• Applied Chairs in Health Services and Policy Research
• Emerging Team in Applied Health Services and Policy Research
• Priority Announcement: Fellowships
• Partnerships for Health System Improvement (PHSI)

Funding opportunities have been identified in the following priority areas:

1. Access to Appropriate Care across the Continuum 
2. Health Information 
3. Drug Policy 
4. Themes identified in the Listening for Direction III national consultation exercise 
5. Other priority areas, including:
   • Health Services for Genetics Diseases
   • Patient Safety

Please note that the upcoming October letter of intent (LOI) or application deadlines are fast approaching!

CIHR's contribution to these initiatives is subject to availability of funds voted annually to CIHR by parliamentary appropriations, and the conditions that may be attached to them.

1. Access to Appropriate Care across the Continuum

Canadians expect timely, co-ordinated access to high quality and safe healthcare services, and expect the health services and treatments they receive to be based on the best and most current evidence, and to improve their health and quality of life. Meeting these expectations is a challenge for federal, provincial and territorial governments alike. For the most part, decision makers are aware of the problems, disparities and barriers that exist. But they need evidence-informed approaches and implementation strategies to improve access to, and the quality of, appropriate care across the continuum. This includes effective approaches to the planning, management and training of health human resources, improving healthcare safety, and strategic management of wait times, including the appropriateness, prioritization, length and management of the waiting experience.

Increasingly, Canadians receive care outside hospitals in a range of community settings from various healthcare providers, including primary care, long-term care, home care, mental health, etc. Policy makers, managers and providers need evidence on effective interventions and practical solutions to improve healthcare across the continuum, whether publicly or privately financed, as well as the means to overcome barriers to change. The healthcare system must place greater emphasis on chronic disease prevention and management and address the unique needs of at-risk, minority, and rural and remote communities more effectively.

The following will be funded under Access to Appropriate Care across the Continuum:

Applied Chairs (LOI Deadline: 2007-10-15)

• Community-based Healthcare (CIHR) 
• Primary Healthcare Reform (CIHR / Canadian Health Services Research Foundation)
• Health Human Resources (CIHR / Health Canada)

Emerging Teams (LOI Deadline: 2007-11-01)

• Health Human Resources (CIHR / Health Canada)
• Strategic Management for Timely Treatment (CIHR / Health Canada) 
• Models of Care to Improve Access and Delivery for Musculoskeletal Oral or Skin Diseases and Conditions (CIHR)

2. Health Information

The Romanow report emphasized the urgent need to establish an information infrastructure to support reform efforts in Canada's healthcare system, and subsequent discussions have continued to stress the importance of IT investment in healthcare transformation. There is a recognized need to implement electronic health records (EHRs), increase the complement of electronic databases, and improve the compatibility and intra-operability of data across jurisdictions. But a significant gap in the understanding of the impact of health information systems on quality, safety, access and productivity remains. Understanding the impact is critical to shaping future investments and encouraging clinicians to adopt e-Health solutions. In addition, researchers need to conduct timely, cross-jurisdictional health services and policy research using electronic resources. National frameworks are needed to support the secondary use of data by decision makers and researchers.

The following will be funded under Health Information:

Applied Chair (LOI Deadline: 2007-10-15)

• e-Health (CIHR / Infoway)

Emerging Team (LOI Deadline: 2007-11-01)

• Health Information (CIHR) 

3. Drug Policy

Prescription medications are a vital part of the Canadian healthcare system. They save lives, treat diseases and improve the quality of life for many. As well as improving lives, drugs have helped ease the burden of use in the healthcare system. However, prescription drug use presents several challenges. For example, it is the fastest growing and second largest category of healthcare expenditure in Canada. While governments have concerns about sustainability, citizens expect the latest drugs to be available to them, regardless of cost. There are also concerns about drug safety. Governments are endeavouring to address these challenges and ensure both good health outcomes and system sustainability.

First Ministers have agreed that no Canadian should suffer undue financial hardship in accessing needed drug therapies, and that affordable access to drugs is fundamental to equitable health outcomes for all Canadians. The National Pharmaceuticals Strategy was established to address the challenges and opportunities across the drug lifecycle related to access; safety, effectiveness and appropriate use; and sustainability. Further research in these areas is required to provide the best evidence to support drug policy development and initiatives.

The following will be funded under Drug Policy:

Applied Chair (LOI Deadline: 2007-10-15)

• Ontario Drug Policy (CIHR / Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care)

Emerging Teams (LOI Deadline: 2007-11-01)

• Effectiveness, Safety and Adverse Events (CIHR) 
• Policies for Equitable Access to Medications (CIHR / Health Canada)

Fellowships (Application Deadline: 2007-10-01)

• Four (4) Ontario Drug Policy Fellowships (CIHR / Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care)

4. Listening for Direction III

The latest round of national consultations, Listening for Direction III (LfD III), was launched in 2007 and consisted of nine consultation workshops held coast to coast across the country from February to April. Participants in the LfD III consultations included policy makers, managers, researchers, and representatives of health-related organisations (i.e., non-governmental organisations and voluntary health organisations). Participants were asked to identify new short- medium- and long-term priority issues likely to confront policy makers and managers in the healthcare system. The themes identified as priority areas for research funding are outlined in the LfD III report (expected July 2007).

Applied Chair (LOI Deadline: 2007-10-15)

• Chair in "Listening for Direction III" theme areas (CIHR)

Emerging Teams (LOI Deadline: 2007-11-01)

• Two (2) Teams in "Listening for Direction III" theme areas (CIHR)

Fellowships (Application Deadline: 2007-10-01)

• Three (3) Fellowships in "Listening for Direction III" theme areas (CIHR)
• Fellowship in Public Involvement / Citizen Engagement (CIHR) 
• Fellowship in Chronic Disease Prevention and Management (CIHR)

Partnerships for Health System Improvement (PHSI) (LOI Deadline: 2007-10-01)

The Partnerships for Health System Improvement (PHSI) initiative supports teams of researchers and decision makers interested in conducting applied health research useful to health system managers and/or policy makers in areas identified as high priority in the Listening for Direction III national consultations. Approximately $3 million is available from CIHR and partners for this program, subject to availability of funds and the conditions attached to them.

5. Other Priority Areas

Health Services for Genetic Diseases

Emerging Teams (LOI Deadline: 2007-11-01)

• Two (2) Teams in Health Services for Genetic Diseases (CIHR)

For further information on other funding opportunities in Health Services for Genetic Diseases, please visit the Institute of Genetics.

Patient Safety

Applied Chair (LOI Deadline: 2007-10-15)

• Patient Safety in Community-Based Settings (CIHR / Canadian Patient Safety Institute)