Team Grants: Strengthening Resilient and Equitable Public Health Systems (STEPS)

Backgrounder

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), in partnership with the Fonds de la Recherche du Québec (FRQ), the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, and Michael Smith Health Research BC, is investing over $10 million to support 14 research teams across Canada. Through the Strengthening Resilient and Equitable Public Health Systems (STEPS) initiative, these teams will work over the coming years to generate actionable evidence and develop practical solutions to strengthen public health systems, improve health equity, and enhance preparedness for current and future challenges.

Lead Researcher Institution Project Title Funding
Mehdi Ammi Carleton University (Ottawa, ON Public Health Financing and Equity: Determinants, Impacts, and System Learning $749,700
Prativa Baral McGill University
(Montreal, QC)
Designing a Pan-Canadian Civilian Emergency Reserve: governance, finance, and workforce models to strengthen public health surge capacity $750,000
Naïma Bentayeb CIUSSS de Centre-Ouest-de-l'Ile-de-Montréal-Cavendish
(Montreal, QC)
L'organisation communautaire comme levier intersectoriel des services publics en santé pour les communautés en quête d'équité $748,991
Brittany L Bingham University of British Columbia
(Vancouver, BC)
Decolonizing Approaches to the Governance and Leadership of Public Health Crises in the Context of Climate Change $750,000
Lisa Bourque Bearskin University of Victoria (Victoria, BC) Shared Pathways to a Healthier Tomorrow: Strengthening Public Health Systems with Indigenous Knowledges $749,621
Gina Dimitropoulos University of Calgary
(Calgary, AB)
Developing Public Health Standards and Best Practices in Youth Mental Health and Substance Use Health System Design $747,500
Sumantra M Ghosh University of Alberta
(Edmonton, AB)
Implementation of a national drug surveillance dashboard and co-creation of a national drug alert system. $748,244
Kate Jongbloed University of Victoria (Victoria, BC) 'Fixing Ourselves': Evidence-informed Eradication of Indigenous-specific Racism to Advance True Reconciliation in Settler Population and Public Health Systems $405,944
Raza M Mirza University of Toronto
(Toronto, ON)
A Population Health Approach for Coordinating Community-Based Seniors' Services and Strengthening Health System Resilience $750,000
Sume Ndumbe-Eyoh -University of Toronto
(Toronto, ON)
From knowledge to impact: Building workforce expertise and capacity on core competencies in Black health and addressing anti-Black racism for public health $746,741
Morgan Thomas M Price University of British Columbia
(Vancouver, BC)
Inclusive Planning for Climate Emergency Readiness with First Nations Communities $748,967
Abhimanyu Sud Humber River Health (Toronto, ON) Strengthening Public Health System Responses in Canada's Ongoing Opioid Crisis $749,990
Mirella M Veras University of Manitoba
(Winnipeg, MB)
AI-Enabled Stroke Prevention for Indigenous Community Health Workers in Rural/Remote Manitoba and Saskatchewan $746,332
Darren E Warburton University of British Columbia
(Vancouver, BC)
Stronger Hearts, Stronger Communities: First Nations Approaches to Cardiovascular Health and Wellness $750,000

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2026-06-10