Launch! Applied Public Health Chairs program
Dear colleagues,
Today marks the launch of the renewed Applied Public Health Chair (APHC) program. The CIHR Institute of Population & Public Health (CIHR-IPPH) and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) are proud to work together on the third launch of this program at a pivotal moment in history as we start to look towards a post-COVID environment and embark on a revitalized health research agenda.
Originally developed in response to public health challenges that emerged following the 2003 SARS epidemic, the continued investment in the APHC program takes on particular relevance in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic as an essential component of a strong and responsive public health system. As outlined in our earlier announcement, this program provides mid-career researchers with an opportunity to collaborate with decision-makers to help support evidence-informed decision-making that improves health and health equity. Using feedback obtained from previous Chairs and partners, CIHR-IPPH and PHAC have worked together to increase the program’s ability to be adaptive and responsive by implementing a few strategic updates.
The renewed APHC program will operate with a rolling cohort model that sees a call for applications launched approximately every other year, creating at least four Chair positions bi-annually. The higher frequency in launches over time will allow for greater responsiveness to emerging public health issues and adaptability to new complexities. In this initial launch, there are seven available awards – five that are focused on specific areas of research: Infectious Diseases; Healthy Environments; Sex, Gender and Healthy Cities; Upstream Prevention in Primary Healthcare; HIV and STBBI Research – and two awards available in a general pool.
Additionally, as partnerships are critical to the success of the APHC program, under the new format we have created a formalized multi-partner support network. As in previous launches, each Chair applicant will be required to partner with a decision-maker, in addition to which, successful Chairs will now be linked with additional knowledge translation liaisons, one from PHAC and another from one of the National Collaborating Centres (NCC) for Public Health. These liaisons will help promote the uptake of research and connect the Chair to other relevant decision-makers and knowledge users within PHAC, and within other federal departments and provincial/territorial or local governments.
Below you will find additional information about this funding opportunity and full details are available on ResearchNet. Additionally, PHAC and CIHR-IPPH will be co-hosting a webinar on Thursday, February 11, 2021, from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm ET, which will provide an overview of the program and an opportunity for potential applicants to ask questions.
The Applied Public Health Chair program has been an incredible tool that serves to strengthen Canada’s public health system. It is our hope that this new opportunity builds on the success of previous launches to fortify partnerships, effectively respond to current challenges with science, and advance the potential of mid-career public health leaders. As always, please share this opportunity with anyone who you think might be a good fit.
Best,
Steven and Pascal
Steven J. Hoffman JD PhD LLD | @shoffmania
Scientific Director, CIHR Institute of Population & Public Health
Director, Global Strategy Lab, and
Professor of Global Health, Law, and Political Science, York University
Pascal Michel, DMV, IPSAV, MPVM, PhD
Chief Science Officer
Office of the Chief Science Officer
Public Health Agency of Canada
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