The Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research (CIMVHR) 

OVERVIEW

The Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research (CIMVHR) is an innovative organization that engages existing academic research resources and facilitates the development of new research, research capacity and effective knowledge translation. With a network of academic researchers from across Canada, the Institute serves as a focal point for 43 Canadian universities who have agreed to work together in addressing the health research requirements of the Canadian military, Veterans and their families. It serves all Canadian stakeholders interested in military and Veteran health research and acts as a conduit between the academic community, government organizations (e.g., Department of National Defence [DND], Veterans Affairs Canada [VAC]) and Health Canada, industry and similar international organizations. The CIMVHR research program ensures sustainability through increased public awareness and public-private funding.

• The CIMVHR Vision: “The health and well-being of Canadian military personnel, Veterans and their families is maximized through world-class research resulting in evidence-informed practices, policies and programs.”
• The CIMVHR Mission: “To enhance the lives of Canadian military personnel, Veterans and their families by harnessing the national capacity for research.”

VAC and CIMVHR

• VAC has partnered with CIMVHR since its inception in 2010.
• VAC Research Directorate staff provide ongoing in-kind support through steering committee participation, planning assistance and contributing to the annual Forum.
• VAC’s ongoing involvement is critical to ensure the Department’s research needs are factored into the Institute’s work and direction.
• Through a contract between the Government of Canada and the Institute, VAC is partnering with a number of academic researchers on studies relating to Veteran and family well-being, including health.

Benefits to VAC include: 

• Linkage with researchers across Canada to build on existing collaborations on research projects related to the health of military, Veterans and families, including priorities as identified by DND and VAC, e.g. transition to civilian life;
• Access to national funding opportunities as they develop;
• Linkage, via the academic community, with researchers from different countries to collaborate on international and multi-disciplinary projects and to have access to multinational research funds and databases;
• Access to a unique contracting consortium of universities across Canada to conduct research in targeted areas;
• Two-way communication channel where CIMVHR researchers have access to the research priorities of DND and VAC and in turn communicate their research results back to these organizations;
• Access to graduate students researching in relevant areas or access to unique resources for graduate students working in these areas;
• Participation in the governance of the Institute and/or on the network steering committee; and
• Profile in all CIMVHR-related activities.

MILITARY AND VETERAN HEALTH RESEARCH FORUM

• The signature Institute event each year is the Military and Veteran Health Research Forum. VAC has had a high profile at each of these Forums to date, raising awareness of Departmental research and research priorities. VAC speeches and presentations have all been very well received and generated discussion with Forum participants. 
• Further, each year, as an in-kind contribution, VAC has sponsored a speaker at the event, bringing unique and varied views to the proceedings.
• In 2017, at the Eighth Annual Forum, VAC will deliver 13 presentations. The Department is also sponsoring a keynote speaker, Mr. John Boerstler, Executive Director of NextOp in the United States.

It is essential that VAC continue to demonstrate leadership in Veteran health research through participation at the annual MVHR Forum. Furthermore, VAC participation ensures that the Forum content is balanced between military-and Veteran-related research.