Strategic Goals

We updated our strategic direction and activities for 2009-2012 to reflect the changed environment and new fiscal realities. The strategy, An Updated Strategy 2009-2012, (PDF Attachment) sets out three key areas of activity:

1. Focus Program Support

  1. To increase the impact of the existing health research funding.
  2. To increase researchers’ potential to leverage national and international funding.

Major Initiatives:

  1. Establish new health research priorities.
  2. Align health research program funding with the new health research priority areas.
  3. Work with government, District Health Authorities and other partners to increase the use of peer reviewed research.
  4. Increase support for collaboration among researchers and research institutions for increased leveraging of national and international funding.
  5. Secure provincial funding for national/international partnership programs.

2. Enhance Organizational Infrastructure

  1. To improve organizational efficiencies

Major Initiatives:

  1. Invest in and implement an electronic grants management system for the competitive programs.
  2. Invest in business intelligence tools for improved financial and reporting capabilities.
  3. Develop a Memorandum of Understanding, outlining roles and responsibilities, with all of the universities and institutions who administer NSHRF funding for researchers.
  4. Conduct program audits for the competitive programs.

3. Demonstrate the Impact of Health Research

  1. To increase understanding of the need for, and use of, excellent health research for a sustainable health system.
  2. To promote the value of research and demonstrate its impact.

Major Initiatives:

  1. Meet with the health system partners (specifically the Departments of Health and Health Promotion and Protection and the District Health Authorities) to increase the understanding of the relationship between health research funding and improved clinical care and attraction and retention of health researchers (including clinicians).
  2. Conduct further analysis of the impact of health research, including the impact on the economy, and communicate the findings to our health system partners and key stakeholders in the province.
  3. Further communicate the need (targeting District Health Authorities and Government Departments) for health research on priority issues as the basis of informed decision making and a sustainable health care system.
  4. Encourage the further use of peer reviewed research within the Departments of Health, Health Promotion and Protection, Community Services and other provincial and national agencies.
  5. Promote the need to include the commissioning of peer reviewed research in the provincial procurement process.
  6. Encourage system partners to increase the province’s infrastructure for health research (e.g. provincial research ethics board, administrative databases, platforms for clinical research etc).
  7. Align the NSHRF’s health research impact framework and indicators with other provincial and national organizations.

Previous Strategic Planning Information

NSHRF's Strategy Plan 2006-2011 (PDF Attachment)
Strategic Plan Outcomes 2003 -2005 (PDF Attachment)
Key Informant Report (2005) - Full Report (PDF Attachment)
Key Informant Report (2005) - Summary (PDF Attachment)
Environmental Scan, November 8, 2002 (PDF Attachment)
Situational Analysis, December 2, 2002 (PDF Attachment)
A Critical Look at Health Research in Nova Scotia, January, 2001 (PDF Attachment)