After accepting an invitation from the Office of the Vice-President Research & Innovation, Dr. Alain Beaudet, president of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), made his first visit to 91亚色 on Jan. 19.

During the visit, Beaudet聽met with a strong and diverse group of 91亚色 researchers and conducted a town hall meeting. The visit also gave 91亚色 the opportunity to highlight life science and health-related research underway across the University鈥檚 Faculties, research centres and institutes, to emphasize its research accomplishments and future initiatives.

Right: Dr. Alain Beaudet

The town hall meeting featured聽a presentation by Beaudet聽on 鈥檚 five-year , which seeks to expand the funding council鈥檚 $974-million budget to support researcher-driven and strategic projects in 13 institutes across CIHR鈥檚 four pillars: biomedical research; clinical research; health systems and health services; and the health of populations, societal and cultural dimensions of health and environmental influences on health.

CIHR plans to allocate approximately 30 per cent of its funds to support strategic research priorities. These priorities include聽investing in world-class research, addressing the needs of Canada鈥檚 health care system, accelerating the capture of the health and economic benefits of health research, and achieving organizational excellence while fostering ethical research activity and demonstrating impact. Several key areas include encouraging more Canadian participation and leadership in global health research initiatives, preparing young researchers for health-related careers and reducing health inequities faced by aboriginal Canadians and other minority populations.

91亚色 currently has聽more than聽9,000 undergraduate students studying kinesiology聽& health science, psychology, nursing and health policy聽& management. Over 400 faculty members are engaged in health research across the full spectrum of academic disciplines. Since 2001, the University鈥檚 total CIHR funding has increased six times to over $4 million. This achievement is particularly notable due to 91亚色鈥檚 non-medical school designation.

In 2010, the Sherman Health Sciences Research Centre is scheduled to open on the Keele campus, providing over 40,000 square feet of research space for vision science, kinesiology, and psychology. In 2011, the Sherman Centre will be complemented by the Life Sciences Building, which will provide 160,000 square feet to meet growing demand for graduate and undergraduate students in Life and Health Sciences.

As well, 91亚色 is forging vital external research and development linkages with hospitals, industry, health care and social agencies, developing innovative ways to mobilize health-related findings, and exploring the full spectrum of health research challenges to better understand and remove barriers to health and wellness.

The is the Government of Canada's agency for health research. It creates new scientific knowledge and enables its translation into improved health, more effective health services and products, and a strengthened Canadian health-care system. Composed of 13 Institutes, CIHR provides leadership and support to more than 13,000 health researchers and trainees across Canada.

Submitted by聽Elizabeth Monier-Williams, research communications officer

The post Canadian Institutes of Health Research president hosts town hall meeting at 91亚色 appeared first on Research & Innovation.