IPPH Strategic research priorities

Pathways to health equity

Existing and emergent inequities are reinforced or mitigated through both intended and unintended population health influences that operate at all system levels (from micro to macro); and across sectors and geographic borders. This priority will focus on understanding pathways to promote health equity within and between countries.

Population health interventions

Population health interventions can include policy, programmatic and resource distribution approaches. These interventions are often complex. Examining what types of population health interventions promote health and health equity is an important area of inquiry. Substantive priority areas for population health intervention research will be identified with partners.

Implementation systems for population health interventions in public health and other sectors

Population health interventions are implemented within organizational, policy, and program delivery systems. These systems include many key elements such as inter-organizational, intersectoral and inter-jurisdictional governance structures, leadership supports and information exchange mechanisms. Of particular interest is how these reciprocal influences may strengthen or mitigate the impacts of population health interventions on health and health equity.

Theoretical and methodological innovations

Leading edge research to address the first three priorities will require theoretical and methodological innovations, informed by diverse disciplinary fields. These theoretical and methodological innovations will in turn need to be incorporated into knowledge generation, knowledge synthesis and knowledge integration initiatives. They can also contribute to the development of frameworks for population health and global health ethics.

For more information read our strategic plan.