Michael Smith Foundation
VIEW ALL

BC Knowledge Translation Needs Assessment

//
September 12, 2012

Summary of findings from MSFHR's online survey of KT needs in BC's health research community

Career Investigator Program Analysis

//
March 1, 2011

Analysis of scholar/senior scholar activities and research outcomes using data from award recipients’ 2008/09 annual reports

Appendices - Health Authority Capacity Building Program Evaluation Report

//
April 1, 2010

MSFHR worked with the health authorities to evaluate the impact of this program which ended on March 31, 2010.

Appendices - Investigative Teams Program Evaluation Report

//
April 1, 2010

MSFHR worked with the five investigative teams to evaluate the impact of this program which ended on March 31, 2010.

Health Authority Capacity Building (HACB) Program Evaluation Report

//
April 1, 2010

MSFHR worked with the health authorities to evaluate the impact of this program which ended on March 31, 2010.

Investigative Teams (IT) Program Evaluation Report

//
April 1, 2010

MSFHR worked with the five investigative teams to evaluate the impact of this program which ended on March 31, 2010.

Partnership Program Summary Report

//
April 1, 2010

This report provides a summary of the HSPRSN Partnership Program since its inception in 2005 to March 2010.  The report includes the background of

BC Ethics Harmonization Initiative Introductory Workshop – Report on Proceedings

//
January 22, 2008

A report on proceedings from the workshop held November 19, 2007.

Harmonization of the Ethics Review Process – An Environmental Scan

//
October 1, 2007

A report that identifies a wide array of models for ethics review from Canada, the US, Europe and Australia.

Investigator Experience with Research Ethics Boards in British Columbia – Survey Findings

//
October 1, 2007

Findings from a survey of researchers on their experiences with the research ethics review process in BC.

The Ethics Review Process in British Columbia – An Environmental Scan

//
October 1, 2007

Findings from an environmental scan of Research Ethics Boards (REBs) in BC.

<
>

The Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research harnesses the power of health research for the benefit of all British Columbians. Learn how

+

Apply for Funding

Browse current funding opportunities and learn how to apply

+

Partnership Opportunities

Learn how we can help maximize your health research investment

+

Who We've Funded

Search our database of nearly 1,500 funded researchers

News

// May 16, 2013
A new report is now available summarizing the discussions coming out of the BC health research strategy focus sessions.

A report is now available summarizing the discussions coming out of the BC health research strategy focus sessions.

This report signals the end of the first two phases of consultation on the health research strategy and provides valuable direction for the project moving forward.

Phase one of consultation took place in March and April. Work was undertaken to scope the five preliminary directions with rationale, current status (existing initiatives, gaps), and possible actions for each. This information was collated into a discussion document that formed the basis of the five focus sessions that were held April 29 to May 1.

Focus session participants provided valuable advice and guidance. The insights gathered from each session have helped develop common themes that will shape the next steps in the consultation and, ultimately, the final strategy.

Visit the BC health research strategy website to read the summary report.

The provincial health research strategy will help shape a more comprehensive, coordinated and systems-oriented approach to health research across the province. BC’s health research community endorsed MSFHR to facilitate the process; a preliminary planning phase in fall 2012 included the establishment of an advisory board and key informant interviews. Consultation is underway from March to June 2013.
// May 13, 2013
Research Roundup >> May 6-10

Research Roundup is a weekly look at the latest research, news, and publications from around the MSFHR community.

  • Chemical flame retardants found in a wide range of consumer products are harmful to human fetal development, according to a new study co-authored by SFU researcher Dr. Glenys Webster (2011 Trainee). The researchers found prenatal exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers was associated with hyperactivity and reduced intellectual capacity in a sample of more than 300 children. The findings were presented recently at the Pediatric Academic Societies annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

    >> “Flame retardants harmful to babies while in the womb: study” – The Globe and Mail, May 6
  • Behavioural intervention to reduce sitting time may be an effective strategy to encourage physical activity among older adults, says UBC researcher Dr. Maureen Ashe (2008 Scholar; 2005 Trainee; 2004 Trainee) in a new blog post. Current guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes per week of moderate to vigorous physical activity; Ashe suggests that gradually decreasing the amount of time spent sitting can help adults over 65 work towards meeting this standard.

    >> “Sit less to move more” – Clinical Sports Medicine, May 7
  • Dr. Michael Kobor (2005 Scholar) and Dr. Wyeth Wasserman (2004 Scholar) recently welcomed aspiring young scientists to their labs as part of the Canadian Gene Cure Foundation’s Gene Researcher for a Week program. Four high-school students from the Lower Mainland took part in the program, learning about epigenetics and bioinformatics at the Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics.

    >> “Local students get firsthand look at lab life” – North Shore News, May 8
  • NextGenU.org, the world’s first free, for-credit university training portal, launched last month under the leadership of Dr. Erica Frank (2005 Scholar; Research Advisory Council chair). NextGenU uses the model of massive open online courses (MOOCs) to offer health sciences training for university credit. The portal currently offers three courses, and 130 more are under development.

    >> “University credits, tuition free” – Canadian Medical Association Journal, May 8
// May 8, 2013

A new MSFHR-supported study has found that two doses of a widely used human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine may be just as effective as the standard three-dose regimen.

Over a three-year follow-up period, young girls vaccinated with two doses of the HPV vaccine Gardasil were found to have similar immune responses to those who received three doses. With a single dose of the vaccine costing more than $130, the discovery that immunity can be conferred with only two doses stands to enable significant cost savings for future vaccination programs, according to lead author Dr. Simon Dobson.

The study, published April 30 in the Journal of the American Medical Association, is based on research funded by MSFHR at the request of the provincial health officer to establish the most cost-effective way to achieve HPV immunity.

Having established the short-term effectiveness of a two-dose regimen, the research team, including scientists at the Child & Family Research Institute and the BC Centre for Disease Control, recently launched a long-term national study – also supported by MSFHR – to determine if immunity can be maintained over a 10-year period. The Quadrivalent HPV Vaccine Evaluation Study (QUEST) is now recruiting participants who are female and were born between 1997 and 2000. For more information, visit www.questhpvstudy.ca.
// May 6, 2013
Research Roundup >> April 29 - May 3

Research Roundup is a weekly look at the latest research, news, and publications from around the MSFHR community.

  • An engineering team at Simon Fraser University co-led by Dr. Peter Unrau (2006 MSFHR Scholar) is developing a hand-held device that will quickly identify appropriate antibiotic treatment for infant diarrhea. Ensuring infants receive the correct treatment is critical to saving lives and preventing the emergence of drug-resistant bacteria. The team received a $100,000 grant from Grand Challenges Canada to develop a prototype device capable of analyzing a stool sample and producing an antibiogram on a smartphone.

    >> “SFU hopes to put ‘lab on a chip’ medical tests onto smartphones” – Vancouver Sun, April 29, 2013
  • A new commentary in the Globe and Mail co-authored by Dr. Jason Sutherland (2011 MSFHR Scholar) asks if Canada should impose financial penalties on hospitals that provide poor health care. The column notes that Canadian hospitals are paid in annual lump sums regardless of patient outcomes – however, other countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, and Germany, have adopted models that provide economic incentives to improve care.

    >> “Should Canada punish hospitals for poor care? Other countries do it” – The Globe and Mail, April 26, 2013
  • Two MSFHR-supported nursing researchers were recognized recently with Awards of Excellence by the College of Registered Nurses of British Columbia. Dr. Martha MacLeod (2005 Investigative Team Award; RAC member) was presented the Excellence in Nursing Research Award, and Pat Porterfield (2012 Knowledge Translation award team member) received the Award of Distinction.

    >> Dr. Martha MacLeod – Excellence in Nursing Research Award
    >> Pat Porterfield – Award of Distinction
  • MSFHR Scholar and Research Advisory Council member Dr. Sohrab Shah has been awarded two grants in the CIHR/Genome Canada 2012 Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Competition.

    >> BC Cancer Agency announcement
// May 2, 2013
A new website for the BC Health Research Strategy is now available, offering background information, resources, and the latest news on the strategy's development.

A new website for the BC Health Research Strategy is now available, offering background information, resources, and the latest news on the strategy’s development.

The website, developed and maintained by the strategy planning team, will be a primary communication channel for all those in the BC health research community interested in learning more about the need for a provincial health research strategy and the process by which it is being developed. The site will also enable stakeholders to offer feedback, learn about upcoming regional consultation opportunities, and participate in an online survey set to launch later in May.

The BC Health Research Strategy is an ongoing process, facilitated by MSFHR, to shape a more comprehensive, coordinated, and systems-oriented approach to health research in BC. It aims to enhance integration and create synergy across and between research pillars, sectors, and disciplines.

For more information, visit www.bchealthresearchstrategy.ca or read the project overview on the MSFHR website.
// April 24, 2013
Connections >> An MSFHR Update - April 2013

Connections is MSFHR's monthly e-newsletter. Each issue highlights the top MSFHR news from the past month and showcases the impact of research we've funded.

Join our mailing list to receive Connections by e-mail!

In this issue:

MSFHR News

Research Roundup

MSFHR People

BC Epilepsy Society and MSFHR partner to maximize health research dollars

A strategic partnership between MSFHR and the BC Epilepsy Society has helped give epilepsy researcher Dr. Stuart Cain a vital connection to those directly impacted by his research. As the recipient of a post-doctoral fellowship jointly funded by the two organizations, Cain, a 2011 MSFHR Trainee,  has been able to share his work beyond the research community and engage with the BC Epilepsy Society though a number of channels.

Focusing on health research strategy consultation

March and April have seen the consultation plan for the BC health research strategy move into action. In March, small working groups reviewed the five strategic directions proposed as a framework for the strategy and offered input into the rationale, current status, and potential actions for each. A number of consultation activities will be taking place in the coming weeks, starting with a series of focus sessions being held the last few days of April. The focus sessions will be followed by an online survey in May and regional workshops in June.

Understanding how a SUPPORT Unit can help BC

In a parallel process to the consultation activities underway to support the BC health research strategy, MSFHR is facilitating the development of a support unit in BC — called the Support for People and Patient-Oriented Research and Trials (SUPPORT) Unit — that will make it easier for health-care providers, health-care decision-makers and researchers to conduct patient-oriented research.

Research Roundup

  • Dr. Robert Holt & Dr. Marco Marra
    Dr. Robert Holt (2004 Scholar) and Dr. Marco Marra (2001 and 2006 Scholar) are part of a newly-formed international "pediatric cancer dream team", along with several other BC-based researchers. The team’s objective is to investigate genomic data to discover which proteins are present on the surface of tumour cells but not on normal cells.
     
  • Dr. Michael Law
    Dr. Michael Law (2011 Scholar) recently co-authored a study published in Health Policy that looked at prescription drug coverage for people over the age of 65 in Ontario. The study found that co-payments under the plans of as little as $6 per drug create financial strain for some elderly people, making them more likely to forgo important prescriptions.
     
  • Dr. Babak Shadgan
    Dr. Babak Shadgan (2011 Trainee) and Behnam Molavi, a PhD candidate at the UBC Department of Electrical Engineering, were recently recognized as the winner of 2012 Wearable Technology Innovation World Cup, Safety & Prevention Category. They won for their invention of a smart fire rescue helmet — a non-invasive wireless system capable of monitoring several vital statistics in real time. Mounted in firefighters’ helmets, it can help a central monitoring center to become aware of any carbon monoxide poisoning or critical health conditions.

    >> Read more

MSFHR People

  • Dr. Erica Frank
    Research Advisory Council Chair, Dr. Erica Frank, founder of NextGenU officially launched the free, for-credit online learning project to bring specialized education to low-income countries. NextGenU already has more than 1,000 students from 54 countries in its first courses, which focus on health. NextGenU is supported by donations from charitable foundations, individuals and volunteer efforts from academics around the world.
  • Lynn Cummings
    Congratulations to Lynn Cummings, MSFHR's nursing research facilitator for Vancouver Island Health Authority. She's the recipient of this year's Alumni Award of Excellence from the School of Nursing at the University of Victoria. She will be presented with her award May 10 during National Nursing Week.

    >> Read more
// April 24, 2013
March and April have seen the consultation plan for the BC health research strategy move into action.

March and April have seen the consultation plan for the BC health research strategy move into action. In March, small working groups reviewed the five strategic directions proposed as a framework for the strategy and offered input into the rationale, current status, and potential actions for each.

The five strategic directions are:

  1. Support integration of research, care and education
  2. Strengthen linkages between researchers and health system decision-makers
  3. Strengthen the commercialization continuum
  4. Build capacity for patient-centred research
  5. Enhance support for health research

A number of consultation activities will be taking place in the coming weeks, starting with a series of focus sessions being held the last few days of April. The focus sessions will include a cross section of individuals representing universities, health authorities, health-related not-for-profits, health-care professionals and the biotechnology industry.

In mid-May, an online survey will solicit broad input into the strategic directions to ensure the health research strategy is moving forward in the right direction. The survey is open to all and we will be promoting it widely — watch for more information in the next couple of weeks.

In June, regional workshops in Vancouver, Surrey, Kelowna, Victoria and Prince George will provide stakeholders in those areas to provide input on the emerging strategy and to confirm that it will address regional needs and circumstances.

The provincial health research strategy will help shape a more comprehensive, coordinated and systems-oriented approach to health research across the province. BC’s health research community endorsed the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research to facilitate the process; a preliminary planning phase in fall 2012 included the establishment of an advisory board and key informant interviews.

For more information visit the BC Health Research Strategy website.
// April 22, 2013
Lynn Cummings, nursing research facilitator for Vancouver Island Health Authority

Lynn Cummings, MSFHR’s nursing research facilitator for Vancouver Island Health Authority, has been selected by the University of Victoria’s (UVic) School of Nursing Alumni as recipient of their seventh annual Award of Excellence.

Cummings’ career in nursing has been wide-ranging, including experience as a practicing nurse, educator, clinician, palliative care specialist, facilitator, researcher, public speaker, developer of curriculum, volunteer, committee and board member.

Throughout her career, Cummings has been passionate about advancing knowledge generation: she recently received a Canadian Institute Health Research planning grant with Dr. Anastasia Mallidou, also with UVic, to explore ways to improve residential care. She also received an MSFHR award to support point-of-care research at VIHA.

Cummings will receive her award May 10 at the School of Nursing’s research conference, being held during National Nursing Week.

Learn more about the work of the Nursing Research Facilitator Program.
// April 22, 2013
MSFHR is facilitating the development of a SUPPORT Unit in BC as part of CIHR's Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research.

In a parallel process to the consultation activities underway to support the BC health research strategy, MSFHR is facilitating the development of a support unit in BC —  called the Support for People and Patient-Oriented Research and Trials (SUPPORT) Unit — that will make it easier for health-care providers, health-care decision-makers and researchers to conduct patient-oriented research. 

SUPPORT Units are a component of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR) and includes matching funding from CIHR to enable their operations. Jurisdictions that want to participate in SUPPORT Units need to submit a business plan to CIHR.

SUPPORT Units are intended to be regional centres of excellence that can stimulate, facilitate, support and enhance the conduct of patient-oriented research. Several units are planned across the country, including one that serves BC.
CIHR envisions six core functions for SUPPORT Units:

  1. Data platforms and services
  2. Consultation and research services
  3. Career development in methods and health services research
  4. Real-world clinical trials
  5. Health systems, knowledge translation and implementation
  6. Methods support and development

Members of the SPOR SUPPORT Unit planning team will be meeting with various stakeholders, including health system leaders, researchers, and patient group representatives to gain a better understanding of how a SUPPORT Unit would best enable more patient-oriented research in BC. Input from these discussions will inform a call for expressions of interest to identify teams who can help develop the SUPPORT Unit business plan.
// April 12, 2013

MSFHR is thrilled to be receiving $1 million from the province to establish partnerships and support for research projects that evaluate health outcomes and inform the province’s 10-year mental health and substance use plan. This funding was announced today at part of an $18.4 million investment by the province for mental health and substance use supports.

"I am really excited by the opportunity this funding provides to link researchers at BC’s academic institutions to the work being done in our communities and health authorities through programs like the Community Action Initiative," said Diane Finegood, president & CEO. "It’s an example of how organizations can work together to address complex mental health and substance use challenges."

The majority of the funding ($15 million) will support the Community Action Initiative, operated by the Canadian Mental Health Association – BC division. The association will also receive $1.4 million to expand its Strongest Families BC, a phone-based early intervention coaching service for families and children three to 12 years of age. The remaining $1 million will support the Centre for Addictions Research at the University of Victoria.

Learn more.

© 2013 Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research. All rights reserved.   Terms of Use

Career Opportunities

Executive Director, NAPHRO (part-time)

This position is posted on behalf of the National Alliance of Provincial Health Research Organizations (NAPHRO), of which MSFHR is a member.
Application deadline: May 30