Think of the possibilities...

We all had happy news recently that the BC government
committed $100 million over three years to the Michael Smith
Foundation for Health Research. With good planning and hard work,
this will undoubtedly translate into support for additional and
ongoing research at Providence.

I'm happy to announce that on February 3, 2005 the Canadian
Customs and Revenue Agency officially approved the Providence
Research Institute, which was our last hurdle to becoming
operational. This was followed the next day by our first board
meeting. The Providence Research Institute will allow us all to take full advantage of future funding opportunities by focusing our research efforts

and facilitating research collaborations across disciplines and with industry.

In my view, many factors must coalesce to make a successful
hospital-based, university-affiliated research institute. Great
researchers are number one on the list followed by adequate and
efficient research support systems. Alignment of the research with
the clinical services of the hospital is also required. In other
words, the connection to patient care within the hospital should be
obvious. Finally, a long-term plan is required. Something to work
towards; a shared path or trajectory.

Providence Health Care recently completed its three-year strategy.

We will join this effort by taking PHC's general ambitions for the

Institute and fleshing them out with our own dreams and aspirations.

It is my hope that everyone will participate in a strategic planning

process so I'm inviting you to think of the possibilities. Think about what the Providence Research Institute can do to improve patient care, what it can achieve academically, and what it can do to help individuals gain personal success and satisfaction.

This planning process comes at a time when two significant
initiatives are underway. The first is PHC's own Legacy Project, a
plan that seeks to ensure that Providence can meet the future care
and research needs of its six populations of emphasis: people with
HIV/AIDS, people with cardio-pulmonary risks and illness, people with
renal risks and illness, urban health, people with specialized needs
in aging, and people with mental illness. The second initiative is
the federal government's drive to enhance Canada's capacity for
clinical research through the CIHR's "Clinical Research Initiative."
The straightforward vision of this Initiative is to ensure "Canada
will be a world leader in clinical research by 2010." The timing of
our strategic planning will allow us to secure a strong role for
research in the Legacy Project and to take a leadership role in the
Clinical Research Initiative.

With our strategic planning underway, you now have a chance to
contribute to the fabric of the Providence Research Institute. Join
me and think of the possibilities for the future.

Regards,

Yvonne Lefebvre, Ph.D
VP, Research and Academic Affairs and President, Providence Research
Institute