2025 Health System Impact Fellowship in Saskatchewan

Full news release from Canadian Institutes of Health Research found here.

The Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR) Health System Impact Program places the next generation of health researchers directly inside health system organizations—such as government agencies, hospitals, and community organizations—so they can help solve real-world challenges while gaining hands-on experience.

Fellows receive mentorship and leadership training that prepares them to drive meaningful improvements in health policy, services, and outcomes for Canadians.

For the 2025 cycle, CIHR is supporting 42 PhD and postdoctoral researchers. One fellowship in Saskatchewan has been funded.

SHRF is proud to support Saskatchewan-based fellowships in this program by providing matching funding on behalf of health system organizations in Saskatchewan that are interested in partnering with highly qualified PhD trainees and postdoctoral researchers in health services and policy research/related fields. This allows organizations to benefit from expertise in cutting- edge methodologies and analytics to advance goals and priorities, generate innovative solutions grounded in the best available evidence, and build in-house capacity for research.

Organizations interested in hosting a fellowship can find more information on CIHR's website.

2025 Health System Impact Fellow Profile

Roots & Resilience: Métis Youth‑Centered Vaping Cessation Strategy

Name: Hayley Pelletier

Host Partner Organization: Lung Saskatchewan

Academic Institution: University of Saskatchewan

PhD or Post-doctoral Fellowship: PhD Fellowship

Fellowship funders: CIHR Institute of Cancer Research (CIHR-ICR) & Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation

About You & Your Fellowship Program of Work

My research with Lung Sask will involve developing an evidence-based vaping cessation strategy to reduce youth vaping rate amongst Indigenous youth in Saskatchewan. At present, there is no-widely accepted or implemented strategy for vaping cessation in the province. The project will leverage and integrate existing working relationships with Métis Nation Saskatchewan to co-develop, pilot, and evaluate an intervention that is rooted in a Two-Eyed Seeing approach.

All Fellow Profiles are found at https://cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/54050.html.

About CIHR - At the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) we know that research has the power to change lives. As Canada's health research investment agency, we collaborate with partners and researchers to support the discoveries and innovations that improve our health and strengthen our health care system.

Media Relations

Canadian Institutes of Health Research

mediarelations@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

About SHRF - Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation (SHRF) is the provincial funding agency that funds, supports and promotes the impact of health research that matters to Saskatchewan. SHRF collaborates with stakeholders to contribute to the growth of a high-performing health system, culture of innovation and the improved health of citizens by strengthening research capacity and competitiveness, increasing the investment in health research in Saskatchewan and aligning research with the needs of our stakeholders.

For more information, please contact:

Karen Tilsley, SHRF Director of Programs and Partnership

ktilsley@shrf.ca