CIHR Video: Health Research for Canadians

Transcript

Audio voice over in English by Mireille Khouri, CIHR Public Affairs and French by David Coulombe, CIHR Media Relations and all audio reflects actual text slides and graphic elements within this video.

Health research – one of the most important investments we can make as a nation.

At the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), what we do is at the heart of what matters the most to you: your health and well-being.

At CIHR, we use the power of health research to save lives, time and money.

Each year, we invest $1 billion to support over 13,000 researchers and trainees.

These are the best minds with the best ideas. They think outside the box to find innovative ways to prevent illnesses, reduce pain, fight diseases, and make health care more affordable and efficient. Their research addresses Canadian priorities, such as the needs of an aging population.

In other words, we invest in research that delivers life-changing impact for Canadians.

CIHR is made up of 13 “virtual” institutes. They are virtual centres of expertise in areas such as cancer, diabetes and mental health.

To ensure we award funding to the very best projects in each of these areas, we bring together experts from across Canada and around the world to evaluate the funding applications we receive. 

At CIHR, we also promote collaboration in research.

Gone are the days of a researcher working alone in a lab. Today, health research is a complex, highly interconnected environment, with many players working in teams, groups and partnerships.

CIHR plays a leadership role in this environment – bringing people together and creating partnerships with over 250 organizations in Canada and around the world. Together, we create innovations that improve the health of Canadians, and commercialize new drugs and medical devices that boost our economy.

CIHR also works closely with our partners in the health portfolio to ensure that research evidence informs and strengthens public policies.

Of course, health research is only valuable if it moves from the lab to the bedside, for the benefit of patients. Research must put patients first.

That is why CIHR created the Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research, or SPOR.

SPOR brings together all the key players in Canada’s health care system: the different levels of government, researchers, clinicians, the private sector, charities, and of course, patients. 

Through SPOR, we have brought the provinces and territories together to share research evidence, apply best practices, bring health innovations to the front line and improve care.

For the health care system, SPOR means better decision-making, improved networking, more support for researchers and greater efficiency.

For patients, SPOR means more accurate diagnoses, fewer hospital visits and faster recovery.

Investing in research.

Promoting collaboration.

Putting patients first.

This is how the Canadian Institutes of Health Research is building a healthier society and a healthier world.

CIHR: Discoveries for life

Credit: 16 sec: Photo courtesy of Jordin Tootoo/David Kilabuk

Date modified:

2016-11-16