AHFMR News
Mental Health Research Opportunities Increase
New Partnership Between Alberta Mental Health Board and Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research
(Edmonton, AB) Thursday, July 27, 2006... There are more positions for mental health research trainees in Alberta thanks to a new partnership between the Alberta Mental Health Board (AMHB) and the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR).
As of April 1, 2006, the AMHB is contributing up to $450,000 over a five-year term to AHFMR's Mental Health Traineeship Program to increase traineeship capacity in Alberta by 50 per cent or about 15 additional trainees.
"Mental health research is the critical link if health providers, caregivers, policymakers and people living in communities are to further understand and respond to the needs of people with mental health problems," says Laurie Beverley, AMHB Vice President, Programs and Research. "Emphasis for the additional funding will be placed on research projects that seek to improve the mental health of Albertans, increase the effectiveness of mental health services, and strengthen the mental health system."
The program will focus initially on supporting graduate studentships, research fellowships, and clinical research fellowships for trainees working with Alberta-based investigators. Traineeship applications will be accepted by AHFMR and reviewed by the AHFMR Peer Review Advisory Committee composed of independent investigators from Alberta or, for Clinical Fellows, from other regions of Canada.
"AHFMR supports the advancement of mental health research as part of its mandate to improve the overall health of Albertans, and encouraging students to become involved in research strengthens the health system as a whole," says Dr. Jacques Magnan, AHFMR Vice President, Programs. "We expect the researchers we fund to actively pursue the application of their research into practice and policy so that Albertans can benefit from their work."
The partnership supports the strategic directions of the AMHB-led Mental Health Research Partnership Program for Alberta. AHFMR is a member of the provincial Research Partnership Committee, which consists of senior level representatives from across Alberta who provide strategic direction in the implementation of the Mental Health Research Partnership Program. The ultimate outcome of program is to improve the mental health of all Albertans.
For more information contact:
Lori Weltz, AMHB
(780) 917-4112
Dwayne Brunner, AHFMR
(780) 423-5727
Backgrounder
About the Alberta Mental Health Board (www.amhb.ab.ca)
The Alberta Mental Health Board is a provincial health authority that oversees and advances Alberta's mental health system, serves in an advisory capacity to the Minister of Health and Wellness, and works with health regions and others to address system-wide mental health priority issues that span national, provincial, regional and organizational boundaries.About the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (www.ahfmr.ab.ca)
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 for more than a quarter of a century is in excess of $850 million.