AHFMR News
AHFMR announces major new awards honouring Lougheed and Klein
(EDMONTON, AB) Tuesday November 15, 2005... Two major annual awards for health research will be announced at a dinner hosted by the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research tonight at the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald. The awards honour former Premier Peter Lougheed and Premier Ralph Klein for their key contributions to the Foundation. Mr. Lougheed's government created the Foundation in 1980 with a $300 million endowment from the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund. In January of this year, Premier Klein announced his government's commitment of a $500 million addition to the endowment over the next three years. The awards are being announced as part of celebrations for the Foundation's 25th anniversary.
The AHFMR Lougheed Prize will award $100,000 each year to an outstanding researcher in the area of basic biomedical or clinical research. The AHFMR Klein Prize will award $100,000 to an outstanding researcher in the area of population and/or applied health. The first Lougheed Prize will be awarded in the fall of 2006 and the first Klein Prize will be awarded in fall of 2007. Both prizes will be open to international competition.
Mr. Lougheed and Premier Klein will be available for a photo opportunity at 6:45 p.m., November 15 just prior to the dinner. They will both speak at the dinner later that evening at approximately 8:30 p.m. when they accept their honours.
To attend the photo opportunity please call Dwayne Brunner, AHFMR Communications, at (780) 966-1518. Members of the media are also welcome to attend Mr. Lougheed and Mr. Klein's remarks after dinner; please contact Dwayne Brunner if you wish to attend.
| What: | Photo & Media opportunity: Premier Ralph Klein and former Premier Peter Lougheed | |
| When: | Tuesday November 15, 2005 | |
| Time: |
6:40 PM (Photo Opportunity for Premier Klein & Peter Lougheed) 8:30 PM (Speeches by Premier Klein and Peter Lougheed) |
|
| Where: |
The Fairmont Hotel Macdonald (Edmonton Room) - 10065 - 100 St. Edmonton, AB. |
AHFMR Lougheed and Klein Prize guidelines (to be finalized)
The Trustees of the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research have created two new prizes to honour two individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the support of health research in Alberta, and have catalyzed the Foundation's efforts to achieve its aims and goals.
The Honourable Peter Lougheed was the driving force behind the creation of AHFMR in 1979 and the establishment of a $300 million AHFMR Endowment. Twenty-five years later, under the leadership of Premier Ralph Klein, the Provincial Government committed an additional $500 million to the AHFMR Endowment to support and recognize the importance of health research to the wellbeing of Alberta.
The AHFMR Lougheed Prize
The AHFMR Lougheed Prize is a $100,000 individual prize, of which 75% is to be used for the direct support of research. The prize will be awarded following peer review by the Scientific Advisory Council of AHFMR to the most deserving candidate who has made outstanding contributions to research in basic biomedical and/or clinical science (as these are the two areas in which AHFMR began funding 25 years ago) of benefit to Alberta. On the recommendation of its Scientific Advisory Council, the Foundation may award one AHFMR Lougheed Prize each year, beginning in 2006.
Requirements:
At some point during the award year as determined by the Foundation and the Awardee, the Prize recipient must deliver a series of academic and public lectures in Alberta. The travel and related costs for Prize recipients to carry out this activity will be covered by AHFMR.
Eligibility:
The AHFMR Lougheed Prize is open to any senior researcher holding a faculty or practice position in a university, research institute or research hospital for at least five years prior to the prize nomination/application. The Prize could be awarded to a retiree who held such a position prior to retirement. Candidates will have carried out a significant amount of research in Alberta, or in the case where the outstanding science has been performed elsewhere, the candidate will have made exceptional contributions to health research in line with the aims and goals of the Foundation and to health research in Alberta. The recipient can apply the Prize to an area of health research of his or her choice that is consonant with the objectives of the Foundation.
Process of application:
Nominations or applications will be accepted. A nomination or application must contain, in addition to the candidate's curriculum vitae, a citation describing the research accomplishments for which the Prize is being proposed, as well as the impact of such research on Alberta or linking the work of the candidate to the goals of the Foundation and to health research in Alberta. A nomination/application form will be available on the AHFMR website. The nomination/application and the citation must be signed by five individuals, other than the candidate, who support the recommendation. A candidate must provide his or her consent for a nomination. The names of three individuals, independent of the candidate, who are knowledgeable of research in the appropriate area, and whom the Foundation may consult as reviewers, can be provided in the nomination/application dossier. The Foundation will also independently determine peer reviewers that it will consult on the file. The process for accepting nominations/applications will begin in 2006 and the specific date will be announced later.
Criteria:
Candidates must demonstrate through their records of research, publication, teaching, mentoring, community outreach, and awards and recognition that they are outstanding members of the health research community.
The AHFMR Klein Prize
The AHFMR Klein Prize is a $100,000 individual prize, of which 75% is to be used in research. The AHFMR Klein Prize will be awarded following a thorough review by the Health Advisory Committee of AHFMR, to the most deserving candidate who has made outstanding contributions to research in applied and/or population health, including health services research and health economics, as these areas of inquiry are linked to the health care system.
Requirements:
At some point during the award year as determined by the Foundation and the Awardees, the Prize recipient must deliver a series of academic and public lectures in Alberta. The travel and related costs for Prize recipients to carry out this activity will be covered by AHFMR.
Eligibility:
The AHFMR Klein Prize is open to any senior researcher holding a faculty position in a university or accredited health related institution for at least five years prior to the award nomination/application. The Prize could be awarded to a retiree who held such a position prior to retirement. Candidates will have been actively conducting research that benefits the health of Albertans in any area from the health system to the health of populations. The recipient can apply the Prize to an area of health research of his or her choice that is consonant with the objectives of the Foundation.
Process of applications:
Nominations or applications will be accepted. A nomination or application must contain, in addition to the candidate's curriculum vitae, a citation describing the research accomplishments for which the Prize is being proposed, as well as the impact of such research on Alberta or linking the work of the candidate to the goals of the Foundation and to health research in Alberta. A nomination/application form will be available on the AHFMR website. Candidates can be nominated by researcher colleagues and/or institution administrators. Five letters of recommendation are required from fellow researchers, students, administrators, community service leaders. A candidate must provide his or her consent for a nomination. The names of up to three individuals, independent of the candidate/applicant, who are knowledgeable of research in the appropriate area, and whom the Foundation may consult as reviewers, can be provided in the nomination/application dossier. The Foundation will also independently determine peer reviewers that it will consult on the file. On the recommendations of the Health Advisory Committee, the Foundation may begin the AHFMR Klein Prize competition in 2007.
Criteria:
Candidates must demonstrate through their records of teaching, mentoring, community outreach, publication, research, awards, and recognition that they are top calibre members of the health research community.
The Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR) currently provides funding for over 600 researchers and researchers in training at the Province's three main universities. The foundation supports a community of researchers who generate knowledge that improves the health and quality of life of Albertans and people throughout the world. AHFMR's commitment is to fund health research based on international standards of excellence and carried out by new and established investigators and researchers in training. Total AHFMR funding over 25 years is in excess of $800 million. For more information, visit www.ahfmr.ab.ca.