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Research Programs

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OUR APPROACH

We convene extraordinary minds to address the most important questions facing science and humanity.

CIFAR's research programs bring together international, interdisciplinary researchers who work together for five-year terms. Programs are led by a director or two co-directors, engage approximately 20-40 fellows and advisors from around the world, and include two or three CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars for two-year terms.

CIFAR research programs create impact beyond academia through a highly collaborative strategy. Target areas for impact emerge from the program’s core research agenda, and the strategy is informed by long-term, iterative exchange of ideas and perspectives between program members and non-academic stakeholders.

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IMPACT CLUSTERS

CIFAR’s research programs are organized into 5 distinct Impact Clusters that address significant global issues and are committed to fostering an environment in which breakthroughs emerge.

Each cluster bridges CIFAR’s diverse global community by looking ahead to the challenges on the horizon, encouraging scholars from across disciplines to work collaboratively towards a bold and innovative future. Research programs may span multiple clusters depending on the nature and goals of their work.

find out more

Current research programs

Bio-inspired Solar Energy illustration

2014, 2020

Accelerated Decarbonization

Can we restore the carbon balance through bold ideas?

Boundaries, Membership & Belonging illustration

2019

Boundaries, Membership & Belonging

Is it possible to have a world without “us” and “them”?

Graphic of a scientist opening blinds in the shape of a head

2014, 2020

Brain, Mind & Consciousness

What are the origins and mechanisms of consciousness?

Child & Brain Development illustration

2003, 2007, 2012, 2019, 2025

Child & Brain Development

How do childhood experiences affect lifelong health?

Multiscale-Human_webbanner

2023

CIFAR MacMillan Multiscale Human

Is it possible to create a multiscale map of the human body?

Earth 4D: Subsurface Science & Exploration illustration

2019

Earth 4D: Subsurface Science & Exploration

How do life, water and energy interact between the Earth’s vast subsurface and surface environments?

Fungal Kingdom: Threats & Opportunities illustration

2019

Fungal Kingdom: Threats & Opportunities

What might we uncover in an unknown biosphere?

Future-Flourishing_webanner

2023

Future Flourishing

What does it mean to live (well) without human exceptionalism?

Urban-Future_textured-webbanner

2023

Humanity’s Urban Future

What makes a good city of the future?

Humans & the Microbiome illustration

2014, 2020

Humans & the Microbiome

How do microbes that live in and on us affect our health, development and even behaviour?

Innovation, Equity & The Future of Prosperity illustration

2019

Innovation, Equity & The Future of Prosperity

How can innovation be beneficial to all?

Learning in Machines & Brains illustration

2004, 2008, 2014, 2019, 2025

Learning in Machines & Brains

How do we understand intelligence and build intelligent machines?

Quantum Materials illustration

1987, 1992, 1997, 2002, 2007, 2012, 2019, 2025

Quantum Materials

How could quantum materials transform our society?

Programs that are completing their work

Gravity & the Extreme Universe illustration

1986, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016, 2023

Gravity & the Extreme Universe

What is extreme gravity, and how can it help us understand the origin of the universe?

Graphic of atoms at the end of computer network path lines

2002, 2007, 2012, 2019

Quantum Information Science

How do we harness the power of quantum mechanics to improve information processing?

Recently completed programs

Genetic Networks illustration

2005, 2010, 2016

Genetic Networks

How do the interactions among genes influence health and development?

Institutions, Organizations & Growth illustration

2004, 2008, 2014

Institutions, Organizations & Growth

Why are some countries rich and others poor?

Molecular Architecture of Life illustration

2014

Molecular Architecture of Life

How does life originate and what are the processes that make life possible?

Successful Societies Illustrations

2002, 2008, 2012

Successful Societies

Why are some societies more successful than others?

Anil Seth portrait
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OUR FELLOWS

CIFAR fellows are collaborative researchers at the top of their fields.

Our community of fellows, advisors, CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars, and Canada CIFAR AI Chairs includes more than 400 researchers from 18 countries. They regularly contribute to papers in the top 1% of most-cited papers worldwide. Fellows are selected for academic and communication excellence, and for how their expertise fits into the goals of a program.

Meet our Fellows
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CATALYST FUND

We encourage our community of researchers to work across programs and disciplines.

Through Catalyst Funds, we facilitate and support high-risk ideas and projects within and across CIFAR’s portfolio of research programs. The time-limited grants provide flexibility for early-stage projects, encourage interdisciplinary collaborations, and address emerging and exploratory themes within or between research programs.

FIND OUT MORE

Research News

Discover the latest advances from our community.

 
Nidhi Hegde

AI and Society

New program provides expert AI advice for policymakers

Nidhi Hegde is equipping policymakers to navigate the AI future

April 30, 2025
AI for Diabetes Prediction and Prevention Solution Network members and community partners

AI and Society

The value of community engagement in AI deployment

CIFAR Solution Network brings together community members to co-design an AI-based diabetes dashboard

March 31, 2025
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AI and Society

CAISI Research Program at CIFAR announces council membership

CIFAR is delighted to announce the individuals who will be serving on its Research Council for the Canadian AI Safety In...

February 03, 2025
Nicolas Papernot and Catherine Régis; CAISI Research Program at CIFAR

AI and Society

Nicolas Papernot and Catherine Régis appointed Co-Directors of the CAISI Research Program at CIFAR

In a Q&A with CIFAR, Papernot and Régis discuss the importance of CAISI and Canada’s opportunity to be a world leader...

December 12, 2024
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AI and Society

Data Communities for Inclusion: Recentering technology in the knowledge and well-being of the collective

CIFAR’s inaugural Solution Network welcomes contributions from groups engaged in collective organizing throughout the...

November 14, 2024
Elissa Strome, Joel Martin, Stephen Toope, Yoshua Bengio, François-Philippe Champagne, Valérie Pisano, Tony Gaffney, Cam Linke

AI and Society

Government of Canada announces Canadian AI Safety Institute

Today in Montréal, the Government of Canada announced the creation of the Canadian AI Safety Institute (CAISI), which w...

November 12, 2024
The discovery panel on The Future of Food, CIFAR staff as well as Stephen Toope, President & CEO of CIFAR, visit a rooftop farm in Toronto.

Advances

CIFAR launches new exploration on “The Future of Food”

A panel of experts is guiding enhanced foresight into challenges and opportunities facing the future of global food syst...

September 04, 2024
Green Frog

Advances

CIFAR researchers discover potential treatment for a fungus devastating amphibian populations worldwide

Across the world, a devastating fungus has been spreading amongst frogs and toads, infiltrating thei

August 21, 2024
IndigPerspHeroImage

AI and Society

Indigenous perspectives in AI

A free online course supported by the Pan-Canadian AI Strategy at CIFAR teaches AI trainees about Indigenous knowledge-k...

June 18, 2024
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AI and Society

Beyond privacy: it’s time for a rights-based approach to regulating AI for children

New CIFAR AI Insights report proposes tools for policymakers that extend beyond standard privacy-driven strategies for d...

April 24, 2024

Support Us

The Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) is a globally influential research organization proudly based in Canada. We mobilize the world’s most brilliant people across disciplines and at all career stages to advance transformative knowledge and solve humanity’s biggest problems, together. We are supported by the governments of Canada, Alberta and Québec, as well as Canadian and international foundations, individuals, corporations and partner organizations.

Donate Now
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