PHSI program: Revitalized, Strengthened and Improved
CIHR's Partnerships for Health System Improvement (PHSI) program has been revitalized, strengthened and improved.
The PHSI program supports teams of researchers and decision makers interested in conducting applied and policy-relevant health systems and services research that responds to the needs of health care decision makers and strengthens the Canadian health care system.
With PHSI, you can make a difference. Research is more likely to be used in policy and practice when researchers work hand-in-hand with decision makers.
PHSI Revitalized: What you need to know
- Partnership development funds are now available. To help support the formation and development of partnerships between researchers and decision makers interested in applying to the PHSI program, CIHR now offers up to $15,000 per year in partnership development funds. These funds are provided through a "Meeting, Planning and Dissemination Grant," which is available three times per year in April, June and December.
- The PHSI Letter of Intent stage has been eliminated. To expedite the research process, the PHSI Letter of Intent (LOI) stage has been eliminated.
- CIHR funding has increased. PHSI teams can now apply for up to $500,000 per grant (including CIHR and partnership funding) for a maximum of three years.
- Partnership funding can be in-kind or cash. Partner support must be 30 per cent (up to $150,000) for applications in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec and 20 per cent (up to $100,000) for applications in all other provinces. In-kind contributions are recognized, especially where they reflect meaningful collaboration that will increase the likely success of the project.
- Eligible research areas have been expanded. Previously restricted to the Listening for Direction themes, the revitalized PHSI now welcomes any health systems and services research questions deemed relevant by Canada's health care decision makers.
- PHSI welcomes a diversity of decision maker partners. "Decision maker" is broadly defined as an individual who makes decisions about, or influences, health policies or practices. This includes practitioners, educators, health care administrators, elected officials, the media, health charities, patient user groups or the private sector working at the community, municipal, provincial or national level.
Upcoming opportunities
- PHSI Partnership Development Funds: CIHR will launch a Meetings, Planning and Dissemination Grant for PHSI Partnership Development Funds in April, June and December of each year.
- Full PHSI Application: A call for applications for the revitalized PHSI program will be launched in June 2009 and annually thereafter.
Have questions?
To learn more about the revitalized PHSI program and partnership opportunities, contact Meghan McMahon at meghan.mcmahon@utoronto.ca.
To learn about upcoming funding guidelines and funding opportunities, contact PHSI program staff at PHSI-PASS@cihr-irsc.gc.ca or visit the PHSI website.
From research to action
"I see the PHSI research as instrumental in guiding our policies on breast screening in future years."
- Andy Coldman, Vice President Population & Preventive Oncology, BC Cancer Agency
"The PHSI program allows us to develop partnerships across the province and the country, partnerships that simply could not exist otherwise."
- Jeanne Besner, Director of the Health Systems and Workforce Research Unit in the Calgary Health Region
"One of the most important things about PHSI is that it brings together decision makers from across the country to share best practices and lessons learned. Without PHSI, we would not have had this valuable interaction with our decision maker partners."
- Roger Chafe, Cancer Care Ontario & University of Toronto
"PHSI enabled us to work on the ground with partners and gave our project validity because the problems we addressed were identified by the partners themselves and not by academics"
- Margaret Denton, Professor of Sociology, McMaster University
"It has been my experience that involvement of decision makers from the inception of this project has both increased the depth and relevance of the work, and affords the greatest potential for uptake."
- Peter C. Coyte, Professor of Health Economics, University of Toronto
