Building Canada's National One Health AMR Research Strategy
A Consultative Approach to setting National AMR Research Priorities

Background

Guided by the commitments outlined in the Pan-Canadian Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (PCAP) Pillar 1: Research and Innovation's priority actions, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), with strategic and scientific leadership from the CIHR-Institute of Infection and Immunity (CIHR-III), and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), in collaboration with the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), are leading the development of Canada's National One Health Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Research Strategy (NOHARS).

Canada's NOHARS aims to establish Canada's AMR research priorities through an integrated One Health lens that recognizes the interconnections among humans, animals, plants, and their shared environments. The development of this strategy aims to address AMR through coordinated actions across the five pillars of the PCAP: 1) advancing research and innovation, 2) strengthening surveillance systems, 3) promoting responsible antimicrobial use, 4) improving infection prevention and control practices, and 5) ensuring strong leadership and collaboration to drive sustained progress.

The development of Canada's NOHARS has been structured around three work streams, each of which is being undertaken with extensive engagement and analysis. Ultimately, this work will identify a robust and forward-looking list of One Health AMR research priorities with relevance across sectors and disciplines and will inform a cohesive strategy to ensure future efforts within the Canadian research ecosystem are strategic, collaborative, and responsive to emerging needs.

While the final strategy is still in development, the summary below outlines two completed work streams and a third that is currently underway.

1. Developing a consensus list of One Health AMR research priorities (Completed)

Under the leadership of CIHR and AAFC, Shift Health, a life sciences strategy consulting firm, was engaged to guide a process to identify AMR research priorities, and critical enablers to build research knowledge across the five PCAP pillars. The development of a consensus-based list of AMR research priorities for Canada was completed using an inclusive, consultative approach aligned with PCAP guiding principles (One Health, Equity, Collaboration [Domestic and International], Momentum). The process drew on the best available evidence and engaged diverse community members across human, animal, plant, and environmental health sectors, with representation from across provinces and territories. A literature review, broad community input (through targeted consultations and engagement at national conferences) and iterative rounds of prioritization through a pan-Canadian survey and AMR community engagement through focus groups were used to systematically identify, refine and validate the priorities. This comprehensive approach ensured that the priorities accurately reflect the needs and perspectives of Canada's AMR community while maintaining alignment with the desired outcomes of the PCAP. Throughout the process, strategic and technical guidance was received from a Project Team, Working Group, Leadership Committee, and Canada's One Health AMR Governance which includes representation from multiple FPT government agencies and AMR experts across One Health sectors.

To ensure a well-balanced list of priorities, survey respondents ranked priorities according to the following criteria: Relevant, Actionable, One Health-oriented, Equitable, and Impactful. The priorities were further refined through a series of focus group engagements to gather perspectives from sectors, geographies, and communities that were underrepresented in the initial pool of survey respondents. The process resulted in a set of intersectoral priorities with a One Health focus that align strongly with the envisioned outcomes of the PCAP pillars and will guide jurisdictional and sectoral partners in identifying and advancing key actions.

2. Mapping of federal investments and activities (Completed)

To develop an effective NOHARS, it was essential to incorporate a current scope of federal investment in AMR. A situational analysis was therefore undertaken to map how departments and agencies investing in AMR and Antimicrobial Usage (AMU) research-related activities are contributing to the priorities and outcomes of PCAP. Thirteen federal organizations provided input on their recent research, programs, and related initiatives This collaborative mapping exercise contributes to a shared understanding of the federal AMR landscape and includes both intramural and extramural research investments and projects in AMR. The resulting insights are now informing the next stages of strategy development and coordination, helping ensure that federal efforts align with the emerging national approach.

3. Indigenous Perspectives on One Health AMR Research Priorities

Meaningful engagement with Indigenous communities, through an Indigenous-led process, is essential to developing an inclusive and comprehensive One Health AMR research strategy and priorities. The federal government is committed to working with partners, including Indigenous researchers and organizations, to establish an Indigenous-led process that brings Indigenous perspectives into the final research priorities and overall research strategy. This process has been initiated with discussions with Indigenous scholars who specialize in One Health and related research and rooted in the foundational principles and frameworks that emphasize interconnectedness, balance, and reciprocal relationships between all living beings and the land through Indigenous Knowledge.

Next steps

Over the coming months, focused attention will be placed on Work stream 3 to support the development and implementation of the Indigenous-led process. Together, all three work streams will support the development of the Strategy, which is expected to be finalized by Spring in 2027. A shortlist of research priorities will be published in 2026 to guide partners in focusing efforts during the interim period and to align with upcoming CIHR funding opportunities.

Appendix: Shortlist of interim priorities

Date modified:

2026-01-21