On the heels of its very successful international congress in Vancouver, the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC) watched with interest as the federal budget was announced last Tuesday. The AFMC celebrates the investments made in areas connected to the social determinants of health, such as housing, youth mental health, and a national school food program.

As the voice of academic medicine and research in Canada, and as a proud member of the Canadian Consortium for Research (CCR), the AFMC also celebrates the investment of $1.8 billion over five years into core research grant funding and support for Canadian researchers, as well as the creation of a new capstone research funding organization to support the ongoing work of the SSHRC, NSERC, and CIHR.

The future health and economic wellbeing of Canadians relies heavily on a strong health research ecosystem and the ability of emerging clinician-scientists to make a living wage. Without these drivers of discovery, we risk falling further behind G7 countries when it comes to the treatment of new illnesses and diseases and innovations in healthcare delivery. We also miss out on the positive economic inputs this work brings into the Canadian economy.

Investment in health research benefits Canadians of all political stripes. The AFMC will remain a willing and proactive partner in the research space, representing the incredible work done in our Faculties of Medicine across the country and supporting the development of a national health research strategy that spans government, academia, and industry.