The Saskatchewan Research Chairs program was launched by the Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation (SHRF) in 2008. The Chairs aim to support the work of our current health researchers and attract top talent from elsewhere to help build capacity in areas where Saskatchewan has specific needs or strengths.

Each Chair award provides $200,000 per year for five years to support the work of top quality research leaders. These individuals have a demonstrated ability to lead and be innovative while working collaboratively with other researchers, community partners, and research trainees.

SHRF provides up to $100,000 per year for five years, with the remainder supplied by partners in the health research community.

The first Chair applications are due to SHRF in late 2009, with the first successful candidates beginning their terms in 2010.

Additional Chairs are added as funding becomes available, with the eventual goal of funding 10 active Chairs at any given time.

Read on for more information from the Saskatchewan Research Chairs brochure, and in the SHRF Awards Guide.

Saskatchewan Research Chair
In (Research Area)
Supported by (Partner(s)) and SHRF

Investment: $200,000 per year for five years renewable from SHRF and partners.

As Saskatchewan’s primary health research funding agency, SHRF is your strong ally and partner in the Saskatchewan Research Chairs program.

Funded mainly by the government, SHRF is a registered charity, although it does not actively seek donations. Instead, it pursues partnering opportunities with organizations whose priorities align well with its own and who can contribute resources to advance health research. In this way, SHRF seeks to be a catalyst, bringing research organizations together with communities and community groups to pursue knowledge for the benefit of all.

An investment in the Saskatchewan Research Chairs program will help attract outstanding researchers and build critical mass in those areas where our province has a pressing need or can play to a particular research strength.

• Doubled investment through SHRF matching funds (up to $100,000/yr for five years).
• Ability to help direct focus of research into desired areas of importance.
• Proven and respected expert review process to easily select top research talent from candidate pool.
• Access to SHRF's established infrastructure, policies, and procedures for managing research funds.
• Access to SHRF's established network as an integral part of Saskatchewan health research community.
• Money invested with SHRF stays in Saskatchewan, targeted to address the needs of the province and to take advantage of its unique research strengths.

Saskatchewan Research Chair partners can have confidence their investment is being handled in a responsible, open, transparent, and accountable manner.

1. Partner(s) and SHRF commit funding for Chair
2. Partner(s) define focus of Chair with SHRF and develop synopsis
3. SHRF publishes synopsis and issues call for applications
4. Candidates apply with the backing of their host institution
5. Independent expert panel reviews applications and provides recommendations to SHRF
6. SHRF informs applicants and partners about competition results
7. SHRF and partner(s) publicly announce Chair award
8. SHRF and partner(s) arrange for management of funds with host institution

Each Saskatchewan Research Chair is funded by SHRF and its community partners. Examples of possible partners include charities, foundations, educational institutions, or other organizations with a special interest in health research. There may be more than one community partner per Chair as opportunity warrants.

Each Chair is unique, with a focus defined by its partners. Partners for each Chair work together with SHRF to develop a research focus that addresses the shared priorities of all. This focus and other details of each Chair are formally documented in a partnership agreement.

Prominent and appropriate recognition of all partners is included in the promotion and communications efforts for every Chair.

To discuss your ideas for a Saskatchewan Research Chair, call SHRF CEO June Bold at 975-1680, or e-mail jbold@shrf.ca.

Candidates for Saskatchewan Research Chairs must be fully supported and endorsed by their host institutions. Chair applications may be intended to help retain existing highquality researchers, or to recruit new talent and expertise from elsewhere to address Saskatchewan's needs and capitalize on its strengths.

The program is open to researchers from a wide range of disciplines and sectors (i.e., university, health system, etc.), provided they have the required infrastructure support and protected research time from their institution.

Applications and renewals for Chairs are subjected to SHRF’s rigorous independent review process. See SHRF’s Awards Guide for details.

Through SHRF, Saskatchewan continues to build on its long history of health research innovation.

From the first cobalt-60 cancer treatment initiative 60 years ago, to world-leading synchrotron biomedical imaging and therapy facilities today, the province continues to build on the solid foundation of our past in order to build future success.

According to a 2006 study commissioned by SHRF, health research activity in the province added more than $61 million to the province’s Gross Domestic Product and was responsible for more than 1,400 jobs.

Saskatchewan’s competitive advantages are numerous. Its unique population and geography offer opportunities found nowhere else in Canada. By working with its partners in our universities, government agencies, and community, SHRF continues to work as a catalyst to advance health research in areas that address the needs of Saskatchewan people and the unique strengths of our provincial research enterprise.