Clinical Research Support Unit - A New Biostatistics Resource for Clinical Researchers.The Clinical Research Support Unit (CRSU) is a new Biostatistics resource to clinical researchers at the College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan. It is the result of a new initiative by the College Dean's Office and the Department of Community Health & Epidemiology. The creation of Biostatistical resource raised the college to a new level effectiveness and relevance in health research and teaching. The unit serving an important role in initiating interdisciplinary, collaborative research among departments in the College of Medicine.
The Prairie Women's Health Centre of Excellence is one of the Centres of Excellence for Women's Health supported by the Women's Health Bureau of Health Canada. The Centres are dedicated to improving the health status of Canadian women by supporting policy-oriented, and community-based research and analysis on the social determinants of women's health. The Prairie Region Health Promotion Research Centre is one of the PWHCE's six Partner Organizations, and its Saskatoon site is located in the Department of Community Health and Epidemiology.
This unit was established in 1989 with a grant from the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Saskatchewan, to conduct research related to the prevention of cardiovascular disease. Major research activities include analysis of provincial and national heart health data and surveillance of cardiovascular disease trends. As well, the Unit is involved in community-based and clinical prevention programs.
Saskatchewan Heart Health Program (SHHP) - Dissemination Phase is an applied research project concerning the dissemination of heart health promotion capacity to health districts in the province. The contributions of continuing education, technical support and electronic networking to the enhancement of health promotion knowledge, skills, resources and commitment are being explored. The study employs multiple data collection methods including an annual survey of districts, document review, interviews and focus groups. As part of the Canadian Heart Health Initiative, the SHHP - Dissemination Phase is a five-year initiative funded by Health Canada, Saskatchewan Health and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Saskatchewan. This phase builds on the previous provincial heart health survey and the implementation and evaluation of community-based demonstration projects.
The mission of the Saskatchewan Population Health and Evaluation Research Unit (SPHERU) is to be a centre of excellence in research that will create new knowledge and understandings of population health, contribute to health policy and planning, inform public policy at all levels of governance, incorporate a population health perspective into the education of health professionals, and be a resource for public debate on population health.
Established in 1999, SPHERU is a non-profit research institute with Board representation from its two collaborating universities (University of Regina, University of Saskatchewan), and its three other founding partners (Saskatchewan Health, Saskatchewan Association of Health Organizations, and the Health Services Utilization and Research Commission).
The Saskatchewan Cancer Control Research Program directed by Dr. Anne Leis, Dr. Louis Schulman Cancer Research Professor, College of Medicine, was externally funded by the National Cancer Institute of Canada for 8 years until June 2005.
Since 2002, a steering committee made of Saskatchewan key partners (both universities, Saskatchewan Health, the Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation (SHERF), the Canadian Cancer Society, Saskatchewan Division, the Saskatchewan Cancer agency (SCA) and Dr. Svein Carlsen (vice-president research at the SCA) was established to foster the development and expansion of cancer research in the province and oversee the distribution of NCIC funds to researchers whose research proposals were worthy of funding (>3.5) but below the cut-off (similar to the CIHR RPP committee).
Today we have established a successful Cancer Research Network in Saskatchewan and we organize each year the annual Cancer research day, held in Saskatoon usually in December. The link to cancer survivors’ organizations is quite strong and they are involved in informing research questions and dissemination. Presently, we are in the process of creating a Saskatchewan vision for cancer control research and thinking through some of the structures that would enhance cancer research and its funding in the province.
The Training for Health Renewal Program (THRP) is a University of Saskatchewan international development project housed in the Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, College of Medicine. Its most recent project, the Community-Based Health Training and Practice Program, is a 5-year CIDA-funded project that continues a 10-year partnership with the Ministry of Health in Mozambique. The goal is to improve the relationship between health workers and the communities they serve. The partnership has established a health training centre in rural Mozambique, in the community of Massinga, and a unique methodology that combines community development, discovery-based teaching learning, critical reflection, and cross-cutting themes of gender equality and HIV/AIDS.
Knowledge for innovation is an important component of the overall program. It is designed to use the Massinga Centre experience to inform the process of health systems development. Activities include environmental scans, evaluation, research, and knowledge exchange. Some activities will directly serve the program and increase its effectiveness, while others will serve a wider audience. Taken together, they are intended to explicitly and systematically use the knowledge gained in the project to meet its goals – in particular, to improve the enabling environment for the promotion and use of community-based approaches to health training and services.
The U of S has hosted Mozambican health workers, and the Massinga Centre has hosted U of S students on visits and practicums. To date, visits have been mainly short-term and community health oriented. Beginning in 2010, there is an opportunity for additional experiences in particular to assist with the teacher-training program as an MPH practicum. Students must be self-funded and self-motivated, including being prepared to learn some Portuguese, and being prepared to meet the challenges of working in a developing country. An orientation is provided. Beginning in 2010, students must also be screened by a THRP committee to ensure the site’s logistical and human resource capacities are adequate for each visit.
Research-based Master’s students interested in health systems in the context of international development might also consider a study that would support the MC’s knowledge for innovation activities and which would not require a field-based experience. The project might also interest a Ph.D. candidate interested in health systems.
For more information, about the program, please go to thrp.usask.ca
University of Saskatchewan Health Research website
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