Coming of age and taking stock: the state of academic health policy research centres in Canada.

This descriptive study takes stock of the nation's health services and health policy research capacity by profiling the organizational models, operational challenges and success strategies utilized by Canadian academic health policy research centres. While each such centre is unique, the results point to some common themes, including symbiotic relationships between centres and their ministries of health, pervasive infrastructure funding challenges and the importance of having a supportive academic home.