C: Building Research Capacity: Supporting New Opportunities/Regional Development

Historically, B.C.'s research support organization (B.C. Health Research Foundation) has allocated 80 per cent of its funds to operating grants (including some small equipment awards), with the remaining 20 per cent to scholar awards. In contrast, Quebec allocates only 10 per cent to operating grants (targeted to developing new areas). Alberta allocates about 17 per cent to targeted operating grants (a new development - until recently their focus was exclusively human resource development).

In developing this strategy document, B. C.'s research community has solidly endorsed the Alberta and Quebec focus on supporting people. The reason: recruiting good researchers (or training them from within) and empowering them through infrastructure support to compete externally for operating grants is a better strategy for maximizing long-term productivity and return on investment.

They also recommend that the strategic plan for long-term development of health research in British Columbia should include some provisions for the support of new opportunities/regional development initiatives that promote health innovation and change specific to B.C. needs.

New Opportunities/Regional Development Recommendations
Planning participants identified five key strategies for supporting health innovation and change specific to B.C. needs:

1. Seed grants to identify and support emerging priorities and new directions
2. Education and training programs to encourage and develop the capacity for innovation
3. Commercialization of new/innovative health technologies
4. Dissemination/evaluation to ensure effective application of new ideas and practices
5. Globalization

1. Seed Grants

• To develop new ideas and support emerging programs that are a priority or of unique interest to B.C.'s health community;
• To identify and examine how best to capitalize on promising new directions or unique opportunities across research sectors (basic, clinical, health services, population health, community health);
• To identify and address areas of deficiency in the B.C. health system.

2. Education/Training

• Build capacity in the community to help address the need for evidence-based evaluation of health practices and services (involve those affected by the problems in developing the solutions; includes health clients as well as practitioners). This would create a framework for "needs-driven" research and for effectively assessing gaps/needs across the province.
• Encourage and capitalize on knowledge and ideas of community agencies and community-based practitioners by providing a user-friendly pathway for them to take ideas forward. This could take the form of a "Health Research Development Bank" where individuals/groups can take and receive feedback on the value/promise of an idea as well as consultation and assistance in developing a promising idea into a commercially viable product or better health practice. Includes community-based training in research methodology, grant writing and other research skills.

3. Commerical Development

• A number of organizations are involved in various aspects of commercial development, including B.C. Science Council, University Industry Liaison Offices, Hospitals & Research Institute Business Development Offices, the Biotech Alliance and Biotech Companies.
• Missing piece: Clinical trials and marketing. Competition is global. To compete effectively, B.C. needs critical mass. This requires partnering, perhaps through a B.C. health research commercial development unit that co-ordinates among, and provides marketing and commercialization expertise to all the players.

4. Dissemination/Evaluation to ensure effective implementation

• One route is commercialization and product development.
• Another involves taking a new idea or evidence-based practice and integrating it into the health system at the clinical and community level. Ensuring that new information gets to and is used by the target audience to achieve the desired end (social and political case for health research; improving quality of health services, quality of life, well being, etc.).

5. Globalization

• Research priorities/activities have global relevance.
• B.C.'s geographic location and ethnic mix provide unique opportunities to pursue global linkages to the benefit of local growth and our presence in the international research community.
• Need an overarching provincial strategy for competing and achieving success at the international level. Some areas of health research could and should be aggressively or proactively pursued without shutting out other quests for knowledge. Using global relevance as the criteria for selecting priorities for proactive attention may provide a way to focus without excluding other local and national research interests.