Initiatives
Research in priority areas

Priority-driven research refers to initiatives created by the Government of Canada to investigate pressing health issues that are of strategic importance to our country.

These initiatives respond to the changing health needs and priorities of Canadians across all aspects of health, including biomedical research, clinical research, research respecting health systems, health services, the health of populations, societal and cultural dimensions of health and environmental influences on health, and other research as required.

The goal of priority-driven health research is to advance health knowledge and its application, in specific areas of research identified by CIHR in consultation with other government departments, partners and stakeholders, in order to improve health systems and/or improve health outcomes in these priority areas. Grants are disbursed to fund research or to provide career or training support.

Approximately one-quarter of CIHR's $1 billion budget is provided to support priority-driven research. More information can be found in our strategic plan.

Additional initiatives, led by CIHR Institutes, can be found via the Institutes websites.

CIHR Initiatives
Clinical Trials at CIHR
CIHR is strengthening the clinical trials ecosystem to improve health care and health outcomes for all Canadians.
National Standards for Mental Health Services
The National Standards for Mental Health Services Initiative supports research to inform the development of national standards for mental health and/or substance use services so Canadians can access the support they need, when they need it.
100 Years of Insulin: Accelerating Canadian Discoveries to Defeat Diabetes
Over the past century, our understanding of diabetes has increased considerably, as have the options for treatment. However, more work needs to be done.
Healthy Cities Research Initiative
The HCRI is a strategic program with the overarching goal of improving population and public health across Canada by ensuring urban environments are maximizing their potential for supporting health and minimizing factors that contribute to poor health.
Integrated Cannabis Research Strategy
The overarching vision of the ICRS is that a well-coordinated series of activities can position Canada to be a world leader in developing the research capacity and amassing the research evidence needed to appropriately roll out policy and regulatory models for non-medical cannabis use.
Community-Based Primary Health Care (CBPHC)
The CBPHC Signature Initiative supports innovative approaches to improving the delivery of appropriate and high-quality community-based primary health care to Canadians. CBPHC covers services across the continuum of care, from health promotion and disease prevention to rehabilitation support, home care and end-of-life care.
Canadian Research Data Centre Network (CRDCN)
Through its Research Data Centres, CRDCN offers researchers secure access to an array of social, economic and health microdata that are collected and administered by Statistics Canada.
Canadian Research Initiative in Substance Matters (CRISM)
CRISM is a national research consortium in substance misuse that focuses on translation and implementation and is cross-pillar in nature.
Environments and Health
The Environments and Health initiative will support research focused on etiology, data platform enhancement and intersectoral prevention.
Healthy LifeIndigenous Healthy Life Trajectories Initiative (I-HeLTI)
I-HeLTI is focused on enabling the development of Indigenous focused interventions designed to improve health outcomes across the lifespan for Indigenous boys, girls, women, men, gender-diverse and Two-Spirit individuals in Canada.
Healthy Life Trajectories Initiative (HeLTI)
HeLTI is focused on shaping international policy around intervention during the earliest stages of life for the improvement of health and the prevention of later life non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, respiratory diseases and mental health.
Healthy and Productive Work
The Healthy and Productive Work Initiative is responding to important demographic trends with innovative and multi-disciplinary interventions that will support a healthy and productive Canadian workforce.
Personalized Medicine
This initiative aims to transform the delivery of healthcare to patients by integrating evidence-based medicine and precision diagnostics into clinical practice.
Personalized Health
This initiative aims to develop new evidence-based, targeted health solutions through investments in tools and approaches that will contribute to more cost-effective, sustainable healthcare.
Brain Health and Cognitive Impairment in Aging Research Initiative
Through the Brain Health and Cognitive Impairment in Aging (BHCIA) Research Initiative, CIHR's Institute of Aging will promote brain health during aging while addressing the complex care needs of people living with dementia and their caregivers.
Canadian Epigenetics, Environment and Health Research Consortium (CEEHRC)
CEEHRC supports leading edge research on the role of DNA and environment interactions in human health and disease and translating epigenetic discoveries into better clinical care and outcomes for patients.
Evidence-Informed Health Care Renewal (EIHR)
The EIHR initiative has supported researchers and decision makers to strengthen Canada's health care systems by advancing the current state of knowledge, generating novel and creative solutions, and translating evidence for uptake into policy and practice.
eHealth Innovations
The initiative aims to develop, integrate, and evaluate patient-oriented eHealth innovations that will improve health outcomes and lower the cost of care.
Drug Safety and Effectiveness Network (DSEN)
The objective of DSEN is to increase the evidence for decision-makers and build research capacity on the safety and effectiveness of drugs and biologics in real world settings.
Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR)
The objective of SPOR is to foster evidence-informed health care by bringing innovative diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to the point of care, so as to ensure greater quality, accountability, and accessibility of care.
Inflammation in Chronic Disease
This initiative will support research teams to undertake innovative research in the field of chronic inflammation.
HIV/AIDS and STBBI Research Initiative
This initiative manages and oversees the research components of the two major Government of Canada initiatives in HIV/AIDS and STBBI: the Federal Initiative to Address HIV/AIDS and STBBI in Canada and the Canadian HIV Vaccine Initiative.
Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA)
The CLSA is a national research platform, collecting information on the biological, medical, psychological, social, lifestyle and economic aspects of people's lives to understand their impact both in maintaining health and in the development of disease and disability as people age.
Pathways to Health Equity for Aboriginal Peoples (Pathways)
This initiative aims to develop the evidence base in how to design, offer and implement programs and policies that promote health and health equity in four priority areas: mental wellness, tuberculosis, diabetes/obesity and oral health.
Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)
To address this global health problem, the AMR research initiatives will foster the development of new methods and tools to combat antimicrobial resistance and improve antimicrobial use.
Hepatitis C Research Initiative
CIHR and the Public Health Agency of Canada are working collaboratively to support, promote and enhance hepatitis C associated research and training in Canada.
Health Research Rapid Response
CIHR is leading Canada's research response to prepare for and respond to existing and emerging threats, such as Ebola.
Collaborative Health Research Projects
Collaborative Health Research Projects (CHRP) is a joint initiative between the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).
Research in Substance Use
This research contributes to the knowledge and evidence base that supports the Canadian Drugs and Substances Strategy to help ensure that Canada's drug policies better protect and promote the health and safety of Canadians.
Transitions in Care
The goal of the Transitions in Care (TiC) initiative is to improve the health and wellness of Canadians by supporting research that transforms the health system to optimize the outcomes of individuals experiencing transitions in care.
Network Environments for Indigenous Health Research (NEIHR)
The network is intended to provide supportive research environments for Indigenous health research driven by, and grounded in, First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities in Canada.
COVID-19 and Mental Health (CMH) Initiative
Initiative supporting the mental health of Canadians in the COVID-19 context.
Post-traumatic Stress Injuries (PTSI) among Public Safety Personnel (PSP)
Budget 2018 committed $20 million over five years to support a new joint initiative between the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment (CIPSRT) to address post-traumatic stress injuries (PTSI) among public safety personnel (PSP).
Indigenous initiatives and programs
CIHR strives to build respectful and meaningful relationships with First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples, including Urban Indigenous communities, through the establishment of research environments that are socially, spiritually, emotionally and physically safe.
Pediatric Cancer Research Initiative
The Pediatric Cancer Research Initiative supports research, capacity building, and knowledge mobilization that will address gaps and challenges in pediatric cancer to achieve better health outcomes and better quality of life for those affected by pediatric cancer.
Integrated Youth Services Network of Networks (IYS-Net) Initiative
The Integrated Youth Services Network of Networks (IYS-Net) initiative will work with partners and stakeholders across the country to fund research to help create a Canada-wide network of provincial and territorial learning health systems for Integrated Youth Services.
Transforming Health with Integrated Care
The Transforming Health with Integrated Care (THINC) research initiative aims to improve our understanding of how to implement, evaluate, adapt and/or spread and scale (share) evidence-informed integrated care policies and interventions that encompass intersectoral collaborations within and/or beyond the formal health care delivery system in order to advance the Quadruple Aim and health equity.
National Women’s Health Research Initiative
The National Women’s Health Research Initiative will advance a coordinated research program that addresses under-researched and high-priority areas of women’s health and will ensure new evidence improves women’s and gender-diverse people’s care and health outcomes.
CIHR Rare Disease Research Initiative
Part of the Government of Canada’s National Strategy for Drugs for Rare Diseases, this research initiative aims to advance rare disease research in Canada and maximize collaboration to improve the lives of those living with a rare disease and their families.
Date modified: