Research and Grants Program

On this page:

We're committed to providing exceptional programs and services to the people and businesses of Ontario.

The objective of the WSIB Research and Grants Program is to enhance workplace injury and illness insurance system outcomes by supporting innovative proposals that help advance our strategic mandate.

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

Systematic review: Occupational exposure to diesel engine exhaust (DEE) and lung and bladder cancers

The WSIB is now accepting proposals for a systematic review: Occupational exposure to diesel engine exhaust (DEE) and lung and bladder cancers. The WSIB is seeking to fund one new award for a systematic review that specifically aims to a) evaluate the evidence on occupational exposure to diesel engine exhaust (DEE) and the development of primary site cancers of the lung (ICD-9 162, ICD-10 C33-34) and bladder (ICD-9 188, ICD-10 C67); b) examine exposure-response relationships by detailed exposure characteristics; c) identify industries and occupations with high risk of lung or bladder cancer development; and d) evaluate the potential for synergistic relationships between DEE and other risk factors for lung or bladder cancer.

Please carefully review the specific requirements in the proposal instructions and other relevant information. 

To obtain an application form for this competition, email grants@wsib.on.ca

All proposals are to be in English only. Application deadline is Monday, January 29, 2024 at 5:00 P.M. E.S.T. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered for funding.

Resources

The 2024 Research and Grants competition

The 2024 Research and Grants competition is now closed. Thank you to those who submitted a proposal.

The 2024 grants competition opened on Monday August 28, 2023. We will accept initial proposals until Friday, October 13, 2023.

This page provides information about our grant priority areas, proposal selection process, proposal instructions and the grants application form.

If you would like updates about our research and grants program, including future calls for proposals, please email grants@wsib.on.ca and we'll add you to our email distribution list.

Research and Grants priority areas

The 2024 Research and Grants Program will focus on research that can help make Ontario the safest place to work. Four considerations for the competition include:

  1. how we work
  2. how we approach health and safety
  3. how we support return-to-work and recovery
  4. how we meet our customers’ expectations

The research and grants agenda provides more information on the topics of interest for the 2024 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 grants@wsib.on.ca for more information. 

For more information, review the grant proposal instructions

Download the
WSIB grants application form

Previous research and grants program recipients: