Strategic Initiatives

Background
Review Panel Members
Panel Report and Recommendations
MSFHR Infrastructure Programs
Health Services and Policy Research Support Network

Background
The Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research is committed to continually evaluating and improving our programs and services. To this end, the Foundation initiated an external review of its Infrastructure Programs in November 2006.

The objectives of the review were to:

Review current infrastructure award programs
Evaluate current infrastructure award programs for their effectiveness and value add/ROI for MSFHR goals and objectives
Identify opportunities and risks for greater integration of the program components
Consider and advise on gaps and other changes/refinements that would enhance the value of these programs in achieving MSFHR goals and objectives

The review was informed by the following:

Backgrounders on the goals, objectives and guidelines and evaluation criteria for each program
Annual, interim and final reports that are required of awards recipients as a condition of award (Types and amounts of information varied as programs were in different stages of development)
Telephone surveys, conducted by Ipsos Reid, of funded and unfunded recipients, as well as other key stakeholders in the community
Input from the broad health research community via the MSFHR website.

Review Panel Members
Chair:
Ron Worton, CEO and Scientific Director Ottawa Health Research Institute

Members:
Tom Feasby, Vice President Academic Affairs, University of Alberta/Capital Health
Dan Florizone, CEO, Five Hills Health Region, Saskatchewan
Marielle Gascon-Barre, Vice President & Scientific Director, FRSQ
Jacques Magnan, Vice President, Programs, Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research
Dorothy Pringle, Professor, Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto

Panel Report and Recommendations
The Review Panel delivered its final report, including 14 recommendations, in December 2006. The report was formally received by the MSFHR Board of Directors on February 16, 2007. The Board also approved a process for developing management's response to the recommendations that includes the establishment of a taskforce and consultation with BC's research community and other stakeholders.

MSFHR Infrastructure Programs
The goals of the Infrastructure Program are to help create a vibrant and sustainable health research environment that is recognized for excellence, is responsive to BC's health needs and contributes to BC's economy. The program has several components:

Institutional Award Program - supports BC's four major universities and four major health research institutes to plan and develop internal health research infrastructure
Research Units/Team Award Program (three components)

Research Unit Awards - support established research groups in BC working in focused areas of health-related research
Team Start-up Awards - support emerging health research groups in BC involved in multidisciplinary and cross-theme research
Team Planning Awards - support new groups of researchers in BC to come together and plan the establishment of a team and a shared health research agenda

Networking Program

Health of Population Networks - support provincial networks that bring together researchers with a common interest in the health of specific populations within BC
Technology/Methodology Platforms - support provincial, cross-cutting technology and methodology platforms that will underpin and enhance health research across BC

Health Services and Policy Research Support Network
Infrastructure funding support is also provided through the Health Services and Policy Research Support Network (HSPRSN). This initiative is supported by restricted funding provided to MSFHR by the BC Ministry of Health to create a provincial process for developing research and capacity building programs to support health system redesign and innovation. Two types of infrastructure awards were approved and implemented.

Health Authority Capacity Building Awards - to assist BC's six health authorities in developing their capacity to engage in and use health services and policy research to support evidence informed health system redesign and innovation.
Investigative Teams - to enable teams of researchers and program or policy decision makers to develop and implement a program of health services and policy research that identifies, addresses and facilitates uptake of findings to support evidence-informed change and innovation in the health system.

Note: Historically, the HSPRSN reported to Leadership Council (comprising senior decision makers in the BC Ministry of Health (MOH) and Health Authorities) but in 2004 responsibility for funding decisions was transferred to the MSFHR Board of Directors.