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UVic Health Initiative

researcher in lab

The UVic Health Initiative (UHI) aims to enhance the quality and raise the profile of health research, programs and related activities at UVic. It is a joint activity of the offices of the Vice-President Research and Innovation and the Vice-President Academic and Provost.

With more than 200 faculty who self-identify as health researchers, the UHI focuses on advancing lifelong health for all. UVic has strengths in the signature areas of healthy aging, Indigenous health, mental health, and translational medicine. The goals of the UHI are to:

The UHI was previously called the Health Science Initiative. The name was updated to indicate broader inclusion of all types of health research, scholarship and creative works.

Funding

Collaborative Health Grants

The UVic Collaborative Health Grants program is sponsored by the UHI to support projects across campus. This funding opportunity stimulates team-based, interdisciplinary, health-related projects. It supports projects that are likely to have significant impact and that will advance the research pillar of the UHI.

Total awarded in March 2021: $437,622.45

Addressing challenges in tumor imaging: novel X-ray detectors offering a submicron spatial resolution

An examination of stellate ganglion block for post-traumatic stress disorder: an intensive measurement study

Combined therapeutic approach to treat cancer

Development of a novel multi-disciplinary model to explore biological aging

Global goal, local impact: access to abortion services for Indigenous peoples in Canada

Health resurgence: interweaving academic success with land-based practices at UVic

Primary care nurse practitioners in the time of COVID: an ethnographic analysis of practice

Reelin homeostasis and cancer: investigating the effects of Reelin on glioblastoma cell lines in a three-dimensional chip model

Screening of Iron chelators as therapeutics in a 3D model of Parkinson's disease

Strengthening the foundation of the home: developing staff wellness strategies in Indigenous alcohol harm reduction services

The impact of COVID-19 on social isolation and mental health among middle-aged and older adults: addressing immigrant status, gender and place-based geographic disparities

Understanding and overcoming weight stigma in mental health training programs

Validation of artificial tissues as novel tools for screening drugs for Alzheimer's disease

Research Accelerator Fund

The Research Accelerator Fund (RAF) is a seed fund that will support and boost research at UVic. The first RAF campaign focused on COVID-19 research, supporting communities and aiding recovery. We accelerate recovery efforts through expertise, partnerships and infrastructure.

Total awarded in March 2021: $165,000

Characterizing risk factors for COVID and forecasting COVID infection counts

Plant-based production of SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins for serological testing of COVID-19

Staying apart together: leveraging assistive technologies to address the mental health needs of community-dwelling older adults and their care networks during and post COVID-19

Supporting healthy living among BC families during the COVID-19 recovery

Understanding the adverse effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the brain

Understanding the psychological impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Canadian healthcare workers

Background

After consulting academic leaders and research centre directors, we formed an advisory group in October 2018. The advisory group consulted widely with internal and external stakeholders throughout 2019. They engaged the UVic community through three well-attended town halls.

The concept paper, released in November 2019, is a result of the work done by the UHI advisory group. It recommends ways to unite health learners, educators and researchers under a common banner. It provides the foundation and guiding recommendations and strategies to advance the UHI.

Health Sciences Initiative concept paper
1.32MB PDF file

Learn more

Share your feedback on the initiative via specialadvisorhealth@uvic.ca.

Many of the most challenging global issues are directly or indirectly related to health or wellbeing.  Having a strong research and training presence in this area will ensure that UVic is contributing to global issues in a meaningful way.

Health research also brings in considerable resources that can have broad impact across the entire university. Building capacity in health research will significantly enhance UVic’s Tri-Agency revenues. This will not only benefit our researchers, but will also provide indirect benefits to UVic in a variety of ways, including allocations for Canada Research Chairs, Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships and Canada Graduate Scholarship - Masters Award.

July 29, 2021 – town hall – shared health research facility

November 9, 2020 – town hall - Centre for Biomedical Research

February 19, 2019 – town hall #1

April 2, 2019 – Town hall #2

June 12, 2019 – Town hall #3

This initiative aligns with key aspects of the Strategic Research Plan and the Strategic Framework. We are investing in areas of research strength that present opportunities for growth, maximum impact and further global prominence.

The UHI also guides us in defining strategic research priorities. It fits with the rankings and reputation initiative. The UHI also contributes to the graduate student recruitment and retention goal of the Strategic Enrolment Management initiative.