Addressing health system priorities to improve care

21 November 2024

A collage of the 2024 Health System Impact Fellows co-funded by CIHR and Health Research BC.

Evidence is the key to improving Canada’s health systems and delivering better health care.

Through the CIHR Health System Impact Fellowship, Michael Smith Health Research BC is co-funding eight BC researchers to address high-priority challenges facing the health system – an essential step towards better health outcomes.

The award recipients, funded in partnership with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, will develop research projects and programs to tackle the most pressing problems faced by health system organizations and support evidence-informed decision-making.

“The program equips PhD trainees and postdoctoral researchers to translate research into practice and drive positive outcomes in health care environments. That’s an important outcome — building both research and health system capacity,” says Dr. Bev Holmes, President & CEO, Health Research BC.

The partnership also allows more BC fellows to be funded and reduces duplication in the system. These researchers are part of a national cohort of 45 individuals based throughout Canada.

The eight BC-based fellows are working on a wide range of health system priorities, from enhancing the assessment and monitoring of water distribution systems to implementing strategies for reducing antipsychotic medication use in long-term care homes.

One fellow is Hayley Lawrence, a doctoral student at the University of British Columbia. Her research will evaluate strategies to reduce the administrative burden of family physicians in the province. The economic evidence generated will strengthen policy arguments and guide decisions on reducing administrative burden.

Thank you to our partners for co-funding the 2024 fellows: