Objectives and Activities for 2025-2026

The HRI will continue to pursue its four strategic directions/goals: knowledge creation, knowledge exchange and translation, fostering linkages, and capacity development. It will implement objectives and activities in a collaborative and networked way, which allows the Institute to be strategic yet flexible and opportunistic in its actions. Key new HRI activities that are planned for the coming year are described below:

HRI Operations

• The HRI Leadership Council will welcome the first elected member.
• There will be a continued focus on partnering with UNBC & external partners to co-host or supported events. This includes the NH & UNBC 2025 Northern BC Research and Quality Conference October 22-23, 2025.
• Northern Hub for Health Research-Co-Leads will continue to focus on initiatives for the advancement of Health Research at UNBC.

Office of Research and Innovation (ORI)

UNBC has a student first focus that means keeping student needs at the forefront of decision making. For this reason the ORI partnered with HRI to enable the hiring of students for the Knowledge Synthesis Centre in roles that provide training and research experience that will help student learn skills for future academic or employment careers.

The HRI will welcome Nasrin Golzadeh in the new role as Project Manager of the NH-UNBC MOU partnered work. Nasrin will work within the ORI in partnership with the HRI and NH.

Geoffrey R. Weller Library

The HRI will continue to partner with the UNBC Library to support the KS Librarian position for 2025-2026. As well, we look to expand UNBC’s capacity for knowledge synthesis by jointly purchasing an institutional license to Covidence systematic review software for use by all UNBC Faculty, staff and students.

Faculty of Human and Health Sciences

This year marked the first partnered event between FHHS and the HRI with the inaugural Professorial Lecture Series. This partnered Professorial Lecture Series will continue, additionally the FHHS and HRI are committed to supporting students and early career researchers with activities, such as Graduate Student Events, other flagship events, and financial support for KS work.

Collaboration for Health Research In Northern BC Funding Program

Part of the Provincial Health Services Authority, Northern Health and UNBC partnership, HRI serves as secretariat for this partnership and will run:

• A funding competitions for two $45,000 project grants in April, 2025 and again in April 2026
• A seed grant competition in autumn, 2025, and again in autumn 2026