About Us

Research & Innovation

Embedding research, innovation and analytic capacity in the health care system helps ensure Alberta Health Services (AHS) provides patient-focused, quality health care to more than four million Albertans. Every day, in every corner of the province, thousands of individuals including health care providers, researchers, administrators, patients and families are involved in creating and using new research knowledge.

This work improves the quality of patient care, increases operational efficiencies and advances health care as a whole. Teams might be investigating how a newly developed piece of equipment helps us attack cancer tumours more effectively, how changes in practice guidelines mean surgery patients go home faster, or even how changes in staffing affect patient flow through the system.

Researchers and innovators are supported by teams that provide expertise in evaluation, health economics, analytics, health technology assessment, innovation, research administration and knowledge management. Strategic Clinical Networks (SCNs), which provide province-wide linkages across major clinical areas, are another example of AHS’ commitment to research, innovation and analytics.

Contact Us

Health System Access for Research
research.administration@ahs.ca
For information on research-related access to the health system and research administration matters such as patient recruitment, obtaining operational approval, access to AHS data sources, IT system and purchased service departments.

Health Systems Evaluation and Evidence (HSEE)
evaluation.services@ahs.ca
For full service research and evaluation support.

Innovation Management
innovation@ahs.ca
For information and services to develop and implement health innovations

Knowledge for Change
k4.change@ahs.ca
For evidence-based supports in knowledge translation, including synthesis, exchange, dissemination and implementation strategies.

Knowledge Resource Services
krs@ahs.ca
For information on health care library resources and services.

Research Support Fund Acknowledgement
As an affiliate organization of the University of Alberta and the University of Calgary, AHS acknowledges the contribution of the Research Support Fund (RSF) to partially offset the indirect cost of research for federally funded projects conducted at Alberta Health Services. Information about the universities’ allocation to AHS can be found by visiting the University of Alberta's Research Support Fund and the University of Calgary's Research Support Fund.


Canada Research Continuity Emergency Fund (CRCEF) Information

As a research affiliate of the University of Alberta (U of A) and University of Calgary (U of C), qualified research programs at AHS received support from CRCEF to help sustain the research enterprise at Canadian universities and health research institutions affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Stage 3 (research maintenance/ramp-up) of the CRCEF program supports direct costs of research that have been incurred to: 1) maintain essential research-related commitments during the COVID-19 pandemic; and 2) support ramping up to full research activities when physical distancing measures are eased and research activities can resume. Costs that AHS incurred for research maintenance and ramp-up related to U of A and U of C-led research programs were reviewed, and eligible expenditures were submitted to the U of C or U of A for consideration. More information about Stage 3 CRCEF Funding can be found:

AHS is committed to equity, diversity and inclusivity in the evaluation and distribution of the U of A- and U of C-allocated CRCEF funding.