Waygood appointed University Co-ordinator of Health Research

Posted June 22, 2000


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ? June 21, 2000 2000-06-14-OTHER

Waygood Appointed University Co-ordinator
of Health Research

After a national search, University of Saskatchewan biochemist Bruce Waygood
has been selected to become the first University Co-ordinator of Health
Research on July 1.

Funded jointly with the Health Services Utilization and Research Commission
(HSURC), the new position has been created to help boost health research in
the province, thereby improving health care for Saskatchewan people. The
position will extend until March 31, 2005 and is renewable.

"Professor Waygood is an active researcher and teacher who is dedicated to
building research success on campus and particularly to ensuring that we
take full advantage of new federal health research opportunities," said
Michael Corcoran, U of S Vice-President Research. "His effective leadership
both in the University and in the community will make him a credible voice
for health research in Saskatchewan."

HSURC Chair Liz Harrison said, "Prof. Waygood has a clear vision for
strengthening the competitiveness of Saskatchewan's health researchers and
ensuring this province accesses a reasonable share of new federal funding
opportunities. With his impressive track record in both academic and
community work, he is the ideal person to lead health researchers here in
Saskatchewan toward a new era of growing success and optimism."

Waygood, who will report directly to the Vice-President Research, will
inform health researchers of funding opportunities, encourage applications,
and promote collaborations among researchers from a broad range of
health-related areas.

He will lobby the provincial and federal governments to ensure adequate
support for health research in Saskatchewan and play a lead role in
Saskatchewan's response to initiatives of the Canadian Institutes of Health
Research (CIHR) which has recently replaced the Medical Research Council as
the major federal agency responsible for funding health research in Canada.

Waygood will also work with the University of Regina to share information
about health research funding opportunities and help foster collaboration on
that campus and with U of S researchers.

The Co-ordinator position is part of a $750,000-plus joint initiative over
five years between the U of S and the provincial health research granting
agency HSURC.

HSURC will provide $100,000 per year toward salary and associated
operational support. The U of S, subject to budget finalization, intends to
provide $50,000 per year toward salary and associated support, as well as
office space, secretarial assistance and other 'in-kind' operational
support.

Waygood joined the U of S biochemistry department in 1977 and has won
numerous federal research grants. He has published 66 peer-reviewed papers,
many of them in highly respected international journals, and given 29
invited lectures at other institutions. He has served on numerous
university committees and has been active in Saskatoon community affairs.

Waygood will work with an advisory committee that will meet at least twice a
year. It will consist of representatives from key health research
stakeholder organizations in the province including HSURC, U of S, U of R,
Saskatoon District Health, Regina Health District and Saskatchewan Health.

The position will be reviewed mid-term to determine whether there's been a
satisfactory increase in Saskatchewan researchers' participation and success
rates in national competitions and in the amount of health research funding
flowing to academic health researchers.

"The universities and the province must take an aggressive stance in
encouraging faculty in all disciplines to set their sights on federal
funding opportunities such as CIHR. This means changing both university and
provincial attitudes," said Waygood. "What I offer this position is a
determination to cause change ? to encourage co-operation and
consolidation."

The CIHR, launched June 7, will bring together researchers through a number
of "virtual" institutes, each dedicated to a specific area of focus while
addressing four perspectives -- biomedical, clinical science, health systems
and services, and the social, cultural and other factors that affect the
health of populations.

HSURC is an arm's-length, government-funded agency with a mandate to
stimulate and fund health research in Saskatchewan and to do health services
research for the province.

For more information, contact:

Kathryn Warden
U of S Research Communications Officer
Office of the Vice-President Research
(306) 966-2506

Greg Basky
Communications Manager
Health Services Utilization and Research Commission
(306) 655-1506