Canadian Institutes of Health Research explained

Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Native Name:French: Instituts de recherche en santé du Canada
Preceding1:Medical Research Council of Canada
Jurisdiction:Government of Canada
Headquarters:234 Laurier Ave West Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K9 Canada
Employees:330 (approximately)
Budget:CA$ 1.3 billion (2023-24; Expenses)
Minister1 Name:Hon. Marjorie Michel
Minister1 Pfo:Health Canada
Chief1 Name:Paul Hébert
Chief1 Position:President
Child1 Agency:13 Institutes
Coordinates:45.4198°N -75.6964°W

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR; fr|Instituts de recherche en santé du Canada; IRSC) is a federal agency responsible for funding health and medical research in Canada.[1] [2] Comprising 13 institutes, it was formed on June 7, 2000 and is the successor to the Medical Research Council of Canada.[3] [4]

CIHR supports more than 15,000 researchers and trainees[5] through grants, fellowships, scholarships, and other funding, as part of the federal government's investment in health research. Paul C. Hébert is the current President. CIHR's budget for 2023-2024 was CA$1.3 billion[6] and the number of employees (FTE) was 327.[7]

Along with the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), the CIHR forms the major source of federal government funding to post-secondary research. They are collectively referred to as the "Tri-Council"[8] or "Tri-Agency".[9]

History

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) is the major federal agency responsible for funding health research in Canada. It was established by an Act of Parliament in April 2000 to create new knowledge according to internationally accepted scientific standards and translate this into improved health for Canadians, more effective health services and products, and a stronger Canadian health care system. It replaced the Medical Research Council of Canada, which had overseen Canadian medical research since 1969. CIHR reports to Parliament through the Minister of Health.[10] [11]

The Strategic Plan for the period 2021–2031 "establishes the context that will allow Canadian health research to be internationally recognized as inclusive, collaborative, transparent, culturally safe, and focused on real world impact."[12] Five priority areas were identified:

  1. Advance research excellence in all its diversity
  2. Strengthen Canadian health research capacity
  3. Accelerate the self-determination of Indigenous peoples in health research
  4. Pursue health equity through research
  5. Integrate evidence in health decisions

Presidents

Governance

The CIHR Act outlines a framework for the organizational establishment of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), its governance infrastructure, responsibilities of the President and Governing Council and establishment of the Institutes.[20]

CIHR consists of 13 institutes,[21] each headed by a Scientific Director and assisted by an Institute Advisory Board.

CIHR is led by its President. Overall strategic directions are set by its Governing Council, which has a mandate to oversee the direction and management of the property, business and affairs of CIHR. Day-to-day management of CIHR is led by the Executive Team.

The Science Council (SC) is a management committee that develops, implements and reports on CIHR's research and knowledge translation strategy, in accordance with the CIHR Act and the overarching strategic directions set out by Governing Council. This includes approving funding for some research and knowledge translation initiatives.

Institutes

The 13 CIHR institutes work together to shape a national health research agenda for Canada. They bring together researchers, health professionals, and policy-makers from voluntary health organizations, provincial government agencies, international research organizations, and industry and patient groups from across the country with a shared interest in improving the health of Canadians. A major goal of the institutes is to forge relationships across disciplines to stimulate integrative, multifaceted research agendas that respond to society's health priorities while adhering to the highest ethical standards. They fund health research within these four pillars:[22]

  1. Biomedical research[23] [24]
  2. Clinical research[25]
  3. Health services research[26] [27]
  4. Social, cultural, environmental and population health research[28]

Institutes are "virtual" and fund research across Canada. Each focuses on a specific area of research:[29] [30]

COVID-19 and vaccines

In June 2020, CIHR provided $109 million in funding to 139 research teams across Canada for COVID-19 research.[44] Over the coming months and years, CIHR provided additional funding for COVID-19 research, totaling $430 million by June 2022.[45] CIHR also worked with domestic and global partners to fund research and ensure the alignment and coordination of Canada's research with the international response.[46]

On February 16, 2021, CIHR launched the CIHR-CEPI Leadership Award for Excellence in Vaccine Research for Infectious Diseases of Epidemic Potential, co-administered with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI).[47] The results were announced in April 2023 along with a $100 million investment from Global Affairs Canada to support CEPI's new five-year strategic plan to accelerate the development of vaccines.[48] [49] [50] [51] [52]

Controversies

A 2014 reform to the peer review process and the introduction of the Foundation Grant program lead to the demand from approximately 1000 researchers to reverse what was called a "radical" change.[53] The Minister of Health Jane Philpott, then asked that the issue be addressed[54] and the process was reversed in 2019.[55]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: 2011-01-10. Major funders to share study data for public health. en. Reuters. 2021-10-18.
  2. Web site: The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). McGill University. en.
  3. Web site: Government of Canada . Canadian Institutes of Health Research . 2025-03-27 . CIHR at 25 - CIHR . 2025-09-08 . cihr-irsc.gc.ca.
  4. Web site: CIHR Replaces Medical Research Council Canada . 2025-09-07 . www.science.org . en.
  5. Web site: Infographic: Funding world-class research for a healthier future . Canadian Institutes of Health Research . November 9, 2022 . Government of Canada . 20 March 2023.
  6. News: Annual Report . 8 September 2025 . CIHR Annual Report.
  7. Web site: Government of Canada . Canadian Institutes of Health Research . 2024-12-17 . Canadian Institutes of Health Research's 2023-24 Departmental Results Report - CIHR . 2025-09-30 . cihr-irsc.gc.ca.
  8. Web site: Government of Canada. Interagency Advisory Panel on Research Ethics. 2019-04-01. Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans – TCPS 2 (2018). 2021-12-28. ethics.gc.ca.
  9. Web site: Government of Canada. Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. 2019-12-18. NSERC - Inter-Agency, Tri-Agency Financial Administration. 2021-12-28. www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca.
  10. Web site: Canadian Institutes of Health Research . 2025-09-07 . thecanadianencyclopedia.ca . en.
  11. Web site: Government of Canada . Canadian Institutes of Health Research . 2003-03-17 . Welcome to the Canadian Institutes of Health Research - CIHR . 2025-09-07 . cihr-irsc.gc.ca.
  12. Web site: Government of Canada . Canadian Institutes of Health Research . 2021-02-23 . CIHR Strategic Plan 2021-2031 - CIHR . 2025-09-10 . cihr-irsc.gc.ca.
  13. News: Ben Hirschler . 2007-10-11 . More collaboration needed after HIV vaccine flop . 2021-10-18 . . en.
  14. Web site: Embattled head of Canadian Institutes of Health Research to step down . 2022-01-25 . ottawacitizen . en-CA.
  15. Web site: Research . Canadian Institutes of Health . 2015-07-10 . Dr. Alain Beaudet . 2022-01-25 . www.canada.ca.
  16. Web site: 2018-06-20 . Minister of Health announces Dr. Michael J. Strong as new President of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research . Government of Canada.
  17. Web site: Government of Canada appoints new President of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research . 2025-09-07 . www.canada.ca.
  18. Web site: Government of Canada . Canadian Institutes of Health Research . 2008-09-07 . President – Biography - CIHR . 2025-09-12 . www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca.
  19. News: Payne . Elizabeth . January 19, 2025 . New health research group president targets areas of greatest impact . September 12, 2025 . The Ottawa Citizen.
  20. Web site: Government of Canada . Canadian Institutes of Health Research . 2008-01-12 . Organizational structure - CIHR . 2025-09-07 . www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca.
  21. Web site: Getting Funding from the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR) . Association for Behavior Analysis International.
  22. Web site: Government of Canada . Canadian Institutes of Health Research . 2022-11-09 . What is health research? - CIHR . 2025-09-07 . cihr-irsc.gc.ca.
  23. Web site: Richard F Wintle. 2012-08-24. The unsung heroes behind those big genomics breakthroughs. The Guardian. en.
  24. Web site: Government of Canada . Canadian Institutes of Health Research . 2022-11-09 . Infographic: What is biomedical Research? - CIHR . 2025-09-07 . cihr-irsc.gc.ca.
  25. Web site: Government of Canada . Canadian Institutes of Health Research . 2022-11-09 . Infographic: What is clinical Research? - CIHR . 2025-09-07 . cihr-irsc.gc.ca.
  26. News: David Cooksey. 2006. A review of UK health research funding (page 30). BBC.
  27. Web site: Government of Canada . Canadian Institutes of Health Research . 2022-11-09 . Infographic: What is health Services Research? - CIHR . 2025-09-07 . cihr-irsc.gc.ca.
  28. Web site: Government of Canada . Canadian Institutes of Health Research . 2022-11-09 . Infographic: What is Social, Cultural, Environmental, and Population Health Research? - CIHR . 2025-09-07 . cihr-irsc.gc.ca.
  29. Web site: Government of Canada . Canadian Institutes of Health Research . 2025-03-27 . CIHR at 25 - CIHR . 2025-09-06 . cihr-irsc.gc.ca.
  30. Web site: Government of Canada . Canadian Institutes of Health Research . 2016-08-24 . About the Institutes - CIHR . 2025-09-06 . cihr-irsc.gc.ca.
  31. Web site: Government of Canada . Canadian Institutes of Health Research . 2003-04-30 . Institute of Aging - CIHR . 2025-09-10 . cihr-irsc.gc.ca.
  32. Web site: Government of Canada . Canadian Institutes of Health Research . 2003-05-12 . Institute of Cancer Research - CIHR . 2025-09-10 . cihr-irsc.gc.ca.
  33. Web site: Government of Canada . Canadian Institutes of Health Research . 2003-04-30 . Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health - CIHR . 2025-09-10 . cihr-irsc.gc.ca.
  34. Web site: Government of Canada . Canadian Institutes of Health Research . 2003-04-30 . Institute of Gender and Health - CIHR . 2025-09-10 . cihr-irsc.gc.ca.
  35. Web site: Government of Canada . Canadian Institutes of Health Research . 2003-05-16 . Institute of Genetics - CIHR . 2025-09-10 . cihr-irsc.gc.ca.
  36. Web site: Government of Canada . Canadian Institutes of Health Research . 2003-05-23 . Institute of Health Services and Policy Research - CIHR . 2025-09-10 . cihr-irsc.gc.ca.
  37. Web site: Government of Canada . Canadian Institutes of Health Research . 2003-04-30 . Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health - CIHR . 2025-09-10 . cihr-irsc.gc.ca.
  38. Web site: Government of Canada . Canadian Institutes of Health Research . 2003-04-30 . Institute of Indigenous Peoples' Health - CIHR . 2025-09-10 . cihr-irsc.gc.ca.
  39. Web site: Government of Canada . Canadian Institutes of Health Research . 2003-05-22 . Institute of Infection and Immunity - CIHR . 2025-09-10 . cihr-irsc.gc.ca.
  40. Web site: Government of Canada . Canadian Institutes of Health Research . 2003-05-20 . Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis - CIHR . 2025-09-10 . cihr-irsc.gc.ca.
  41. Web site: Government of Canada . Canadian Institutes of Health Research . 2003-04-29 . Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction - CIHR . 2025-09-10 . cihr-irsc.gc.ca.
  42. Web site: Government of Canada . Canadian Institutes of Health Research . 2003-05-22 . Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes - CIHR . 2025-09-10 . cihr-irsc.gc.ca.
  43. Web site: Government of Canada . Canadian Institutes of Health Research . 2003-05-23 . Institute of Population and Public Health - CIHR . 2025-09-10 . cihr-irsc.gc.ca.
  44. Web site: Raquel Fletcher. June 26, 2020. Quebec researchers already starting coronavirus studies after receiving grants - Montreal Globalnews.ca. Global News. en-US.
  45. Web site: CIHR COVID-19 Investments: By the Numbers . Canadian Institutes of Health Research . June 10, 2021 . Government of Canada . 3 May 2023.
  46. Web site: COVID-19 Research . Canadian Institutes of Health Research . March 20, 2020 . Government of Canada . 3 May 2023.
  47. Web site: Canadian Institutes of Health Research . 2021-01-18 . Pre-announcement: CIHR-CEPI Leadership Award for Excellence in Vaccine Research for Infectious Diseases of Epidemic Potential - CIHR . live . https://archive.today/20220522132807/https://cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/52284.html . 2022-05-22 . 2022-05-22 . Government of Canada.
  48. Web site: International partnership supports vaccine research to prevent future outbreaks . Canadian Institutes of Health Research . Government of Canada . 3 May 2023.
  49. Web site: Leadership Awards for Excellence in Vaccine Research . Canadian Institutes of Health Research . April 26, 2023 . Government of Canada . 3 May 2023.
  50. Web site: International partnership supports vaccine research to prevent future outbreaks . CEPI - Latest news . CEPI . 3 May 2023.
  51. Web site: Saskatoon scientist receives $400K for 'universal' coronavirus vaccine research . CTV News Saskatoon . May 2, 2023 . CTV News . 3 May 2023.
  52. Web site: Rady Faculty scientist receives CIHR/CEPI Leadership Award for Excellence in Vaccine Research . UM News . University of Manitoba . 3 May 2023.
  53. Webster . Paul Christopher . 2015-03-17 . Peer review conflicts of interest surface at CIHR . CMAJ . en . 187 . 5 . 313–313 . 10.1503/cmaj.109-4999 . 0820-3946 . 25691785. free .
  54. Web site: Update: Canada's health funder agrees to meet with researchers outraged by peer-review changes . 2025-10-02 . www.science.org . en.
  55. Web site: Government of Canada . Canadian Institutes of Health Research . 2019-04-15 . Message from the President: Final decision on the Foundation Grant program - CIHR . 2025-10-02 . m.cihr-irsc.gc.ca.

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