Mr. Chair, committee members, thank you for this opportunity to speak about Canadian Forces health research partnerships.
As the senior defence department advisor on all matters related to health and the provider of health services to the Canadian Forces, the Surgeon General requires a robust health surveillance, analysis, and research capability to identify concerns and improve related policies, programs, and clinical capabilities. Because of the unique nature of military service and its operational, occupational, and environmental hazards, specialized applied research is necessary that's very often not, or cannot be, adequately addressed by civilian research.
The Surgeon General's health research strategy and its program, therefore, focus on military needs and pursue maximum efficiency and productivity through collaboration with other organizations.
We have significant internal research capacity through our clinician-scientists in Canadian Forces clinics and university medical centres and through scientific staff at our national headquarters and at the Canadian Forces Environmental Medicine Establishment. They annually publish dozens of peer-reviewed studies, academic theses, and technical reports, and they have a worldwide reputation as leaders in key areas of military health research, such as trauma management, critical care, and mental health.
Defence Research and Development Canada is one of our most important partners and we currently have over 40 joint projects together. It provides some nationally-unique and critical research capabilities in such areas as medical defence against chemical-biological agents, blast injury, elements of mental health, and other militarily-significant areas. We also collaborate with other DND elements, several other government departments and agencies, industry and academia.
Collaboration with academia in particular is increasing since the Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research was established in response to a proposal by the Surgeon General. This network of 22 universities aims to supplement our research through coordination of relevant academic work, and it has already organized two research forums to maximize the transfer of relevant findings nationally.
We also collaborate bilaterally and multilaterally with allied military health research authorities, including several NATO health research organizations. By pooling resources to research common interests, we often achieve results at relatively little cost or with a disproportionately high return on investment.
By increasing research efficiency and collaboration with our partners, we strive to continue maximizing health research output that makes a difference in protecting the lives and the health of Canadian Forces members.
Thank you for your attention.