Management Action Plan (MAP) for the Evaluation of the Collaborative Health Research Projects (CHRP) Program 2009–2018

Preamble

In the time between the start of the CHRP evaluation (2018-2019) and approval of the MAP (late 2021), the interdisciplinary and translational research funding landscape in Canada has significantly evolved. New programs have emerged, with objectives that complement the CHRP program, including the Tri-Agency New Frontiers in Research Fund program suiteFootnote 1 (supporting interdisciplinary, international, high-risk/high-reward, transformative and rapid-response research). In addition, a Tri-Agency Interdisciplinary Peer Review Committee pilot – an option for researchers to direct their application to a shared peer review committee to assess interdisciplinary proposals across the agencies, has also been launched.

The Government of Canada has also released a new Biomanufacturing and Life Sciences Strategy, which sets out bold objectives for Canada’s pandemic readiness and the reinvigoration of the life sciences sector through a suite of connected programs such as the Canada Biomedical Research FundFootnote 2 , and the CIHR Clinical Trials Fund.  Further, in February 2021 CIHR launched its 10-year Strategic Plan with commitments to develop strategies for innovation and commercialization (Priority E), enhance support of stronger research teams (Priority A), and strengthen investigator-initiated research (Priority B).

To address the findings of the evaluation which indicates that CHRP was meeting some but not all of its objectives, in part due to design features, the MAP for the evaluation of the CHRP program reflects the need to improve the design of interdisciplinary and translational research programs and performance measurement more broadly. Given the decision by CIHR and NSERC to discontinue the CHRP program, the MAP realistically serves to address elements of the evaluation recommendations by incorporating ‘lessons learned’ into the development of future approaches to funding interdisciplinary and translational research.

Recommendation 1
CIHR and NSERC should review the CHRP program objectivesFootnote 3 and identify the best ways to achieve these objectives, either through redesign of the program or delivery via other funding opportunities.
Management response
Management agrees with the recommendation.
Action Plan Deliverables Expected Completion Date Accountability Resources
1.a
Identify existing and emerging programs across the Tri-Agencies that support interdisciplinary research.		 1.a
Map of Tri-Agency programs and mechanisms that support interdisciplinary research.		 1.a
January 2022		 1.a Lead:
CIHR’s Director General, Initiative Management and Institute Support (IMIS), in collaboration with NSERC’s Vice-President, Research Partnerships		 1.a
Existing CIHR, NSERC resources, with input across the Tri-Agencies
1.b
Integrate learnings from the CHRP program evaluation into Tri-Agency and CIHR-specific funding programs that support interdisciplinary research.

1.b
Learnings from the CHRP program evaluation will:

i) Inform Tri-Agency programs and funding/peer-review mechanisms that support interdisciplinary research (support actions under CIHR’s Strategic Plan Priority B: Strengthen Canadian Health Research Capacity (strategy 1: Strengthen investigator-initiated research));

ii) Be examined for potential integration into actions under CIHR’s Strategic Plan Priority A: Advance Research Excellence in All Its Diversity (strategy 2: support stronger research teams), and Priority E: Integrate Evidence in Health Decisions (strategy 2: Maximize results for Canadians)

1.b

i) March 2022

ii) March 2023

 1.b Lead:
CIHR’s Director General Program Design and Delivery (PDD) and CIHR’s Director General Strategic Partnerships and International Relations (SPIR, 1bii only), in collaboration with NSERC’s Vice-President, Research Partnerships.		 1.b
Existing Tri-Agency resources
Recommendation 2

Performance measurement and data availability related to the CHRP program should be strengthened.

  1. CIHR needs to improve the performance measurement of the CHRP program and enhance the way that data is collected related to collaborations and partnerships as well as longer term outcomes (i.e., innovations and health care efficiencies) to better monitor the impact of CHRP program funding.
  2. NSERC and CIHR need to establish a means by which to improve the consistency of data collection, data management and data sharing processes related to the CHRP program.
Management response
Management agrees with the recommendation.
Action Plan Deliverables Expected Completion Date Accountability Resources
2.a i)
Enhance CIHR’s and NSERC’s ability to collect consistent data on interdisciplinary research.		 2.a i)
Initiate improved coordination of appropriate data collection and performance indicators through development of a framework to coordinate data collection with NSERC.		 2.a i)
December 2024		 2.a i) Lead:
CIHR’s Director General, IMIS, in collaboration with CIHR’s Director General, Operations Support (OS), CIHR’s Director General, Planning, Evaluation and Results (PER), and NSERC’s Vice-President, Research Partnerships		 2.a i)
Existing resources in CIHR IMIS, OS and PER, and NSERC staff.
2.a ii)
Explore and analyse options to better collect data on partner involvement.		 2.a ii)
Improve the ability to collect data, including integrating with third party tools in TGMS.		 2.a ii)
December 2024		 2.a ii) Lead:
CIHR’s Director General, IMIS, Director General, SPIR, Director General OS and NSERC’s Vice-President, Research Partnerships		 2.a ii)
TGMS team, CIHR IMIS, CIHR SPIR, NSERC program staff, and CIHR OS (Funding Analytics staff)
2.b
Explore options to improve data collection, data management, and data sharing processes.		 2.b
Explore common data models at the Tri-Agency level to facilitate sharing of data, including the introduction of tools to improve data collection and data management.		 2.b
December 2024		 2.b Lead:
CIHR’s Director General, OS and CIHR’s Director General, IMIS		 2.b
Existing resources within the OS, IMIS, and TGMS teams with input across the Tri-Agency
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