Ottawa invests $880 million in health research

OTTAWA – Health minister Marjorie Michel (pictured) has announced $880 million from the government of Canada to advance research and support the next generation of researchers across Canada.

The investment includes more than $400 million through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Project Grant program to support 439 health research projects, giving researchers the freedom to pursue promising ideas and advance discoveries that can improve lives.

Among the projects receiving funding:

• A team at the Université de Montréal is working to expand access to breast cancer screening in Quebec with the goal of reducing late-stage diagnoses.
• A Vancouver-based research team is helping improve services for young people affected by the overdose crisis.
• Researchers at SickKids in Toronto are studying how mutations in the PTEN gene affect brain development, with the goal of identifying new treatment strategies for children living with autism, epilepsy and other neurodevelopmental disorders.

Alongside investments in health research, the Government of Canada is investing more than $480 million through the Canada Research Training Awards Suite (CRTAS) to support 6,485 master’s and doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers across the country.

These investments will help the next generation of researchers develop the skills and expertise needed to drive innovation, tackle future challenges and build Canada strong.

CRTAS award recipients are pursuing research that includes:

• understanding the impacts of health misinformation on public health;
• exploring how artificial intelligence can be used to solve health challenges; and
• building capacity for inclusive schools that meet the needs of neurodivergent students.

“Better healthcare begins with better research. By valuing our researchers and investing in the next generation of talent, we’re helping turn bold ideas into discoveries that improve health outcomes for Canadians. These investments strengthen our healthcare system, attract top talent, grow our economy and build Canada strong for all,” said health minister Michel.