Alberta has developed outstanding medical researchers and facilities in selected areas.  The health research base, however,  is needed to provide answers to questions that arise in primary care.  Research needs to expand and flourish in the community at large where the majority of health care occurs – i.e. family practice.  Appropriate, meaningful collaboration among researchers in primary, secondary and tertiary care settings, medical research institutes and academic environments would result in substantially improved patient outcomes, disease prevention strategies and health service delivery methods.