Collaborating with Knowledge Users as members of the project team

Supports Integrated Knowledge Translation – engaging knowledge users as partners early in the research process to increase the likelihood that research findings will be used

Partnerships for Health System Improvement (PHSI)

Support researchers and decision makers interested in applied health services and policy research

Partnerships for Health System Improvement (PHSI) aims to strengthen Canada's healthcare system through collaborative, applied and policy-relevant research. PHSI is Canada's premier health services and policy research competition — and with its strong emphasis on partnerships and knowledge translation it is also a major resource for managers and policy makers who want relevant research to inform their decision-making. PHSI funds teams of decision makers and researchers to conduct applied health services and policy research. Because they participate throughout the research process the research results are more likely to be relevant to and used by decision makers. PHSI projects can last up to three years and receive up to a maximum of $400,000 from CIHR over the life of the project. Additional funding from external partners is required.

Specifically, this initiative is intended to:

  • Support research that "reflects the emerging health needs of Canadians and the evolution of the health system and supports health policy decision-making";
  • Support research relevant to decision makers by producing results that can be applied to multiple regions and/or settings;
  • Foster "collaboration with the provinces and with individuals and organizations in or outside Canada that have an interest in health or health research" and engage a variety of partners, "in or outside Canada, with complementary research interests;
  • Promote the "involvement and recognition of, and respect for, health researchers from an array of health disciplines"; and
  • Enable "the dissemination of knowledge and the application of health research to improve the health of Canadians and strengthen the Canadian health care system.

For questions about this initiative and research objectives write to kt-ac@cihr-irsc.gc.ca.

Impact Stories

Find Funding

Learn more about the PHSI program

Knowledge to Action

Move knowledge into action by linking researchers and knowledge users

The intent of this funding opportunity is to accelerate the translation of knowledge by linking researchers and knowledge-users to move knowledge into action, and in so doing, increase the understanding of knowledge application through the process. Applicants can request funding to support partnerships, knowledge and tools for implementation projects of up to two years duration.

This program is intended to fund the knowledge application process rather than conducting primary research. Applicants at the knowledge creation stage are encouraged to consider other funding opportunities such as Knowledge Synthesis or Planning Grants.

There is a broad spectrum of knowledge that can be applied/implemented, and applicants must demonstrate the strength of the evidence supporting the application/implementation.

The maximum amount awarded for a single grant is $200,000 per annum for over a period of up to two years.

For questions about this initiative and research objectives write to kt-ac@cihr-irsc.gc.ca.

Impact Stories

Find Funding

Knowledge Synthesis

Synthesize research evidence relevant to knowledge users

Knowledge syntheses are the cornerstone of knowledge translation. They transform vast libraries of scientific literature into knowledge that is reliable, relevant and readable for knowledge users. Syntheses are comprehensive and apply scientific methods to literature analysis which minimizes the risk of bias and error that may accompany single studies, so decisions are less likely to be based on insufficient or premature evidence. Syntheses are also a means to integrate the established literature with other forms of knowledge or map the state of current knowledge on a topic, revealing to knowledge users where there is or is not strong evidence to inform their decisions, and guiding researchers to new avenues for primary research.

Applications to synthesize knowledge in any of CIHR's four themes - biomedical; clinical; health services and policy; population and public health - are eligible provided that they respond to a knowledge user identified need.

This funding opportunity will support two types of projects: knowledge syntheses and scoping reviews. The maximum amount for a knowledge synthesis is $100,000 for up to one year. The maximum amount for a scoping review is $50,000 for up to one year.

For questions about this initiative and research objectives write to kt-ac@cihr-irsc.gc.ca.

Impact Stories

Find Funding

Supplemental content (right column)