Proposal for an Institute for Health Research and Education

Final draft of a proposal to establish the Institute for Health Research and Education (IHRE) at Simon Fraser University. The objectives of the IHRE would be to coordinate and support applied, biomedical and social scientific health research at the university. The institute would support faculty engaged in health-related research and would develop and offer graduate programs in health. This proposal describes the IHRE in terms of its purpose; vision; proposed areas of activity; administrative structure; and system of governance and reporting. Attached to the proposal is a letter from SFU's vice president to SFU faculty with interests in health research. The letter identifies several key issues discussed at a recent meeting about the IHRE proposal, with regard to the definition of "health" they will use; the need for the University to support established health research areas; the need for clarification with regard to the relationship between IHRE and various academic departments; and the need to bring together faculty with opposing views in order to develop an Institute that reflects diverse priorities.