Best Brains Exchanges 2025

Best Brains Exchanges (BBEs) are in-camera sessions. As a result, not all Best Brains Exchange topics and presenters are listed here. The following information is being shared with consent.

For more information on any of the past Best Brains Exchanges listed below please contact BBE-EMC@cihr-irsc.gc.ca.

September

  • Income Security and Basic Income as Structural Determinants of Health

    Partners: Manitoba Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care, Manitoba Families, and Manitoba Housing, Addictions and Homelessness

    This Best Brains Exchange (BBE) brought together Indigenous and non-Indigenous academics, policymakers and community members to examine international and Canadian evidence to support a dialogue on guaranteed basic income (GBI) through a lens unique to Manitoba and in the context of Truth and Reconciliation. The exchange sought to determine whether it would be feasible and desirable to transform or adapt existing provincial income support programs to operate more like a guaranteed basic income; explore whether these changes would improve population health outcomes; and consider whether this approach would align with the values of the population, including Indigenous values. Learnings from the BBE will serve to identify key issues related to the health effects of GBI and the Manitoban context and identify priority actions that can support change in existing provincial programs.

March

  • Addressing the mental health impacts associated with acute environmental emergencies

    Partners: Mental Health Directorate, Health Policy Branch, Health Canada

    The Federal-Provincial-Territorial (FPT) Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM) Committee on Mental Health and Substance Use (MHSU) identified Mental Health and Emergency and Crisis Response as a key priority for 2024-25.

    This Best Brains Exchange examined evidence-based interventions to support various levels of government in coordinating and developing appropriate strategies to address the mental health impacts of acute environmental emergencies. This exchange included perspectives from domestic and international partners from the fields of emergency management, health promotion and mental health to identify best practices, interventions and community assets that have improved or supported positive mental health and well-being before, during and after an environmental emergency. Key learnings from the BBE will be shared in the form of a summary report that will drive FPT collaboration to address the mental health impacts of emergencies and crisis response situations.

January

  • Team-based Primary Care: Learning how to evaluate the outcomes and implementation of team-based care

    Partners: Health Canada, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador – Department of Health and Community Services, Alberta Health Services and the Canadian Primary Care Research Network

    This Best Brains Exchange presented the latest evidence and strategies used to develop a draft Pan-Canadian evaluation framework for team- based primary care. Well-designed primary healthcare teams can improve the quality of care and patient experience, decrease burnout among health providers, and reduce overall costs for the health care system. A diverse range of participants contributed to the conversation, including patient partners, Canadian and US researchers, and healthcare professionals, policymakers and other interest-holders. The event included representatives from each of Canada’s provinces and territories. A Summary Report will be made publicly available to stimulate ongoing policy discussion.

    The Best Brains Exchange Meeting Report is available.

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