Building on research strengths

A collaborative, creative community

A collegial environment and free flow of ideas

Dalhousie Medical School is part of an exceptionally open and collaborative research community, where investigators share information and ideas freely and work closely together – often in sophisticated shared facilities – to pursue their common aims. Researchers work across disciplines, faculties and institutions to bring a broad range of perspectives to solving important health problems.

Close clinic-to-lab connections

Close connections between clinicians and scientists ensure research is focused on real problems patients and doctors face every day. That’s why it’s so significant that Dalhousie Medical School’s main research labs are located across the street from its largest teaching hospitals. This proximity enables close collaboration between clinical faculty – who work as doctors and surgeons at the hospitals – and their basic science colleagues in labs. In fact, many clinical faculty who practice and teach at the hospitals are also trained scientists who run laboratory research programs that use basic science to answer clinical questions. The net result is that research findings can be translated more quickly into better patient care.

Strong local supports for researchers

Researchers at Dalhousie Medical School have access to a wide range of supports for their research endeavours – from peer review and mentorship programs to a host of local funding opportunities provided by Dalhousie Medical Research Foundation and the IWK, QEII and Saint John Regional Hospital foundations.

Location, location, location

Its location in the Maritimes is a tremendous asset to Dalhousie Medical School’s research programs. Not only is the region’s population extraordinarily willing to participate in research studies, but the relatively small size, stability and old age of the population, coupled with its above-average rates of chronic disease, make the Maritimes an ideal location for clinical research and population health studies.

Four solid cornerstones

Dalhousie Medical School has built four key areas of research strength that reflect urgent health priorities of the Atlantic region. Every year, Dalhousie Medical Research Foundation’s Molly Appeal raises funds for one of these four research areas:

Emerging pillars of strength

Dalhousie medical researchers are committed to solving serious health challenges in the Maritimes. To do so, they’re building and strengthening research programs in health services and primary care research, as well as in maternal and childhood obesity, aging and frailty, pain, inherited diseases that are most common in the Maritimes, mental health and workplace health.