Institute of Gender and Health (IGH)
What We Do
As one of the thirteen Institutes of CIHR, the Institute of Gender and Health shares responsibility for achieving the
principal objectives of CIHR. Its mandate is to support research that addresses how sex (biological-genetic dimensions) and gender (social-cultural dimensions) interact with other socio-cultural, bio-physical, and political-economic factors to influence health and create conditions that differ with respect to risk factors or effective interventions for males and females throughout the lifespan. The objectives of the Institute for Gender and Health are to (1) generate evidence regarding the impact of sex and gender on health status, health behaviour, and health services use throughout the life span; (2) enhance understanding of how gender, sex and health interact with other health determinants; (3) provide evidence to inform the design of programs, policies and practices; (4) build the capacity of gender and health researchers in Canada; and (5) advance the gender and health perspective nationally and internationally. Five research priorities were identified in 2001 through extensive consultations with investigators representing the full spectrum of health research in the
CIHR pillars, and with representatives of policy, program and public arenas.
These research priorities include:
Access and equity for vulnerable populations
- Gender & health equity
- Gender and access to health services for marginalized/vulnerable groups (e.g., Aboriginal People and official language minority communities)
- Gender, violence and health
Promoting health in context of chronic conditions and disabilities
- Gender and chronic diseases (e.g., autoimmune disorders)
Gender and health across the life span
- Gender and healthy child development
- Gender and healthy aging
- Gender, work, leisure and health
- Gender and mental health in a changing society
- Reproductive and sexual health (e.g., reproductive technology)
- Gender and childhood obesity
Promoting positive health behaviours and preventing addictions
- Gender and health behaviours
Gender and the environment
IGH provides research support through a growing number of strategic research grants, and capacity building programs. More details on IGH funding activities, including current opportunities and application guidelines, can be found under IGH Funding.
Questions of gender and sex transcend all borders. This is reflected in the broad variety of workshops and symposia hosted and funded by IGH that bring together the wide variety of partners, stakeholders and organizations that make up the IGH community. Our Institute Advisory Board (IAB) also provides essential community input and guidance into everything we do.
In our short history, IGH support has contributed to an impressive number of research achievements in diverse areas including violence, care giving, immigrants and refugees, breast cancer, homelessness and housing, HIV/AIDS, occupational health, tobacco use, and reproductive health, among others. Please see our Annual Report, or our other publications, for more details.
