Volunteers are the backbone of CIHR's reputation for excellence. They help to set research priorities and strategic directions, ensure that CIHR funding is allocated only to the very best research proposals, and provide accountability, not only to the people of Canada, the source of CIHR funding, but also to the research community.

CIHR is pleased to recognize the dedication of the thousands of expert and community reviewers, Institute Advisory Board members, university delegates and committee members who so generously volunteered their time and expertise to CIHR in 2006-07. CIHR thanks them for their continuing commitment to improving the lives of Canadians.

Table of Contents

Message from the President
Message from the Vice-President, Research
Governing Council
Executive Committee
Nominating Committee
President's International Advisory Committee
President's Voluntary Sector Committee
Stem Cell Oversight Committee
Standing Committee on Ethics
Standing Committee for Oversight of Grants and Awards Competitions
Standing Committee on Finance and Planning
Standing Committee on Performance Measurement, Evaluation and Audit
Institute Advisory Boards
University Delegates

Peer Review Committees
Operating Grant Programs
Research Personnel Awards Programs
Partnered Programs
Strategic Initiatives

CIHR Invited Reviewers
Community Reviewers

Message from the President

Over the past year, Canada has received worldwide recognition for CIHR's outcomes-driven, inclusive and strategic approach to health research. A prestigious International Review Panel applauded CIHR for what it has accomplished to date, noting that we are setting an example for the world. And in the United Kingdom, the Cooksey Review, which dealt with support for health research in the UK, singled out CIHR and Canada as a model to follow.

These accolades are due, in no small part, to the commitment that literally thousands of volunteers have shown to CIHR and their willingness to invest their time and expertise in ensuring the excellence and vibrancy of Canada's health research efforts.

In volunteering in this way, these individuals, who include members of CIHR's peer review committees, Institute Advisory Boards and our Governing Council, among others, are helping to achieve the ultimate goals that we all share - improved health for Canadians and for people around the world through outstanding health research.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of CIHR's volunteers for their contributions and support, past, present and future.

Dr. Alan Bernstein, O.C., FRSC, LLD (Hon)
President
Canadian Institutes of Health Research

Message from the Vice-President, Research

In the course of my work, I have the opportunity to speak with many members of our peer review committees. Each time, I reinforce to them that they are the cornerstone of CIHR's work. CIHR does not evaluate the research proposals that come into our hands and decide which ones merit funding - it is the peer reviewers who do this, who have the responsibility for deciding how taxpayers' money should be invested.

At a time when CIHR is facing increasing demand on its resources and when fewer excellent proposals can be funded, it is more important than ever before that the very best people be involved in peer review.

I believe our peer reviewers are second to none in the world. And I also believe that we have a responsibility to support them in their work. This year, CIHR heard from an International Review Panel that our peer review system is becoming too complex, with too many committees, and that our peer reviewers are beginning to suffer fatigue, in part as a result of this complexity and in part because of the increased numbers of proposals.

We are taking the panel's comments - and the comments I hear from our peer reviewers - very seriously. We are taking steps to minimize workload for our peers while maximizing their results. We are moving toward a simpler structure, with fewer committees and we are looking into strategies to make better use of our reviewers' time.

Our peer reviewers are our most important resource to achieve our objective of funding the best ideas from the brightest minds. And, like Canada's natural resources, they are abundant, but they are also finite. We value them. And we will ensure that we don't squander them.

I thank you all for your contributions to CIHR's success.

Pierre Chartrand, PhD
Vice-President, Research
Canadian Institutes of Health Research

Governing Council

CIHR's Governing Council is chaired by CIHR's President and comprises up to 20 Canadians who have been appointed by Order-in-Council to renewable three-year terms. Council members represent a wide range of backgrounds and disciplines, reflecting CIHR's broad mandate and vision.

Executive Committee

The Executive Committee exercises all powers and performs all duties of Governing Council between meetings of the Council to ensure the orderly flow of business and implementation of decisions, except for those specific responsibilities that cannot be delegated by Governing Council.

Nominating Committee

The Nominating Committee oversees the nomination process for seeking members for Governing Council, any standing committee or working group established by Governing Council, and members of the Institute Advisory Boards.

President's International Advisory Committee

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) President's International Advisory Committee (PIAC) was established to provide high-level national and international perspectives and advice on matters pertinent to the advance of Canada's health research agenda. It serves as an important forum for identifying long-range health trends, emerging research fields and global health issues and opportunities. Committee members are internationally recognized health researchers and senior leaders and policy-makers from the public and private sectors in Canada and abroad.

President's Voluntary Sector Committee

The President's Voluntary Sector Committee (PVSC) works to maximize the effectiveness of working relationships and partnerships between CIHR and the voluntary sector to in turn increase the benefits of health research.

Stem Cell Oversight Committee

The Stem Cell Oversight Committee (SCOC) will review human stem cell research funding applications submitted to CIHR and approved by CIHR's peer review committees, using considerations set forth in Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Research: Guidelines for CIHR-Funded Research. In addition, it will review stem cell research proposals submitted by other public or private granting agencies, by mutual agreement.

Standing Committee on Ethics

The Standing Committee on Ethics (SCE) will identify for Governing Council emerging ethical issues of strategic relevance with respect to health and health research. It will also provide Governing Council with high-level strategic advice on the ethical, legal and socio-cultural dimensions of CIHR's mandate as set out in the CIHR Act, at its own initiative or at the request of the Governing Council or the President.

Standing Committee for Oversight of Grants and Awards Competitions

The Standing Committee for Oversight of Grants and Awards Competitions (SCOGAC) advises Governing Council with respect to the outcomes of CIHR's competitions for research funding.

Note: The SCOGAC was disbanded January 17, 2007 and replaced by the Research and Knowledge Translation Committee (RKTC).

Standing Committee on Finance and Planning

The Standing Committee on Finance and Planning (SCFP) is mandated by Governing Council to provide direction and oversight of CIHR's financial, budgeting and strategic planning activities.

Standing Committee on Performance Measurement, Evaluation and Audit

The Standing Committee on Performance Measurement, Evaluation and Audit (SCPMEA) is mandated by Governing Council to provide oversight of CIHR's policies on evaluation, performance measurement and internal and external audit activities.