Strategic Initiatives
Nearly all of CIHR's Strategic Initiatives involve collaboration between two or more of CIHR's Institutes as well as partnerships with organizations that include other federal and provincial government departments and agencies, national and provincial funding organizations and relevant territorial departments, health charities, non-governmental organizations, and industry. Their purpose is to offer strategic funding opportunities focusing on a specific research agenda. In the case of four key strategic priorities, CIHR's Governing Council has specifically endorsed a joint, cross-cutting effort involving all thirteen Institutes.
- Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA)
The fundamental goal of this initiative is to mobilize experts in the community to generate a longitudinal research platform based on a protocol developed through expert advice and three international peer reviews.
- Drug Safety and Effectiveness Network (DSEN)
The Drug Safety and Effectiveness Network (DSEN) is being established to increase the evidence on the post-market safety and effectiveness of drugs available to decision makers across the Canadian health care system and to increase capacity within Canada to undertake high-quality research in this area. CIHR, in partnership with Health Canada, is establishing the Network as part of the Government of Canada's Food and Consumer Safety Action Plan (FCSAP).
- HIV/AIDS Research Initiative
This initiative manages and oversees the research components of the two major Government of Canada initiatives in HIV/AIDS.
- Regenerative Medicine and Nanomedicine Initiative (RMNI)
This initiative is co-led by the Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction and the Institute of Genetics. RMNI and its partners provide support for research in nanomedicine, gene therapy, stem cells, tissue engineering, and rehabilitation sciences. The fundamental goal of this initiative is the development of meaningful multi‑disciplinary research approaches to regenerative medicine and nanomedicine. This necessitates the integration of the physical, engineering, computational and chemical sciences, among others, with the health sciences. These approaches need to balance consideration of the social, cultural and ethical impacts of these novel technologies with key rehabilitation and accessibility issues, as well as the potential economic costs of such treatments. Research into the maintenance of health or prevention of disease and degeneration is also encompassed by this initiative.
- Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR)
The overarching goal of the Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR) is to translate research results into improved health outcomes for Canadians. For patients, this means receiving better diagnoses, treatments and outcomes in a timely manner. For health care practitioners, this means obtaining the latest evidence-based medical information that will enable them to deliver the recommended care to the right patient at the right time. For scientists, this means enhanced resources to test new therapies and produce better research output. For hospitals and other health care institutions, this gives them the ability to attract the best and the brightest minds in health care. For governments, this aims to create a more cost-effective delivery of health care in fields such as primary care and chronic disease management as well as an overall improved health system.
- Strategic Training Initiative in Health Research (STIHR)
The Strategic Training Initiative in Health Research (STIHR) was implemented by CIHR as a way for Canada to increase its competitiveness internationally in attracting new, bright, creative research talent and to ensure innovation and excellence in the next generation of Canadian health research training programs. Through the STIHR, individual training programs receive funding primarily targeted towards supporting research trainees through stipends. Funding for these training programs is provided by CIHR and its partners in the government, voluntary and private sectors.
