Research Canada’s Leadership in Advocacy Award honours outstanding advocates for medical, health and scientific research. The Leadership in Advocacy Award is presented to individuals and/or organizations who/which have made outstanding efforts in advocating for Canadian health research at the local, provincial and/or national level.

Please note that the Leadership in Advocacy Award is aimed at recognizing excellence in health research advocacy rather than excellence in health research, for which there are many other prestigious awards.

Research Canada reserves the right not to select an award recipient in a given year or to name more than one award recipient in a given year.

CRITERIA:

Individuals and Organizations are separate categories and will be evaluated separately using the following criteria for each group:

INDIVIDUALS:

Awardees will be selected based on the description and/or evidence provided in the nomination package that shows how they are contributing to health research advocacy in Canada.

Awardees are individuals who advocate for health research and positively impact the health research enterprise and/or health innovation system in Canada by working to educate decision makers, the public and the media and/or affecting policy and legislation through effective health research advocacy at the local, provincial and/or national levels. The advocacy work should exceed normal expectations of regular advocacy practice and should be inclusive and respectful of the values and personal autonomy of those who are affected by it.

Individuals who use research to improve health outcomes do not qualify (e.g. an individual who mounts a campaign to increase awareness of research to influence policy makers or produces and disseminates information that shows the value of research to a community—large or small—would meet the criteria while one that simply raises money for research to improve health outcomes does not). Nominees will be chosen if they meet one or more of the following criteria:

1. The advocacy work has resulted in a significant act(s) or specific decision(s) advantageous to the health research enterprise and the advocacy work has been the primary reason the decision was made.
2. The advocacy action(s) or decision(s) advantageous to the health research enterprise were marked by outstanding efforts, process or innovation.
3. The advocacy work generated support or raised new awareness among policymakers, the media and/or Canadians about the nature of health research, its economic and/or social benefit to Canadians and its critical role in nation building.
4. The advocacy work mobilized grassroots advocacy—action at the local, regional or community level.

Other Criteria include:

a) Shares her/his knowledge of and passion for health research with others through writing, speaking and/or consulting.

b) Has played a lead role in developing/growing community, provincial or national awareness related to health research and is generally recognized as a leader in this field.

c) Actively participates in stakeholder groups dedicated to advancing health research and/or other means of advocating for health research

d) Has actively championed the health research advocacy tool/program/strategy within his/her organization.

Within the above criteria, additional points may be awarded for these factors:

• Advocacy efforts that include multiple components that serve to frame an issue, develop alliances, and gather and disseminate data relevant to moving the agenda forward
• Consistency of effort

ORGANIZATIONS:

Awardees will be selected based on the description and/or evidence provided in the nomination package that shows how they are contributing to health research advocacy in Canada.

Awardees are institutions which advocate for health research and positively impact the health research enterprise and/or health innovation system in Canada by working to educate decision makers, the public and the media and/or affecting policy and legislation through effective health research advocacy at the local, provincial and/or national levels. The advocacy work should exceed the normal expectations of regular advocacy practice and should be inclusive and respectful of the values and personal autonomy of those affected by it.

Institutions which use research to improve health outcomes do not qualify (e.g. a charitable foundation or research hospital that mounts a campaign to increase awareness of research to influence policy-makers or produces and disseminates information that shows the value of research to a community—large or small—would meet the criteria while one that simply raises money for research to improve health outcomes does not). Nominees will be chosen if they meet one or more of the following criteria:

1. The advocacy work has resulted in a significant act(s) or specific decision(s) advantageous to the health research enterprise and the advocacy work has been the primary reason the decision was made.
2. The advocacy action(s) or decision(s) advantageous to the health research enterprise were marked by outstanding efforts, process or innovation.
3. The advocacy work generated support or raised new awareness among policymakers, the media and/or Canadians about the nature of health research, its economic and/or social benefit to Canadians and its critical role in nation building.
4. The advocacy work mobilized grassroots advocacy—action at the local, regional or community level.

Other Criteria include:

a) Shares its knowledge of and passion for health research with others through writing, speaking and/or consulting.

b) Has played a lead role in developing/growing community, provincial or national awareness related to health research and is generally recognized as a leader in this field.

c) Actively participates in stakeholder groups dedicated to advancing health research and/or other means of advocating for health research

d) Has actively championed the health research advocacy tool/program/strategy within his/her organization.

Within the above criteria, additional points may be awarded for these factors:

• Advocacy efforts that include multiple components that serve to frame an issue, develop alliances, and gather and disseminate data relevant to moving the agenda forward
• Consistency of effort

Examples of relevant Advocacy activities:

The following are examples of the diverse types of activities that may be indicative of the individual or organization/company/institution’s efforts in the above criteria, but are not the sole factors in determining eligibility or scoring:

• Educating and engaging patients and the community regarding the value of health research as well as the impact of current policy proposals upon the health research enterprise. Such activities include distributing articles and information through newsletters and website, conducting public forums, etc.
• Educating the media to garner positive attention regarding the value of health research as well as the impact of current policies on the health research enterprise. This may include activities to increase media attention such as submitting op-ed articles and letters to the editor, and conducting meetings with local editorial boards and education reporters, media appearances, press conferences, etc.
• Educating and raising awareness within the health research community in one jurisdiction by updating it on issues, and initiating advocacy efforts (such as the adoption of resolutions, letters, etc.) as necessary.
• Encouraging other health researchers and other community stakeholders to become active advocates on behalf of health research.
• Strengthening alliances with policymakers through personal visits to explain issues from the health research community’s perspective and to encourage them to adopt policies that are supportive of health research. Personal visits include meetings at MPs offices as well as through institutional visits.
• Contacting policymakers through phone calls, emails, letters and/or other methods to discuss issues, particularly in response to Research Canada’s Alerts and Calls to Action.
• Participating in Research Canada’s Advocacy Program, including activities related to its Health Research Caucus, national public opinion polls and institutional visit program.

Who is eligible?

Nominees may be an individual or organization/company/institution who or which represents or is drawn from a stakeholder group across the health innovation continuum: government, academe, industry, non-governmental (not-for-profit sector), patients, health consumers. All nominees must be advocating for Canadian health research taking place in Canada. Acting Members of Research Canada’s Board of Directors are ineligible to be nominated.

Who can nominate?

Nominations are accepted from Research Canada’s Members, Supporters and Partners. A secondary nominator is required for the nomination to be considered and cannot originate from a current member of Research Canada’s Award Selection Committee. Any nomination submitted may be considered for up to two award cycles.

Governance:

Research Canada’s Award Selection Committee chaired by a Research Canada Board Director and comprised of two representatives of Research Canada’s Board and two representatives drawn from Research Canada’s Members, Supporters and Partners governs the award process. The Committee is responsible for the Call for Nominations, evaluation of the nominees and the recommendation of the award recipient to Research Canada’s Board of Directors for its approval.

What is the timeline/process?

Research Canada’s Award Selection Committee will open the nomination process and make applications available in March of the award-granting year. In 2023, the nomination deadline is April 20. The committee will provide their recommendation to the Research Canada Board, and the award recipient will be notified following the approval of Research Canada’s Board of the recommended nominee. The award will be presented at a ceremony in the fall.

The Research Canada Award Selection Committee will make its recommendation based on evaluation of the nomination packages received. Each nomination package will include a completed form outlining the nominee’s and nominators’ contact information, credentials and designations, two letters of recommendation from two nominators, the nominee’s Curriculum Vitae if it is an individual or a comprehensive description of the organization/company/institution if it is the latter.

Profiling the Award Recipient:

Research Canada will work to elevate the profile of the Award recipient by publicizing the Award, the recipient’s accomplishments and contributions to health research in Canada, and the Award event itself through its website, social media, national and local publications and networks. Research Canada will make every effort to organize speaking engagements, interviews, blog posts and other opportunities to promote/profile the Award recipient’s accomplishments.