CIHR 2023–24 Departmental Plan: United Nations 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals

Health Life Trajectories Initiative (HeLTI)

The Healthy Life Trajectories Initiative (HeLTI) uses the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease approach to build on the diverse research capacity and existing data sets in Canada, and a unique set of coordinated linked international intervention cohorts to focus on Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) in Canada and in countries where the burden is greatest.

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 NCDs both in Canada and in countries where the burden is greatest.

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 HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted and Blood-Borne Infections Research Initiative (STBBI RI) invests approximately $21M annually to support researchers and trainees advancing research in priority areas.

The STBBI RI contributes to advancing:

Global target 3.3: "By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases and other communicable diseases."

CIHR is establishing a Centre for Research on Pandemic Preparedness and Health Emergencies (CRPPHE) 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 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).

Dementia/Brain Health and Cognitive Impairment in Aging Initiative

This initiative will strengthen Canada's capacity in dementia and brain health in aging research and ultimately, reduce the risk for cognitive impairment and improve health outcomes for Canadians living with/affected by dementia and their caregivers. The primary objective of the Initiative is to support research to advance the implementation and evaluation of promising care and services to persons living with dementia and their caregivers; to assess the current state of knowledge related to risk reduction and promotion of brain health and to evaluate mechanisms that promote brain health during aging; and to assess approaches that reduce the risk of developing dementia or modify the course of the disease.

The Dementia/Brain Health and Cognitive Impairment in Aging Initiative aligns with 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".

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 Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (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, the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (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 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."

Tri-Agency Training Strategy (TATS)

In 2023–24, CIHR will continue to work with the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) to develop a Tri-Agency Training Strategy, to deliver an equitable, accessible, and effective suite of scholarships and fellowships that help support and prepare a diverse population of students and post-doctoral fellows for careers requiring strong research skills in all sectors of society.

CIHR Research Excellence, Diversity, and Independence (REDI) Early Career Transition Award

In 2023–24, CIHR will implement programs with funding designated for specific underrepresented groups. Phase 1 of the CIHR Research Excellence, Diversity, and Independence (REDI) Early Career Transition Award will be funded, to support the transition of post-doctoral researchers, clinical fellows, and research associates from specific underrepresented groups to faculty positions in academic, health system and research institutions in Canada. Its first launch is open to racialized women and Black people and future rounds will focus on additional groups.

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.

In 2023–24, work will begin on six Healthy Cities Implementation Science Team Grants focused on increasing our understanding of how to design, implement and promote the systematic and equitable uptake of evidence-based interventions in multiple urban environments to improve population health and well-being. CIHR is investing $17.8M, supplemented by up to $9M from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and up to $5M AUD from Australia's National Health & Medical Research Council, to expand the impacts of the projects and provide additional opportunities for researchers to interact with decision makers. Teams will implement and then evaluate different interventions to better understand what works, for whom and why, with particular attention paid to their effectiveness with more vulnerable populations.

The initiative contributes to Global target 11.3: "By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated, and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries."

Supporting the Greening Government goal and the Policy on Green Procurement

Wherever possible, add recognized specifications as a mandatory criterion to the tender to ensure that we are dealing with suppliers who have sustainable environmental practices within their company.

Number of specialists in procurement who have completed training on green procurement.

This initiative contributes to Global target 12.7: "Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities."

Food Security and Climate Change in the Canadian North Initiative (2018–25) an $11M multisectoral research initiative to create new knowledge and identify interventions to address the effects of climate change on food security in Canada's North.

National Research Network on Lyme Disease (2018–23)

This $4M joint program with PHAC aims to improve the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and control of Lyme disease.