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Clinical research is needed to determine which of the growing number of health discoveries actually work in humans and are safe. However, Canada lacks the capacity to carry out the increasingly sophisticated and expensive clinical research of the 21st century. While health research has made profound and revolutionary strides over the last 30 years, there are widening gaps between research discoveries and the realization of health and economic benefits from their application. Our limited clinical research capacity is one factor - this is the research translation gap. A second factor is that even when we have proof of the value of new agents for diagnosis, treatment and prevention, we are slow to implement them - there is a gap between what we know and what we do. Canada faces the challenge of how to bridge these gaps. 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.
The CIHR Clinical Research Initiative is CIHR's response to the clear need and opportunity to strengthen Canadian clinical research and to enhance its translation into practice and policy. Since 2001, CIHR has led a process of national consultation, needs identification, and partnership building. Plans have been formulated for training and sustaining the next generation of clinician-researchers, creating nationally networked clinical research centres, developing a solid ethical and regulatory clinical research environment, and for increasing clinical research projects and translation. CIHR is moving forward with the CRI as one of its top strategic priorities.
CIHR will strengthen Clinical Research in Canada in order to accelerate the translation of clinical research discoveries into improved and cost-effective approaches to maintaining health and treating illness, and to provide evidence for sound health policies and an efficient health care system. CIHR will increase its investments in clinician-researchers, clinical research resources, and the operating costs of clinical research, and will review its existing investments to ensure they are most effectively deployed in support of its mission.
Within ten years, Canada will become the envy of the world for the excellence of its clinical research enterprise, the expertise and productivity of its clinical research community, and the efficiency with which knowledge derived from clinical research is translated into innovative products, services, and policies.
Diversity of expertise and experience in the field of Clinical Research are key to the success of the CIHR Clinical Research Initiative. The CRI Steering Committee will be composed of 12 volunteers from Canada and/or abroad, along with 4 of CIHR's Scientific Directors. The Committee will meet at least twice a year. Each steering committee member will be an essential focal point for gathering expertise, for discussion of, and deliberation on CRI priorities, for guidance on implementation of CRI plans and for dissemination to, and engagement of the broader community.
The online application period for the Clinical Research Initiative Steering Committee Members occurs from February 1 to March 31, 2007. We are seeking members who will serve three-year terms, beginning May 1, 2007. You can access information on the CRI Steering Committee in addition to the application form on How to apply to become a Clinical Research Initiative (CRI) Steering Committee member.
For more details concerning the CIHR Clinical Research Initiative, consult the CRI Website.
1. Research expertise - across the disciplinary scope of Clinical Research, defined as that part of the continuum of health research which is conducted on human subjects or on materials, specimens, or data derived from human subjects or populations and with a focus on:
Efforts should be made to facilitate the strengthening of the following closely related themes:
2. Community sectors - voluntary health organizations, regional/provincial/federal agencies, business, health care practitioners, health care users, policy makers (national, regional, local level)
3. End users/Public representation
4. Additional experience/expertise - ethics, training/education, communications, knowledge management
5. Demographics - province/region, gender, linguistic preference, international, career stage
Julie Senécal, M.Sc.
Clinical Research Initiative (CRI)
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
160 Elgin Street Room 97 Address Locator 4809A
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0W9
Phone: 613-941-0057
Fax: 613-954-1800
Email: jsenecal@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
