Office of the Associate Vice-President Research - Health (U of S)/Vice-Presdient - Research and Innovation (SHR)
In July of 2007, the Saskatoon Health Region and the University of Saskatchewan, with support from the Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation, pooled resources to create the Office of the Associate Vice-President Research – Health (AVPR-H) and the Vice-President Research and Innovation (VPR&I) with joint commitments for health research and innovation.
The overarching purpose of this collaboration is “to support excellence in health research and innovation and to create synergies among the respective organizations through common goals”. Of prime importance is the opportunity to take health research and innovation to new heights – to generate “made in Saskatchewan” solutions to the health and health-related challenges of the province and to “take them out to the world”. The Office is accountable to the CEO of SHR and the VP Research at the UofS.
Key functions initially identified for the Office included:
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Facilitating strategic planning about health research and innovation across partner institutions and engaging multiple relevant stakeholders
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Fostering world class health research and innovation, including developing and commercializing new services and technologies
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Developing policies that support world class health research and innovation
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Facilitating a sustainable and vibrant culture of health research and innovation
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Garnering proactive and sustainable resources in support of health research and innovation, to assist with health system pressures and service needs
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Ensuring transparent, accountable, and ethical health research and innovation
Dr. Jim Thornhill
Acting Associate Vice-President Research –Health, (U of S)/Acting Vice-President
Research & Innovation (SHR) - 2012-13
Biography
Before July 1st, 2012, Dr. Thornhill was a Special Assistant to the Office of the Vice-President Research (OVPR) for Health Research, a new position established in April 2010. Prior
to joining the OVPR, Jim held the roles of Associate Dean (Research & Graduate Studies) from 2004 to 2010 and Associate Dean (Research & Basic Sciences) from 2002 – 2004 in
the College of Medicine. He previously received his PhD in Pharmacology from the University of Western Ontario in 1978 and did Post-Doctorate work at the University of Calgary from 1978-80 in the Department Medical Physiology.
Dr. Thornhill joined the University of Saskatchewan, Department of Physiology in 1980 and worked through the ranks over 22 years as an active instructor, supervisor and well funded researcher, also being Department Head of Physiology from 1988-94. His MRC-CIHR/H&SF funded research studied the role of temperature in the brain damage caused by stroke in various animal models. This biomedical work led to both publications and patients including the development of a cooling collar to assist stroke patients in the pre-hospital setting.
As part of the University’s Second Integrated Plan, he was one of twenty Commitment Leaders appointed by the University Provost, his specific portfolio being to investigate ways to accurately assess and promote Research Collaboration and Success at the University. This work culminated in the establishment of a more formalized Research Mentorship Program for all new tenure track faculty starting in July, 2012. In 2009, he was presented with the Award of Merit by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada for his long term, exceptional service to the mission of heart and stroke disease in Canada.
