The Ministry of Advanced Education has provided $400,000 to the Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation (SHRF) through the Innovation and Science Fund (ISF) to support Saskatchewan's participation in health research programs offered by the Government of Canada.
"The Government of Saskatchewan understands the importance of promoting excellence and developing Saskatchewan's human capital through innovation and research," Advanced Education Minister Don Morgan said. "Our investment through the Innovation and Science Fund enables innovations and explorations of new treatments and policies that will contribute to the health and well being of Saskatchewan residents."
Each year, SHRF uses the provincial contribution from the ISF to attract additional investments from federal government initiatives through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), which support scientific discovery and health innovation in our province.
Dr. Shanthi Johnson, Professor and Associate Dean (Research and Graduate Studies) in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Health Studies at the University of Regina is one of the researchers receiving this funding.
Dr. Johnson will study ways of improving functional capacity and reducing falls among older adults in Saskatchewan. By focusing on the delivery of exercise programs through home care networks, the research team aims to reduce the impact falls have on the lives of Saskatchewan residents and the health care system. Other studies funded in partnered programs are listed on SHRF's website at www.shrf.ca.
"SHRF is extremely pleased to be able to participate in a number of federal health research initiatives due to the funding entrusted to us from the Innovation and Science Fund," SHRF's CEO June Bold said. "We strongly encourage Saskatchewan's health researchers to submit applications to these federal initiatives, and our organization continues to offer support to researchers and decision-makers interested in conducting health research."
About the Innovation and Science Fund
The Innovation and Science Fund (ISF) provides funding to Saskatchewan universities, colleges and research institutes in support of projects receiving approval and funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), the Canada Research Chairs Program (CRC), the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation (CHSRF), and CIHR's Regional Partnership Program (Sask-CIHR RPP).
About SHRF
The Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation contributes to a healthy province by funding and promoting excellence in health research, promoting the benefits of health research, and enhancing capacity, including securing funds to support excellent research and researchers. Information about this and other SHRF funding programs is available at shrf.ca.