Transitioning scientific discoveries from the lab to the clinic often requires that new policies and protocols be implemented within our healthcare systems.
Health systems researchers look at how these systems operate. Their ultimate goal is to find ways to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of these systems through changes to practice and policy that allow new discoveries to be implemented within the systems. Health services research is a multidisciplinary field of scientific investigation that studies how social factors, financing systems, organizational structures and processes, health technologies, and personal behaviours affect access to health care, the quality and cost of health care and, ultimately, the health and well-being of those who use the system.
By investing in health systems research, we are looking to optimize Canada’s health care systems in ways that ultimately improve the health and wellbeing of patients living with cancer.
Our research strategy
At the Terry Fox Research Institute, we are bringing together the best researchers from the country's top cancer institutions to work on projects that help improve how our health-care system delivers services to cancer patients.
To allocate our resources, we ask international experts to evaluate the excellence and the potential for impact of all our research projects. This approach distinguishes our research investment strategy from all others in Canada and allows donors to be confident that their investment is supporting the best research in Canada.