Science Policy Directorate

The Science Policy Directorate (SPD) provides leadership to integrate a strong science foundation and evidence into Departmental decision-making. In carrying out its mandate, the Directorate takes the lead on, and promotes a strategic approach to, priority science policy issues or tasks of a horizontal nature. It strengthens the Departmental science culture and it acts as a champion, facilitator, and coordinator, working with the science and policy communities across the Department and with internal and external partners and stakeholders. SPD is responsible for the planning and coordination of the annual Health Canada Science Forum. The activities of SPD are grouped into three broad functional areas with corresponding activities for each area:

• Strategic Science Policy and Planning
• Science Policy Development and Advice
• Corporate Science Management and Promotion

The organizational structure of SPD consists of four Divisions:

• Policy, Planning and Coordination Division (PPCD)
• Research, Policy and Outreach Division (RPOD)
• Bioethics, Innovation and Policy Integration Division (BIPID)
• Science and Technology Foresight and Science Promotion Division (STFSPD)

Policy, Planning and Coordination Division (PPCD)

• Leads, plans and manages Departmental S&T policy activities
• Directs the conduct of research related to science governance and science planning issues
• Leads the development, implementation and update of the Health Canada Science Plan and its key initiatives:
  • Laboratory Infrastructure Renewal Initiative
  • Setting of Health Canada Science Priorities
• Ensures science is reflected fully and appropriately in Departmental programs and planning
• Provides guidance on and coordinating horizontal science management and policy issues (e.g., Northern S&T)
• Establishes and fosters intra and interdepartmental linkages to address science management and policy issues of common interest
• Ensures science is considered in evidence-based Departmental decision-making
• Establishes and develops relationships with other federal departments to pursue joint interests
• Provides secretariat services to the Science Advisory Board, SMB-Science and DG-Science; and coordinating emerging science files (e.g., nanotechnology)

Research, Policy and Outreach Division (RPOD)

• Serves as a focal point for Departmental links science and research organizations: Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Canadian Health Services Research Foundation (CHSRF), Genome Canada, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) and Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI)
• Plans and leads Health Canada's Science Forum
• Enhances linkages with international health research activities and organizations
• Manages Health Canada's Research Ethics Board to meet the needs of the Department and the Public Health Agency
• Develops and manages HC Science Excellence Framework
• Sustains a Health Canada Scientific Integrity Policy
• Administers HC's scientific publications, the Adjunct Professorship Database and the Departmental Scientist Emeritus program
• Manages the Research Scientist Career Progression process and Chairs the Departmental Career Progression Committee
• Administers the Departmental Science and Research Database

Bioethics, Innovation and Policy Integration Division (BIPID)

• Leads strategic policy development in high priority and emerging areas such as research ethics, biobanks, health innovation, and emerging technologies (human genetics, nanotechnology, pharmacogenomics, personalized medicine)
• Provides strategic policy advice on social, legal ethical and political impacts of Science and Technology for government, the health system, and the Health Portfolio
• Leads the development and implementation of Centres of Expertise on Bioethics, and Risk Assessment/Risk Management
• Develops and advances an integrated approach to addressing health policy issues based on rigorous high quality evidence
• Identifies and addresses major strategic policy issues for the development of policy frameworks, priorities and positions for the Department
• Oversees the collection and analysis of complex information on national and international trends in health sciences policy
• Represents SPD in a variety of fora internationally and across government to inform and promote Health Canada's policy position
• Provides leadership on the integration of science into policy

Science and Technology Foresight and Science Promotion Division (STFSPD)

• Monitors developments in science and technology, science and technology foresight, and health research worldwide to identify and assess trends and drivers, to provide critical analyses of issues of relevance to and of impact on Departmental activities
• Manages HC's Intellectual Property (IP) through the Departmental IP Policy, staff training and advice to researchers
• Leads the development and implementation of Centres of Expertise on Intellectual Property, and S&T Foresight
• Develops and implements long-term strategies, plans, programs and initiatives to promote an understanding and acceptance of Health Canada's scientific research mandate, goals, objectives and achievements to its various constituencies
• Identifies, initiates and leads branch and Departmental multi-disciplinary research teams to develop the tools required for science promotion and science partnerships within the Department and with other governmental organizations, academia, the voluntary sector and industry
• Assesses the status of science, research capacities and future research needs of the Department, identifies the overarching legal and ethical issues and develops coordinated research, programs, approaches, policies
• Develops and implements knowledge translation initiatives in support of evidence-based decision-making, policy development, and regulation

Corporate Support:

Coordination of Department-wide science committees at the Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM) and the Director General levels:

• ADM Committee on Science and Technology
• ADM Science & Technology Integration Board
• ADM Committee on Higher Arctic Research Station/International Polar Year
• Federal Partners in Technology Transfer ADM Committee
• Director General Working Group on Laboratories
• Research Management Group
• Health Portfolio Nanotechnology Working Group
• Task Force on Scientific Risk Assessment
• Research Ethics Board
• Science Advisory Board
• Working Group on S&T Foresight
• Working Group on Science Communication Tool Kit
• Visiting Fellowship Program - National Science and Engineering Council of Canada (NSERC)
• Departmental Career Progression Committee (RES promotion & reclassification)
• Research Community Advisory Committee