The CIHR HIV/AIDS and STBBI Research Initiative - Evaluation Summary

About the CIHR HIV/AIDS and STBBI Research Initiative

• The CIHR HIV/AIDS and STBBI Research Initiative is responsible for leading the Government of Canada's research response to HIV/AIDS and STBBI.
• With an annual investment of $21 million, the Research Initiative supports researchers and trainees through four funding streams: Biomedical and Clinical Research, Health Services and Population Health Research, Community-Based Research, and the HIV/AIDS and STBBI Clinical Trials Research Network.
• The Research Initiative aims to strengthen and support a diverse, inclusive, collaborative research community that generates and mobilizes knowledge to inform HIV/AIDS and STBBI responses.

Results: What we found

• The HIV/AIDS and STBBI Research Initiative is addressing the need to support HIV/AIDS and STBBI research in Canada. There is a clear, ongoing need to support research as infections persist, key populations are disproportionately impacted, and there are emerging, unmet needs (e.g., comorbidities with HIV/STBBI).
• The Research Initiative is aligned with CIHR’s Act and priorities of the current Strategic Plan as well as with the roles and responsibilities of the federal government as outlined in the Pan-Canadian STBBI Framework and Action Plan.
• The Research Initiative’s funding model can adapt to the evolving HIV/AIDS and STBBI research landscape. There are challenges, notably in the Community Based Research funding stream, related to building research capacity within key communities disproportionately impacted by HIV/AIDS and STBBI.
• The Research Initiative is being delivered efficiently, with estimated operating expenditures less than program authority allocations. CIHR needs a more robust method to track and monitor operating and maintenance expenditures. There are challenges with community engagement activities, and limited evidence that progress reports are informing program decisions.
• The Research Initiative is achieving its immediate outcomes by advancing knowledge to prevent and control new infections, building research capacity, and increasing awareness of research findings. CIHR can further engage with organizations to enhance capacity building, improve knowledge translation and co-fund research.
• The Research Initiative is achieving its intermediate outcomes by supporting research that informs policy and guidelines, improves clinical practice, and increases service uptake. Notable examples include the advancement of self-testing, informing treatment guidelines and hepatitis C elimination strategies at the provincial level.
• The Research Initiative is making progress towards achieving long-term outcomes. Emerging evidence shows that it is contributing to the prevention of infection and transmission of HIV and STBBI, enhancing the quality of life for those affected, and supporting global efforts to reduce the spread of these diseases.

Recommendations and Management Response

1. CIHR should continue to lead the Government of Canada's research response to HIV/AIDS and STBBI to address ongoing and emerging research needs.

   Management Response: Agree. CIHR will continue to lead the Government of Canada's research response to HIV/AIDS and STBBI.

2. CIHR should update the Research Initiative funding mechanisms to minimize application barriers and enhance the capacity of early career researchers and populations disproportionately impacted by HIV/AIDS and STBBI to access Research Initiative funding.

   Management Response: Agree. CIHR will continue to minimize application barriers; develop and promote information on eligibility criteria and application processes for community-based organizations; offer support through webinars and strengthening workshops; and strengthen capacity through focused investment.

3. CIHR should strengthen engagement with government and non-governmental organizations to:

   1. Advance research and build capacity for priority populations disproportionately impacted by HIV/AIDS and STBBI.
   2. Coordinate knowledge mobilization of Research Initiative-funded research to maximize its use by healthcare and community organizations.

   Management Response: Agree. CIHR will further engage with government and non- governmental organizations to advance HIV/AIDS and STBBI research, strengthen capacity for priority populations, and advance use of HIV/AIDS and STBBI Research Initiative funded research by healthcare and community organizations.

4. CIHR should improve the availability and monitoring of:

   1. Operating and maintenance expenditure data, specifically direct salary costs.
   2. Performance reporting of Research Initiative-funded research to better inform decision-making and communicate impact.

   Management Response: Agree. CIHR will strengthen the processes to improve availability of operating and maintenance expenditure; and the use of performance reporting information in decision-making, including the design of new funding opportunities, and highlight impacts.

About the Evaluation

CIHR's Evaluation Unit conducted the evaluation to provide senior management with valid, insightful, and actionable findings regarding relevance, design and delivery, and performance of the Research Initiative. The evaluation meets the requirements of the Policy on Results.

Scope, Approach and Methods

• Covered Research Initiative activities and investments from 2018-19 to 2023-24; included the CIHR Hepatitis C Research Initiative
• First CIHR-led evaluation of the Research Initiative
• Administrative Data, Financial Data, Document Review, Researcher Survey, Key Informant Interviews, Case Studies, Bibliometric and Altmetric Analysis

Associated Links

• Full Evaluation Report
• Management Action Plan (MAP)

Date modified:

2025-10-01