About the MAPS Canada Research Grant

The MAPS Canada Research Grant was created to offer low-barrier support to curious and committed individuals working in the “real world.” While most clinical research in Canada takes place within institutions such as universities or health authorities—and is typically backed by federal agencies like CIHR or private industry sponsors—there remains a gap in support for those outside these traditional structures.

Institutional research plays a critical role in advancing psychedelic science. These large-scale efforts have helped Canada emerge as a global leader in clinical research and have contributed to some of the most significant scientific breakthroughs in mental health and medicine.

At the same time, many important research questions arise from the lived experience of frontline professionals—therapists, first responders, harm reduction workers, and others—who often lack access to the resources, funding, or formal training needed to conduct research on their own. The MAPS Canada Research Grant aims to bridge this gap.

This program provides financial assistance to help frontline professionals explore meaningful questions related to psychedelic medicine. In addition, grantees have the opportunity to leverage skilled volunteer support.

The application process is intentionally simple and accessible. You don’t need to be a career academic with hundreds of publications to apply. What matters most is a well-defined research idea that aligns with our mission.