Thank you, Dr. Clifford.
As my colleague indicated, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research’s policy changes have significantly increased the integration of sex and gender into health research.
These policy changes are helping to make CIHR-funded science more rigorous and more inclusive to increase research impact.
As the scientific director of CIHR's institute of gender and health, I am committed to advancing research that will further help to close the gender health gap. This is why I am thrilled to help deliver on a budget 2021 investment of $20 million for women's health research.
With this important investment, CIHR, in partnership with Women and Gender Equality Canada, and in consultation with researchers, clinicians, communities and trainees across Canada, is leading the national women's health research initiative. This initiative is advancing a coordinated research program to address high-priority and under-researched areas of women and gender-diverse people's health. By embracing a community-engaged approach and committing to the principles of equity, diversity, inclusion and indigenous rights, this initiative will support the creation of research evidence to improve women's health care and women's health policies and practice in Canada.
As the first phase of this initiative, in August 2023 the Minister of Health announced an $8.3-million investment to support the creation of 10 women's health hubs. These hubs will focus on mobilizing research evidence in key priority areas of women's health, including sexual and reproductive health, HIV care, the prevention of violence and equity in health services access, to name a few. For example, the women's cardiovascular health hub, led by Dr. Kerri-Anne Mullen and Dr. Thais Coutinho and their team at the Ottawa Heart Institute Research Corporation, will leverage Canada-wide networks to address cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause of death and hospitalization among women in Canada.
For the next phase of the initiative, CIHR will invest in a hubs coordinating centre; biomedical discovery research; translational research in health care diagnostics, therapeutics and devices; as well as implementation research to remove barriers to accessing health care. This initiative aligns with additional investigator-driven CIHR investments in women's health research, which totalled over $60 million in 2021-22 alone.
As a short example, I'd like to highlight the work of Dr. Gina Ogilvie and her team at the Women's Health Research Institute in British Columbia, who are advancing research on HPV vaccination and cervical cancer screening methods. Dr. Ogilvie's world-class research program is accelerating Canada's efforts to become the first country globally to eliminate cervical cancer.
As you can see, CIHR is committed to advancing research that stands to improve women's health and health care. I deeply look forward to the outcomes of your study and would be pleased to assist your efforts in any way.
Thank you.