Contributors
Laura Cleghorn, Managing Director, Research
Bethany Elliott, PCRC Administrative Director
Whether you’re dreaming about a new teaching tool or clinical intervention, curious about using EMR data to answer a clinical question, or wanting to write a scoping review, the DFM Fund is here to help you bring that idea to life. The fund is an internal award designed to support research and scholarship that actually matters to primary care—and to help build up your own research skills along the way.
Past projects have tackled a diverse range of topics using a variety of methods:
- Co-creation of vignettes to better understand the learning needs of family medicine teachers
- A survey of providers and patients on their perceptions of dementia prevention in primary care
- A qualitative study on the impact of OHIP’s three-month wait on pregnant newcomers
- A pilot and feasibility study to evaluate the effectiveness of modifications to N95 masks to improve fit for bearded individuals
- A retrospective chart review to assess the patient profile and emergent findings on the impact of the Program for Substance Use in Pregnancy (PROSPR) program
Up to 10 projects are funded annually for $5,000 to $10,000 over two years. There are dedicated funding streams for medical education, palliative care, and knowledge translation projects.
Take-away Tidbits
- If you’re new to this and want extra support, you can submit a two-page letter of intent by October 1, 2025. Information on what to include in your letter is included in the DFM Fund application package.
- Full applications are due December 8, 2025. Please review the DFM Fund website and application package for a detailed overview of what to include in your proposal.
- Eligibility: The Principal Investigator’s primary academic affiliation must be with DFM at McMaster University and projects must be relevant to primary care.
Resources
Check out the resources and past projects on the DFM Fund webpage or contact the friendly staff at DFM for additional support and guidance.