A $4-million donation from the Hospitals of Regina Foundation will help the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Medicine establish a new research position to improve children’s health care in Saskatchewan, officials say.
The foundation’s multi-million dollar donation will support the creation of a pediatric chair in the origins of health and disease. The donation, the organizations said, is “unprecedented.”
Dino Sophocleous, president and CEO of the Hospitals of Regina Foundation, said the $4 million donation is the largest ever made by the foundation.
“This groundbreaking research chair aims to detect and prevent chronic disease in our young patients, potentially avoiding the development of chronic conditions in the future, which will give children and families across Saskatchewan greater opportunities to live their best lives,” he said in a statement.
Dr. Sarah Forgie, dean of the College of Medicine, said the school is grateful for the “extraordinary” commitment made by the foundation. She added the research position will have a “major” impact when it comes to pediatric research and care in Saskatchewan.
These sentiments were echoed by Dr. Terry Klassen, provincial department head of pediatrics for the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA), who said the new chair position will help build research capacity and strengthen collaboration across the province. He added the new chair position would be helpful in growing Saskatchewan’s presence at both national and international levels.
The new chair will perform research into the early origins of health and disease, with the aim of informing clinical care and improving disease prevention.
“The ultimate vision is to reduce disease, lessen the demand on health care services, and increase health and quality of life for patients and their families now and into their long-term futures,” the organizations said in a joint statement.
The research chair will actively study “early life.” A variety of factors in early life can play a role in development of chronic diseases, ranging from genetics to environmental exposure.
With the financial contribution in place, work will begin to recruit an “accomplished” clinical researcher to lead the new program. The researcher will be a faculty member of the U of S College of Medicine and will also be a practising pediatrician with the SHA, where they will help care for patients across the province.
Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill said the donation shows a “commitment to putting patients first.”
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