Alberta Innovates- Health Solutions

The recent announcement of changes to AHFMR training award stipends and some AHFMR policies relating to supplemental income, as well as the introduction of the New Incentive Award for trainees has led to a flurry of e-mail messages and telephone calls on the subject. Most correspondents want to know how the changes will affect them. At this point, all we can say is that each of the more than 250 on-going training awards will be reviewed individually prior to July 1, and when appropriate, the awards will be modified. In the meantime, I would like to provide a few examples of how the stipend packages may change.

Since January 1, Jane has been receiving an AHFMR Fellowship as her only source of support. Her current stipend is $28,000 per year. As of July 1, we will adjust her award to $31,000 per year for the remainder of her current funding year. Peter currently benefits from both AHFMR and MRC studentships.

He receives the stipend from MRC ($19,030) and an augmented research allowance from AHFMR ($2,000). On July 1, 1999, there will be no adjustment to his award. However, when he renews his AHFMR award in September, he will receive, in addition to his MRC stipend, the $5,000 Incentive Award from AHFMR and a $1,000 research allowance.That would give him a $24,030 stipend.

Elmo currently receives $16,500 as a stipend from the Foundation and $3,100 as a tuition award from the university. Therefore, his total stipend package is $19,600. Last year, he turned down a teaching assistantship that could have paid him $6,500 because the Foundation had a rule stating that supplemental income could account for only 20% of the value of our award.

As of July 1, his stipend will increase to $19,000, and he will be allowed to cumulate both the tuition award and the research assistantship (because neither is individually equivalent to more than 40% of the value of the Heritage award). With the same three potential sources of funding he could, therefore, be receiving $28,600 for the year, and still be a full-time student.

As you can see, there are a number of possibilities!

If you have questions for Dr. Jacques Magnan about any aspect of AHFMR's grants processes, he welcomes your calls at (403) 423-5727 or by e-mail at jmagnan@ahfmr.ab.ca