As the end of my term as Scientific Director of the Institute of Gender and Health (IGH) approaches, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your support and contributions and share my optimism for the future of IGH and CIHR.
In 2001, we witnessed the unprecedented creation of a national research institute devoted to the study of gender, sex and health. No other country has created a national research institute dedicated to gender and health. Consequently, IGH dedicated resources to research training and capacity building. I am proud of the exponential growth in relevant research capacity in Canada over the past six years.
IGH continues to support innovative and outstanding research that advances the understanding of the influences of gender and sex on health. We have promoted the Institute's five research priorities ( 1- access and equity for vulnerable populations, 2- health promotion in the context of chronic conditions and disabilities, 3- sex, gender and health across the life span, 4- promotion of positive health behaviours and prevention of addictions, 5- gender and the environment) through leadership of 20 strategic initiatives and priority announcements resulting in 42 RFAs. The Institute also partnered on 35 strategic initiatives led by other Institutes. In addition, IGH has fostered excellent biomedical, clinical, health services and population health research and researchers.
IGH also continues to invest extensive time and energy to creating partnerships. Unlike many other CIHR institutes, IGH did not initially have any naturally aligned funding partner organizations in Canada or internationally. We have increased investment in gender and health research by 300% through partnerships developed with over 30 external national and provincial agencies/organizations for strategic research initiatives. Moreover, IGH has leveraged investment almost eight fold through all partners internal and external to CIHR.
IGH demonstrated leadership beyond Canada's borders. IGH mobilized international partnerships with 21 organizations on several strategic initiatives including Reducing Health Disparities, Gender, Globalization and Health, and Women in Science. The successful partnership on the United Kingdom-Canada Exchange of Women Scientists continued and a new partnership fostering international exchange of women scientists was created with Japan.
Knowledge translation is a key focus of IGH activities. Through the translation of research, the Canadian health research community and users in health-related sectors share the latest discoveries.
In 2005, CIHR celebrated its fifth anniversary and subsequently in 2006 conducted a mid-term evaluation of each of the thirteen Institutes. The positive feedback provided by the research community, during this evaluation and by the International Review Panel, on the impact of IGH is deeply appreciated. Together we will continue to address health inequities and illuminate how gender and sex influence health in Canada and internationally. Our years of success would not have been possible without the significant work of the IGH staff and Institute's Advisory Board and the important contributions of people like you.
Like all of the Institutes, IGH's Advisory Board is a microcosm of CIHR's excellence, with brilliant and passionate people who are leaders in their disciplines and key sectors of society contributing to the advancement of science and its translation to the benefit of all Canadians. It has been an honour to collaborate with such outstanding people on the advisory board. I have also been fortunate to work with some wonderful and talented staff in Ottawa and Edmonton who share my dedication to CIHR and IGH.
I look forward to keeping in touch with you and to working with my successor. I wish all success in your goals to "make a difference" through your research excellence, partnership, and support of CIHR's vision and mission.
The opportunity to create IGH and to help build the outstanding success and national and international profile of this institute and of CIHR is the most exciting and rewarding experience of my career.
Miriam Stewart
Scientific Director of IGH
