The Canadian Longitudinal Study – Evaluation Summary

About the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging

Established in 2008, the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) platform aims to understand the complex interplay between physical, social, and psychological determinants of healthy aging.

Results: What We Found

Recommendations and Management Response

  1. CIHR should better position the CLSA to achieve its intended outcomes by aligning future funding with remaining data collections waves; ensuring the ongoing relevance of the data to be collected; and facilitating the full utilization of the platform following data collection.

    Response: Management agrees, and will coordinate the CLSA phase 3 funding opportunity with future data collection waves. Furthermore, it will undertake an inclusion of relevance and facilitation of data utilization into the phase 3 funding opportunity.

  2. CIHR should consider modifying its governance structures for the CLSA to: better support the platform’s knowledge mobilization and scientific productivity outcomes; clarify the roles of the CIHR co-leads with respect to initiative leadership and oversight; and develop an independent mechanism to obtain scientific advice.

    Response: Management agrees, and as part of the Phase 3 funding opportunity, will require that CLSA governance is appropriate for the lifecycle of the platform. Furthermore, management will evolve CIHR’s oversight function to obtain independent scientific advice related to the CLSA.

  3. CIHR should increase the promotion and access of CLSA data to international researchers, and stakeholders in the public and private sectors.

    Response: Management agrees, and will explore various strategies and mechanisms to increase the promotion and access of CLSA data with various stakeholders both nationally and internationally.

  4. CIHR should ensure that measures are in place to safeguard the continuity of the CLSA’s scientific leadership for the continued sustainability and legacy of the platform, which could potentially include incorporating incentives as part of succession planning, within the limits of existing policies.

    Response: Management agrees, however, CIHR does not support the idea of providing incentives as part of succession planning. Management will incorporate a succession planning requirement in the CLSA phase 3 funding opportunity.

About the Evaluation

CIHR's Evaluation Unit conducted the evaluation in 2018-19 to meet the requirements of the Policy on Results and provide CIHR senior management with valid, insightful and actionable findings regarding:

Scope

  • Covered the period from 2009-10 to 2018-19
  • Focus on informing future phases of the CLSA

Methodology

  • Analyses of documents and administrative data
  • Environmental scan
  • Key informant interviews and solicitation of independent scientific advice on longitudinal studies
  • Survey of researchers and trainees who accessed CLSA data

Associated Links

Date modified: