Dr. Dermot Kelleher been appointed as an inaugural member of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research’s (CIHR) new Standing Committee on Science, where he will help shape the future direction of Canadian health and biomedical research.
Dr. Kelleher, dean of UBC’s faculty of medicine and vice-president, health, is among 14 health research leaders appointed this week to the CIHR Governing Council’s Standing Committee on Science. The committee will advise CIHR Governing Council on opportunities and risks with respect to CIHR’s strategic directions and help inform new directions in health research through the analysis of global and national trends in the research ecosystem.
“It is an incredible honour to join this committee alongside such distinguished colleagues,” says Dr. Kelleher. “Canada’s leadership in health research has had a profound impact on people here at home and around world. I look forward to working with this committee to build on Canada’s strengths and accelerate the discovery of new treatments, approaches and ideas that will create a healthier future for all.”
Dr. Kelleher is recognized internationally for innovation in academic health leadership and administration, clinical care, research and education. Prior to his appointment at UBC in 2015, he served as vice-president health and dean of the faculty of medicine at Imperial College London, where he also held a concurrent appointment as dean of the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine in Singapore until 2014. Dr. Kelleher has also served as head of the school of medicine and vice provost for medical affairs at Trinity College, Dublin.
“I look forward to working with this committee to build on Canada’s strengths and accelerate the discovery of new treatments, approaches and ideas that will create a healthier future for all.”
Dr. Dermot Kelleher
Author of 300 publications and 14 patents, and member of many scientific and medical research advisory board and committees, Dr. Kelleher has a strong background in innovation over his entire career and has worked to found several companies supporting both translational developments in biomedical science and fostering collaboration in biomedical research.
“The Standing Committee on Science is composed of a group of visionary leaders in health research who have demonstrated excellence and leadership in research at a national and international level,” said Dr. Marie-Josée Hébert, chair of the CIHR Governing Council, in a message. “Thank you to the members for your commitment to this innovative new Committee. We look forward to benefiting from your advice as we continue to implement CIHR’s Strategic Plan.”
Established in 2000, CIHR is the national, federal funding agency for health research in Canada. CIHR is responsible for funding a wide range of health research, including basic and applied research, clinical research, and health systems research. It also supports research training and capacity building for researchers in Canada.