Enabling the next generation of health research talent: MSFHR funds 86 Scholars and Research Trainees

Diagnostics for detecting lung infection, reducing health inequities, diabetes prevention programs, and children’s health in rural and remote communities are just a few of the research areas that the talented 2021 MSFHR Scholar and Research Trainee awardees are investigating.

The Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research (MSFHR) is providing much needed and timely funding for 86 researchers who are advancing science, addressing health priorities, and improving the health of British Columbians. Award recipients are already conducting research at institutions across BC, including Trinity Western University, UBC Okanagan, First Nations Health Authority, University of Victoria, and Vancouver Island University.

“This past year has shown us the critical nature of investing in health research and the talented people who improve our health system and help create healthier lives through discovery,” says MSFHR President & CEO Dr. Bev Holmes. “As BC’s health research funding agency, we are thrilled to welcome this year’s cohort of outstanding researchers to the MSFHR community.”

After seeing a major increase in applications for the 2021 competition, MSFHR is funding nearly 35 percent more researchers than the 2020 competition.

• 2021 Scholar award recipients
• 2021 Research Trainee award recipients

As MSFHR’s flagship funding opportunities, the Scholar and Research Trainee Programs support BC’s next generation of health researchers in developing their leading-edge research programs and helps them attract additional funding, hire and train highly-qualified personnel, create knowledge to inform policy, and advance research for the benefit of British Columbians.

The MSFHR Scholar Program supports early-career health researchers who are building leading-edge health research programs, training the next generation of scientists and expanding their potential to make significant contributions to their field. The MSFHR Research Trainee Program supports health researchers in the training phase of their research career to enable career development and enrich BC’s health research talent.

Strong partnerships are integral to fostering world-class health research in BC. This year, MSFHR has partnered with organizations to co-fund four Scholar awards and six Research Trainee awards. These partnerships allow MSFHR to fund more researchers while helping partners optimize their research dollars and build research capacity in their priority areas.

Thank you to the 2021 Scholar and Research Trainee award partners:

• BC Schizophrenia Society Foundation
• Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention & Management and Interior Health
• Centre for Health Evaluation & Outcome Sciences (CHÉOS)
• Cystic Fibrosis Canada
• Parkinson Society British Columbia
• St. Paul’s Foundation and Centre for Heart Lung Innovation
• Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute and VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation

Is your organization interested in helping develop BC’s health research talent by co-funding an MSFHR researcher? We are currently inviting organizations to partner on our 2021 Health Professional-Investigator Program. Learn more about partnering with us.

We are preparing an exciting suite of funding competitions for 2022, to be announced later this year. Stay tuned for details!