Today, while touring the research facilities at the University of Prince Edward Island, Sean Casey, Member of Parliament for Charlottetown and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, on behalf of the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Health, highlighted a recent federal investment in health research.

“Investments in health research are some of the most important that we can make as a nation. These federally funded projects hold the potential for scientific advancements, new treatments, and improved quality of life for Canadians living with a variety of health conditions, while creating high-quality middle-class jobs at hospitals and universities across the country.”

The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Health

“Congratulations to Dr. Adam Johnston on receiving this funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. With this support, Dr. Johnston and his research team will be able to carry on their world-class research, bringing pride to UPEI and the promise of improved health and quality of life to Islanders.

Sean Casey, Member of Parliament for Charlottetown and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries and Ocean and the Canadian Coast Guard

“Health research has the power to help us tackle some of the most pressing challenges facing us as a society, and Canadians should be proud of the incredible work being done from coast to coast to coast. As a researcher myself, I can say that the work is rarely glamourous—but it is always worthwhile, and I am excited to watch these CIHR-funded projects unfold.”

Michael J. Strong, President, Canadian Institutes of Health Research

"Neuropathy and wound healing deficits are two of the most common complications of type-II diabetes; however, their interrelationship has not been explored.  Here, we will investigate if the impairment in diabetic wound healing is potentially due to the loss of nervous system cells, known as Schwann cells."  

Dr. Adam P. Johnston, Assistant Professor, University of Prince Edward Island

• The projects funded through the $275M investment are supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)’s largest funding program.

  • This program, called the Project Grant program, is designed to capture ideas with the greatest potential to advance health research and the health care system.
  • It supports projects of varying sizes and duration through a highly competitive and rigorous review process.
  • CIHR runs two Project Grant competitions per year.
  • The results from the latest competition were released in January 2019, and the funding ($275M) will begin on April 1, 2019. 

• Eighty-two of the grants from the latest competition were awarded to early career researchers (those within the first five years of their first academic appointment).

• Eleven of the grants funded are focused on Indigenous health research. CIHR is proud to support these projects as part of its commitment to invest 4.6% of its annual budget in Indigenous health research.

Related products

• Overview of Project Grant competition results

Media Relations
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
613-941-4563
mediarelations@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

Thierry Bélair
Office of Ginette Petitpas Taylor
Minister of Health
613-957-0200

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.