The Advisory Panel on Federal Support for Fundamental Science
The Advisory Panel on Federal Support for Fundamental Science was struck in June 2016 to review existing federal supports for peer-reviewed science and inquiry occurring outside of government departments and agencies. Over the past year, the Panel conducted the most extensive review of fundamental science that we have seen in over four decades, receiving 1,275 written submissions and conducting five round-tables with over 230 researchers. Based on these consultations, as well as its own research, the Panel released a report on April 10, 2017 that contains 35 recommendations for the federal government to strengthen the foundations of Canadian research.
Research Canada was pleased to see that so many of our organization’s recommendations in its submission to Canada’s Fundamental Science Review, Securing Canadian Leadership in Research and Innovation, were addressed in the Panel’s Report.
The report presents a comprehensive agenda critical to reinvigorating Canada’s research ecosystem and forcefully advances recommendations aimed at providing urgent financial relief to Canada’s four major granting agencies (CIHR, NSERC, SSHRC and CFI). But now that the Report has been tabled, the political decisions on fundamental science, long past urgent, are what are required.
Between 2006 and 2014, funding declined by nearly 35 percent for researchers hoping to pursue independent, investigator-led research projects. A large gap has opened up between early career and established researchers. A lifecycle approach to research funding, ensuring that researchers at different stages of their careers are able to access funding, is a central recommendation in the Panel’s Report and one definitely worth advocating for!
The Report has much to recommend it and Research Canada looks forward to reviewing the Report in greater detail by establishing a Working Group that will develop an in-depth response and use it as the basis upon which to work with the Government of Canada to strengthen Canada’s research and science foundation.
Call For Nominations 2017 Leadership in Advocacy Award
Research Canada’s Leadership in Advocacy Award honours outstanding advocates for medical, health and scientific research. The Leadership in Advocacy Award is presented to individuals and/or organizations who/which have made outstanding efforts in advocating for Canadian health research at the local, provincial and/or national level. The deadline for submission is June 8, 2017. For more information »
Parliamentary Health Research Caucus Events
Neuroscience Research in Canada
Research Canada, in conjunction with its Member, the Canadian Association for Neuroscience, hosted a luncheon on February 13, 2017 on Parliament Hill for a select group of Parliamentarians that highlighted recent developments which shed new light on the richness of neuroscience research and showed great examples of how investments in basic research can and do lead to improved treatment strategies for Canadians.
Thank you to Dr. Beverly Orser from Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and the University of Toronto and Dr. Charles Bourque from the McGill UniversityResearch Institute and McGill University.
Canadian Association for Neuroscience Sanofi Genzyme Johnson & Johnson Inc. Innovative Medicines Canada AbbVie Canada Centre de recherche institut universitaire en santé mentale de Québec Parkinson Canada Medtronic McGill University Health Research Centre Neurological Health Charities Canada (NHCC) GSK (GlaxoSmithKline) Research and Innovation at McGill University Shift Health Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montréal (IRCM)
Indigenous Health Research in Canada
Narrowing the gap in the health and wellbeing of Canada’s First Peoples is the goal of Canadian Indigenous health researchers, community partners and research users across the country. Health Researchers dedicated to tackling Indigenous health research issues are also helping us to better understand the higher risk Indigenous Canadians have of developing diabetes and its related complications as well as the increased risk of tuberculosis in Indigenous communities. Hepatitis C, HIV/AIDS and cancer are other key areas that these researchers are exploring. The Parliamentary Health Research Caucus on Indigenous Health Research in Canada will be held on Monday, June 5, 2017 on Parliament Hill and will feature groundbreaking health research being conducted by Métis, Inuit, First Nations and non-Indigenous health researchers in Research Canada Member organizations working in partnership with Indigenous communities in Canada. It will stimulate Indigenous health research, create new knowledge, and support research partnerships and the involvement of Indigenous communities.
Innovative Medicines Canada Health Sciences North Research Institute Roche Diagnostics Canada Simon Fraser University Dalhousie University Merck Concordia University McMaster University Michener University of Education at UHN University Health Network (UHN) Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology Thunderbird Partnership Foundation Canadian Association for Long Term Care (CALTC) Canadian Association for Neuroscience (CAN) Canadian Association for Nursing Research (CANR) Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) Canadian Nurses Foundation (CNF) Chronic Pain Network (CPN) GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Genome Canada HealthCareCAN Hill + Knowlton Strategies Indigenous Peoples’ Health Research Centre (IPHRC) IWK Health Centre Lakehead University Lord Elgin Hotel Novo Nordisk Canada Providence Health Care Research Institute (PHCRI) The Royal’s Institute of Mental Health Research (IMHR) Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute (TBRHRI) The University of Ottawa
Biotechology Research in Canada
Research Canada will co-host a Parliamentary Health Research Caucus Reception with its Member, BIOTECanada, on Biotechnology Research in Canada on Monday, October 16, 2017. Research Canada has reached out to its Member institutions to solicit possible themes, research projects and the names of researchers who would like to present at this important event in the fall. If you have not already done so, please contact Ms. Deborah Gordon-El-Bihbety directly at dgordon@rc-rc.ca with your suggestions.
Celebrating Our Gairdners
Research Canada, in partnership with the Gairdner Foundation, will host a private luncheon in the Parliamentary Restaurant on October 24, 2017 with the Parliamentary Health Research Caucus Chair, Past Chair and NDP Representative, select Parliamentarians and the 2017 Gairdner Awardees in celebration of their outstanding research.
Stem Cell Research in Canada
Research Canada in partnership with its Member, the Stem Cell Network, will host a parliamentary luncheon on Stem Cell Research in Canada on Tuesday, December 5, 2017. We will keep you posted on the program.
Research Canada’s AGM June 6, 2017
Leadership in health research and health research advocacy go hand in hand. Research gives Canadians our health and advocacy engenders public recognition and support of research, inspiring future generations of researchers and building a knowledge base that promises future cures. Canada’s 150th birthday is a fitting time to celebrate the leadership of two outstanding researchers, Dr. Julio Montaner and Dr. Grant N. Pierce, who have made significant discoveries in health research and who have inspired so many through their research advocacy. For more information »
Thank you to our Sponsors
Innovative Medicines Canada
AstraZeneca
Diabetes Canada
March of Dimes
GE Healthcare Canada
Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute
Sanofi Genzyme
CHEO Research Institute
Douglas Mental Health University Institute
Institut de recherches cliniques de Montreal, IRCM
Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
University of Saskatchewan
The Michener Institute of Education at UHN
York University
Lord Elgin Hotel
New Members
Research Canada would like to welcome two new Members to our Alliance: The Bruyère Research Institute and AbbVie Canada. Both organizations are dedicated to improving people’s lives through health research and innovation that is making a difference!
Research Canada is pleased to be offering its Members, Partners and Supporters free Media Monitoring services through its HRI Portal. To subscribe to our RSS feed and receive current news on health research and health innovation in Canada, please visit: www.hriportal.ca or to subscribe to our media monitoring list, email us at media@hriportal.ca.
We are also offering a media release distribution service at a fraction of the cost of traditional newswire services. The HRI Portal is tailored to our Members, Supporters and Partners and targets health and science journalists specifically. For more information, please contact us at: dmacarthur@rc-rc.ca.
