OUR FUTURE

CHRI has a five-year strategic plan that outlines the Institute’s commitment to the goal of establishing CHRI as one of the leading child health research institutions in the world. It is making steady progress in achieving that goal.

Part of this plan included changing the name of the Child Health Research Institute to reflect the connection between the Children’s Health Foundation and its beneficiaries, the Children’s Hospital of Western Ontario and the newly named Children’s Health Research Institute.

The plan also includes increasing the number of researchers by recruiting some of the best from around the world. In 2005, CHRI partnered with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Western Ontario to recruit three new scientists. In January 2005, Dr. Mellissa Mann, whose research focuses on the role of genomic imprinting in embryogenesis, from the University of Pennsylvania and Dr. Andy Babwah from the Robarts Research Institute joined the CHRI team. Dr. Babwah's research focuses on the molecular regulation of signaling of human gonadotropin releasing hormone receptor. Dr. Timothy Regnault from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center joined the CHRI in September 2005. His research focuses on fetoplacental and maternal metabolism associated with fetal growth restriction.

Another highlight of the plan is enhancing the academic training of post-graduate clinical and basic science trainees and graduate students. Financial support is provided to trainees to attend and present at national and international scientific meetings.

Improved academic development and scientific productivity increases breakthrough research discoveries of the members of CHRI. A research awards competition is held annually. This successful competition provides pilot and bridge funding support for CHRI’s scientists and associate scientists.