ABSTRACT
Some of the key developments for primary care (PC) research in Canada can be traced back to the late 1960s in the first decades after the creation of the academic discipline of family medicine. Based on the solid accomplishments of very active PC researchers, teams are now focusing on critical topics such as mental health, access for rural and remote populations, health of new immigrants and refugees and the burden of the ageing population with complex needs using community-based innovative approaches and engaging stakeholders in the research process. PC research capacity was catapulted forward as part of the massive investments in primary healthcare renewal between 2001 and 2006. This renewal engaged the community of PC researchers in evaluation efforts and led an unprecedented investment by the Canadian Institutes for Health Research in PC research and in the career support of mid-career researchers and of clinician-researchers.
