Research Funding for Mount Saint Vincent University
Almost $93,000 in provincial funding will help students and researchers at Mount Saint Vincent University study the sociological and psychological effects of an aging population on health-care providers.
The investment is being made through the Nova Scotia Research and Innovation Trust Fund. It was announced today, Dec. 2, by MLA Mary Ann McGrath, on behalf of Education Minister Jane Purves
"As our population continues to age, we need better information to help shape public policy and the way we provide health services to our older citizens," said Ms. McGrath. "This funding will help Mount Saint Vincent continue building its expertise in aging and caregiving and give students -- tomorrow's decision makers -- an opportunity to learn and participate in research in this field."
The $15-million fund was established in the spring of 2001 to support research projects at Nova Scotia colleges and universities.
"The government of Nova Scotia's support for our research at Mount Saint Vincent is very welcome," said Sheila Brown, president and vice-chancellor of Mount Saint Vincent University. "This funding will allow us to enhance our research capacity, further build our expertise in the field of aging research and play a leadership role in answering important questions that will shape public policy and social programs as our population ages."
The university will use the research funding to develop the Maritime Centre for Aging Research and Policy Analysis. The centre's state-of-the-art research lab will have advanced computer systems, cameras and microphones to record focus group interviews.
Researchers will use the lab for more sophisticated analysis on data collected on home care, caregivers and the future of our health-care system. Results will be shared with decision-makers, researchers and health-care service providers.
"Nova Scotia has one of the highest median ages in Canada," said Janice Keefe, university professor and Canada Research chair in aging and caregiving. "Our lab will enable us to engage in research excellence providing the necessary evidence to develop policies that are responsive to our aging populations -- both in Nova Scotia and the rest of the country."
Dr. Keefe is a recognized leader in research on home care and the role that family caregiving plays in Canada's health-care system.
Projects that receive grants from the trust fund also receive about the same amount in funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation. The foundation previously announced more than $93,000 for Mount Saint Vincent University. The university will also receive more than $46,000 from private partners.
"These investments will have a very strong and positive impact on research in this region," said foundation president and CEO David Strangway. "Nova Scotia has some outstanding researchers who can now continue to strengthen Canada's capacity to innovate and to rank among the most innovative countries in the world."
The Canada Foundation for Innovation is an independent, not-for- profit corporation established by the government of Canada in 1997 to strengthen the capacity for innovation in Canadian universities and research institutions.
More than 4,400 women and men from around the globe take advantage of Mount Saint Vincent University's distinctive programs, creative learning approaches, small class sizes and unique sense of community.