Feb 10, 2016

Talent Is Our Best Investment

Dean Trevor Young

Dean Trevor Young With Ottawa beating the drum of innovation, it will be interesting to see how the government advances its strategy as the calls ring out for immediate infrastructure investment in the face of a sluggish economy.

Roads and sewers, buildings and bridges – while important to basic civic functioning – must be part of a more dynamic economic picture that centres on people creating value in a knowledge economy.

In short, the biggest “infrastructure” investment we can make is in our people.

Yesterday, the federal government announced the latest round of Canada Research Chair (CRC) recipients. Having crested its 15th year since inception, the CRC program has been a key driver for recruiting some of the best scientists to research-intensive faculties and universities — and retaining them— in a competitive global landscape.

Here at U of T Medicine, our outstanding research enterprise – in collaboration with our partner hospitals – was once again recognized with 16 chairs out of the 41 awarded to the University in this round.

Neuroscience and related fields continue to be areas of strength across the U of T Medicine network with CRCs awarded in:

  • Neuroimaging for movement disorders and schizophrenia;
  • Neurostimulation for cognitive disorders, as well as investigations into the cognitive and genetic factors influencing risk for addiction; and
  • Brain and behavioral mechanisms of recovery after traumatic brain injury.

Also recognized was U of T’s deep bench strength in protein biochemistry, molecular genetics, and inflammation and immunity across fields of inquiry in cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and osteoporosis.

Insights from these areas of study have the potential to inform important public strategies in healthcare and health promotion. I would argue that it’s our job not just to create new knowledge but to communicate these insights in order to maximize their value in society.

That means finding opportunities to bring our research into the public sphere in ways that policymakers and other leaders can understand – and build on – the inherent value of scientific investigation.

Congratulations to all our new – and renewed – Canada Research Chairs. For a full list of recipients announced yesterday, please see: Canada Research Chairs Program.

Trevor Young
Dean, Faculty of Medicine
Vice-Provost, Relations with Health Care Institutions