Breaking barriers in brain injury care
24 April 2025
Photo: Dr. Sandy Shultz (second from left) at Life Sciences BC’s Showcase Series: Vancouver Island event, alongside other attendees. On his right is Dr. Bev Holmes, President & CEO of Health Research BC.
Credit: Life Sciences BC
| On April 2, Health Research BC partnered with Life Sciences BC to bring the Showcase Series: Vancouver Island event to life, with support from the University of Victoria. The event brought together researchers, innovators, and industry leaders to share new ideas and highlight the growth of Vancouver Island’s life sciences community.
One of the voices spotlighted was Dr. Sandy Shultz, director of the Centre for Trauma and Mental Health Research and a current Health Research BC Scholar Award holder at Vancouver Island University. He shared his research on improving how to detect and treat brain injuries in survivors of intimate partner violence. Sandy’s journey began in 2022 with a Convening and Collaborating (C2) Award from Health Research BC. This initial funding allowed him to bring together a diverse network of researchers, care providers, and people with lived experience. Together, they uncovered critical gaps in how brain injuries are recognized and treated in survivors of intimate partner violence. |
Dr. Sandy ShultzHealth Research BC supported Dr. Sandy Shultz with a 2021 Scholar Award and a 2022 Convening and Collaborating (C2) Award. |
That $15,000 C2 award fund sparked a chain reaction. Since then, Sandy and his team have secured $4 million in additional funding from Brain Canada, the US Department of Defense, and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. This funding is helping Sandy improve care for survivors by exploring new approaches to brain injury treatment.
His work is a powerful example of how collaboration can turn ideas into impact.
“The support from the Health Research BC C2 Award was a game-changer for my research,” says Sandy. “It allowed us to identify critical gaps in brain injury care for intimate partner violence survivors and laid the groundwork for collaboration that attracted significant additional funding. The progress we’ve made wouldn’t have been possible without the initial investment and the partnerships we’ve built along the way. It’s proof that when we come together, we can turn research into real-world solutions that make a tangible impact on people’s lives.”
Partner with us for impact
Partnerships are driving the future of health research in BC. Whether you’re a researcher or an organization, partnering can help take your work to the next level — just like Sandy’s transformative research. Discover how you can collaborate with us.
- Are you a researcher looking for funding through our partnerships? Explore how we can support you and other funding programs available.
- Are you an organization looking to collaborate and advance research in your priority area? Explore partnership opportunities.
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