We live in a time of profound change and increasing complexity - a time when values and a strategic framework are more important than ever. It is within this context that in 2003, CIHR developed its first strategic plan, "Investing in Canada's Future: CIHR's Blueprint for Health Research and Innovation" (Blueprint 2007). Blueprint, a reflection of wide consultations with the research community and our many stakeholders, is a clear statement of CIHR's vision, our values, and our future strategic directions.
As 2003 draws to a close, I would like to reflect on other accomplishments and challenges of the past year, and the possibilities for 2004 and beyond.
I know that the decisions to suspend CIHR's senior career awards, the imposition of a 5% clawback on all grants, and slowed growth of the strategic budgets of our 13 Institutes were viewed with concern by many members of the research community and our partner host institutions.
The reasons why CIHR's Governing Council took these decisions last summer were explained in my article in the Canadian Medical Association Journal in the fall.
These program adjustments, while difficult, demonstrated a responsible approach to the projected decrease in uncommitted funds for 2004/2005.
As such, while CIHR will have significantly less money available in 2004/05 to fund new research projects, the savings made through these program changes, coupled with revised projections for uncommitted funds, will mean that the rate of successful grant applications will likely be similar to that of 2003/2004.
CIHR's Governing Council continues to reaffirm CIHR's broad framework for moving forward - a strategic organization built on a strong foundation of research excellence. Accordingly, the strategic budgets of the Institutes will also be limited for 2004-2005.
Despite these challenges, 2003 was a year of very real advances for Canadian health research. From the sequencing of the SARS genome by a nation-wide team of CIHR-funded researchers, to an unprecedented number of major articles by Canadian researchers in The New England Journal of Medicine, to major studies on prescription errors for seniors, to new insights into the proteomic aspects of the cell cycle, the international excellence of Canadian health research was more evident than ever before.
The meetings and workshops held by our Institutes this year - for example, the New Investigator meeting jointly sponsored by the Institute of Genetics and the Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction, and the Montreal symposium of the Institute of Health Services and Policy Research - are evidence of a new energy and inclusivity in the health research community, as CIHR continues to bring together all those involved in research, health, and the Canadian health system.
The question uppermost in the minds of the research community, universities and hospitals, and our other partners is whether CIHR's budget will continue to grow to levels consistent with our mandate and vision, as outlined in Blueprint.
When Paul Martin became Canada's 21st Prime Minister on December 12th, he emphasized the Government of Canada will focus on achieving results in three core areas: strengthening our social foundations in such areas as health care and life-long learning, building a 21st century economy, and ensuring Canada's role in the world. The government is also committed to enhanced transparency and accountability for all government activity and will shortly launch a review of all government programs.
I believe CIHR is well-positioned to support these commitments. University research has historically played a unique, long-term role in developing and sustaining innovation in our society.
CIHR has also taken many steps to demonstrate the value of health research to Canadians. We have developed a framework that will help us to evaluate and report on the outcomes and impacts of what we do. We are also evaluating all of our individual programs, and we have established an international committee to assist us in developing ways to measure the impact of CIHR-funded activities on the health of Canadians, the strengthening of our health care system, and the robustness of the Canadian economy. Last week, our Governing Council approved strategic frameworks for both knowledge translation and commercialization and innovation, as part of Blueprint.
We are also very well aligned with the priorities of Canadians. Northern and aboriginal health, aging, sustainability of Canada's health care system, vulnerable populations, palliative care, obesity, public health and safe food and water supply, national and integrated approaches to research on arthritis, cancer and cardiovascular disease, mental illness, global health research, training for young people, building science-drive international partnerships and building an increasingly science-based economy, are all high priorities for Canadians, for this government, for CIHR, and for our partners.
Our collective challenge is to get the right balance between researcher-driven and targeted opportunities, between support to individuals and support to multidisciplinary teams, between knowledge creation and translating research into action.
I have noted elsewhere that this is not a zero-sum game. That is, I am confident that if we get the balance right and demonstrate our value to Canadians, then we can expect continued support from Canadians.
The increased emphasis on multi-disciplinary teams also reflects another reality - increasingly health research requires the expertise of many different disciplines. The new programs and multi-disciplinary tools of our Institutes reflect that scientific reality; the dozens of new problem-based teams created in Canada over the past 3 years demonstrate the discipline-based excellence of the Canadian health research community.
Indeed, despite the short-term uncertainties and cutbacks, I am more confident than ever about the long-term future of CIHR and the Canadian health research enterprise.
In closing, I want to thank the staff at CIHR for their tireless efforts on behalf of health research, and I hope 2004 is a happy, healthy and productive year for each and every member of the Canadian health research community.
Alan Bernstein
