2026 NEIHR PI and CIHR in-person Meeting: Building Research Collaboration

The Network Environments for Indigenous Health Research (NEIHR) Principal Investigator (PI) and CIHR meeting, co-hosted by the NEIHR National Coordinating Centre (NCC) and the CIHR Institute of Indigenous Peoples’ Health (IIPH), was held in Ottawa on February 3, 2026. This meeting marked the second in-person convening of NEIHR PIs from across the country, Tri-Council leadership including attendance by the Presidents of CIHR, SSHRC, and NSERC, Scientific Directors from all 13 CIHR Institutes. Intentionally broader than the first meeting held in February 2025, this gathering supported greater dialogue across the Indigenous health research landscape.

Dr. Chelsea Gabel, Scientific Director of IIPH, opened with an update on the institute’s priority initiatives and reaffirmed that the NEIHR program remains IIPH’s flagship initiative. With nine networks active and a tenth in development, she highlighted how the NEIHRs align their work with CIHR and Tri‑Council mandates and contribute to advancing Indigenous-led health research across the country.

Dr. Robert Henry, NEIHR-NCC Nominated Principal Investigator, emphasized the holistic nature of Indigenous health research and its intrinsic connections to the work of all CIHR institutes, underscoring the importance of sustained institute-level engagement and support.

Dr. Henry also acknowledged NCC Research Manager Tara Erb for her thoughtful and rigorous review of each CIHR institute’s strategic plan, which revealed the key intersections between institutional priorities and Indigenous health research. He shared draft visual materials illustrating these linkages and described how this analysis is intended to support CIHR institutes in identifying strengths and opportunities to advance Indigenous health research.

The meeting also highlighted a 2025 NEIHR-NCC grant focused on studying the impacts of wildfires in Indigenous communities. This included reflections on the challenges of conducting research during an active environmental emergency.

Overall, the meeting strengthened relationships between NEIHRs, IIPH, Tri-Agency leadership, and CIHR Institutes. Discussions also underscored the importance of coordinated Tri-Agency involvement in supporting the growth, sustainability, and long-term success of the NEIHRs.

Event highlights:

Date modified:

2026-02-20