The COVID-19 pandemic has shown just how much Canada relies on its scientists to respond to and recover from health emergencies. To strengthen our recovery and find made-in-Canada solutions to the next health and societal challenges, it’s critical that we invest in the next generation of Canada’s health researchers.
Investment will provide training and development opportunities for trainees and early career researchers that go beyond what standard research training programs usually offer
March 31, 2022 – Ottawa, Ontario – Canadian Institutes of Health Research
The COVID-19 pandemic has shown just how much Canada relies on its scientists to respond to and recover from health emergencies. To strengthen our recovery and find made-in-Canada solutions to the next health and societal challenges, it’s critical that we invest in the next generation of Canada’s health researchers.
That’s why today, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Health, and the Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, announced an investment of $31.1M over six years for the Health Research Training Platform (HRTP).
The HRTP is comprised of 13 unique training programs that bring together researchers from different hospitals and universities, with a view to increase Canada’s capacity to conduct research on specific disease areas and health challenges. This will help trainees and early career researchers develop skills that will increase their employability and set them up for success in careers that span academia and beyond.
Participants will have access to diverse, high-quality mentors and training that builds their academic and professional development skills, such as in grant writing, project management, science communication, interdisciplinary research, open science, and knowledge mobilization.
These interdisciplinary training programs will help advance scientific knowledge on topics ranging from dementia, kidney disease, diabetes and obesity, seniors’ health, girls’ and women’s health, and the mental health of 2SLGBTQ+ populations, among others.
Participants will be trained in the science of conducting diverse and inclusive research, such as respecting Indigenous Ways of Knowing, incorporating sex- and gender-based considerations in research, and recognizing unconscious bias.
The Government of Canada is supporting this initiative through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Public Health Agency of Canada in partnership with the B.C. Women’s Health Foundation, Egale Canada, and Mitacs.
“In a time when relying on scientific evidence has never been more important, our government recognizes the need to invest in the next generation of qualified health research talent. This new platform will help fill a gap in the career development opportunities available to trainees and early career researchers and will allow Canada to create the scientific knowledge we will need to build a more resilient future.”
The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos
Minister of Health
“Investing in the next generation of researchers is critical to building the robust life sciences ecosystem we need to tackle the mental health challenges of today and tomorrow. Today’s funding will help trainees and early career researchers across Canada develop the skills they need to achieve success in their careers and improve the health of Canadians. Congratulations to all the recipients!”
The Honourable Carolyn Bennett
Minister of Mental Health and Addictions
“At CIHR, we care deeply about strengthening Canadian health research capacity, and we cannot do this without enhancing training and career support for the next generation of health researchers. That is why we are so pleased to be able to support this initiative, which helps to fill a known gap in the career development opportunities available to trainees and early career researchers.”
Dr. Michael Strong
President, Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Marie-France Proulx
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos
Minister of Health
613-957-0200
Maja Staka
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Carolyn Bennett
Minister of Mental Health and Addictions
343-552-5568
At the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) we know that research has the power to change lives. As Canada’s health research investment agency, we collaborate with partners and researchers to support the discoveries and innovations that improve our health and strengthen our health care system.