National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health

What National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health does

The National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health (NCCDH), established in 2005, is one of six federally funded National Collaborating Centres for Public Health operating under the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). Hosted by St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia (Mi'kma'ki), the organization is a non-profit knowledge translation centre that supports the Canadian public health community to address the structural and social determinants of health and advance health equity. NCCDH serves public health practitioners, leaders, and organizations at local, regional, and provincial/territorial levels across Canada, functioning as a pan-Canadian convening and evidence-synthesis hub.

NCCDH's core product portfolio is built around bilingual (English and French) knowledge translation assets: the Let's Talk discussion series, environmental scans (conducted since 2010, with the fourth scan published in 2026), the Glossary of Essential Health Equity Terms (33 terms across four conceptual groupings), the Mind the Disruption podcast (four seasons spanning 2022–2026), and a curated Resource Library of hundreds of documents, webinars, and tools. Underlying these outputs is a methodology that combines evidence synthesis (scoping reviews, environmental scans, systematic reviews), participatory capacity-building (the Organizational Capacity Initiative, PHESC training), and practitioner network facilitation (the quarterly Health Equity Collaborative Network). The technology stack is content-driven rather than platform-driven — there is no proprietary software, API, or application; all assets are delivered through the nccdh.ca website, email, webinar platforms, and standard podcast distribution channels.

The organization's business model is non-commercial. NCCDH does not generate revenue from fees, subscriptions, or licensing; all resources, training, and network participation are provided free of charge. Primary funding flows from PHAC as part of the National Collaborating Centres for Public Health program, with the centre operating under a hosting arrangement with St. Francis Xavier University. Go-to-market is community-led: convening (webinars, conference presentations, learning circles), learning (evidence reviews, tools, training), and consulting (advice, coaching, tailored resources). Distribution is direct — bilingual website, bimonthly eNewsletter, the practitioner network, and podcast/audio streaming platforms — with no resellers or commercial intermediaries.

Name

National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health

Legal name

National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health

Website

https://nccdh.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health (NCCDH) is a federally funded, bilingual knowledge translation centre that produces evidence-informed resources, training, and a practitioner network to help Canadian public health organizations address structural and social determinants of health and advance health equity.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Health Knowledge Translation

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Healthcare & Clinical Professional Development (CME/CE) (EDAGANAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Chronic Disease & NCD Program Evaluation (e.g., diabetes/CVD/cancer) (HLAJANAG)

Keywords

• Health equity resources
• Knowledge translation services
• Public health training
• Social determinants research
• Community health networks

Headquarters

HQ city

Antigonish

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Government funding (Public Health Agency of Canada): The NCCDH is funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada as part of the National Collaborating Centres for Public Health Program. The organization operates as a not-for-profit knowledge translation centre hosted by St. Francis Xavier University. It does not generate commercial revenue.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The NCCDH develops evidence-informed resources, tools, frameworks, webinars, podcasts, training programs, and convening platforms that move knowledge into action on the structural and social determinants of health. It supports the Canadian public health community through knowledge synthesis, practitioner networking (Health Equity Collaborative Network), organizational capacity-building initiatives, and training programs such as PHESC, all provided free of charge.

Product overview

NCCDH is a knowledge translation organization that offers a portfolio of resources focused on health equity and the structural/social determinants of health. The core offerings include the Mind the Disruption podcast (spanning four seasons), the Let's Talk discussion document series, the Resource Library with curated materials, Environmental Scans for system-level research, Webinars for learning, the Glossary of Essential Health Equity Terms, the Health Equity Collaborative Network for practitioner connection, PHESC training program for Ontario public health, the Organizational Capacity Initiative for building organizational equity capacity, and the Equity in Action case study repository documenting pandemic response interventions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Mind the Disruption Podcast: A podcast about people who refuse to accept things as they are, exploring stories of disruptors challenging the status quo for health equity in Canada.

Products and services

• Mind the Disruption Podcast A bilingual podcast featuring stories of people who have disrupted the usual ways of doing things in their organizations, communities, and society in pursuit of better health for all. Distributed via the NCCDH website, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts with bilingual transcripts and companion documents.
• Let's Talk Series A collection of discussion documents designed to promote understanding of key health equity concepts and spark dialogue, reflection, and action to address the social determinants of health. Includes topics like racism, intersectionality, community organizing, and public health roles.
• Resource Library A curated collection of hundreds of resources from NCCDH and external organizations assessed for quality and relevance for the public health field, including documents, webinars, and links organized by topic and resource type.
• Glossary of Essential Health Equity Terms A bilingual glossary containing 33 essential health equity terms organized into four groupings (Core Concepts, Roots of Health, Relative Influences, and Interventions & Strategies) to enhance effective communication and action on social and structural determinants of health.
• Environmental Scans Forward-looking discovery instruments that synthesize knowledge to inform decision-making and support organizational and system change. NCCDH has conducted environmental scans since 2010 exploring health equity in Canadian public health.
• Webinars Online seminar series featuring presentations on health equity topics, with recordings available for viewing. Includes the PHESC on-demand webinar series and various topic-specific sessions for public health practitioners.
• Health Equity Collaborative Network A network of practitioners and researchers who share practices, build relationships for information exchange and support, and advance knowledge of effectiveness related to social determinants of health and health equity. Members meet quarterly via teleconference.
• Public Health Training for Equitable Systems Change (PHESC) A collaborative training project between NCCDH, University of Toronto, NCCs for Methods and Tools and Healthy Public Policy, Alliance for Healthier Communities, Ontario Public Health Association, Public Health Ontario, and Wellesley Institute to improve knowledge and skills of Ontario's public health workforce with a health equity approach.
• Organizational Capacity for Health Equity Action Initiative (OCI) A 20-month participatory initiative testing ways to develop organizational capacity to advance health equity through an international learning circle working with practice sites (Interior Health and Ottawa Public Health) to learn frameworks, strategies and organizational conditions most useful for building capacity.
• Equity in Action A repository of stories of interventions that have successfully promoted health equity in pandemic planning, response, and recovery, featuring case studies from across Canada documenting equity-based interventions in public health.

Quantifiable outcome

• NCCDH conducts environmental scans regularly since 2010, with the most recent (2026) exploring structural determinants of health across the Canadian public health community via scoping review, online survey, interviews, discussion groups, and researcher dialogue.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• St. Francis Xavier UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCCDH is hosted by St. Francis Xavier University (StFX) in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. StFX has a rich history in social justice, rooted in the 1920s Antigonish Movement led by Father Jimmy Thompkins and Dr. Moses Coady. The university’s Coady International Institute continues this tradition internationally. Situating NCCDH here furthers StFX’s commitment to applying knowledge to social change.
• National Collaborating Centres for Public Health (NCCPH) — Sister CentrescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCCDH is one of six National Collaborating Centres for Public Health, all funded by PHAC. The six centres are: NCCDH (Determinants of Health), NCCIH (Indigenous Health), NCCEH (Environmental Health), NCCID (Infectious Disease), NCCMT (Methods and Tools), and NCCHPP (Healthy Public Policy). NCCDH works closely with sister centres on joint projects, coordinated webinars, conference presentations, workshops, and shared resources including health equity tools.
• Black Health Education CollaborativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a current partner organization on the NCCDH website, collaborating on health equity initiatives. The Black Health Education Collaborative (BHEC) focuses on Black health education and is a bilingual organization.
• Ontario Public Health Association (OPHA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a current partner. OPHA is a key collaborator in the PHESC (Public Health Training for Equitable Systems Change) project, working with NCCDH, University of Toronto, other NCCs, Alliance for Healthier Communities, Public Health Ontario, and the Wellesley Institute.
• RentSafeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a current partner organization on the NCCDH website. RentSafe focuses on housing and health equity.
• Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a current partner. CIHR, specifically the Institute of Population and Public Health, partnered with NCCDH to host a strategic researcher dialogue on structural and social determinants of health with 31 researchers in 2024.
• British Columbia Ministry of HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a current partner organization on the NCCDH website. The BC Ministry of Health collaborates on health equity initiatives with NCCDH.
• Community Health Nurses of Canada (CHNC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a current partner organization on the NCCDH website. CHNC represents community health nurses across Canada and collaborates on health equity resources and initiatives.
• Canadian Partnership for Children’s Health & Environment (CPCHE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a current partner organization on the NCCDH website. CPCHE focuses on children’s health and environmental determinants of health.
• Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a current partner organization on the NCCDH website. CPHA is a key national public health organization collaborating with NCCDH on various health equity initiatives.
• Réseau francophone international pour la promotion de la santé (RÉFIPS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a current partner organization on the NCCDH website. RÉFIPS is an international francophone network for health promotion. NCCDH partnered with RÉFIPS in the development of the French version of the Glossary of Essential Health Equity Terms.
• Interior Health (BC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of two practice sites for the Organizational Capacity for Health Equity Action Initiative (OCI). Interior Health focused on implementing a health equity lens in opioid overdose surveillance and reporting, guided by the Equity-integrated PHSR action framework.
• Ottawa Public HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of two practice sites for the Organizational Capacity for Health Equity Action Initiative (OCI). Ottawa Public Health developed a departmental client and community engagement framework and an engagement policy incorporating a health equity/SDOH perspective.
• University of Toronto (Dalla Lana School of Public Health)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA key collaborator in the PHESC project, designing and creating a comprehensive training plan to improve knowledge, skills, and performance of Ontario’s public health workforce while integrating a health equity approach.
• National Collaborating Centre for Methods and Tools (NCCMT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA collaborator in the PHESC project alongside NCCDH, University of Toronto, NCC for Healthy Public Policy, Alliance for Healthier Communities, OPHA, Public Health Ontario, and the Wellesley Institute.
• National Collaborating Centre for Healthy Public Policy (NCCHPP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA collaborator in the PHESC project and joint partner on resources related to policy development and advocacy with a view on social determinants of health and health equity.
• Alliance for Healthier CommunitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA collaborator in the PHESC project, contributing to training for Ontario’s public health workforce on health equity integration.
• Public Health OntariominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA collaborator in the PHESC project, contributing to Ontario public health standards and health equity training.
• Wellesley InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA collaborator in the PHESC project. Prior to joining NCCDH in 2021, Rebecca Cheff led policy research projects related to decent work, income security, and health/social services access at the Wellesley Institute.
• Western Health (Newfoundland and Labrador)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA Leadership for Equity case study site, demonstrating working intersectorally and engaging the community in Western Health for health equity leadership.
• Nunavut (Government of)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA Leadership for Equity case study site documenting fostering health through healing by engaging the community to create a poverty reduction strategy in Nunavut.
• Alberta Health ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA Leadership for Equity case study site documenting the establishment of a province-wide social determinants of health and health equity approach.
• Réseau francophone international pour la promotion de la santé (RÉFIPS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRÉFIPS partnered with NCCDH in the development of the French version of the Glossary of Essential Health Equity Terms (Glossaire des principaux concepts liés à l’équité en santé).

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• National Collaborating Centre for Methods and Tools (NCCMT): Sister NCC funded by PHAC and active co-collaborator with NCCDH on the PHESC training project. Same organizational structure, federal funding model, and pan-Canadian KT mandate, focused on public health methods and tools.
• National Collaborating Centre for Indigenous Health (NCCIH): Sister National Collaborating Centre for Public Health funded by PHAC since 2005, focused on Indigenous health knowledge translation. Shares the same federal mandate, PHAC funding model, university-hosting arrangement, and bilingual pan-Canadian KT approach, making it the single most directly comparable organization to NCCDH.
• National Collaborating Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCCID): Sister NCC funded by PHAC. Same institutional structure, federal mandate, and bilingual KT approach as NCCDH, though focused on infectious diseases rather than health equity and SDOH.
• National Collaborating Centre for Healthy Public Policy (NCCHPP): Sister NCC funded by PHAC that collaborates with NCCDH on resources related to policy development and the social determinants of health. Same institutional structure, federal mandate, and bilingual KT approach, focused on healthy public policy.
• National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health (NCCEH): Sister NCC funded by PHAC. Shares the same institutional structure, federal mandate, and bilingual KT approach as NCCDH, though focused on environmental rather than social determinants of health.

Emerging players

• Alliance for Healthier Communities: Ontario-based alliance of community health organizations collaborating with NCCDH on PHESC. Shares overlapping focus on health equity and SDOH from a community-based primary-care perspective.
• Wellesley Institute: Toronto-based health equity research and policy organization. Focuses on urban health equity, income security, and access to health and social services — overlapping with NCCDH's health equity and SDOH mission. KT Specialist Rebecca Cheff previously led policy research there before joining NCCDH.

Broad incumbents

• Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA): National non-profit public health association and listed NCCDH partner. Operates more broadly across public health issues and provides a national member-based platform that overlaps with NCCDH's audience and convening function.
• Public Health Ontario: Provincial public health agency that collaborates with NCCDH on the PHESC training program. Provides broader public health infrastructure support with overlapping training and resource development for Ontario practitioners.
• CIHR Institute of Population and Public Health: Federal research funder under Canadian Institutes of Health Research that partnered with NCCDH to host a 2024 strategic researcher dialogue on structural determinants of health. Overlapping public-health research and KT mandate at the national level.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-collaborating-centre-for-determinants-of-health

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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