Lawson Research Institute (Lawson) is a research community that strives to embed equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging (EDI-B) within our research environment. This commitment is underscored in St. Joseph’s Health Care London’s (St. Joseph's) institutional 2022-2025 strategic plan entitled “Earning Complete Confidence,” in which, among other goals, we prioritize leading in health research and innovation.
To achieve our goal, we must first acknowledge that research spaces, participation and practices have included, and still include, numerous barriers that limit the full participation of equity-deserving groups and partners in the research environment. The Canadian Tri-Agency Statement on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) (1) has acknowledged such barriers and formulated The Canadian Tri-Agency EDI Action Plan (2018-2025)(2) outlining steps to address these in our research ecosystem.
As a health research institute, we are also guided by the Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) Strategic Plan (2022-2027) (3), which prioritizes safe and progressive practices that will benefit its members, system, and organization. Innovative, impactful and transformational research thrives when guided by equity, incorporating diverse worldviews, methods and perspectives.
In accordance with the OHA Strategic Plan (3), we believe that the key to a thriving research enterprise is to embed the values of humility, discovery and passion in our work. We embrace the philosophy of Ubuntu, which can be defined as the essential human virtues of compassion and humanity, and recognize that members of our research community are part of a larger, and more significant relational, communal, societal, environmental and spiritual world. Our mission is to attend to the wholeness of each person – body, mind and spirit – welcoming every member of our research community as a person with a unique set of strengths, lived experiences, support networks, spirituality, and personal goals.
We want to foster the resiliency, well-being, equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging of all members of our research community and thus enhance a thriving research culture where wellness, diversity and a sense of belonging are fostered and the potential and capacity of everyone is supported. We understand that leading research through an EDI-B lens is necessary to achieve research relevance, success and excellence, and this will benefit everyone in the Canadian and the global research environment. (4,5,6,7)
Lawson Research Institute commits to:
• Reviewing and improving our EDI-B specific strategies, policies and procedures (1) to support equitable research practice, and (2) to promote inclusive hiring and retention of diverse talent at the Lawson Research Institute.
• Providing the training and resources for our researchers to embed EDI-B principles and best practices in their research design and implementation.
• Incorporating EDI-B accountabilities into research design and practice competencies to ensure that our research responds to the health gaps experienced by our diverse communities.
• Convening a community of expert practitioners to learn best EDI-B practices to advance equity in research design and practice.
• Developing and launching awards focused on elevating and making visible researchers who champion and incorporate EDI-B best practices in their research as guided by the federal research funding programs (8).
It is equally vital to acknowledge, honour and include Indigenous Knowledges, which long precede Euro-western centred approaches brought to these lands. In accordance with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action 18-24 on Health (9), it is crucial to make space for and emphasize the importance of conducting health research in culturally sensitive ways as part of our collective responsibility in working towards reconciliation. We will work in collaboration with key units at Western University, such as the Office of Indigenous Initiatives, the Associate Vice-President Research (Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Decolonization), and Western Research to ensure The Four R's – Respect, Relevance, Reciprocity, Responsibility (10) – are at the core of our research ecosystems. In partnership with Western, we will: 1) ensure ethical research engagement with Indigenous communities; 2) recognize colonial practices in, and adopt anti-colonial approaches to, research; and 3) work with partners to advance equity, diversity, inclusion, and decolonization in all joint programs, services, and funding initiatives we support.
Lawson Research Institute, the research institute of St. Joseph’s Health Care London, works in partnership with London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute, the research institute of London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC), and Western University to advance health research. Western and LHSC share our deep commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion in health research. Learn more about Western’s and LHSC’s commitment to EDI on their websites (11).
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References:
1. Tri-Agency Statement on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI):
https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/InterAgency-Interorganismes/EDI-EDI/index_eng.asp
2. Tri-Agency EDI Action Plan for 2018–2025: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/_doc/EDI/EDI-ActionPlan-EN.pdf
3. Ontario Hospitals Association Strategic Plan 2022-2027 https://www.oha.com/strategicplan
4. Hong, L. and Page, S. E. Groups of diverse problem solvers can outperform groups of high-ability problem solvers. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. 2004;101:16385-89.
5. Hofstra B. et al. The diversity-innovation paradox in science. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 2020;117:9284-91.
6. Nielsen, M. W. et al. Opinion: gender diversity leads to better science. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. 2017;114: 1740-2.
7. Herring, C. Does diversity pay?: race, gender, and the business case for diversity. Am. Sociol. Rev. 2009;74: 208–224.
8. New Frontiers in Research Fund: Best practices in equity, diversity and inclusion in re-search design. https://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/funding-financement/nfrf-fnfr/edi-eng.aspx
9. Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada 2012: Calls to Action
10. Kirkness, V. J. and R. Barnhardt (2001). First Nations and Higher Education: The Four R's - Respect, Relevance, Reciprocity, Responsibility. Knowledge Across Cultures: A Contribution to Dialogue Among Civilizations. R. Hayoe and J. Pan. Hong Kong, Comparative Education Research Centre, The University of Hong Kong.
11. Western EDI: https://www.edi.uwo.ca, LHSC Office of Inclusion: https://www.lhsc.on.ca/doc/lhsc_annual_report_2023/launch-of-office-of-inclusion.html
