SECTION 3:
IS THE WORK ON METHODS FOR ASSESSMENT OF RESEARCH BENEFITS INTERNATIONALLY GENERALIZABLE OR IS AHFMR OR ITS CONTEXT DIFFERENT?
The Range of AHFMR Funding
What may also be unusual is the comprehensive range of activities that the AHFMR supports. By scientific field, the areas supported range from fundamental biology through clinical investigation to studies on population health in the community. The description that follows is the breakdown of expenditures on a total base of $36.6 million in fiscal 97/98. The single largest component is the Personnel Support programs, which contribute to the salary costs of faculty-level investigators in universities and affiliated institutions (56%). The second largest component is the Training programs at 17%. These include Summer Studentship awards, Graduate Studentships, and Postdoctoral Fellowships. Both the Training and Personnel awards are available to qualified researchers across the entire spectrum of research investigation from basic biomedical research to health services and population health research. In addition, the AHFMR has a variety of other programs (totaling 12% of expenditures) which includes funding for major equipment and facilities, visiting lecturer and travel awards, visiting professorships, infrastructure grants, conference and workshop support, and the support for special projects.
A Technology Commercialization program accounts for some 3% to 4% of expenditures and funds Alberta innovators in the transferring of new ideas in scientific findings into commercial health care products and processes.
The AHFMR provides direct support for training programs for the Regional Health Authorities to promote the uptake of evidence, and the development of research projects at the community level (approximately 2% of expenditures). The program involves both the funding of training, and the institutional support services for consultation and methodology support.
In addition, through collaboration with Alberta Health, the AHFMR administers a Health Research Fund for individual project support, a Health Technology Assessment Unit, and provides support for dissemination and health research agenda setting activities (6% of expenditures).
