Reaping the rewards: MSFHR investments in infrastructure are growing BC’s health research capacity
13 November 2018
For more than a decade, MSFHR invested $22.8 million in critical infrastructure projects to enhance and build capacity for health research across BC. Thanks to these investments, three funded infrastructure projects have matured into sustainable enterprises that are nationally-recognized for their research expertise and leadership.
In 2006, MSFHR launched the Technology/Methodology Platform (TMP) Program to provide BC’s world-class researchers with shared infrastructure and resources that would support health research innovation, reduce duplication in the system and ensure key technologies and tools are available province-wide.
The goal was to develop and implement cross-cutting provincial platforms to advance the productivity and national and international competitiveness of BC health researchers, and strengthen knowledge translation to advance health, health policy and economic opportunities.
The TMP Program ran for 11 years and invested $22.8M across three funding phases for nine small development awards, to five phase I seed grants, and two phase II awards.
With support from MSFHR, three of these infrastructure projects have matured into sustainable enterprises that are nationally-recognized for their research expertise and leadership.
The two platforms that were funded across all three phases, the BC Proteomics Network and Population Data BC are, respectively, continuing their work to expand proteomics expertise, awareness and research across the province, and give BC researchers access to one of the world’s largest collections of health care, health services and population health data.
A third platform, the Centre for Drug Research & Development (CDRD), became self-sustaining after TMP phase I and continues to support, and grow Canada’s life sciences industry.
The TMP Program came at a critical time in the development of the BC health research environment, and helped to establish new research infrastructure and networks that grew the province’s capacity in emerging areas of health research and established BC as leaders in these fields.
The TMP Program has now ended. To learn more about the program’s impact and outcomes, including key takeaways and recommendations for MSFHR, read the Technology/Methodology Platforms Phase II Summative Evaluation Executive Summary.
