Health Research BC releases talent evaluation report

Academic career pathways are changing, and it is more important than ever to support research talent in ways that reflect current and future realities.

In this context, Michael Smith Health Research BC has published a report titled “Advancing Research Talent in British Columbia,” which explores the impact of our Scholar and Research Trainee programs on nurturing health research talent in the province.

This review spans 20 years of program data, complemented by insights from other health research funding agencies, interviews with BC research leaders, and surveys of current and past awardees. 

The report presents several insights: 

• Impact of funding programs: Since 2001, Health Research BC has invested over $280 million in the Scholar and Research Trainee programs, supporting 2,072 early-career health researchers. These awards have been instrumental in helping recipients pursue research careers, develop independent research programs, and secure additional funding.
• Career paths and retention: A majority of award recipients (73%) continue to work in academia, with 98% of former Scholars remaining in academic positions. Most awardees (81%) stay in Canada, particularly in British Columbia, although the awards do not significantly attract talent from other provinces.
• Equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI): As a signatory of the Declaration on Research Assessment, Health Research BC has made progress in advancing EDI through its funding programs and peer-review process. Despite these efforts, systemic inequities persist, especially for marginalized groups and Indigenous researchers. The report highlights the need for more targeted support and innovative funding approaches to address these challenges.
• Adapting to changing needs: The report emphasizes the importance of adapting funding programs to meet the evolving needs of the health research landscape. This includes supporting diverse career paths, interdisciplinary research, and emerging fields like data science. Health Research BC is encouraged to continue improving its funding practices and partnerships to adapt to the need for research talent across various sectors. 

As we advance our refreshed strategy for 2025-2028, we are building and retaining BC’s health research talent. From our recent program assessments and discussions with the broader community, two things are clear:

• The context in which our programs are designed and launched is critical to their – and our awardees’ – success
• Research talent development is a team/community effort

With those themes in mind, we will seek opportunities shortly to engage in conversations about the evolving needs of British Columbia’s research talent and of the institutions that support them.

This report is part of Health Research BC’s broader initiative to catalyze health research system solutions. It is one of three studies commissioned in 2023 to gather insights that will strengthen BC’s life sciences sector and health research system. The other studies include: 

• Rapid Assessment of the Provincial Health Research System: Coordinated by Health Research BC at the request of the BC Ministry of Health, this study gathered perspectives from leaders and practitioners to assess the current state of BC’s health research system and identify areas needing further analysis.
• Economic Analysis of Clinical Trials in BC: This study aimed to capture the direct impact of clinical research activities on BC’s economy and compare findings to a similar analysis conducted in 2013. 

All three studies are now available for download.