DLSPH Open: Office of Research Expands its Footprint and Impact
March 8/2019
Dear colleagues,
Research conducted by members of the DLSPH community has a tremendous impact on public health and health systems. From identifying the causes of premature mortality to patterns of hospital readmission in Ontario, DLSPH faculty, post-docs, students, staff, alumni and partners are conducting research that is rigorous and innovative. In the process, they are guiding the way to better, more equitable outcomes in population health and health systems – locally, nationally and globally.
As a research-intensive School that is strongly committed to supporting excellence in interdisciplinary research, the DLSPH Office of Research plays a major role in enhancing our collective impact. Under the leadership of Professor France Gagnon, Associate Dean of Research, Lee Vernich and Caroline Godbout are supporting research initiatives that ignite a bold faculty-wide research culture.
With an expanded mandate in the last two years, the office provides support with research grant development, targeted funding opportunity identification, award applications and it continues to support funded research activities through cost-recovery. Other recent initiatives include the launch of internal grant peer review guidelines, an online investigator toolkit, and helping build a post-doctoral fellow community.
The hard work is paying off. In the last two years, we have seen a steady increase in total research funding by 20 per cent to $40.4 million in 2018 and funding held at DLSPH has increased 42 per cent. Notably, DLSPH faculty submitted 62 per cent more Tri-Council grant applications and two times as many Tri-Council grants were awarded compared to the average of previous years since becoming a faculty. Our trajectory continues upward: DLSPH faculty have already earned more Tri-Council funding in the first nine months of this year than we did in 2018.
Moving forward, the Office of Research will continue to expand its services and offer the best possible research support to leverage emerging trends and foster interdisciplinary teamwork and partnerships. This spring, in partnership with the Office of Global Public Health Education & Training, they are hosting a lunch and learn series to highlight complementary and alternative sources of research funding to CIHR, and to provide tips on how to access untapped funding opportunities. It will include five-panel discussions featuring U of T faculty and Vice-President, Research and Innovation staff, including people with experience as principal investigators and peer review panel members. I encourage all researchers to register for an upcoming Lunch and Learn.
Click here for more information about the Series, Beyond CIHR funding: What’s out there?
Our research community values team science, integrity and rigour as it strives for the highest standards of scientific evidence, critical thinking, innovation and leadership in the creation and dissemination of knowledge. I’m proud of the collective progress made by all researchers and scientists in the DLSPH community, and grateful for the enhanced support provided by the Office of Research.
There’s lots more that we can achieve together to meet our full research potential and desired impact.
I encourage you to reach out to the Office of Research team to discuss any of your research needs (research.dlsph@utoronto.ca).
Sincerely,
Adalsteinn Brown
Dean and Professor
Dalla Lana School of Public Health