CIHR and SSHRC in discussions to transfer over health-related research

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) is in discussions with the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) to transfer over or collaboratively support research that is primarily health-related. The discussions stem from last year's strategic review exercise requiring the granting councils to identify research endeavours peripheral to their core missions.

The negotiations focus on research being conducted in such areas as the social determinants of health, the history of medicine and the health aspects of ethics — research that accounts for about 2% of the overall SSHRC budget.

"It could improve the odds of these researchers getting funding. CIHR has a bigger budget and a higher success rate so it could be beneficial for them," says CIHR president Dr Alain Beaudet. "There will be a transition period and discussions are underway to address the issue by creating joint programs ... There's a high likelihood that in the future it will be joint programs."

Beaudet says the primary intent of the research is the key, although he acknowledges that some research may begin largely in the realm of social sciences and humanities and gravitate to more of a health focus.

"It may tip the scale and we need to determine if it's inappropriate for SSHRC to be supporting it," says Beaudet. "In some cases it could almost be breach of their mandate to be doing it."

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