Research

UM researchers get CIHR president's ear on funding

Dr. Paul Hébert met with UM researchers, students and leaders to talk about the future of health research funding in Canada.

a person standing and looking at the audience
Estimated Read Time:
2 minutes
Dr. Paul Hébert, president of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, during his visit to UM.
Dr. Paul Hébert, president of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, during his visit to UM.
Estimated Read Time:
2 minutes
By

Nataliia Buchok

Dr. Paul Hébert told a room of University of Manitoba researchers exactly why he had come to Winnipeg. 

"That's why I'm here today, to get your advice and your thoughts," he said. 

Dr. Hébert is president of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the federal agency that funds health research across Canada. On September 15, he and Chantal Marin-Comeau, CIHR's vice-president of corporate services and transformation, spent the day at UM. 

From roundtable to town hall

The visit began in the morning with early career researchers. Dr. Hébert then joined President Michael Benarroch and other UM executives for a roundtable, followed by a fireside chat with UM and health-care leaders on pressing issues in health research. 

At a town hall with UM researchers and students, he laid out CIHR's plans. These include a pan-Canadian health data strategy, changes to peer review and more support for turning discoveries into companies that stay in Canada. Then he opened the floor. 

Audience of researchers and students seated in rows, listening to a speaker at the front of a room.
UM researchers and students at the town hall with CIHR president Dr. Paul Hébert.

For Dr. B. Mario Pinto, UM's vice-president (research and international), a visit built around listening carries weight. "It signals that we're making a mark on the federal scene and that our opinion counts," Dr. Pinto said. 

The fact that he came here to ask us what we think is an important step in our path to being taken seriously as a research-intensive university.

Dr. B. Mario Pinto, UM's vice-president (research and international)

Two men in conversation, standing and facing each other
Dr. Paul Hébert with UM leaders
Dr. Paul Hébert (centre), president of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, with UM President Michael Benarroch and other UM leaders
Inside the labs

The lab tours covered UM's work in patient-oriented research, HIV, kidney care and transplantation, mental health and diabetes in youth. 

Dr. Keith Fowke, who also serves as scientific director of CIHR's Institute of Infection and Immunity, showed Dr. Hébert his team's HIV research. They study people who naturally resist HIV infection, hoping to use that resistance to find new ways to prevent HIV and possibly cure it. 

Dr. Paul Hébert, president of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, during his visit to UM
Dr. Paul Hébert, president of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, during his visit to UM

Dr. Kaarina Kowalec is leading the first study of schizophrenia genetics in Manitoba. Dr. Julie Ho is running a clinical trial that tests whether treating rejection early helps kidney transplant recipients. Dr. Allison Dart and Dr. Jonathan McGavock work with the DREAM team to improve the health of young people living with type 2 diabetes. 

Dr. Hébert also learned about UM's Lab2Market Prairies hub, which helps researchers turn discoveries into ventures. That's the kind of pathway he had told the town hall Canada needs more of. 

Research built with patients

The last stop was the Manitoba SPOR SUPPORT Unit at the George & Fay Yee Centre for Healthcare Innovation, led by Dr. Ryan Zarychanski and Carly Leggett. The unit helps researchers design studies with patients as partners and brings research findings into everyday clinical care. 

Dr. Hébert pointed to it as an example for the rest of the country. 

With initiatives such as the Manitoba SPOR SUPPORT Unit led by Ryan Zarychanski and Carly Leggett, the University of Manitoba is showing us all how to transform research excellence into real-world impact for patients and communities

Dr. Paul Hébert, president of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research

Looking to the next generation

The morning conversation with early career researchers was the one Dr. Hébert came back to. 

"It was especially inspiring to meet with early career researchers and students to discuss their ideas for strengthening Canada's health research ecosystem for the next generation," he said. 

CIHR's team left Winnipeg with feedback to take back to Ottawa.  

Dr. Paul Hébert, president of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Dr. Paul Hébert, president of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research