ICRH Mandate

To support research into causes, mechanisms, prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, support systems, and palliation for a wide range of conditions associated with the heart, lung, brain (stroke), blood vessels, blood, sleep and critical and intensive care.

ICRH Research Areas

Research areas include, but are not limited to:

• Health promotion policies and strategies (individual, community and population levels).
• Health determinants - to elucidate the multi-dimensional factors that affect the health of populations and lead to a differential prevalence of health concerns.
• Identification of health advantage and health risk factors related to the interaction of environments (cultural, social, psychological, behavioural, physical, genetic).
• Disease and disability prevention strategies at the individual and population levels.
• Clinical research and health outcomes research (e.g. drug therapies, treatment and diagnostic technologies, surgical interventions including organ and tissue transplantation, treatment and care models).
• Design and implementation of health services delivery - from prevention, to screening, to diagnosis, to intervention or treatment, to rehabilitation, to palliation.
• Development and implementation of health technologies and tools (e.g. drug design, drug delivery systems, imaging, medical devices, biomaterials).
• Development, function and regulation of the heart, lung, blood and blood vessels at the genetic, molecular, cellular, organ and systems levels.
• Cerebrovascular system and stroke.
• Biological mechanisms of disease and dysfunction associated with the heart, lung, blood, blood vessels and brain (with respect to stroke).
• Ethics issues related to research, care strategies, and access to care (e.g. transplantation, genetic modification, end of life issues).

*$20 billion, 15% of all health costs

What has been happening at the ICRH?

• Establishing space, staff, communications.
• Visiting institutions to learn about opportunities and issues.
• Working with existent partners and the Institute Advisory Board (IAB) to formulate draft transitional strategic initiatives and research priorities.

What else is new at the ICRH?

• Successfully re-launched the Clinical Research Initiative (CRI).
• Launched a workshop support program.
• Launched a New Frontiers Program in Clinical Imaging.
• Participated in the development of two national strategies (Canadian Heart Health Strategy and Canadian Respiratory Guidelines).
• Hosting a Leadership in Science Forum for senior trainees and new investigators.
• Revamping the very successful YI Forum.
• Developed a Knowledge Translation (KT) framework with many cutting edge activities planned including a Fall Institute on KT 2007.

ICRH - Initial Strategic Directions

• Launched workshop support grant.
• RFA on Clinical Imaging.
• Planning future strategic directions at March 1st retreat.

Possible Foci for Strategic Initiatives at the ICRH?

Possible strategic directions being explored include:

• Bio-behavioural and psychological linkages and social and economic aspects of cardiopulmonary disease.
• Physiology of maintaining health and pathophysiology of early onset cardiopulmonary disease.
• January 2007 survey of the research community to assist in priority setting.

ICRH Institute Advisory Board (IAB)

• 18 Members: researchers, voluntary sector, public citizens, private sector, governmental agencies, international community.
• Expertise: physiology, molecular biology, signal transduction, vascular biology, imaging, nursing, cardiology, respiratory medicine, critical care, hypertension, stroke, transfusion medicine, blood sciences, health services, environmental health, diabetic vascular/cardiac disorders, pediatrics, epidemiology, biostatistics, health economics, industry.
• Lori West, MD, PhD (Chair)
  Paul W. Armstrong, MD
  Yves Berthiaume, MD, MSc
  Dr. Jacques de Champlain, Université de Montréal
  Dr. Dana Devine, Canadian Blood Services
  Dr. Gregory Downey, University of Toronto
  Peter Glynn, PhD
  Tara Haas, PhD
  Dr. Pavel Hamet, CHUM Research Centre
  Qutayba Hamid, MD, PhD
  Kathryn King, PhD
  Andreas Laupacis, MD, MSc, FRCPC
  Jean Marion, PhD
  Graham Nichol, MD
  Benjamin Rusak, PhD
  Brian Rutt, PhD
  Raphael Saginur, MD, FRCPC
  Sylvie Stachenko, MD, MSc, FCFP

ICRH Staff

Toronto office:

• Fiona Webster, MA, PhD (cand.) Assistant Director
  Knowledge Translation
• Tina Lawton, Project Manager
• Kimberly Burke, Administrative Coordinator

Ottawa office:

• Ilana Kogan-Gombos, PhD, Assistant Director
• Christine Lavictoire, Project Manager, Evaluation
• Katherine Gardner, BA, Project Officer

CIHR Definition of KT

Knowledge translation is the exchange, synthesis and ethically-sound application of knowledge - within a complex system of interactions among researchers and users - to accelerate the capture of the benefits of research for Canadians through improved health, more effective services and products, and a strengthened health care system.

The Knowledge Cycle

KT Within the Knowledge Cycle

Two broad categories of KT at CIHR

1. KT woven into the research process (integrated/embedded KT)
2. End of grant KT (or Phase II funding)

ICRH Approach to KT

Phase I - Knowledge Creation (Imbedded KT)

• An essential component of KT is ensuring that, whenever possible or relevant, "end users" are involved in the development of research.
• Need to develop mechanism for linking researchers with appropriate stakeholders at the beginning of research projects.

Phase I: Suggested KT Activities

• Inclusion of relevancy statements in proposals.
• Inclusion of anticipated impact of findings (keeping in mind that this is often unknown until after the study) and the involvement of stakeholders when appropriate.
• Phase I, II, and III models being considered by CIHR.
• Research priority setting based on synthesis of current knowledge in the field.
• Require reporting at end of grant and evaluate.
• Find way to differentiate between research with short-term benefit vs. long-term benefit.

Phase II - Dissemination

• In addition to traditional dissemination strategies, a "lay summary" statement will be required by applicants.
• Ongoing efforts to move beyond traditional scientific journals/conferences.
• Guidelines less likely to be taken up by clinicians.

Phase II: Suggested Activities

• Establish who "the community" is and the best ways to access them.
• Create tools for public engagement, for example websites, community newsletters, media, etc.
• Develop evaluation indicators for communication activities, including e-newsletter, etc.

Phase III - Knowledge Implementation

• Impact can be conceptual, symbolic or instrumental (Ian Graham 2006).
• Keep in mind that little is translatable from a single study.
• ICRH/CIHR has no control over how research findings are implemented and can only fund research.
• However, we can fund research to develop implementation strategies ("implementation science").

Planned ICRH KT Products

• ICRH brochures
• Researcher profiles for website
• List of key experts
• Networks being established
• Interactive links with communities (through surveys, etc.)
• Web-based Guidelines for KT at CIHR
• Fall Institute on KT

ICRH and Canadian Respiratory Guidelines Implementation

• Funded current workshop.
• Hoping to establish best practices in guideline implementation for our research communities.

Watch for exciting new updates on the ICRH-KT website or call us at 416-340-4962.