The Canadian Organization on Health Effects from Radiation Exposure (COHERE) is a collaborative initiative between two federal organisations, Health Canada (HC) and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC). COHERE will work to advance knowledge on biological mechanisms and human health risks from exposures to ionising radiation relevant to environmental and occupational settings. The objectives of the initiative include: better aligning Health Canada’s and the CNSC's radiation science research priorities to focus and leverage resources; maintaining and enhancing expertise in radiobiology and epidemiology within the Government of Canada; providing an informed and consistent federal message to the public and stakeholders on matters involving low dose and low dose-rate ionising radiation; and strengthening Canada’s contribution towards international efforts on the assessment of ionising radiation doses and health effects. These objectives support the application of international recommendations, Canadian regulations, and national guidance. COHERE’s vision is to contribute knowledge to reduce scientific uncertainties from low dose and dose-rate exposures. It will advance our understanding by bridging the knowledge gap between human health outcomes, and linkages to molecular- and cellular-level responses to radiation. Research priorities focus on identifying sensitive, early, and key molecular events of relevance to risk assessment. The initiative will address questions of relevance to better apprise Canadians, including radiation workers, members of the public and indigenous peoples, on health risks from low dose and low dose-rate radiation exposure and inform radiation protection frameworks at a national and international level. Furthermore, it will support global efforts to conduct collaborative undertakings and better coordinate research. The strategic research agenda (SRA) developed by COHERE specifically considers the areas of research identified by many international radiation agencies to support the current and evolving system of radiological protection. The evolution of COHERE, its SRA and its activities since inception are discussed.