University Delegates

October 1st, 2015

Alysha Croker, PhD

Senior Advisor, Science Strategy

Positioning Trainees for Success and Impact in

the Canadian Health Research Enterprise

The purpose of this presentation is to discuss the

progress made in the development of CIHR’s

Strategic Action Plan on Training

2

Challenges in Health Research Training

3

A Paradigm Shift is Underway…

Excellence in training means that

the leaders of tomorrow can apply

their talent wherever their

advanced skills are needed – in

academia, government, industry,

non-government organizations,

and beyond.

Health Research is Evolving

Success in health research requires trainees to

be increasingly interdisciplinary to address

complex health issues, technological advances,

and globalization

Career Paths are Changing

Most trainees do not stay in academia, and

employers report PhDs are simultaneously

over- and under-qualified

Expertise in Critical Areas is Lacking

Research capacity is required in priority areas

in health and health systems research to

position Canada to compete globally

4

Call to Action

Postdoctoral fellows are questioning whether the classical postdoctoral fellowship as it exists today is failing to prepare them for what is likely their realistic future career path.

CAPS 2009

“…the acquisition of soft skills provides an effective complement to our core business - providing the academic knowledge and the up-to-date methodological and analytical skills required to produce world class graduates”

CAGS, 2014

Canada’s training stakeholders are ready for collaborative action

When trainees have completed their training…

Canada’s health research trainees emerge as

scientific, professional, and organizational leaders

within and beyond the Health Research Enterprise

Positioning Trainees for Success

Working Vision

• Environment scanning, surveying, and ongoing stakeholder discussions

are helping to shape our vision:

5

Solutions for Enhancing the Health

Research Training Environment

6

• Through our various consultations, stakeholders proposed

solutions / activities that CIHR could undertake to help position

trainees for success in the health research enterprise

– Some proposed solutions fall under CIHR’s mandate, and others

require a collaboration with training stakeholders

CIHR’s External Working Group on Training (membership in

Annex I) has a mandate to inform the development and

implementation of CIHR’s Strategic Action Plan on Training

7

Solutions We’ve Heard To-Date

Fostering a

Paradigm Shift

Enhancing the

Trainee Experience Working Together Using Data

Training Recognition

(considered in tenure

and funding decisions)

Mentorship Training (for

trainers and trainees)

New Programs

(specialized degrees,

etc.)

Update Programs to

incorporate training

best practices

Training Platforms to

support more

innovative and relevant

training

New Investigator

Training

Collaborative Action of

all Stakeholders in the

Health Research

Enterprise

Harmonization of

policies and definitions

Marketing the value of

the PhD qualification

Funder Collaboration in

Priorities, Activities,

and Funding (making

things simpler for

applicants)

Multiple mentors for

trainees (different

disciplines and/or

sectors)

Increase trainee

mobility (globally,

provincially, different

sectors)

Non-research training

courses

Career awareness for

trainees (options and

skills required)

Internships (different

disciplines and sectors)

Student voices in

decision-making

Determining Data

Needs (gaps and how

to fill them)

Trainee Tracking

(follow trainees from

start of training to

career)

Predictive Data (future

human resource supply

and demand)

Data Coordination

(access and use of

data that is already

available)

Best Practice Evidence

(analyses of what

works provincially,

nationally, and

internationally) Please note that these are not necessarily the solutions that CIHR will undertake.

These are the solutions that we have heard through our various consultations.

Next Steps

8

Oct 2014 –

Ongoing

Environmental Scans & Literature Review

Within CIHR, nationally, and internationally

Internal & External Consultations

See Annex I for more information on external consultations

Sept 2009 –

June 2015

(Ongoing)

Strategy Directional Elements Developed

Vision, Principles, and Objectives

Training Solutions/Actions Compiled

Solutions compiled from literature reviews, environmental scans, and various consultations

CIHR-Specific Solutions/Actions

Deciding on solutions/actions for CIHR to undertake

Feb – June

2015

Jan – Mar

2015

Currently

Questions and Considerations

9

Please provide your feedback to:

Alysha Croker, Sr. Advisor, Science Strategy

Alysha.Croker@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

613-948-8393

1. Which solutions resonate with you as being the most impactful/

transformative? Which do not?

2. Which solution(s) would have the greatest impact for Canada?

3. Are there additional solutions that should be considered?

4. What do you see as complementary roles for academic institutions

and CIHR in positioning health research trainees for success?

How can we influence a culture change in how

Canada approaches health research training?

10

Annex I: Groups Consulted in the Development of CIHR’s

Strategic Action Plan on Training

Training Strategy Consultations

11

• CIHR developed an extensive engagement strategy to ensure the inclusion of

ideas and dialogue across all health research training stakeholders: Universities,

Research Funding Agencies, Trainees, Supervisors, and Employers.

12

CIHR Dr. Danika Goosney Director General, Science, Knowledge Translation & Ethics, CIHR

CIHR Dr. Marc Ouellette Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval - Researcher, Infectious Disease

Research Centre, Centre hospitalier de l'Université Laval - Canada Research Chair in

Antimicrobial Resistance - Scientific Director (Institute of Infection and Immunity), CIHR

Trainee &

MD/PhD Mr. Eric Zhao

MD/PhD Trainee - University of British Colombia

VP – Internal Elect, Clinical Investigator Trainee Association of Canada (CITAC)

University Dr. Janice Eng Associate Dean, Funding, Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, University of

British Colombia

University Dr. Bernard Jasmin Professor and Vice Dean of Research, University of Ottawa (AFMC Rep)

University Dr. Reinhart Reithmeier Professor, University of Toronto - Former Chair of Biochemistry and Special Advisor to the

Dean of Grad Studies - Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences

University Dr. Chris Shields Professor, Department of Kinesiology - Acadia University

University Dr. Andrew Watson Associate Dean Research (Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs); - Professor,

Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Physiology and Pharmacology, Western University

University &

CHSPRA Dr. Adalsteinn Brown

Director, Institute for Health Policy, Management and Evaluation – Head of the Division of

Public Health Policy - Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto – Co-chair

of the Canadian Health Services and Policy Research Alliance

University &

STIHR Dr. Sharon Strauss

Scientist, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute - Director, Knowledge Translation Program -

Division Director, Geriatric Medicine - Professor, Department of Medicine, University of

Calgary and University of Toronto

University &

NCE Dr. Chris Mody

Professor and Head, Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Infectious Diseases -

Chair , Advanced Education and Training Opportunities Adv. Committee for AllerGen NCE

Expert

Organization Dr. Jessica Edge

Senior Research Associate - Centre for Skills and Post-Secondary Education, Industry

and Business Strategy - Conference Board of Canada

Expert

Organization Ms. Sally Rutherford Executive Director - Canadian Association of Graduate Studies

Membership of CIHR’s Working Group on Health Research Training (2015-16)

13

Annex II: CIHR’s Current Support for Training

14

CIHR’s Commitments to Training

• Canada Graduate Scholarships (CGS) for Masters and Doctoral

students (including the Vanier-CGS)

• Fellowship programs for postdoctoral fellows (including Banting)

• Awards in targeted areas (e.g., Fellowship in Epigenetics,

Fellowships within the Clinical Trials Networks in the U.S., etc.)

• CIHR invests $65M/year through direct awards to trainees in

diverse health research areas in Canada and abroad

• CIHR invests $135M/year to indirectly support trainees

through stipends paid off of operating grants and strategic

training programs

• CIHR is very active in the training of health researchers

• Since 2000, CIHR has more than doubled its support for health

research trainees

• CIHR Institutes have been at the forefront of training innovation

within their communities

15

CIHR’s Innovative Training Approaches

Mentorship

• IMHA “Train the Trainer” workshops

• IAPH holistic mentorship model

(multiple mentors)

• Mentorship evaluated in the

Foundation Scheme

Trainee Engagement

• SPOR Working Group on Training

• CIHR Working Group on Training

• Canadian Health Services and Policy

Research Alliance Working Group on

Training (IHSPR)

Career Development

• ICRH Young Investigators Forum

• IHDCYH Career Development

Workshops

• ICR New Investigator Forum

• Travel Awards for Conferences

Skills Development

• SPOR Capacity Building Framework

• IA Summer Program on Aging for

interdisciplinary and networking skills

• INMHA “Alternatives to Careers in the

Lab” sessions

Examples include…