Health Law Institute Current Research Projects

The Health Law Institute (HLI) is a vibrant and growing centre that is internationally renowned for its innovative scholarship and contribution to cutting-edge research in various areas of health law, policy and biotechnology.  Led by HLI Research Director Timothy Caulfield, the HLI research team is involved in an ever-increasing number of large, multi-institutional and interdisciplinary research grants. Graduate students in health law have the unique and valuable opportunity to become involved in these projects where they coincide with the students’ own areas of interest.  

As a direct result of their involvement, past students have co-authored publications for high-impact, peer-reviewed journals, participated in research activities, attended conferences and workshops and presented their work at international events.  Opportunities of this nature, including the chance to collaborate with leading international experts from other disciplines, such as bench scientists, philosophers, economists, media experts, social scientists, ethicists and policy makers, are truly exceptional in the realm of traditional legal education.

In addition to these exciting research-oriented possibilities, the HLI also offers a number of highly worthwhile course-based options.  The always popular Contemporary Issues in Health Law – Seminar Series offers an opportunity for students to engage critically with a set of seminars, presented by distinguished guest speakers from a variety of scholarly disciplines and professional fields related to health law, on contemporary health law issues. The Health Law Research Internship is also a valuable experience for students to consider, as it provides them with the opportunity to engage in original directed research in a unique interdisciplinary environment.

A few of our current research projects are briefly described below. Additional information can be found on our website at the following address: http://www.law.ualberta.ca/centres/hli/publications/grants

Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research: Improving the Efficient and Equitable Care of Patients with Chronic Medical Conditions Interdisciplinary Chronic Disease Collaboration (ICDC)

The overall objective of this five year project is to improve the health of patients with or at risk of chronic disease. The Interdisciplinary Chronic Disease Collaboration (ICDC) team will accomplish this by developing, implementing and evaluating novel interventions which reduce the clinical and economic impact of hypertension, diabetes, chronic kidney disease and vascular disease. To achieve this, the ICDC team will study two interrelated themes: 1) optimizing health outcomes for patients with "known chronic disease," and 2) earlier detection and management of undiagnosed chronic disease or its risk factors" in patients at high risk of chronic disease.

AllerGen – Evidence, Ethics and Health Policy Research

In this new project, a research team headed by HLI Research Director Timothy Caulfield is exploring the challenges associated with the use and production of evidence in allergy and asthma policy. Specifically, this research project seeks to: (1) identify and analyse the nature and source of evidence used in public policies, laws, and regulations relevant to allergy and asthma prevention and management; and (2) analyse and make recommendations to improve the legal and ethical governance of health research, particularly multi-site research and longitudinal studies such as the CHILD birth cohort study.

Stem Cell Network – The Stem Cell Research Environment: Drawing the Evidence  and Experience Together

This three year project, led by the HLI’s Timothy Caulfield, brings together an international team of leading scholars (including over 30 collaborators from more than 7 countries) in stem cell ethical, legal, social science, and public policy research. This interdisciplinary team is examining the nature of the stem cell research environment and its impact on research strategies, movement of trained researchers, capacity to conduct research, intellectual property in and ownership of research outputs, funding opportunities, research productivity, reception of emerging technologies, public perceptions of the research, and future investment mechanisms.

CIHR Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction – NeuroSCAN - NeuroScience And Norms: Ethical and Legal Aspects of Norms in Neuroimaging

In this three year collaboration between Canadian (led by Timothy Caulfield at the HLI), Germany and Finnish research teams, researchers are investigating the normative dimension of the neurosciences of the mind, from an international perspective. This project has three overarching goals: (i) to deliver a philosophical analysis of how people deal with increasingly objective and individualized knowledge about their mental dispositions; (ii) to formulate a common legal framework for the neurosciences of the mind, and (iii) to analyze the ethical concepts which are central for understanding the process and the implications of the emergence and creation of norms in and for neuroscience.

Genome Canada - Translating Science: Genomics and Health Systems

This four year project led by HLI’s Timothy Caulfield, Dr. Edna Einsiedel (U of C), Dr. Michele Veeman (UofA), and Dr. Peter Phillips (U of Sask) investigates how genomics knowledge is translated in health systems, and what the consequent policy implications are. More specifically this team is exploring the translation of genomics knowledge through intellectual property systems, the views both public and stakeholder groups have on the risks, benefits and ethical challenges associated with new technologies -- such as stem cell research, plant molecular farming and nanotechnology -- and the processes and institutional bodies involved in assessing, regulating and governing genomics applications.

Canadian Institutes of Health Research - Emerging Team in Genomics in Screening

This research team is investigating genetics in primary care and public engagement and education. The overall goal of this four year project is to facilitate the practical translation of genomics discoveries into population health gains, specifically focusing on areas where genomics meets general populations and primary care. In particular, the team is examining the use of family history information in predicting risk of common diseases, and the screening of newborns for rare but serious inborn metabolic diseases. The team is also engaging with citizen groups and health professional groups to understand their reactions to upcoming developments in 'genomic profiling', where DNA is used to assess susceptibility to common diseases, in adults and in children.

Canadian Institutes of Health Research - The Alberta Policy Coalition for Cancer Prevention

This four year project is investigating behavioural risks for cancer through development, adoption, implementation, and evaluation of policy. The research team, which includes the HLI’s Timothy Caulfield, is building on the success of tobacco reduction and expanding the policy scope to other behavioural risk factors for cancer, specifically obesity and related determinants such as unhealthy diet and physical inactivity. They are focusing on three policy settings -schools, workplaces and communities.

Canadian Institutes of Health Research - CIHR Training Program in Regenerative Medicine

Research Director Timothy Caulfield is acting as a co-investigator on a team developing the only comprehensive regenerative medicine training program in Canada. This six year initiative will identify and train scientists who will lead this important new field in health research, in partnership with industry.

Privacy Commissioner of Canada - Analysis of Privacy Policies and Practices of Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing Companies: Private Sector Biobanking and Privacy Protection Norms 

Research Director Timothy Caulfield and Research Associate Nola Ries are studying a number privacy concerns arising out of new biomedical technology.  Their examination includes assessing whether the privacy polices and practices of a sample of direct to consumer genetic testing companies comply with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA).

Canadian Institutes of Health Research - Use of Legal Interventions to Address Environmental Factors Implicated in the Obesity Epidemic: The Role of Law as a Public Health Tool

This three year project is investigating environmental factors related to obesity, especially factors such as availability, regulation and marketing of food. The research will provide a comprehensive analysis and evaluation of the use of legal and regulatory mechanisms to change environmental factors believed to be related to obesity.The research has several key components and will: 1) identify and analyse key legal interventions that aim to alter consumer or industry behaviour to create an environment that promotes healthier food choices; 2) will explore the appropriate role of law as a public health tool and how law interacts with other factors affecting population health in the context of food and obesity; 3) will address other legal and socio-cultural issues, including the legal duties of health care providers towards obese patients and media representations of obesity.