Research in priority areas

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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	Key words
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.	Health; city; town; infrastructure; urban; community; active
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.	cannabis; cannabinoid; THC; marijuana; cannabinol; cannabidiol
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.	primary health care; community care; prevention; health promotion; diagnosis; rehabilitation; palliative care; chronic diseases; primary prevention (including public health); primary care services; health promotion; disease prevention, chronic disease diagnosis; treatment ; management ; rehabilitation support; home care ; end-of-life care; Chronic disease prevention and management; vulnerable populations; access to child/youth mental health services; cancer; indigenous; aging; First Nations and rural/remote communities; HIV; Aging; chronic conditions; caregivers; multimorbidity; complex needs; circumpolar; electronic medical records; mental health; interactive technologies; arthritis; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD);cardiovascular events; post myocadial infarction; perinatal mental work disability; fracture; children; alzheimer’s disease; chronic pain;addiction treatment; seniors; transition back in community; post concussion; youth; oral care; kidney donation; frequent users; discharge from hospital; inflammatory bowel; cardiac; maternal obesity; injured by violence; colorectal cancer; obesity; inequalities; plan & space pregnancies; unplanned pregnancies; recurrent abortion
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.	networks; dataset; demographic data; knowledge management; surveys; databases; data collection; microdata; data protection; Statistics Canada; research data centre; RDC
Canadian Research Initiative in Substance Misuse (CRISM) CRISM is a national research consortium in substance misuse that focuses on translation and implementation and is cross-pillar in nature.	substance abuse; alcoholism; illegal drugs; prescription opioid misuse; methadone; buprenorphine/naloxone; opioid agonist therapy; prescription drug abuse; nodes of research; addiction; drug addiction; Animal Assisted Therapy; Comorbid Substance Dependence; Prescription Drug misuse; Opioid Analgesic Misuse; Prescription Monitoring Programs.
Environments and Health The Environments and Health initiative will support research focused on etiology, data platform enhancement and intersectoral prevention.	population health; public health; Agri-food industry; urban communities; farming; prevention; environmental health; intersectoral; chronic disease; non-communicable diseases
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.	disease prevention; early intervention; mental health; child health; fetal development; determinants of health; non-communicable diseases (NCDs); cardiovascular diseases; respiratory diseases; Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD); Aboriginal, Indigenous, First Nations, Inuit, Métis, Metis, , Diabetes, Obesity, Suicide, Oral Health, Equity, Inequity, Population Health, Wellness, Indigenous Ways of Knowing, Indigenous Knowledge, enhancement, adaptation, community engagement
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.	disease prevention; early intervention; mental health; child health; fetal development; determinants of health; non-communicable diseases (NCDs); cardiovascular diseases; respiratory diseases; Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD); Aboriginal, Indigenous, First Nations, Inuit, Métis, Metis, , Diabetes, Obesity, Suicide, Oral Health, Equity, Inequity, Population Health, Wellness, Indigenous Ways of Knowing, Indigenous Knowledge, enhancement, adaptation, community engagement
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.	occupational health; work; workers; workforce; population health; evidence-based practice; mental health; productive work; workplace accommodation; return to work; disability; disability management; disability prevention; employment capacity; work-life; transitioning youth; work integration; job; aging workforce; caregiving; caregiver friendly workplace; insurance; industry; diversity; workplace safety; sex; gender; sex differences; gender differences; aging; youth employment; family; underemployment; physical health; employers; unions; injury; precarious employment; professional associations; chronic conditions; partnerships; workforce participation; interdisciplinary research; sustainable work; healthy workplace; return to work; health and human rights; tools; evidence-based interventions; meaningful work; policies; 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.	evidence-based practice; prevention; patient care genomics; epigenomics, proteomics; precision healthcare; patient stratification
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.	patient empowerment; e-health; data integration; data platforms;sex and gender; sex-drug-gene interaction; health outcomes; health systems; evidence-based practice; prevention; patient care; genomics; epigenomics, proteomics; precision healthcare; patient stratification; healthcare ecosystem; biometrics; patient literacy; predictive analytics
CIHR Dementia Research Strategy The CIHR Dementia Research Strategy supports research on the latest preventive, diagnostic and treatment approaches to Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases causing dementia.	Alzheimer; Alzheimer's disease; dementia; prevention; neurodegeneration; vascular dementia; cognition; cognitive impairment; cognitive decline; cognitive deterioration; memory impaired; aging; COMPASS-ND; Lewy Bodies; geriatric mental health; frontotemporal dementia; primary prevention; secondary prevention; quality of life
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.	genetics; gene; epigenetics; epigenome; DNA; stem cell; RNA sequencing;International Human Epigenome Consortium. IHEC, Epigenomic Data Coordination Centre gene activity; gene expression; gene regulation; Epigenomic Mapping Centre; multiomics; bioinformatics;.gene environment interaction.
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.	Evidence-based practice; health care system; systems; portal; policy; financing; sustainability; solutions; advance knowledge; accountability; funding models; governance; innovation; economics; health care providers; decision makers; strategies; system reforms; leadership; adapt; health system improvement;  health care services; evaluation; professionals; governments; management; implementation; development; priority area; action; system design; improvement; exchange; networks; knowledge exchange; uptake; analysis; insurance; public; private; social; benefits; care; funding; collaborating; workforce planning; health human resources; levers; teams; primary care; caregiver; system capacity; wait times; funding models; integration; health outcomes; knowledge synthesis; measurement; quality of care; data; e-Health; renewal; partnerships
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.	E-health; Telehealth; innovation; health care; mhealth; eHIPP
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.	drugs; health care products; pharmaceuticals; effectiveness; networks; product safety
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.	diagnosis; evidence-based practice; patient care; primary health care; health care system; networks; partnerships
Inflammation in Chronic Disease This initiative will support research teams to undertake innovative research in the field of chronic inflammation.	chronic diseases; prevention;
HIV/AIDS Research Initiative This initiative manages and oversees the research components of the two major Government of Canada initiatives in HIV/AIDS: the Federal Initiative to Address HIV/AIDS in Canada and the Canadian HIV Vaccine Initiative.	HIV; human immunodeficiency virus; AIDS; Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome; Aboriginal; Indigenous; Antiretroviral therapy; ART; Comorbidity; Vaccine; Immunodeficiency; Injection Drug Use; IDU; Men Who have Sex with Men; MSM; Global Health; Prevention; CanCURE; Community-Based Research; CBR; Sexually Transmitted Blood-Borne Infection; STBBI
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.	aging; older adults; determinants of health; data; lifestyle; biological; medical; social participation; economic; disease development; prevention; impact; disability management; lifespan; genetics; epigenetics; chronic disease; physical function; epidemiology; cognition; cognitive health; psychological; nutrition; health services; long-term care; population health; medications; healthy aging; longitudinal; age; seniors; biospecimens
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.	Aboriginal, Indigenous, First Nations, Inuit, Métis, Metis, Implementation Science, Intervention Research, Diabetes, Obesity, Suicide, Oral Health, Tuberculosis, Equity, Inequity, Population Health, Wellness, Indigenous Ways of Knowing, Indigenous Knowledge, Two-Eyed Seeing, Scalability, enhancement, adaptation, community-based research, community engagement
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.	Antibiotic resistance; antibiotic; resistance; antimicrobial; surveillance; stewardship; multi-drug resistance; drug resistance; JPIAMR; diagnostic;colistin; AMR; One Health; antifungal;antiviral; drug-resistant infection
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.	Injection Drug Use; IDU; people who inject drugs; PWID; Comorbidity; Hepatitis C; Hep C; HCV; Sexually Transmitted Blood-Borne Infection; STBBI; Prevention; direct-acting agents; DAAs; hepatocellular carcinoma
Pandemic Preparedness Strategic Research Initiative (PPSRI) The goal of PPSRI is to develop a coordinated and focused research effort and to build influenza and pandemic preparedness research capacity in Canada.	pandemic; influenza; flu; Immunization; Vaccine; Prevention; Outbreak; Vaccine preventable disease; VPD
Health Research Rapid Response CIHR is leading Canada's research response to prepare for and respond to existing and emerging threats, such as Ebola.	Emerging health threats; 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).	NSERC, SSHRC, Knowledge Translation User (KTU), Artificial Intelligence (AI)
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.	Canadian Drugs and Substances Strategy (CDSS), Opioids, Cannabis, Substance Use, Canadian Research Initiative in Substance Misuse (CRISM), Marijuana, Fentanyl, Morphine, Diacetylmorphine, Heroin, Hydromorphone, Methadone, North American Opiate Medication Initiative (NAOMI), Study to Assess Longer-term Opioid Medication Effectiveness (SALOME)
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.	care transitions, life trajectory, transition, health system, quality of life, partnerships, transitions in care, chronic conditions, care setting, ehealth innovation, priority populations, health system partnership, best and wise practices, evaluation, multi-institute, equity, primary focus area
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.	Indigenous, Aboriginal, First Nations, Métis, Métis, Inuit, Network, Community-based, Capacity, NEAHR, NEIHR, Knowledge, Elders, North, Urban, Youth, Data, Indigenous Ways of Knowing, Community engagement, Knowledge Keeper.

Date modified:

2019-07-31