Research institute receives critical funding

Research institute receives critical funding

The Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research receives $25 million over 10 years to facilitate veteran research.

By Anne Craig

July 10, 2019

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The Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research (CIMVHR) and Queen鈥檚 University welcomed the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, to campus on Wednesday, where he announced a $25 million investment over 10 years to support the institution鈥檚 research activities.

鈥淨ueen鈥檚 is pleased to see the Government of Canada commit long-term operational funding for CIMVHR 鈥 allowing the institute to continue its important research and knowledge translation aimed at improving health outcomes for Canada鈥檚 veterans and their families,鈥 says Principal and Vice-Chancellor Patrick Deane. 鈥淭he university has long been supportive of the institute鈥檚 goals and objectives.鈥

Minister MacAulay also announced $250,000 in funding from the to create a Servicewomen鈥檚 Salute Online Portal for Research and Resources. Queen鈥檚 Professor Allan English (History) is heading up the program and the new funding will flow through the Queen鈥檚 Centre for International and Defence Policy.

鈥淢eeting the health needs of those who served in Canada鈥檚 armed forces depends on access to leading scientific research in the military and veteran health field,鈥 says Minister MacAulay. 鈥淨ueen鈥檚 University has been an invaluable asset to our veteran community in this regard, both in terms of the work they鈥檝e done for CIMVHR and Servicewomen鈥檚 Salute. Continued collaboration between all stakeholders in this area benefits not only military members, veterans and their families 鈥 but Canada as a whole.鈥

Founded in 2010 as a partnership between researchers at Queen鈥檚 and the Royal Military College of Canada, CIMVHR at Queen鈥檚 has built a network of 45 Canadian universities that are working together to address the health research requirements of the Canadian military, veterans, and their families. To date, CIMVHR has funded 78 projects aimed at advancing the health of military personnel, veterans, and their families.

鈥淢ulti-institution partnerships 鈥 such as CIMVHR 鈥 bring together leading researchers from across Canada and around the globe to address some of our most pressing challenges,鈥 says Kimberly Woodhouse, Interim Vice-Principal (Research). 鈥淭hese partnerships are incredibly valuable and add another dimension to critical research projects. Queen鈥檚 is proud to play a part in these valuable partnerships.鈥

Funding for CIMVHR was proposed as part of a larger push for veteran-centric research in the federal Budget 2019 announcement.

鈥淐IMVHR has worked tirelessly to build a collaborative network between academia, government, industry and philanthropy to advance research in the area of military, veteran and family health and wellbeing,鈥 says David Pedlar, Scientific Director, CIMVHR. 鈥淩ecognizing the importance of research and the impact it has on those who so selflessly serve, and their families, this Government of Canada funding will continue to strengthen the foundation for CIMVHR to continue leading the way for the next ten years. We are honoured to continue serving those who serve us.鈥

As for the new Servicewomen鈥檚 Salute online portal, the five-year project is designed to support female veterans and still-serving members transitioning out of the Canadian military to live in Canadian communities.

鈥淩esearch has shown that one in four Canadian Armed Forces members will have trouble transitioning from military to civilian life鈥攖his is particularly true for women in uniform,鈥 says Dr. English, Associate Professor, Department of History, and Lieutenant-Commander (Ret鈥檇) Rosemary Park, MSc CD Servicewomen鈥檚 Salute 鈥 Hommage aux Femmes Militaires Canada Lead. 鈥淎 robust and customized research and community resource of information, research, support, and engagement for Canadian military women would help servicewomen navigate their transitions more easily.鈥

Research done by CIMVHR is used by departmental decision and policy makers, program planners, health managers, clinicians, and other stakeholders as they support the physical, mental, and social health of veterans and their families.

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