CRISM- Indigenous Engagement Platform
CRISM- Indigenous Engagement Platform
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    • Home
    • About Us
    • CRISM Research
    • Research Team & Vision
    • Resources
    • Annual Report
    • Our Approach
    • IEP Community Information
    • Partnerships
  • Home
  • About Us
  • CRISM Research
  • Research Team & Vision
  • Resources
  • Annual Report
  • Our Approach
  • IEP Community Information
  • Partnerships

Indigenous Engagement Platform: Advancing Indigenous Research Together

Indigenous Engagement Platform: Advancing Indigenous Research TogetherIndigenous Engagement Platform: Advancing Indigenous Research TogetherIndigenous Engagement Platform: Advancing Indigenous Research Together

Empowering Indigenous communities through collaborative research is essential for addressing issues such as substance use. By engaging in collaborative research, we can better understand the unique challenges faced by Indigenous communities.

Our Mission

Indigenous Engagement Platform: Advancing Indigenous Research Together

Indigenous Engagement Platform: Advancing Indigenous Research TogetherIndigenous Engagement Platform: Advancing Indigenous Research TogetherIndigenous Engagement Platform: Advancing Indigenous Research Together

Empowering Indigenous communities through collaborative research is essential for addressing issues such as substance use. By engaging in collaborative research, we can better understand the unique challenges faced by Indigenous communities.

Our Mission

About the Canadian Research Initiative for Substance Matters

3D map of Canada highlighting British Columbia, Prairies, Ontario, Québec, and Atlantic regions.

CRISM Mission

CRISM is a national network of researchers, service providers, policy makers, and individuals with lived experience of substance use. With a focus on collaborative research, CRISM’s primary objective is to translate evidence-based interventions for substance use into clinical practice, community-based prevention, harm reduction, and health system changes, particularly within Indigenous communities. Our intent is to support the development of more effective, personalized, and adoptable intervention programs and services.

Infographic on Canada's CRISM network for substance use research and interventions.

CRISM Network

Substance use disorders are pressing and complex health issues. In order to be effective, interventions require evidence-based approaches, an understanding of the biological, psychosocial and social factors and an acknowledgement of the important impact of cultural, societal, and policy contexts. Many intervention modalities exist and are known to have excellent results, yet they have not been widely implemented.


To address these translation and implementation gaps, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), through its Institute for Neurosciences, Mental Health, and Addiction (INMHA), developed the Canadian Research Initiative in Substance Matters (CRISM) (previously known as the Canadian Research Initiative in Substance Misuse). 


CRISM was designed to facilitate communication and collaboration across the pillars of addiction service providers, researchers, policy-makers, patients, and people who use substances. CRISM is a network that consists of five regional teams (referred to as Nodes), located in BC, the Prairies, Ontario, Québec, and the Atlantic region.

CRISM Clinical Research Optima Trial
Organizational structure of CRISM - ICRIS with advisory groups, regional centers, and research pillars.

CRISM 2.0- Exploring the heart of the Indigenous Engagement Platform

In 2024, the CRISM Indigenous Engagement Platform was established as a newly funded initiative designed to foster collaborative research alongside the 5 regional nodes. Housed at the University of Saskatchewan and directed by the nominated Principal Investigator, Dr. Robert Henry, the IEP was founded through his leadership and the efforts of 9 other applicants. 


Currently, work is underway to create 4 intergenerational advisory groups that will enhance the platform's mission of increasing Indigenous engagement in substance use research within Indigenous communities.

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