Join us for Moving Upstream: Advancing the science of structural determinants of health
Conference hosted by Upstream Lab in collaboration with partners including
Canadian Institutes of Health Research – Institute of Population and Public Health (CIHR-IPPH)
November 20, 2026
8:00 am – 7:00 pm
Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, 209 Victoria St., Toronto, Canada M5B 1X2
About the Conference
This conference, Moving Upstream: Advancing the science of structural determinants of health, comes at a critical moment as we seek to deepen our understanding of the structural determinants of health, identify key knowledge gaps, and chart a path forward for research, policy, and practice. The event will convene academics, research funders, policymakers, health system leaders, and trainees who are committed to advancing work in this area.
Since the World Health Organization’s 2008 Final report of the commission on social determinants of health, there has been significant growth and action focused on upstream interventions to reduce health inequities by intervening on social determinants. This conference provides a timely opportunity to reflect on progress over the past two decades and to advance thinking on how to move further upstream to address structural determinants – defined by Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) as “the larger societal, economic, ecological, and political contexts which shape these more proximal social determinants and, in turn, population health and well-being.”
The conference day will conclude with a reception marking the 10-year anniversary of the Upstream Lab – based at MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health Toronto – and celebrating its contributions to advancing upstream approaches to health equity.
Featured Keynote Speakers
Agenda
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 8:00–8:45 | Registration & networking: Coffee & light refreshments
Optional: Breakfast meeting to collaborate on a text on “Building Upstream Health Systems (Andrew Pinto) |
| 8:45–9:00 | Welcome (Andrew Pinto) & Land Acknowledgement (Roberta Pike) |
| 9:00–9:50 | Keynote & Q&A: Social Epidemiology: Have we gone Upstream enough? (Lorraine Dean) |
| 9:50–10:00 | Break |
| 10:00–11:30 | Objective 1: To discuss key scientific advancements related to structural determinants and the role of research in moving policy upstream
Panel Discussion (Panellists: Andrew Pinto, Arjumand Siddiqi, Laura Gottlieb, David Blane) |
| 11:30–12:30 | Lunch & Posters |
| 12:30–1:20 | Keynote & Q&A: Towards using primary care data to understand policy effects on health (David Rehkopf) |
| 1:20-1:30 | Move to breakout rooms |
| 1:30–2:30 | Objective 2: To Identify methodological gaps and effective approaches for interdisciplinary research to strengthen the evaluation, implementation and policy relevance of structural determinants research
|
| 2:30-2:40 | Break |
| 2:40–3:40 | Objective 3: To catalyze new connections among diverse stakeholders who are committed to advancing work to address structural determinants (Concurrent sessions)
|
| 3:40-3:55 | Break and move to auditorium |
| 3:55–4:55 | Objective 4: Objective 4: To explore priorities for research on structural determinants over the next 5 years for academics and research funders
Priority setting exercise and discussion (Andrew Pinto, Virginie Portes and Arnab Majumdar) |
| 4:55–5:00 | Closing remarks (Andrew Pinto) |
| 5:00-5:30 | Break |
| 5:30–7:00 | Reception
Celebration of 10th anniversary of the Upstream Lab & launch of the Upstream Lab strategic plan 2026–2030 |
Scientific Planning Committee
Call for Abstracts (now closed)
Contact Us
For more information, please contact us at upstreamlab@unityhealth.to