Office of the Chief Scientist

The Office of the Chief Scientist (OCS) provides leadership for and promotes awareness of Health Canada 's science and research. It encourages and supports the science community within and outside Health Canada. This helps to make sure the department has the scientific information that we need to make health-related decisions. The Office of the Chief Scientist (OCS) priorities include:

• Science Advice - promoting the effective use of science in policy-making - assisting the Department in employing quality science advice in its policy and regulatory decisions;
• Science Management - enhancing science capacity and quality - encouraging due diligence and ensuring Health Canada has the science capacity it needs to meet current and emerging challenges; and
• Science Promotion - raising awareness and understanding of science conducted at Health Canada - improving stakeholder and public understanding of departmental science and its contribution to the health and safety of Canadians.

In an environment of increasingly complex public policy issues that require a multi-dimensional approach to scientific issues, the OCS also coordinates and supports the Department's work in interdepartmental science and technology (S&T) activities. This ranges from playing a valuable role in creating and maintaining scientific linkages across the department and with the broader S&T community to furthering horizontal policy issues such as science infrastructure.

Below are just some of the many activities led by OCS:

• Health Canada Science Forum
• Partnerships
• Postdoctoral Fellowship Program
• Research Ethics Board
• Science Advisory Board

Visit the Science and Research section of this site for more information on the research and other scientific activities that Health Canada is responsible for or supports.