CIHR 2022-23 Departmental Plan: United Nations 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals

Health Life Trajectories Initiative (HeLTI)

HeLTI builds upon both the diverse research capacity and wealth of existing data sets in Canada, while using a unique set of coordinated linked international intervention cohorts to focus the powerful development origins of health and disease (DOHaD) approach specifically on non-communicable diseases both in Canada and in countries where the burden is greatest.

The goals of HeLTI are to:

• Generate evidence that will inform national policy and decision-making for the improvement of health and the prevention of NCDs.
• Position Canada as a global leader in the DOHaD field.

Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging

CIHR is establishing a Centre for Research on Pandemic Preparedness and Health Emergencies (Research Centre) with the goal of protecting the health of all Canadians by developing and mobilizing health research for pandemic and health emergency preparedness, prevention, response, and recovery.

The Research Centre will directly engage and collaborate with key stakeholders, particularly those that bear the greatest burdens from pandemics and health threats, in the understanding, design and implementation of effective and equitable prevention, response and preparedness research and knowledge mobilization activities.

The initiative contributes to the Global target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.

The Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) is a large, national, long-term study of more than 50,000 individuals who were between the ages of 45 and 85 when recruited. These participants will be followed until 2033 or death. The aim of the CLSA is to find ways to help us live long and live well,and understand why some people age in healthy fashion while others do not.

The strategy through the Research Centre contributes to advancing global target 3d “ Strengthen the capacity of all countries, in particular developing countries, for early warning, risk reduction and management of national and global health risks”

Canadian Indicator Framework target 3.6 (Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages - Ambition - Canadians have healthy and satisfying lives).

Equity Strategy

Launched in 2016, CIHR’s Equity Strategy aims to identify and address potential inequities in CIHR’s funding system, including in access to training and career support grants for students and trainees.

Dimensions EDI Canada

Launched in 2019 by the three federal research granting agencies, Dimensions aims to foster transformational change within the research community at Canadian post-secondary institutions by publicly recognizing institutions for their efforts in advancing EDI.

EDI Institutional Capacity Building Grants

This Tri-Agency pilot funding opportunity is designed to support post-secondary research institutions to identify and eliminate systemic barriers that impede the career advance, recruitment and retention of underrepresented and/or disadvantaged groups.

These initiatives contribute to advancing:

Canadian Indicator Framework (CIF) ambitions. “Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all”.

Global target 4.5 “By 2030, eliminate gender disparities in education and ensure equal access to all levels of education and vocational training for the vulnerable, including persons with disabilities, Indigenous Peoples and children in vulnerable situations.”

Gender Equity Framework

Launched in 2016, CIHR’s Gender Equity Framework aims to address gender equity challenges in funding competition success rates, amount of grand funding and the Health Research Enterprise.

This strategy contributes to advancing:

Canadian Indicator Framework (CIF) ambitions. “Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls”.

Global target 5.1 “End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere.”

Women RISE: Women’s health and economic empowerment for a COVID-19 Recovery that is Inclusive, Sustainable and Equitable health.

The Women RISE initiative, a partnership between CIHR, IDRC and SSHRC, aims to support action-oriented, gender transformative research on how women’s health and their work (paid or unpaid) intersect and interact in the context of preparing, responding to and recovery from COVID-19.

This research will inform immediate and medium-term solutions for post-COVID-19 recovery that improves gender equality and health equity and will provide contribute to an evidence-base for preparedness and response to future / other health emergencies.

This initiative contributes to advancing:

Global target 1.5 “By 2030, build the resilience of the poor and those in vulnerable situations and reduce their exposure and vulnerability to climate-related extreme events and other economic, social and environmental shocks and disasters.”

Healthy Cities Research Initiative

Urban environments have the potential to become engines of good health and health equity. Governments and communities can harness this potential by promoting physical activity, healthy eating, social connectivity, economic opportunity and injury prevention, as well as access to health services, clean air, nutritious food and green space. The Healthy Cities Research Initiative (HCRI) will help us understand which solutions will work best to achieve these outcomes – as well as how cities can put these solutions into action – in ways that will be impactful, sustainable and equitable.