Perspective
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Life ScienceS
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MSFHR – Supporting health innovation in British Columbia
B
ehind every great discovery is a great researcher, and behind every great researcher is a support network that allows creative minds to flourish. In the province of British Columbia, the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research (MSFHR) provides this support to the people and projects that help drive BC’s health research innovation. Since its inception in 2001, MSFHR has been nurturing the research careers of BC’s most exceptional trainees and emerging scholars. With a mandate from the provincial government to increase BC’s
capacity for health research, MSFHR has invested more than $330 million in its award programs. MSFHR-funded researchers have been able to leverage that investment, attracting more than $1.1 billion in additional funding from national, international, nonprofit, and private-sector sources. Through its funding activities, the Foundation has played a role in growing BC’s health research sector into a vibrant community that ranks among the world’s leaders in developing new treatments, products and companies and in responding to emerging health threats. Made-in-BC solutions are
transforming the way major health issues are diagnosed and treated – including HIV/AIDS, breast cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease. BC-based researchers are also influencing international policy, for example, in the prevention of communicable diseases such as HPV and H1N1. MSFHR is an important component of BC’s thriving life sciences ecosystem. Together with its partners in academia, health care, industry and notfor-profit, the Foundation enables cutting-edge research that influences decision-making, improves health and health care, and contributes to social and economic well-being.
15 YEARS
2001 – 2016
Celebrating 15 years of impact in BC’s life sciences community Over the past 15 years, we have supported nearly 1,600 individual researchers and 80 research teams
MSFHR Trainee Awards prepare the next generation of health researchers for careers in:
Since 2001, the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research has empowered world-class health innovation with global impact.
health authorities
private companies universities
MSFHR Scholars
94%
MSFHR Scholar Awards led to:
remain in BC as health research leaders
$1.1 billion additional funding attracted
$117M
>140 patents filed
investment
By investing in excellence, we support a vibrant health research community in BC that: •
Attracts and retains top international experts.
•
Leverages funding to develop innovative ideas into new products, new treatments and new companies.
•
Excels internationally in many areas of research, including cancer, genomics and HIV/AIDS.
4,700
apprentices trained
200 – 1285 West Broadway, Vancouver | 604 730 8322 | info@msfhr.org | www.msfhr.org | Twitter: @msfhr | YouTube: themsfhr