The Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR) appointed two Faculty of Dentistry members to play a vital role in helping shape health research that changes the lives of Canadians across the country. Dr. Paul Allison was appointed as a member of the Governing Council of the CIHR and Dean Elham Emami was appointed as a member of the CIHR Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis (CIHR-IMHA) Advisory Board. In their respective roles they will help shape the future of Canadian research. It鈥檚 an exciting time to see both dentistry and our Faculty so well represented at the CIHR.
While sitting as a member of the Governing Council Dr. Allison will help define CIHR鈥檚 strategic direction, goals and policies, approve CIHR鈥檚 budget and evaluate the organisation鈥檚 performance and achievements. The Governing Council also advises the Minister of Health on how research can strengthen Canada鈥檚 health care system and improve the effectiveness of health services and products. 鈥淎s a member, I hope to help ensure that trainees and young investigators are fully supported and that innovative and imaginative approaches to interdisciplinary research and health care are adopted through CIHR,鈥� says Dr. Allison. 鈥淚 also wish to ensure that the smaller fields in health and health care research (such as dentistry) are not forgotten in CIHR鈥檚 efforts to support the necessary work of much larger and better-resourced areas of research.鈥�
As a member of the CIHR-IMHA Advisory Board Dean Emami will work to engage and grow the available resourced for the broad IMHA community, set the 2019-2021 priorities of the IMHA and measure the performance and success of this community or researchers.
鈥淢y hope is to be useful in finding strategies that engage stakeholders in supporting fundamental and applied oral health research,鈥� says Dean Emami. She also advocates the translation of the oral health research findings into practice and policies development.
Congratulations to both for this honour.