The Network for Improving Health Systems is a collaboration between the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy and Dalla Lana School of Public Health. The Network is creating a strong engine for evidence and knowledge transfer around improving the health care system including evolving pharmacy practice and related health policy. It provides a crucial forum to identify opportunities in the health system for impactful change and to address barriers and challenges to innovation.
The Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy and Dalla Lana School of Public Health announced this new collaborative initiative in November 2022:
U of T pharmacy and public health faculties partner to strengthen pharmacists' role in health system
Objectives of the Network for Improving Health Systems
- Study an expanded role of pharmacists in our primary health care system and identify how pharmacists can be part of a bigger health system that is organized around the patient;
- Fund research that catalyzes changes to the primary health care system;
- Strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration and capacity building between Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy and Dalla Lana School of Public Health;
- Stimulate opportunities for additional funding from external sources that can build on the research proposed; and
- Build capacity in health services and policy research focused on improving the health care system.
Funding opportunities
New Initiative and Innovation Award - Network for Improving Health Systems: $75,000 Award
Award Guidelines *Updated
Trainee Award - Network for Improving Health Systems: $25,000 Award
Support for NIHS funding opportunities has been provided by Shoppers Drug Mart.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
- 1. Does a study submitted to the NIHS Innovation Fund opportunity have to study a specific Canadian province’s pharmacist scope of practice or a comparative study?
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The study submitted should consider the priority areas outlined in the call for proposals. There is no restriction on study by geography.
- 2. Is the Trainee Award - Network for Improving Health Systems: $25,000 Award, a separate award and how do I apply for it?
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The call for proposals for the NIHS Trainee Award are available here.
- 3. Can a trainee apply to both LDFP and DLSPH pools for an award?
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A trainee is eligible to apply for the award pool based on their home student program. If a student is registered with IHPME they are eligible for the DLSPH funding pool. If a student is registered in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences they are eligible for the LDFP funding pool.
- 4. What are the presentation standards for the Research and Training Award materials?
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Please follow the following presentation standards: Use a font size of 12 point, black type (for example Times New Roman). Do not use condensed/narrow font sizes or type density. Smaller text in tables, charts, figures, and graphs is acceptable, as long as it is legible when the page is viewed at 100%.
- 5. Can I receive the NIHS trainee stipend in addition to my base funding package as a PhD student?
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The NIHS training stipend contributes to a PhD student's funding package at DLSPH. These stipends are not held in addition to departmental support. Depending on the amount of the stipend, DLSPH may offer additional funding.
- 6. If co-investigators on my application are Faculty members in the teaching stream, do these individuals need to include a CIHR Academic CV or is another format acceptable?
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With teaching stream, we would accept other versions of CV’s. However, we should emphasize that we do recommend that it follows a similar format to Tri-agency CV’s to ensure consistency for reviewers.
For more information please contact annalise.mathers@utoronto.ca.
Collaboration with Discovery Pharmacy
For more information on collaboration with the Discovery Pharmacy please contact Ernie Avilla, Executive Director.
For New Initiative and Innovation Award (NIIA) proposal planning to include the Discovery Pharmacy as a knowledge user or implementation/ evaluation site; kindly complete this form before submission of the proposal.