Research and Grants Program

Our Research and Grants Program is Canada's foremost funder of academic research on occupational health and safety. Through the program, we strive to produce outcomes that have real-life applications and impacts for the people and businesses of Ontario.

The program’s objective is to enhance workplace injury and illness insurance system outcomes by supporting innovative proposals that help advance our mandate as outlined in our 2024 – 2028 Strategic Plan.

The program accomplishes this through practical research and training studies delivered by professionals and organizations that can strengthen Ontario's workers' compensation system now and in the future.

Researcher spotlight

Learn about a WSIB-funded research project on occupational hand dermatitis and how it’s helping people detect, manage and prevent this condition in the workplace.

You can also check out previous recipients of our grants.

Systematic review: Use of medical cannabis for the treatment of work-related health conditions

The WSIB is now accepting proposals for a systematic review about the use of medical cannabis for the treatment of work-related health conditions. The WSIB is seeking to fund one new award for a systematic review that specifically aims to evaluate:

  • the current state of evidence on the therapeutic use of medical cannabis for the treatment of health conditions that can be work-related, as indicated below;
  • evidence supporting the use of specific classes of medical cannabis (e.g., dried cannabis, cannabis edibles, cannabis extracts and/or cannabis topicals), including information on dose of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and/or cannabidiol (CBD), as well as cannabigerol (CBG) and cannabinol (CBN) where available, for the treatment of conditions that can be work-related; 
  • and evidence of any risks, adverse events, or harms associated with the therapeutic use of medical cannabis for health conditions that can be work-related.

Please carefully review the specific requirements in the proposal instructions and other relevant information. If you are interested in applying, please register your profile in our new grant management system and apply to the WSIB Systematic Review - Medical Cannabis program. Follow the instructions and provide comprehensive answers to the tasks and application questions.

All proposals are to be in English only. Application deadline is Friday, May 16 2025 at 5:00 P.M. E.S.T. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered for funding.

Research and grants competition

The 2025 grants competition is no longer accepting proposals. 

If you would like updates about our Research and Grants Program, including future calls for proposals, please email [email protected] and we'll add you to our email distribution list.

Research and grants priority areas

The 2025 Research and Grants Program is focused on research that can help make Ontario the safest place to work. The areas of particular focus for the competition include:

  1. how we work
  2. how we approach health and safety
  3. how we support return-to-work and recovery

The research and grants agenda provides more information on the topics of interest for the 2025 proposal.

Selection process

We follow a rigorous and transparent proposal selection process for our Research and Grants Program. We accept the following types of proposals:

1. Research proposals

  • Expert research proposals that deliver practical results for the workplace safety and compensation system
  • Workplace-based projects that create partnerships between the workplace, researchers and organizations

2. Training proposals

  • Initiatives that help people with workplace injuries and illnesses, employers and the workplace safety and compensation system solve long-standing barriers
  • Innovative opportunities that build capacity in the community and offer significant potential to improve system results

Opportunities are available for applicants to connect with stakeholders familiar with the WSIB or WSIB staff to better align their proposals to the needs of the organization. However, any engagement must be reported at the time of submission. Please email [email protected] for more information. 

For more information, review the grant proposal instructions

How to apply

Please note that the 2025 grants competition is no longer accepting proposals.

When the competition is open, you can register your profile in our new grant management system and apply to the 2025 grants competition. Carefully review the instructions under the WSIB Annual Grants Competition program and provide comprehensive answers to the tasks and application questions.

Previous research and grants program recipients:

Researcher spotlight

Dr. Kathryn Nichol, President and CEO, VHA Home HealthCare and Assistant Professor, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto

Dr. Nichol and a team of experts, including CREOD, received a WSIB grant to develop an online training module about detecting, managing and preventing occupational hand dermatitis – a condition that can have a significant impact on people’s quality of life. The module is free to use and provides practical tips that can be used by anyone working in a setting that requires constant hand washing.

Dr. Kathryn Nichol, President and CEO, VHA Home HealthCare

"The WSIB's support made our research possible, and it's really making a difference for those who provide essential services in Ontario,” said Dr. Kathryn Nichol, President and CEO, VHA Home HealthCare. “It’s important to boost basic and applied research in the academic world because it sparks new ideas that can help reduce illnesses and injuries in workplaces all over the province."

While the module focused on healthcare settings, we’re currently working with Dr. Nichol to expand to other high-risk sectors for hand dermatitis, such as manufacturing and food services.

If you have questions about the Research and Grants Program, please email [email protected].