Acadia
University is awarded $70,000 to fund health research
For Release: March 1, 2002
(Wolfville,
NS) - Health
and wellness is a prominent issue in the minds of Nova Scotians and
research is integral to finding answers to the future and quality of
healthcare in Canada. Faculty at Acadia University are focused on
doing their part to improve the future well-being of Canadians and
are being assisted by a $70,000 grant from the Canadian Institute of
Health Research (CIHR).
The
collaborative multidisciplinary approach, becoming increasingly
evident at Acadia, involving disciplines of Kinesiology, Psychology,
Sociology, Chemistry, Biology and Nutrition and Dietetics, is needed
to fully understand how human health is measured and maintained.
These efforts reflect the Acadia research community’s commitment
to explore and examine the complexity of the independent and
interdependent variables that influence our health and
well-being.
Acadia
is in the unique position to develop ‘niche’ research areas,
specifically taking advantage of the surrounding rural communities
and significant older adult populations. For example, child health
and mental health researchers, Dr. Doug Symons and Dr. Shanti
Johnson as well Dr. René Murphy, who is studying older adult
physical and nutritional issues, are conducting work at Community
Health Centres, hospitals, local mental health clinics, schools, and
individual home-based environments in the Valley. Acadia is
advancing health research into rural areas, a neglected topic within
Canada and an area Acadia has promoted over the years.
Acadia
has identified health and wellness as a major theme in its
Institutional Research Plan and has over 20 researchers in several
disciplines working on health related projects. This reflects the
strength and potential for continued growth in health and wellness
research at the University. Acadia has also committed to designate a
Tier II Chair from the Canada Research Chairs program to the area of
Health and Wellness, providing a strong base on which to build this
research focus.
CIHR
provided Acadia with this funding through a Development Grant, which
permits small institutions to undertake activities that will
increase the competitiveness of their health researchers in
applications for future funding. The purpose of the Development
Grant is to assist institutions to build and mobilize their health
research capacity and lead to a positive cycle of research growth.
Acadia will use the grant money to fund health related research
projects and provide start-up funding for new researchers.
As
Canada's premier federal agency for health research, CIHR’s
objective is to excel, according to internationally accepted
standards of scientific excellence, in the creation of new knowledge
and its translation into improved health for Canadians, more
effective health services and products and a strengthened health
care system. CIHR wishes to increase the capacity of all Canadian
research institutions to undertake excellent health research.
-30-
For more information contact:
Sheri Woodland
Communications Manager
Office of Public Affairs
Acadia University
(902) 585-1362
Acadia
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