The Impact Award for Disability Research, established in 2026 by the Canadian Foundation for Physically Disabled Persons (CFPDP), recognizes outstanding contributions to disability research in Canada.

The award, created by CFPDP’s Founding Chair, The Honourable Vim Kochhar, is in response to the limited number of major honours dedicated specifically to this field. Inspired in part by the 2025 induction of Dr. Tom Chau of Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital into the Canadian Disability Hall of Fame, recognizing his work in advancing communication technologies for children and youth with severe physical disabilities, the Foundation sought to establish a national platform to celebrate Canadian researchers who are creating similar impact.

The inaugural award will be presented at CFPDP’s 43rd Annual Great Valentine Gala on February 13, 2027, and annually thereafter.

The Impact Award for Disability Research is intentionally broad, welcoming nominations of Canadian mid- and senior-career investigators from across disciplines whose work meaningfully improves the lives of people with physical disabilities. This includes, but is not limited to, investigators from the social sciences and policy; urban planning; sciences pertaining to accessibility relating to media, transportation, housing, built-environment, public spaces, employment and education; engineering and assistive technology; and health disciplines including nursing, medicine, speech-language pathology, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, music therapy, psychology and social work.

The award recognizes an individual whose active program of research has had a significant impact on the lives of people with physical disabilities. It focuses on demonstrated real-world impact, not lifetime achievement.

You are eligible if you are:

• Conducting research in Canada
• A mid- to senior-career researcher (>10 years of research experience as an independent investigator)
• Demonstrating measurable real-world impact for disabled persons
• Producing work with sustained or future benefit
• A Canadian citizen or permanent resident

How applications are evaluated:
Applications will be reviewed by an independent national Selection Board of Canadian experts in disability research, health sciences, applied innovation and lived experience. In the case of a tie, the Award Co-Chairs will decide on the winner.

Co-Chairs:
Dr. Tom Chau, Senior Scientist, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital
Kris Shah, Co-Founder & Co-Executive Chair of the Board, Baylis Medical Technologies

The winner of the Impact Award for Disability Research will be honoured for their research and receive $100,000. This personal award is payable directly to the recipient, not to their institution, and may not be shared.

Important to note:
Once a nomination form has been started, it may be saved and revisited for editing for up to 30 days from the date of saving, or until the submission deadline of October 16, 2026, whichever occurs first.

CFPDP will not pursue outstanding information; nominations that are incomplete will not be considered.

Submissions anticipated from, but not limited to:

Key Dates

Submission deadline: 11:59 pm, October 16, 2026 (EST)
Recipient announcement: Early February 2027
Award presentation: February 13, 2027

CFPDP is committed to maintaining the highest standards of fairness, transparency and integrity. Selection Board members will be required to declare any real or perceived conflicts of interest, including relationships with nominees from their institutions, professional networks or research teams, and to recuse themselves from the review and scoring of any nomination where impartiality could reasonably be questioned.

In the event of a tie following scoring and deliberation, the final determination will be made by the Award Co-Chairs. This decision shall be final and binding, and neither CFPDP, the Selection Board, nor the Co-Chairs will enter into further correspondence or discussion regarding the outcome.

Expenses (non-transferable) will be covered for the award recipient to attend a press conference on February 12, 2027 and The Great Valentine Gala, as follows :

• Canada-wide economy return flight (non-transferable)
• Airport transfers
• Up to three nights of hotel accommodation (check-in February 11 — check-out February 14)