CIHR/NCCPH Training Grant in Population Health Intervention Research (PHIRNET)

This application is about equipping Canada for the "sea-change" that is coming in population health. We refer to the switch of attention from studying the causes and determinants of health problems, "to the science and practice of solving them", the field known as population health intervention research (PHIR). Seven universities are combining to construct a training program which (1) focuses on four main themes/priority areas in PHIR (methods; economic evaluation, ethics and research governance; and interventions addressing social health inequalities);(2) produces and delivers a shared curriculum around key competencies in PHIR; (3) develops web based resources for learning within and beyond the STIHR network; (4) recruits students and facilitates training pathways across the seven sites; (5) facilitates learning in both official languages; and (6) partners with the National Collaborating Centres for Public Health (NCC PH) in order to maximise contacts and relationships between producers of primary PHIR, those committed to synthesising this knowledge and end users (decision-makers and practitioners) With the demand and need for PHIR increasing in connection with the pressure to develop evidence-informed public health practices, our STIHR addresses how the supply of skilled researchers will be met.