Laurentian University Strategic Research Plan

 

LAURENTIAN UNIVERSITY STRATEGIC RESEARCH PLAN

approved by Senate September 2004

 

Our vision for the future development of research at Laurentian University is based on the integral role that the University must play in the sustainable development and cultural, social, and economic transformation of Northeastern Ontario, which can then be applied to Canada and the world. Our goal is to build on existing strengths to achieve international research excellence in a number of multidisciplinary areas. To this end, this Strategic Research Plan has been developed by the University research community1 under the guidance of the Deans and Vice-Presidents, and identifies areas of focused research excellence. The intense research efforts in the areas identified have been complemented by the parallel development of a selected number of graduate degree programs and research centres. This Strategic Research Plan, which capitalizes on unique opportunities, is a revised and updated version of the document approved in 2001. Moreover, it builds on existing strengths which have been recognized in "Building on Excellence: A Strategic Plan for Laurentian University" (2003).

As Sudbury has evolved from a resource-based frontier community into a centre for education, health care and commerce, so has Laurentian grown into Northeastern Ontario's comprehensive, bilingual university. Although university faculty are conducting fundamental research in a broad range of disciplines and will continue to do so in the future, the location of Laurentian University in the Sudbury basin, a unique geological environment, and one of the largest mining clusters in the world, provides us with several strategic advantages in exploiting fundamental and applied research problems in certain fields of engineering, as well as in the human, natural, social and health sciences. Furthermore, since Sudbury is the home of the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines, the Ontario Geological Survey Research Centre, the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory, the Sudbury Regional Hospital, and the Northeastern Ontario Regional Cancer Centre, Laurentian is well positioned to develop strong institutional research links.

There are five equally important areas of research which Laurentian University has defined as essential to its mandate: 1) mineral resource Science and Engineering, 2) environmental sciences, 3) regional economic, political, social and cultural development, 4) health focus and 5) underground sciences. In all of these areas, the emphasis is on both fundamental and applied, problem-solving research undertaken in close cooperation with industrial and public sector partners in the Region.

These five research areas complement and overlap with each other. The mineral resource focus represents a continuum of activities: from mineral exploration, mining and ore extraction, end product refining, to environmentally sound exploitation and rehabilitation, with emphasis on understanding and minimizing the impact of mining-related activities on people and the environment; as such, our interests in environmentally sound mining overlap with our interests in the environment and health sectors. Significant opportunities for an expanded multidisciplinary effort in underground science exist since advances in experimental techniques, of interest to the next generation of experiments, are at the intersection of physics, chemistry, engineering and materials science. Furthermore, much work done in the regional economic, political, social and cultural development area has been predicated on the importance of the minerals/mining and health sectors for our region. As a comprehensive university, Laurentian also recognizes the importance of supporting outstanding research by its faculty in all fields, even if such research does not strictly fall within the five main areas of research identified above. Laurentian is committed to providing institutional support in other areas where outstanding research is undertaken.

MINERAL RESOURCE FOCUS

Laurentian University is located in the Sudbury Basin, one of the largest nickel mining camps in the world, and is only a one day drive from some of the largest gold, copper-zinc, and uranium mining camps in the world. As the world's largest mining cluster, Sudbury is home to 1) the Mines and Minerals Research Centre (MMRC) of the Ontario Ministry of Northern Development and Mines located at the Willet Green Miller Centre on the Laurentian University campus; 2) the mineral exploration and processing research laboratories of Inco Ltd. and Falconbridge Ltd.; and 3) a wide range of junior mining companies and mining service companies.

During the past two decades Laurentian University has collaborated with the public and private sector to develop internationally-recognized expertise in mineral exploration, rock mechanics and ground control, mining technology, mine modeling and simulation, mining materials research, and mineral processing.

During Phase I, our research efforts in these areas have been directed from within several research centres: the Centre in Mining and Mining Environment Research (CIMMER), the Geomechanics Research Centre (GRC), the Laurentian University Mine Automation Laboratory (LUMAL), the Mineral Exploration Research Centre (MERC), and the Mining Innovation, Rehabilitation, and Applied Research Corporation (MIRARCo). Several of these centres are located in the MMRC in close proximity to the Ontario Geological Survey and the Ontario Geoscience Laboratories. Each of these centres has made fundamental advances in their areas of specialization.

In Phase II, our plan for this focus includes the following initiatives:

  • The Centre for Mining Technology (CMT) is building on the existing expertise at LUMAL to concentrate on emerging technologies with mining applications. A $1M grant from the Ontario Research and Development Challenge Fund has established a Chair in Mining Technology for this Centre.
  • The Centre for Integrated Monitoring Technology (CIMTec) provides state-of-the-art technology for interdisciplinary research and development projects involving data acquisition, transfer, processing, and visualization. CIMTec is funded through a $5M grant from the Canada Foundation for Innovation and the Ontario Innovation Trust Fund. CIMTec is being utilized to develop advanced models for mineral exploration, mine planning, and design. CIMTec also provides an opportunity for Laurentian to further develop expertise in Information Technology with the establishment of a Graduate Programme in Computer Science.
  • Through the efforts of the Department of Earth Sciences and MERC,Laurentian has expanded its capacity to undertake fundamental research in Geology. A PhD programme in Mineral Deposits and Precambrian Geology, the first stand-alone programme at Laurentian University, was established in 2003. Laurentian has begun major initiatives in understanding the distribution of mineral deposits in the Precambrian Shield. These projects include Project Abitibi (~ $1.2M) and the proposed Continental Drilling program (~ $17M).

Finally, in Phase III, we envisage the following:

  • Now that the PhD programme in Natural Resources Engineering has been approved by the OCGS, we plan to establish Co-op Graduate programmes in Earth Sciences and Engineering, and to create a National Mining Centre in collaboration with Cambrian College, Collège Boréal, Northern College, the Haileybury School of Mines and other interested partners.
  • Enhancing mining materials research through CIMMER by spearheading the development of a PhD program in Materials Science. Such a program would complement the existing PhD program in Mineral Deposits and Precambrian Geology and the PhD program in Natural Resources Engineering. CIMMER intends to seek a major CFI infrastructure grant for the development of a Mining Materials Analysis Facility. This unique state-of-the-art facility would complement the existing materials science instrumentation available at the Ontario Geoscience Laboratory and the Central Analytical Facility. In addition, the facility would support the environmental (remediation technologies, waste materials analysis, etc) and biomolecular (biomaterials analysis, analysis of biological structures using TEM, etc) research areas.
  • This plan will build on existing expertise and intensify our research activities in Mineral Resources and Engineering. An integral part of this plan is our ongoing efforts to expand linkages between Laurentian University research centres and the Ontario Mineral and Mining Research Centre, including the Ontario Geological Survey and the Ontario Geoscience Laboratories.

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES FOCUS

Sustainable development requires sound environmental planning and remediation, and there is no place more experienced in mine remediation than Sudbury, which has won international awards for its environmental rehabilitation successes and has hosted many international environmental conferences. The location of Laurentian University in Sudbury provides an ideal living laboratory for mine-site and environmental studies. A wide range of capabilities in environmental science and engineering exists in the Departments of Biology, Chemistry & Biochemistry, Earth Sciences, and the School of Engineering. During the past two decades Laurentian University has collaborated with the public and private sectors to develop expertise in several areas of environmental science and engineering, particularly in the areas of aquatic studies, climate change, mine rehabilitation and remediation, environmental remote sensing and monitoring, analytical biogeochemistry of trace elements, toxicology, and mine waste management. Recent faculty appointments will bring expertise in low level nuclear waste management and environmental modeling.

During Phase I, our research efforts in these areas have been focused within several research centres: the Cooperative Freshwater Ecology Unit (CFEU), the Elliot Lake Research Field Station (ELRFS), the Centre for Environmental Monitoring (CEM), and the Centre for Integrated Monitoring Technology (CIMTec).

In Phase II, our plan for this focus area includes the establishment of multidisciplinary M.Sc. and PhD programmes in Environmental Sciences. The PhD proposal in Boreal Ecology has been be submitted to the OCGS for approval. The intent is to consolidate the wide range of environmental expertise in the various academic units in the Faculty of Science and Engineering.

Finally, in Phase III, we envisage the establishment of an Environmental Research Institute for research on lake and watershed restoration, environmental effects monitoring in aquatic environments, biological recovery in northern lakes, climate change and its implications for the recovery of acidified lakes, urban limnology, sediment-water interactions, remote monitoring technology, fresh water protection and rehabilitation engineering, and heavy metal absorption processes in water treatment.

REGIONAL, ECONOMIC, POLITICAL, SOCIAL, AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT FOCUS

In both its mission statement and strategic plan, Laurentian University has established the regional economic, political, social and cultural development of Northeastern Ontario as one of its primary objectives. Its teaching programmes and research emphases aim to contribute to the preservation and enrichment of the social and cultural environment of Northern Ontario by, 1) studying its particularities and demonstrating how these particularities can have important repercussions for areas outside the region, at the national and even international levels, and 2) studying how national and international forces have an impact on Northern Ontario.

Whereas a large number of individual researchers have made significant contributions in this focal area, certain common themes have emerged within the Faculties of Humanities, Social Sciences and Professional Schools.

Humanities and Social Sciences combine knowledge gained over many centuries in the areas of Philosophy, Religious Studies, Languages and Literatures with that developed mostly in the twentieth century, an epoch which has attempted to comprehend the human condition through the prism of science.

The Professional Schools position the human condition within its broader social, economic and political contexts. The focus is on studying ways to improve the social and cultural environment though education, health, social services and commerce.

The Faculties have established the following research priorities:

Interdisciplinarity

Interdisciplinary research is the overarching priority and focus of the three Faculties in this area. It is a dominant orientation which defines the Faculties' research centres, graduate programmes as well as the agenda of individual faculty. Three research centres (CHRUD, INORD and IFO) have been developed through a combination of disciplines and research methods. Two of the Faculties' M.A. programmes (M.A. Humanities - Interpretation and Values; Human Development) are built on interdisciplinary approaches and the contributions of professors and students from various disciplines. Interdisciplinarity is thus one of the main characteristics of Human Sciences and Professional Schools at Laurentian University and will continue to be the focus of research. Humanities and Social Sciences are developing an Interdisciplinary PhD programme in Human Sciences, while Professional Schools has submitted a PhD in Rural and Northern Health program proposal to the OCGS.

Regional (Northeastern Ontario) Studies

In keeping with the mission of Laurentian University (a bilingual and tricultural institution of higher learning), the Faculties of Humanities and Social Sciences have developed research grounded in Northeastern Ontario. Faculty have developed two foci in this geographical area:

Linguistic and cultural studies

Many faculty are actively involved in studying the various linguistic and cultural groups of the region, not only their specific characteristics but also their relationships over the last 100 years. The Francophones, who constitute more than a third of the population, have been the focus of study by faculty in various disciplines. Of particular interest are the studies on the language, literature and folklore of the Franco-Ontarian population. L'Institut franco-ontarien is a research centre devoted to research and publications on Franco-Ontarian realities. Plans are in process to develop a French language M.Ed that will support research in Éducation. The Programme is developing strengths in technology and education.

In keeping with the University's tri-cultural mission, a strengthened focus on research on Aboriginal issues is a priority. The Native Human Services and Native Studies programmes are recognized internationally for their leadership in bi-cultural competencies. The newly formed Schools of Medicine and Education are intended to work integrally with local First Nations. There are, then, emerging research strengths in the areas of Aboriginal languages, culture, education, social services and health. These strengths can establish Laurentian University as one of the Canadian leaders in this field.

Faculty have also contributed research on specific cultural groups such as the Italians and the Finns of the Sudbury Region. Some research has focused on the relationship between these peoples and cultures with the anglophone majority of Northeastern Ontario.

Sports and Culture is an emergent research area in Human Kinetics and Sports Psychology, with national and international foci.

Development Studies

Faculty in various departments such as History, Geography and Economics focus their research on the evolution and development of various aspects of Northeastern Ontario. The Institute of Northern Ontario Research and Development has been and continues to be especially active in this area. INORD has organized conferences and supported publications on various dimensions of the development of Northeastern Ontario. This focus responds to the priorities of Laurentian University's mission and strategic plan. In addition, three research centres, each with its particular mission, have conducted and promoted uni- and multi-disciplinary research projects in the Humanities, Social Sciences and Professional Schools and have thus contributed to the social and cultural development of the region and the development of knowledge in general.

HEALTH FOCUS

In the past decade, Sudbury has established itself as the centre for the development of a broad range of high quality health care and health promotion throughout the region of Northeastern Ontario. While a number of initiatives are under way, in different ways, research efforts are directed at northern and rural health issues. These range from the particular environmental and occupational health hazards associated with living and working in a resource-based economy, to the challenges experienced in delivering quality health care to a culturally diverse and disproportionately aged population. The key to addressing these needs effectively lies in establishing strong strategic partnerships with other regional health agencies and in using a network approach to linking health research expertise spread throughout the region. The need for decision-making models that fit virtual organizations presents urgent and profound challenges for administrators and for researchers in the management area.

The establishment of the Northern Ontario Medical School at Laurentian University has greatly contributed to the development of studies on health in many disciplines in all of the Faculties. Health is a growing focus of research and will continue to attract and interest faculty and students, especially in the areas of health policy, delivery of health services and the public administration of health

Research strengths in Northern Rural Health are found in the Schools of Nursing, Social Work, Human Kinetics, and in the Midwifery Education and Native Human Services programmes.

During Phase I, the foundation of Laurentian's commitment to research in health and human development lies in two research centres: the Centre for Research in Human Development (CRHD), and the Centre for Rural and Northern Health Research (CRaNHR).

In Phase II, our plan for this focus area includes the following initiatives:

  • Laurentian University faculty works closely with the Sudbury and District Health Unit, the Sudbury Regional Hospital and the OHCOW to support research in cardio-vascular health; maternal-child health care; health and human services policies; occupational health and safety; back injury and biomechanics; rural mental health; oncology; radiation therapy, and gerontology. The CNFS Project adds infrastructure and support for research in health for francophones.
  • Laurentian faculty will continue to conduct independent fundamental research as well as collaborative research in health sciences with scientists at the Northeastern Ontario Regional Cancer Centre, many of whom are Adjuncts or Affiliate Professors at the University. Areas of expertise include experimental and theoretical studies of the structure and function of complex biomolecules, molecular and cell biology, structural biochemistry, computer-aided molecular modelling, biophysical chemistry, radiation therapy and medical physics. The PhD program in Biomolecular Sciences has been approved by the OCGS and will now begin admitting students.
  • Several studies have shown the high risks for poor health in Northeastern Ontario. In light of this, the University has submitted, as already indicated, a PhD proposal in the area of Rural and Northern Health, an interdisciplinary program linking all three Faculties.
  • Laurentian University, the Northeastern Regional Cancer Centre and the Sudbury Regional Hospital have established a Chair in Cancer Research funded largely by a $1.5M grant from the Ontario Research and Development Challenge Fund. Other funding has been raised from community donations directed to the research efforts of the Cancer Centre and the Hospital, and from private sector contributions.
  • Laurentian University works closely with the Northeastern Ontario Medical Education Corporation (NOMEC) which offers, in collaboration with established Ontario Medical Schools, clinical teaching programmes for family medicine residents, medical student electives, speciality residents and several allied health programmes. NOMEC has an extensive network of physician perceptors offering important clinical research possibilities reaching throughout the northern part of the province. Laurentian is working with NOMEC on the development of this research potential.

Finally, in Phase III, we envisage the following:

  • Expansion of Laurentian's expertise in Biotechnology through the establishment of multidisciplinary and inter-institutional links. Considerable advantages should be obtained through collaboration with the on-campus, not-for-profit Neureka Research Corporation, which is rapidly developing a biotechnology division using advanced infrastructure facilities.
  • Establishment of an Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety Group, a Rural Health Delivery Research Team and a research group in Epidemiology for the investigation into regional incidences of major diseases such as Cardiovascular disease and Cancer.
  • Development of a Northern Health Research Network of researchers and health professionals throughout Northeastern Ontario focusing on the health issues of the region.

UNDERGROUND SCIENCE FOCUS

Laurentian University is located within 25 km of a unique resource of international significance for fundamental science. At the intersection of particle physics and astrophysics, a number of extremely challenging experiments may be contemplated which represent our best opportunities to solve longstanding problems in science and to make fundamental advances in our knowledge of the physical world. These experiments search for extremely rare and subtle effects and share a common need to be located deep underground so as to be shielded from the interference of cosmic rays.

The Sudbury Neutrino Observatory (SNO) received full funding in 1990 and the construction of the experiment was completed in 1999. Laurentian University was one of the three founding members of the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory Institute established in the mid-1980s. SNO is a collaborative project involving some 16 institutions from three different countries. The first scientific results published by SNO in 2001 solved the longstanding "Solar Neutrino Problem." By mid-2003, SNO had three landmark papers, the three most highly cited papers in all of physics.

INCO's Creighton mine houses the SNO experiment in the largest cavity ever excavated at a depth of 2 km. The cavity is unique in the world for its depth and size and represents a prime location for future experiments once the SNO experiment is complete. In recognition of the international acclaim achieved by SNO, and as a national effort to build on existing strengths, a total of over $49 million has recently been provided by the Canada Foundation for Innovation (International Joint Venture Fund), the Ontario Innovation Trust, Fednor, and the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund for the creation of SNOLAB, an International Facility for Underground Science. This funding is being used to create additional space in the underground environment for two or three further experiments and for the construction of support facilities.

The creation of SNOLAB follows the outstanding success and significant scientific impact of the SNO experiment and represents a unique opportunity for Laurentian University to continue to be a key player on the international scientific stage for decades to come. Laurentian faculty and students have a long history of involvement in the SNO experiment and, within the collaboration, are currently key members of a small group that is designing the new SNOLAB facility. Like SNO, new experiments at SNOLAB will be international collaborations that may require several hundred scientific person-years of effort each. Laurentian's expertise in several of the core technologies required for this deep underground science along with our proximity to SNOLAB guarantees a strong involvement in the exciting scientific programme.

SUMMARY

This Strategic Research Plan recognizes that research will continue to be done by individuals in areas other than those identified in this document, but it also identifies five areas of strategic focus that capitalize on existing strengths and the unique geological, industrial, and cultural setting of the University:

  • Mineral Resource Science and Engineering
  • Environmental Sciences
  • Regional Economic, Political, Social, and Cultural Development
  • Health Focus
  • Underground Science

The plan is to expand the level of our research and graduate teaching in these and other areas of fundamental research to achieve international prominence. This will be accomplished in part through the strategic allocation of the Canada Research Chair programme to augment faculty complement in these areas, and the development of new graduate programmes in selected areas. The Chairs will play a critical leadership role in consolidating research activities and in developing graduate programmes.

Our Strategic Research Plan is a crucial element in determining how we allocate our resources and it is shaping a university that is both a leader in and an integral part of its surrounding environment. We are actively pursuing partnerships that will increase our ability to support academic excellence, enhance our technological capacity, and further our contributions to regional economic development. Successful internal and external partnerships and broad university participation will be indicators in assessing progress towards meeting our objectives. Further, the amount of research funding, interest of graduate students, publication of research results, awards and recognition of faculty and graduate students, and possible economic benefits through technology transfer or otherwise will be used as measures of success.

Research Centres and Facilities at Laurentian University

CIMMER (now the Centre in Mining Materials Research) fosters and facilitates multidisciplinary materials research within the mining and mineral sector. It was established in 1984 as the Centre in Mining and Mineral Exploration Research with an award of $1.5M from the Mines and Minerals Research Branch of the federal government in order to provide research links between academic, institutional, and industrial partners. CIMMER has since generated more than $6M in research funding and has spun off several research centres, including GRC, ELRFS (Elliot Lake Research Field Station), and MERC. The establishment of MIRARCo and MERC has justified the redirecting of CIMMER's focus towards mining materials research. It should be noted that, to the best of our knowledge, no research centre focussing on mining materials currently exists in North America, making CIMMER quite unique in this respect.

GRC provides research expertise in geomechanics and geotechnical engineering to promote safe and economic mining and tunnelling. It was created in 1988 through a Triangle of Excellence Programme between Queen's University, the University of Toronto, and Laurentian University. The Chair for Rock Mechanics and Ground Control at Laurentian University was funded through a $1M grant from the Ontario government and GRC has since generated research funding in excess of $8M.

LUMAL is a research laboratory in the School of Engineering that focuses on engineering analysis and system architecture of teleremote/automated mining systems, 3-D animation and simulation of mining sequence and equipment systems, and dispatch and traffic control of vehicle based transport systems. Since its inception in 1993, LUMAL has generated almost $1M in grants from the public sector and industry.

MERC is integrated with the Department of Earth Sciences and promotes collaborative university-government-industry research on mineral deposits and Precambrian geology, pursues a fundamental understanding of mineral deposits and their geological settings, aids the Canadian mining industry in the discovery of ore deposits, and trains geologists in mineral exploration techniques. MERC was founded in 1997 in connection with the establishment of a $2.3M NSERC Senior Chair in Mineral Exploration Research in the Department of Earth Sciences. During the last several years MERC researchers have generated more than $1.5M in annual funding for research on ore deposits all over the world. MERC was recently awarded the contract to administer the 4-year $8M Ontario Mineral Exploration Technology Programme for the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines.

MIRARCo was established in 1998 as a not-for-profit applied research and technical service company through collaborations between Laurentian University and the private and public sectors. It serves as an umbrella organization for the other centres, which operate as MIRARCo Business Centres or Affiliated Centres.

CFEU was established in 1989 to focus research in freshwater ecology. It is supported by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ministry of Environment, Energy, and Technology, the Mining industry, NSERC, Environment Canada and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, the Norwegian Directorate of Nature and several other sources. This centre is internationally recognized for its work on lake acidification, remediation, and lake ecosystem recovery in northern Ontario. Since inception it has generated several million dollars in funding.

ELRFS was founded in 1992 as a $3M initiative of the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines and Rio Algom and Denison Mines. It has developed into a R&D centre with a yearly budget of $1M and undertakes research, development, and application of environmentally and socially responsible techniques and technologies to assist all levels of government and the private sector in the use of resources in an economically- and environmentally-responsible manner. A unique area of specialization focuses on the long-term effects of low level radiation.

CEM was established in 2000 to focus on applying remote monitoring technologies to environmental problems. CEM is headed by a Chair funded by a $1M grant from the Ontario Research and Development Fund.

CIMTec (see above) will be utilized in the field of environmental science to develop advanced models for environmental monitoring for regulatory compliance and research.

The Institute of Northern Ontario Research and Development (INORD) promotes social scientific studies and provides research support on a broad range of issues facing Northern Ontario. INORD assists the northern-focused research and publication activities of Laurentian University faculty members, promotes the development in the north of essential research support systems such as bibliographies and databases, and sponsors conferences and seminars on Northeastern Ontario questions.

L'institut franco-ontarien (IFO) was established in 1976 in order to: 1) promote research projects on various aspects of Franco-Ontarian realities and identities; 2) publish, via the Revue du Nouvel-Ontario and other types of publications such as actes de colloque, the results of various studies on the social and cultural aspects of Ontario francophones; and 3) collect documentation on francophones in Ontario, this documentation being housed in Laurentian University's J.N. Desmarais Library. IFO has joined other Canadian francophone universities in defining a research project on healthy francophone communities. It has also launched a study on the impact of the New Economy and of the new political orientations of both federal and provincial governments on Franco-Ontarian communities.

The Centre for Research in Human Development (CRHD) provides infrastructure support for the M.A. and M.Sc. in Human Development, and conducts research in three major sectors of human services: social services, education, and health, with a special focus on occupational health and safety, and in particular on aspects related to accidents and illness prevention. Students involved in research activities conducted at this Centre are encouraged to pursue policy-oriented research during their degree.

CRaNHR is an academic and applied research centre with investigators and staff from diverse disciplines and with different expertise. Its mandate is to conduct research on rural health issues, the health workforce and innovative approaches to serve rural and northern communities, with a view to improving access to health services, achieving a better understanding of the rural health care system and supporting health care organizations in northeastern Ontario and other rural areas through research. Besides working in partnership with the health care community (e.g., the Northeastern Ontario Regional Cancer Centre, Sudbury Regional Hospital, Northeastern Ontario Medical Education Corporation and Group Health Centre of Sault Ste. Marie) and the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, CRaNHR collaborates extensively with researchers at other universities and organizations such as Lakehead University, the University of Alberta, the University of Toronto, Concordia University, the University of Northern British Columbia, the Canadian Institute for Health Information and the College of Family Physicians of Canada. CRaNHR is one of very few research centres in Canada which focuses its efforts on rural health issues. It has achieved national recognition in raising the profile of rural health research and in examining a broad array of critical issues such as regional variations in health status, maldistribution of physicians, use of telehealth technology, innovative models in rural health service delivery, training of practitioners in rural settings and the informal support system. CRaNHR has received substantial research funding from such agencies as the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, the National Health Research and Development Programme, the Laboratory Centre for Disease Control, the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation, the Richard Ivey Foundation, the Change Foundation, Health Canada and the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.

1 Input has been sought from our affiliated institutions, through the relevant Dean. For the purpose of the Canada Research Chairs programmes the affiliated institutions are Huntington University, Thorneloe University, Algoma University College and Collège universitaire de Hearst.
 
 
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