Clinical research is needed to determine which of the growing number of health discoveries actually work in humans and are safe. While health research has made profound and revolutionary strides over the last 30 years, there are widening gaps between research discoveries (what we know) and the realization of health and economic benefits from their application (what we do). As a country, Canada will not reap the full benefits from our investments in health research until we can do a better job of evaluating discoveries for effectiveness and safety in humans and of translating this knowledge into health innovations that benefit our health, our health care system and our prosperity.
In recent years, the US, the UK and Australia have undertaken numerous strategic initiatives to strengthen their clinical research endeavours. The CIHR Clinical Research Initiative (CRI) is CIHR's response to the clear need and opportunity to strengthen Canadian clinical research and to enhance its translation into practice and policy. People world-wide will eventually benefit from Canada's increased clinical research capacity. Canadians themselves will be the immediate beneficiaries with improved health, a strengthened and sustained health care system and increased prosperity.
January
CIHR is recruiting Steering Committee Members for the Clinical Research Initiative (CRI)
December
Consultation on a draft CIHR/CFI Clinical Research initiative