UBC Reports | Vol. 47 | No. 06 | Mar. 22, 2001

Brain gain focus of program

New foundation honours Michael Smith's wish

A new health foundation that the B.C. government recently contributed $110-million to create is already accepting applications in its bid to attract and keep the best young brains in science.

The Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research will recognize the legacy of UBC Biotechnology Prof. Emeritus Michael Smith, a Nobel Prize-winner who died last year.

"This is an excellent way to honour Michael Smith and carry on his efforts to attract the best and the brightest young scientists to B.C. and keep them here," says Indira Samarasekera, vice-president, Research.

The deadlines for the foundation's first two competitions for the career and five-year trainee awards are April 24 and May 8 respectively.

The funds will be used over five years to support the recruitment, training and retention of health researchers by paying their salaries.

In five years, the fund should support 255 researchers at teaching hospitals, universities and in the biotechnology industry.

The foundation is the result of a year-long effort by the Coalition for Health Research, which represents B.C.'s key provincial teaching hospitals, universities, community health organizations and biotech companies. The coalition is chaired by UBC Pediatrics Prof. Dr. Aubrey Tingle, who will serve as chief executive officer of the foundation.

Foundation directors will include Samarasekera; Pediatrics professor Dr. Judith Hall; Bill Barrable, CEO of the B.C. Transplant Society; Simon Sutcliffe, CEO of the B.C. Cancer Agency; and Bruce Clayman, vice-president of research at SFU.

For more information visit www.msfhr.org.