This month, the Health Research Foundation (HRF) is celebrating 60 years of impact. Founded 60 years ago by Innovative Medicines Canada (IMC) and funded by its members, our long history of accomplishments has cemented its critical role in advancing health research and innovation in Canada. As we celebrate this milestone anniversary, we want to acknowledge what we’ve accomplished in the past, made possible through the contributions of IMC members, while looking ahead to the impactful work that is moving healthcare forward and changing the lives of Canadians.
The Impact of The Past 60 Years
Over the last six decades, we have been at the forefront of driving Canadian health innovations. Since its inception, we have been instrumental in funding notable researchers that resulted in better patient outcomes. While we are incredibly proud of the numbers — over $30 million in funding research grants, fellowships and awards to more than 1,700 researchers across Canada — the true impact of our work lies in our impact on patients.
The HRF’s funding and recognition has been pivotal in life-changing research that saved and improved millions of lives worldwide. Thanks to the HRF’s funding, whose recipients have made substantial contributions to the advancement of knowledge in the health sciences, researchers have been able to explore new, innovative solutions to pressing healthcare challenges across various medical fields, from oncology and neurology to infectious diseases, chronic conditions, and pandemic preparedness, and more recently, on applied health systems research.
Over the last 60 years, the HRF has awarded the Medal of Honour to several prestigious recipients, for the discovery of insulin, the advancement of neurological sciences, and contributions to the field of HIV/AIDS care and treatment, to emergency room care and triage, brain and spinal cord injuries research, and contributions to the Canadian healthcare system in general.
Since the early 2000s, we have funded research groups focused on influenza, childhood obesity prevention, mental health and Indigenous health, and more, creating real hope for patients and their families to improve their quality of life and access to healthcare, specifically for under-served and marginalized populations.
For example, Dr. Brianne Wood received the HRF Fellowship in Health Systems Resilience in 2021 for her research program on learning health systems in northern, rural, and remote settings across Canada. For her, the funding was invaluable.
“With the resources and connections [I gained] through the fellowship I’ve led applied research to bring visibility to the strengths and needs in health systems. My vision is to improve health and healthcare in Northern, rural and remote communities, via partnerships, shared strategies and resources between education, research health services and communities. We want to prepare underserved health systems to meet the needs of their health workforce and the people they serve. Thank you, and congratulations on 60 years!”
So much of the research we have funded in the past has also moved the needle on healthcare equity. As HRF’s first Diversity and Equity in Research Award Winner, Dr. Oluwabukola Salami, said, “Receiving this award in recognition of the research I have been doing on the health and well-being of immigrant, racialized and Black populations is truly an honour,” said Dr. Salami. Her research results on improving the lives of Black individuals in Canada and created the first fully interdisciplinary university-based mentorship for Black youth in this country.
“The HRF’s mission has always been to bridge the gaps in the health system and ensure that innovative discoveries translate into tangible health benefits for all Canadians,” says Mel Cappe, Chair of the HRF Board of Directors.
“Through funding diverse research initiatives, fostering partnerships, and advocating for a robust research environment that nurtures scientific excellence, we’re proud of the difference we’ve made in the last 60 years and can’t wait to see what we can do in the future.”
Looking to the Future
As we celebrate our 60th anniversary, we remain committed to driving innovation and embracing cutting-edge technologies to shape the future of healthcare. In recent years, we have continued to adapt and evolve in response to emerging health challenges by funding future-focused research initiatives.
One of those unprecedented challenges was the COVID-19 pandemic, which showed us the need for constant, rapid innovation to save lives quickly. When developing the vaccine, last year’s Prix Galien Canada Innovative Product Award winner Pfizer-BioNTech set a record for the fastest vaccine authorization in history, helping to pave the path out of the lockdowns and toward a new normal.
As a pivotal moment for the Canadian healthcare system, the COVID-19 pandemic also revealed the importance of fast learning and adaptation of health systems, and the need for high-quality research. The HRF Chair in Pandemic Preparedness Research, awarded to Dr. Srinivas Murthy at the University of British Columbia has been instrumental in identifying barriers to research start-up and evidence implementation in Canada. Through its work, it has emphasized the importance of coordinated ecosystems that support knowledge generation and translation, enabling them to meet the needs of the health system, policymakers, and Canadians as a whole.
We continue to adapt and evolve, funding future-focused, impactful initiatives that harness the power of technology and stay ahead of the curve. Part of our funding strategy is ensuring a continuous pipeline of innovation that can address urgent healthcare needs to improve patient’s lives. That’s why we funded future-focused fellowships in two areas of Artificial Intelligence Health Research: Patient Outcomes and Health Systems.
Fellowship recipient Dr. Steven Hawken is currently harnessing the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to predict an expectant mother’s real time risk of preterm delivery, empowering healthcare providers with valuable insights to provide timely interventions and improve maternal and neonatal health outcomes.
Another fellowship recipient, Dr. Scott Adams, has investigated how AI can extract additional information from CT images to improve the classification of lung nodules as benign or malignant, enabling earlier diagnosis of lung cancer, a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide.
These pioneering research projects exemplify our commitment to supporting scientific excellence and innovative solutions that have real-world applications and the potential to transform lives. We’re proud that this is all happening right here in Canada. Our country is a global hub for pharmaceutical innovation with world-class researchers, esteemed academic institutions and cutting-edge medical centres that position us well for a bright future filled with rampant innovation.
“With the advancements in technology, artificial intelligence, and the solid foundation we’ve built over the past 60 years, we are well-positioned to push the boundaries of medical research and innovation,” says Cappe. “The future holds immense potential, and we are excited to leverage our resources to drive tangible change in healthcare for many more years to come.”
