemented plan.  

EOI Review Process: 

Submitted EOIs will be reviewed by an independent Community Advisory Board (CAB), who will provide constructive feedback to enhance the quality of full proposals. Applicants will be chosen to submit full proposals based on review by the CAB. 

Community Advisory Board: The primary purpose of the CAB is to provide guidance, feedback, and recommendations to ensure that the HEF aligns with its strategic goals of increasing health equity in equity-deserving communities throughout Nova Scotia. The CAB includes individuals from a variety of equity-deserving groups (e.g., Indigenous communities, racialized populations, people with disabilities, immigrants and refugees, LGBTIQ2S+, and lower-income individuals). The CAB will advise on the integration of health equity considerations into research and the elimination of systematic barriers for underrepresented groups. 

Integrating Health Equity into Funding Proposals: A Guide for Applicants - Canada.ca