EMPOWER Projects IX RFP Launched
Do you have a health-oriented systems or service research project that is or will be completed by December 31, 2025? Are you looking to engage patient partners to better mobilize the results of your research findings to real-world application? If yes, apply for the ninth EMPOWER Projects opportunity—an opportunity to enhance the application and dissemination of a completed research project with an infusion of funding to create post-project outputs and include patient partners so that the created products hold meaning and value for those they serve.
The EMPOWER Projects opportunity (Engaging Multi-stakeholders for Patient Oriented research Wider Effects & Reach) provides a structure (integrating the Ontario SPOR SUPPORT Unit and its Research Centres and Initiatives) and funding (up to $25,000) to allow existing patient-oriented research projects that require additional support to have impacts for a maximum duration of one year.
Applications are invited from research teams that have completed or are completing patient-oriented research studies that include patient partnership and a commitment to enhancing patient, caregiver, and/or community outcomes. The purpose of the EMPOWER Projects funding is to complement and complete a project where:
- Additional funding is needed to bring in patient/caregiver partners for the co-creation and co-development of activities and outputs for more streamlined dissemination and implementation of the project’s findings or recommendations; and
- This investment may have beneficial impacts for the health of Ontarians and the Ontario health system.
OSSU welcomes co-designed submissions—with patient and caregiver partnership—that relate to one or more of the following priorities that advance the objectives of OSSU for the development of capacity and sustainability of POR in Ontario:
- Equity, with a focus on improving health equity through using data or equitable access to and use of health data.
- Mobilizing knowledge with diverse populations and minorities, including but not limited to rural and remote communities; linguistic groups including but not exclusive to Francophone community partners; and Indigenous community partners for health decision- and policy-making purposes.
- Advancing the quintuple aim (improved patient experience, improved population health outcomes, advances in health equity, lower costs, and improved provider experience) by situating knowledge mobilization within a learning health system.
The application and impact of the work should be relevant and tailored to the needs of stakeholders in the province (from patients to healthcare practitioners, to health policy and the health system). The RFP and related documents are available below. Please submit following the guidelines and using the linked document templates.
Submission: Proposals are to be submitted electronically to ossu@ossu.ca by 5:00 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday, December 16, 2025. For any questions and for submitting the proposal, please include RFP – EMPOWER Projects IX in the subject line.