Institute for Work and Health The Institute for Work & Health is an independent, not-for-profit research organization established in 1990 by the Workplace Safety & Insurance Board of Ontario (then the Workers' Compensation Board of Ontario). The Institute's mission is to research and promote: new ways to prevent workplace disability improved treatment optimal recovery and safe return to work Research for Today’s World of Work The Institute has done and continues to do multiple projects and studies. Examples of this research involve the prevention, assessment and treatment of work-related sprains and strains how psychosocial factors affect risks and time off work after an injury, particularly in relation to women workers the measurement of worker health and safety the management of soft-tissue injuries (sprains and strains), particularly low back pain The Institute is also strong in health services research and evaluation, epidemiology and biostatistics, classification and measurement of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs), also known as sprains and strains, and investigates broader workforce health issues. Network of Respected Researchers Researchers at the Institute represent health, social, behavioural, and organizational sciences. Many of the scientists and students working at the Institute have won awards and distinctions from national organizations, such as the Medical Research Council of Canada and the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research. The Institute also maintains a network of associate scientists who help to inform specific research studies. An Advisory Committee of internationally known researchers influences its research directions. The Institute is formally affiliated with the University of Toronto, McMaster University, and the University of Waterloo. It also maintains strong informal ties with York University. The Institute's association with the university community and its access to workplaces and key sources of data have made it a respected training centre. Research Put to Practical Uses Conferences, an innovative video series, publications and a Web site are some of the interactive strategies the Institute uses to transfer its research findings into practice in health care, workplace and policy settings. Visit the Institute's Web site.