Transforming Public Health: IPPH Strategic Plan, 2022-2026
Public Health Systems

Transforming Public Health: IPPH Strategic Plan, 2022-2026
Public Health Systems

Overarching goal

Strengthen the field of public health systems and services research in Canada to enable public health systems transformation and improve the health of all Canadians.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the inequities in our societies and demonstrated the importance of responsive and resilient public health systems. Over the past five years, IPPH has invested in several opportunities aimed at strengthening Canada's public health systems research capacity. However, in the face of ongoing and intersecting health, climate and social emergencies, the need for a cohesive public health systems and services research agenda has never been greater.

IPPH's Public Health Systems (PHS) priority area will generate research to support decision-making across the public health ecosystem – including governance and financing models; public health data systems and surveillance; workforce training and capacity building; implementation of effective and equitable public health delivery; monitoring and evaluation – to inform Canada's future public health systems. We will unite partners to develop and act on a shared agenda, strengthen mechanisms and approaches that ensure community voices are engaged throughout the research process, and embed equity, anti-colonialism, anti-racism and anti-ableism as cornerstones of effective public health systems.

The objectives and strategies of the PHS priority area are presented in the tab below. Since the launch of its 2022-2026 Strategic Plan, IPPH has invested in funding opportunities and led knowledge mobilization activities that advance the objectives of the PHS priority, and support and bolster capacity in public health systems and services research. These activities and investments are summarized in the tabs below.

Objectives & Strategies
Public Health Systems Objective Strategies Embedding equity Impact
Research excellence Generate evidence on key public health system research priorities 

Build a coalition to develop a unified public health systems and services research agenda in Canada

Fund research on key public health systems priorities

 Targeted opportunities focused on building anti-colonial, anti-racist and anti-ableist public health systems An evidence-base to inform choices about how to design, finance, govern and deliver more effective and equitable public health systems in Canada
Capacity-building Enable a learning public health system that can undertake context-specific systems research

Create interdisciplinary training and mentorship opportunities including embedded training programs

Establish pathways for training diverse researchers who work across academia, practice and community

Catalyze the identification, collection, and use of cross-jurisdictional, robust and consistent public health data

Integrate mechanisms to ensure equity, diversity and inclusion is prioritized in training and mentorship opportunities The necessary people, data and tools are in place to support systems transformation, including the ability to measure, monitor and evaluate performance and the capability for continuous system improvement
Knowledge mobilization Strengthen the alignment between public health research and community, practice and policy needs

Facilitate research-practice-policy-community partnerships that guide research priority-setting and implementation strategies

Support research that meets community needs in public health decision-making

 Create mechanisms that embed community perspectives into public health systems research and knowledge mobilization A roadmap driven by communities and citizens on how to achieve an effective, equitable, anti-colonial, anti-racist, anti-ableist learning public health system

IPPH-Led Funding Programs

  • Applied Public Health Chairs

    Aim: The Applied Public Health Chair (APHC) Program is a long-standing joint initiative of IPPH and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), one of several components of the Public Health Scholarships and Capacity-Building Initiative. Launched in 2006, the program was born out of the SARS outbreak in response to calls to revitalize Canada’s public health infrastructure and strengthen the interface between research, practice and policy. The APHC program supports mid-career researchers to lead research programs that address pressing public health challenges in Canada. The Chairs conduct applied research that is focused on actionable solutions and integrated with policy and decision-making processes to improve health and health equity. They also play a critical role in training and mentoring the next generation of population and public health researchers in Canada.

    Research investment: Four cohorts funded, amounting to 48 Chairs valued at $1.15M each for six years, for a total investment of $49.75M.

    Competition Chair profiles
    2024 Applied Public Health Chairs 12 Chairs
    2022 Applied Public Health Chairs 7 Chairs
    2014 Applied Public Health Chairs 14 Chairs
    2008 Applied Public Health Chairs 15 Chairs

    Funding partners:  CIHR Institute of Population and Public Health (IPPH) and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), in partnership with CIHR Institutes and Initiatives (Institute of Aging, Institute of Gender and Health, Institute of Health Services and Policy Research, Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis, Healthy Cities Research Initiative, Centre for Research on Pandemic Preparedness and Health Emergencies, HIV/AIDS and the STBBI Research Initiative), Alberta Innovates, Centre de recherche en prévention de l'obésité, Fonds de recherche du Québec – Santé, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, Quebec Ministry of Health and Social Services, and the Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation.

  • Catalyst Grants: Chief Public Health Officer Annual Reports

    Aim: To catalyze research aligned with the opportunities and evidence gaps identified in the Chief Public Health Officer’s (CPHO) annual reports: 

    The objectives of the catalyst grants were to foster links between researchers, decision-makers and knowledge users; facilitate responsive and evidence-informed decision-making; and strengthen capacity to generate and apply context-specific knowledge in order to build more effective and equitable public health systems.

    Research investment: Three annual cohorts funded between 2021-23 for a total of 43 projects, each valued at between $100,000 and $125,000 each, for a total investment of $4.85M.  

    Competition Funding Results
    Catalyst Grant: 2023 CPHO Report 11 funded projects
    Catalyst Grant: 2022 CPHO Report 15 funded projects
    Catalyst Grant: 2021 CPHO Report 17 funded projects

    Funding partners: CIHR Institute of Population and Public Health (IPPH), in partnership with CIHR Institutes and Initiatives (Centre for Research on Pandemic Preparedness and Health Emergencies, Institute of Gender and Health, Institute of Indigenous Peoples' Health, Institute of Infection and Immunity, Institute of Health Services and Policy Research), the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), and the PHAC Public Health Measures Guidance Division (PHMGD).

  • Catalyst Grant: Impacts of financial and organizational restructuring of public health

    Aim: To support research on the positive, negative and/or unintended impacts of recent and ongoing changes to the financing, governance and delivery of public health services and responsibilities in Canada. The objectives included generating evidence on how changes to the funding, organization and/or delivery of public health services impact population health, health systems and health equity; improving data and methods for measuring the benefits, costs, harms and trade-offs of changes in public health funding, organization and /or delivery; and developing evidence that would be used to inform future decisions or policies related to public health resourcing and organization.

    Research investment: Six projects valued at approximately $150,000 each, for a total investment of $920,000.

    Learn more about the 2019 Catalyst Grant competition and the 6 funded projects.

    Funding partners: CIHR Institute of Population and Public Health (IPPH) and Institute of Health Services and Policy Research (IHSPR).

Partner-Led Funding Programs
  • Knowledge Synthesis Grant: Envisioning Governance Systems that Work

    Aim: To mobilize, examine and synthesize research on governance systems across a range of sectors and disciplines.

    IPPH will support knowledge syntheses that address governance questions that directly or indirectly impact population health and/or social inequities in health, such as governance of public health systems, healthy cities and global health.

    Research investment: IPPH will support up to 3 one year-projects valued at $30,000 each, for a total investment of $90,000.

    Learn more about the 2024 SSHRC-led competition. Funding results forthcoming.

    Funding sponsors: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) of Canada, in partnership with CIHR-IPPH, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), and the UK Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).

  • Health System Impact Program

    Aim:  The Health System Impact Program provides highly qualified PhD trainees, postdoctoral researchers, and early career researchers in health services and policy research and related fields with the opportunity to develop embedded research projects/programs that address the most pressing problems faced by health system organizations and to support evidence-informed decision-making.

    IPPH supports Fellows whose projects align with the IPPH mandate, to strengthen public health research capacity to advance its strategic plan and/or tackle current challenges driving health inequities at local, provincial, territorial and federal level.

    Research investment: Since the launch of the annual program in 2017, IPPH has supported at least 4 postdoctoral and doctoral fellows per year (approximately $290K annually), for a total investment of over $2M since 2017.

    Competition Profiles of IPPH-funded fellows
    2024 Health System Impact Fellowship 5 Fellows
    2023 Health System Impact Fellowship 6 Fellows
    2022 Health System Impact Fellowship 4 Fellows
    2021 Health System Impact Fellowship 12 Fellows

    Funding sponsors: The Health System Impact Program is led by the CIHR Institute of Health Services and Policy Research (IHSPR) and made possible by partnerships with multiple funders, health system organizations and universities.

    • Team Grant: Strengthening the Health Workforce for System Transformation

    Aim: To support the implementation, evaluation and/or spread/scale (share) of evidence-informed workforce solutions that address system level challenges (e.g., system organization, governance, accountability, remuneration, capacity building).

    IPPH supported the Public Health Workforce Pool focused on building evidence related to the financing, governance, organization and/or delivery of the public health workforce in Canada that will result in a stronger and more resilient public health system.

    Research investment: IPPH co-funded two teams for a total investment of $750,000.

    Learn more about the 2023 Team Grant competition and the 2 funded projects.

    Funding sponsors: CIHR Institute of Health Services and Policy Research (IHSPR), in partnership with CIHR Institutes and initiatives (Institute of Aging, Institute of Cancer Research, Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health, Institute of Population and Public Health, Centre for Research on Pandemic Preparedness and Health Emergencies) the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and Michael Smith Health Research BC.

    Catalyst Grant: Policy Research for Health System Transformation

    Aim: To generate evidence to inform macro-level policies that support high-performing health care and public health systems in Canada with the aim of advancing the Quadruple Aim – improved population health outcomes, better patient and provider experience, and increased value – and health equity (sometimes referred to as the Quintuple Aim).

    IPPH supported the Public Health Systems Research Pool focused on macro-level polices related to financing, funding, organization, delivery, governance and/or accountability of public health systems.

    Research investment: IPPH funded 8 projects in the Public Health Systems Research Poolvalued at $150,000 each, for a total investment of $1.2M.

    Learn more about the 2023 Catalyst Grant competition and the 8 funded projects.

    Funding sponsors: CIHR Institute of Health Services and Policy Research (IHSPR), in partnership with CIHR Institutes and Initiatives (Institute of Cancer Research, Institute of Population and Public Health, Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health, Institute of Gender and Health, Institute of Immunity and Infection, Centre for Research on Pandemic Preparedness and Health Emergencies, and the Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR)), the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Santé (FRQS), the Ontario Ministry of Health, the New Brunswick Health Research Foundation (NBHRF), the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Public Health Measures Guidance Division (PHAC-PHMGD), and the Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation (SHRF).

    Catalyst Grant: Quadruple Aim & Equity

    Aim: To generate relevant and timely evidence about the impacts of innovations in how healthcare systems and services are organized, delivered, governed, held accountable, financed, and/or funded on the Quadruple Aim goals and equity, and which innovations have the most potential for transformative impact in the Canadian context.

    IPPH supported projects relevant to its mandate and that focus on public health systems research.

    Research investment: IPPH funded 4 projects valued at approximately $100,000 each, for a total investment of $400,000.

    Learn more about the 2021 Catalyst Grant competition and the 4 funded projects.

    Funding sponsors: CIHR Institute of Health Services and Policy Research (IHSPR) in partnership with CIHR Institutes (Institute of Aging, Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis, Institute of Population and Public Health, Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction), and the CMA Foundation.

Knowledge Mobilization Activities

  • Applied Public Health Chair (APHC) Annual Meetings

    Chairs receive dedicated funds through the APHC program to host an annual meeting with other Chairs, partners and knowledge users to foster connections and collaborations, share progress and exchange learnings.

    2024 APHC Annual Meeting

    The 2024 APHC Annual Meeting, hosted by Dr. Mark Gilbert and Dr. Meghan Winters, took place on September 19-20, 2024 at Simon Fraser University’s Community Engaged Research Initiative (CERi) in Vancouver. The theme of the meeting was “Advancing Equity in Applied Public Health Research and Practice: Sharing Our Knowledge.”

    2024 APHC Annual Meeting

    Learn more

    2023 APHC Annual Meeting

    The 2023 APHC Annual Meeting, hosted by Dr. Andrew Pinto, took place on December 1, 2023 in Toronto within the context of a larger meeting of researchers, policymakers, providers and patients who gathered to discuss “Addressing Canada’s Primary Care Crisis and Building Upstream Health Systems.”

    2022 APHC Annual Meeting

    Learn more

  • APHC 2024 Kick-off Meeting
    APHC 2024 Kick-off Meeting

    IPPH and program partners convened the newly awarded 2024 Applied Public Health Chairs for a welcome kick-off meeting on April 16, 2024. The aim was to provide an overview of the program by the program stewards; hear about the Chairs’ research programs through rapid-fire introductions; and learn strategies and practical tips from a panel of seasoned/alumni Chairs (Drs. Gilles Paradis, Janet Smylie, Ève Dubé, Kelly Skinner and Kate Storey).

  • CPHO Catalyst Grant KM Workshops

    CPHO KM Workshop #2

    On September 17, 2024, IPPH and partners convened a second Knowledge Mobilization (KM) workshop for grantees, partners and knowledge users of the Chief Public Health Officer (CPHO) Annual Report Catalyst Grants from all three cohorts (2021, 2022 and 2023). The event included researchers, knowledge users and trainees from the 43 funded research teams; Dr. Theresa Tam (Canada's CPHO) whose office produced the annual CPHO reports; Dr. Sarah Viehbeck (Chief Scientific Officer), whose office developed the research opportunities aligned to the CPHO reports; and other program partners and Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) representatives.

    The workshop brought together an impressive group of over 100 researchers and participants from organizations and sectors across Canada, all dedicated to bringing evidence to bear on key public health issues at every level, from the community to the national scale. The aims of the workshop were to facilitate knowledge exchange and mobilization; build connections and collaborations; and collectively ideate and forward-think to identify gaps and opportunities in research/policy/practice in public health systems to help inform future research investments, collective action and impact.

    APHC 2024 Kick-off Meeting

    CPHO KM Workshop #1

    On February 1, 2023, IPPH convened an introductory Knowledge Mobilization (KM) workshop for recipients of the 2021 Chief Public Health Officer (CPHO) Annual Report Catalyst Grant. The workshop brought together 85 participants from across Canada’s public health ecosystem, including members of the 17 funded research teams who presented their work on public health system transformation. IPPH was thrilled with the turnout and excited by the engagement and networking that took place between attendees and research teams.

Resources for PHS

Impacts of the Applied Public Health Chair (APHC) Program

CIHR-IPPH Reports on Public Health Systems

External References

Impact Report (2016-2022)
Featured Research

For a list of current funding opportunities, visit the IPPH Funding web page.

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