The Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation (JPCHF) announced Tuesday, that it is investing $500,000 with the Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation (SHRF) to support pediatric and maternal health research across Saskatchewan. “To do an investment like this into a program of research, which is basically hope. Today there’s a lot of hope in the room and we’re, happy to add to that hope,” Troy Davies, CEO of JPCHF, told CTV News. The investment, made possible through the generosity of Saskatchewan donors, extends the organizations’ longstanding partnership and will support research aimed at improving health care and outcomes for children, youth, mothers and families throughout the province. The funding will support SHRF’s Child and Youth Health Solutions Program, which brings together researchers and experts from across Saskatchewan to develop innovative, peer-reviewed research solutions to pressing health challenges. The funding announcement was made at the Child and Youth Health Research Expo. The program aims to move promising research toward real-world applications, helping strengthen health care and improve patients’ lives. Research may also help advance virtual care for people living in remote areas of the province, where access to health services can present uniquely Saskatchewan challenges. “There’s lots of research going on, on so many different levels of biomedical research, looking at genetics to community, research that’s looking at virtual care and mental health in, in rural and remote, communities. So, there’s a lot going on in the province,” Patrick Odnokon, CEO of SHRF, says. JPCHF and SHRF have worked together since 2019. As the newest partner in the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Research Initiative, SHRF will help support educational and research centres across the province, building Saskatchewan’s capacity to advance health research and develop new approaches to care. Since 2019, JPCHF has donated SHRF with more than $2.3 million to invest in pediatric and maternal research initiatives. By prioritizing research today, we ensure Saskatchewan mothers-to-be and children receive the highest quality care now and for generations to come.” The latest investment builds on the foundation’s commitment to improving maternal and children’s health care through research, innovation and philanthropy. “As of right now, we have over 83,000 children that are visiting our hospitals annually. And the more research and more innovations that we can come up with, it might help reduce that number as we move forward,” Davies said. Through continued collaboration and investment, the organizations aim to help researchers develop practical solutions that address Saskatchewan’s health needs and contribute to a stronger, healthier province.
