Evaluation of the Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis (IMHA) – Management Response Action Plan (MRAP)

Evaluation: Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis (IMHA)
Completed: 2016/17
Evaluation Lead: CIHR

Recommendation Response
(Agree/Disagree)
Management Action Plan Responsibility Timeline
  1. The panel recommends that the Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis (IMHA), as an Institute, should be maintained in its current state.
Agree Maintain IMHA Governing Council 2017/18
(Complete)
  1. The panel recommends that IMHA’s name should remain unchanged.
Agree Maintain IMHA’s name Governing Council 2017/18
(Complete)
  1. The mandate of IMHA should remain unchanged.
Agree Maintain current mandate of IMHA Governing Council 2017/18
(Complete)
  1. The panel recommends that the mandate statement be reviewed by the new Scientific Director, and that the Institute Goals and Objectives be clarified.
Agree Review mandate statement and clarify Institute goals and objectives with new IMHA Scientific Director and Institute Advisory Board (IAB) as part of the strategic planning process. Scientific Director, Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis in collaboration with the Vice-President, Research Programs 2018/19
  1. The panel recommends re-developing mechanisms for more Institute-specific support for the Scientific Director at CIHR.
Disagree with specific recommendation but will continue to monitor as part of broader evaluation of institute support. Resourcing and support to CIHR’s 13 institutes is assessed horizontally as part of CIHR’s normal practice, rather than on an Institute specific basis. The outcomes of this assessment inform the future state of resourcing and funding of all institutes. Executive Management Committee to monitor

Governing Council to approve
2018/19
  1. The panel recommends that CIHR develop an effective institutional voice for small research groups, and particularly within IMHA that the role and needs of skin and oral health be monitored regularly.
Agree Continue as part of standard practice to engage relevant stakeholders, including patients and the IAB. Scientific Director, Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis in collaboration with the Vice-President, Research Programs 2018/19
  1. The panel recommends full disclosure and budget transparency for the incoming Scientific Director.
Agree As part of standard practice, CIHR ensures full and transparent disclosure of Institute budgets as part of on-boarding process for incoming Scientific Directors. Chief Financial Officer and Vice-President, Resource Planning and Management Portfolio, CIHR 2016/17
(Complete)
  1. The panel recommends that CIHR review the proportion of the budgets sequestered for major CIHR initiatives, which diminish the size and impact of Institute strategic initiatives.
Agree As part of the continued evaluation of Institute reforms, CIHR has reallocated all institute strategic funding budgets to past levels (including that of IMHA). Chief Financial Officer and Vice-President, Resource Planning and Management Portfolio, CIHR 2017/18
(Complete)
  1. The panel recommends that CIHR acknowledge some areas have historically few or no partners with resources to invest in research and review its partnership investment strategies to counteract any research inequalities being created.
Agree to review partnership investment strategy CIHR partnership strategy continuing to be developed with input from institutes, including IMHA. Executive Vice-President, Governance and External Relations 2019/20
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