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Membership > Grants > SMART Grant

SMART Grant

Supporting Meaningful Analysis and Research in Reproductive Technologies

The SMART Grant is designed to financially support research that addresses critical gaps in fertility-related knowledge, particularly in areas that are often overlooked or underfunded by traditional granting agencies.

This grant encourages the exploration of real-world data—including the use of BORN (Better Outcomes Registry & Network) and other reliable data sources—to generate insights that improve patient outcomes, clinical practices, and fertility treatment accessibility across Canada.

Purpose of the Grant

The SMART Grant aims to:

  • Support innovative research projects that analyze and interpret fertility-related data from valid sources;

  • Encourage evidence-based improvements in reproductive healthcare;

  • Promote research that bridges clinical practice, policy, and patient outcomes;

  • Advance CFAS’s mission of promoting excellence and innovation in assisted reproduction.

Projects may address clinical trends, treatment outcomes, patient access, healthcare delivery models, or other fertility-related issues of significance to the Canadian context.

Eligibility

  • Open to all CFAS members in good standing;

  • One proposal per member per year is permitted;

  • Projects must align with CFAS’s mission and values;

  • Applicants must be prepared to submit and present their findings at the CFAS Annual Meeting following the completion of the project;

  • If no results are available at the time of the meeting, a written explanation (1 page) must be submitted to the CFAS Board.

Grant Requirements & Expectations

All applications must:

  • Conform to the formatting requirements:

    • Maximum two pages, letter size (8.5 x 11 inches), 12-point Arial font;

    • Budget may be included on a third page.

  • Include the following elements:

1. Project Title

2. Applicants

  • Principal Investigator (Name, Affiliation, Primary Place of Work)

  • Co-Investigators (Names, Affiliations, Primary Places of Work)

3. Project Description

  • Research hypothesis and specific aims;

  • Significance to the field of reproductive medicine.

4. Rationale and Design

  • Study design (if applicable);

  • Patient inclusion/exclusion criteria;

  • Number of subjects or samples (patients, embryos, oocytes, etc.);

  • Methodology summary;

  • Anticipated endpoints and timeline for project milestones.

5. Impact of the Research

  • Value to the scientific community (e.g., pilot data for future grants);

  • Value to the clinic and professionals (REIs, embryologists, nurses);

  • Value to the patient population.

6. Ethics

  • Indicate whether ethics approval is required.

    • Funding will be held until proof of approval is submitted.

7. Budget (Page 3)

  • Itemized list covering:

    • Materials and supplies

    • Salaries/stipends

    • Other necessary expenses

Progress & Reporting

Recipients must:

  • Submit interim reports at the 6-month and 12-month marks detailing project status and preliminary findings;

  • Present their results (or submit an explanation of delays) at the subsequent CFAS Annual Meeting;

  • Acknowledge CFAS support in any publications, posters, or communications arising from the project.

Submission Instructions

To apply, please refer to the respective year's Annual Meeting section of our website where you will find the Grant application submission page. 

  • All applications must respect the given year's deadline.

  • Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

Selection Criteria

Applications will be evaluated based on:

  • Scientific and clinical merit;

  • Relevance and potential impact of the research question;

  • Use and interpretation of real-world data (e.g., BORN);

  • Feasibility of project timeline and methods;

  • Alignment with CFAS’s goals for innovation and improved patient care.

For more information or questions, contact us at: communications@cfas.ca

Make Your Research Count

The SMART Grant is a unique opportunity to shine a light on fertility-related issues that too often go unexamined. By using data to drive change, your research can inform policy, elevate care standards, and make a lasting difference for patients and professionals alike.

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