top of page
Portrait of Samson with arms crossed in a suit.
J. Édouard Samson

ORTHOPAEDIC RESEARCH AWARDS

J. Édouard Samson Award

The premier award for orthopaedic research in Canada, the J. Édouard Samson Award, recognizes the best career orthopaedic research over a period of five (5) years or more at a Canadian centre. This $30,000 award is intended to promote further research by the recipient. The recipient will present their research at the Annual General Meeting of the Canadian Orthopaedic Association (presentation opportunity to be determined). The award consists of an educational grant and a personal research grant to be used by the recipient at the Canadian institution where they currently reside.

​

This award is decided based on review and recommendation by the Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation’s Research Committee to the Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation’s Board of Directors.

Deadline for Submissions

November 30, 2026

​​

Application submissions will be acknowledged via email. Extensions will not be granted. 

​

Decisions will be communicated by March 29th, 2027.

​

Please read this document in its entirety before submitting an application.

​

With questions or concerns, please email research@canorth.org, or call Helen Van Dongen at 416-805-6516. 

​​

Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation

PO Box 1036, Toronto, ON M5K 1P2

Criteria for Awards

  • Applicant must be a Canadian citizen, or landed immigrant.

  • Applicant must be an orthopaedic surgeon, and must be a member in good standing of the Canadian Orthopaedic Research Society.

  • Applicant must be working in a Canadian orthopaedic centre, both at the time of application and at the award’s receipt.

  • Eligibility extends to fifteen (15) years after the applicant obtains their fellowship in orthopaedic surgery from the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada, or completion of a subsequent research fellowship, MSc or PhD. Eligibility may be extended if personal leave was taken during the 15-year period (e.g., parental or medical leave). To ensure the review panel takes this into consideration, include details regarding the date/s, duration, and type/s of leave.

  • The research must be a significant body of work undertaken over approximately five (5) years at a Canadian centre.

Amount of Funding

The J. Édouard Samson Award is in the amount of up to $50,000. The total amount of funding may vary each year, as a result of the level of donations to the research program. It is the endeavor of the Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation to disburse the funds available from the research program each year, less expenses incurred.

Deadline

Grant applications must be received via email by November 30, 2026.

Review Process

The applications will be reviewed by the Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation’s Research Review Panel, with their recommended recipient approved by the COF Board of Directors.  The final decision will be communicated by March 29, 2027.

Disbursement of Awards

The successful applicant is expected to arrange the method of funds disbursement with the Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation. If funds have been awarded, but arrangements have not been made for transfer of these funds three (3) months from the date of awarding of the grant, the funds are to be returned to the COF.

​

Details:

  • Typically paid within 4 weeks of award announcement.

  • Educational Grant

    • A minimum of $5,000 to be used specifically by the recipient for musculoskeletal education, in a manner that aligns with the COF’s mission – to achieve excellence in bone and joint health and mobility by advancing musculoskeletal research, education and care – including, but not limited to:

      • Registration fees or travel costs for the recipient to attend an othopaedic educational meeting within Canada for the purpose of learning or presenting (airfares must be economy class only).

      • Purchase of research/educational computer hardware to support the recipient’s orthopaedic career/research.

      • Membership fees for the Canadian Orthopaedic Association, or other orthopaedic scholarly groups.

  • Personal Research Grant

    • A minimum of $22,500 to be used specifically by the recipient at the Canadian institution where they currently reside.  This award is intended to promote further research by the recipient – either for the successful project for which they applied, or for new musculoskeletal research project/s.  All costs of research projects ae allowable as outlined under the policies of the university where the recipient resides, including indirect (overhead) costs, if applicable.  Where overhead costs are included, the rate should be the COF’s standard rate of 1%, or the university’s standard rate, if lower.

Administration and Timing

  • The start date of the J. Édouard Samson Award will be the date the award is announced.

  • The end date will be two years from the start date.

  • A high-resolution headshot of the recipient, a short bio (approximately 100 words), and a non-technical summary of the body of work for use in the COF’s public material must be submitted by the recipient within 10 days of notification of successful application.

  • The recipient will recognize the Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation, as well as any other applicable sponsor/s, in their presentation at the Canadian Orthopaedic Association Annual Meeting.  (All relevant logos and other information will be provided to the recipient.)

  • Educational Grant

  • A financial report from the institution holding the grant is to be submitted to the COF upon:

  • Complete spend of the grant, or

  • 12 and 24 months after the date of the grant award

  • Personal Research Grant

  • A written progress report of the work carried out through the utilization of the grant, and a financial report from the institution holding the grant are to be submitted to the COF 12 months after the date of the grant award.

  • Final financial and written scientific reports are to be submitted to the COF 24 months after the date of the grant award, indicating what has resulted from grant support, fugure directions of the research project, and any other significant information.

  • It is expected that funds awarded will be spent as allocated within the 24-month period. If funds remain, an explanatory request for an extension must be included with the 24-month report. Extension requests will be decided by the COF Research Committee, based on the explanation provided. If no extension is requested, the remaining funds are to be returned to the COF.

  • The Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation is a public charitable organization funded by donor contributions and, as such, informs donors and other interested parties about research grants and awards funded.

Application Procedures

The J. Édouard Samson Award recognizes a body of completed work;  therefore, there is no application form, as such. To request consideration for the Award, submit the following (the quality of each component is considered equally):

​

  • A cover letter (maximum 400 words) outlining:

  • The evolution of the research hypothesis

  • Most significant research observation

  • The clinical significance and application of this research

  • A letter signed by the applicant, the department head, and the dean (or designate) of the university, containing the following statement:
    “The work in the attached research publication entitled [enter summary title of your research] represents novel research by the applicant and has been appropriately reviewed for conflicts of interest and ethical concerns.”

  • No more than five (5) (maximum) relevant peer-reviewed papers.

  • A complete CV (CIHR format or other).

 

The first two items above (i.e., letters) must be formatted as follows:

  • 12-point sans serif font (smaller text acceptable in tables, charts, figures, and graphs)

  • black/grayscale only

  • letter size (8.5" x 11") pages

  • page margins no less than 2cm (3/4")

Apply Online

bottom of page