In March 2024, Research Nova Scotia (RNS) invited Expressions of Interest (EOI) for a new initiative, Focused Research Investments (FRI). Intended to help address a gap in our current research system, FRI will provide substantial, secure, and flexible funding to research teams devoted to tackling Nova Scotia’s most pressing challenges.
“FRI is asking something new of our research ecosystem and is intended to attract researchers who are inspired and motivated to make a meaningful impact on the lives of Nova Scotians,” says Stefan Leslie, CEO of Research Nova Scotia. “Our hope that this new opportunity will help further mobilize the immense research talent in our region in service to society.”
The research community responded with enthusiasm. In total, 46 EOI were received from universities, colleges, health authorities, non-profits, and community organizations from across Nova Scotia. Following a detailed assessment, including in-depth discussions with the advisory panel and RNS team, 9 EOIs were invited to submit a full proposal.
Congratulations to the following EOI submissions:
| Primary Applicant(s) | Host Institution(s) + Collaborators | Proposed FRI |
| Dr. Kim Brewer | IWK Health, Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia Health, Cubresa Inc. | Women’s Health Imaging Research & Learning (WHIRL) Centre |
| Dr. Jill Chorney, Dr. Lori Wozney, Dr. Jenny Baechler | Dalhousie University, IWK Health, IWK Foundation, Nova Scotia Health, Cape Breton University, Maritime SPOR Support Unit, DIVERT Mental Health, Nova Scotia Integrated Service Delivery, Community Partners, Government | Unifying Networks to InnovaTE (UNITE): A Whole of System Approach for Youth Mental Health |
| Dr. Tim Webster | Nova Scotia Community College, Acadia University, Cape Breton University, Saint Mary’s University, Dalhousie University, 3-D Wave, Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources (UINR), Ecology Action Centre, Pisces Ocean Research Project Management, ClimAtlantic, The Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq (CMM), IBM, Regional Emergency Management Offices, Government (including municipalities and scientists) | ResilieNS: New data and risk prediction for Nova Scotia’s Adaptability to Climate Change |
| Jennifer Llewellyn | Dalhousie University, Saint Mary’s University, Cape Breton University, Nova Scotia Community College, Cumberland Restorative Justice Society, Valley Restorative Justice, Island Community Justice Society, Tri-County Restorative Justice, Mi’kmaw Legal Support Network, Elizabeth Fry Society of Mainland Nova Scotia, Rural Communities Foundation of Nova Scotia, Engage Nova Scotia, Sport Nova Scotia, University of Windsor, Public School Administrators Association of Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia Legal Aid Commission, Nova Scotia Health, Community Partners, Government | Restorative Communities |
| Dr. Mita Dasog, Dr. Michael Freund | Dalhousie University and The Verschuren Centre, Eastward Energy, EverWind Fuels, NRC, NetZero Atlantic | Nova Scotia’s Pathway to Green Hydrogen: Sustainable Generation and Utilization (NS-GHU) |
| Jennifer McGill | Pier Labs, Nova Scotia Department of Community Services, United Way, Dalhousie University, University of British Columbia, Community Partners, Centre for Implementation | Income Security – A pathway to Quality of Life |
| Dr. Kenneth Rockwood | Nova Scotia Health, Dalhousie University, Cape Breton University, Northwood LTC, St. Francis Xavier University, Trauma Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia Community College, Mount Saint Vincent University, Alzheimer Society of Nova Scotia | Frailty Research to Enhance Seniors’ Health in Nova Scotia (FRESH-NS) |
| Dr. Alison Grittner | Cape Breton University, Dalhousie University, Island Family Health Care, Nova Scotia Health, McMaster University, University of New Brunswick, Queens University, Nova Scotia Community College, Community Partners | Homeward Bound: Enhancing Healthcare, Housing, and Social Support for Aging Rural Nova Scotians. |
| Dr. Margot Latimer, John R Sylliboy | IWK Health and Tajikeimɨk, Nova Scotia Health, Dalhousie University, Wabanaki Two-Spirit Alliance, Tajikeimɨk | Etuaptmu’k W’loti: Using Mi’kmaw Knowledge to Create Health and Wellness Solutions |
Research Nova Scotia would like to thank the research community for their creativity and overwhelming support of this new initiative. For more information on Focused Research Investments visit researchns.ca/FRI.
Media Contact:
Stephanie Reid
Director, Marketing & Communications
stephanie.reid@researchns.ca
902.223.9450
Additional FRI EOI Submission Details:
Women’s Health Imaging Research & Learning (WHIRL) Centre
Dr. Kim Brewer, IWK Health Centre
The Translational Personalized Imaging Research Centre for Women’s Health at the IWK would tackle the absence of research that hinders understanding of how women’s and gender-diverse people’s bodies work, leading to growing health inequalities. By using precision medicine to help both diagnosis and treatment, this proposed FRI has the potential to narrow the health gap between genders by tailoring treatments based on each person’s unique biological processes. The imaging center aims to improve health outcomes for women in Nova Scotia by detecting high-risk, low-survival cancers early, tracking patterns of Alzheimer’s disease, identifying epilepsy, and mapping out why implants fail in women.
Unifying Networks to InnovaTE (UNITE): A Whole of System Approach for Youth Mental Health
Dr. Jill Chorney, Dr. Lori Wozney, Dr. Jenny Baechler, Dalhousie University
UNITE proposes a six-year, two-phase program focused on youth mental health and addictions. It would bring together a diverse group of experts, including scientists, decision-makers, youth, and community advocates, to work on research-driven solutions. Youth mental health and addictions is a complex issue that spans different organizations, making it hard to solve with just one approach. UNITE would use the expertise of researchers from various fields and sectors to improve how we address these needs. It would create a partnership across six faculties, three universities, and collaboration with health system leaders and government departments.
ResilieNS: New data and risk prediction for Nova Scotia’s Adaptability to Climate Change
Dr. Tim Webster, Nova Scotia Community College
We need better information on how communities are affected by climate events. ResilieNS would improve our ability to adapt to climate change by better understanding communities’ risk and vulnerability from future extreme weather events. Working with municipalities, emergency management organizations and other partners, it will provide state-of-the-art information on storm surges, improved return-period estimates, sea-level rise projections, erosion rates, river flood predictions, wildfire behaviour and spread. Building on decades of relationships with end users, this information will be immediate, useable and actionable.
Restorative Communities
Jennifer Llewellyn, Dalhousie University
Restorative Communities would use research to build better communities in Nova Scotia. This proposed FRI aims to improve relationships within communities, which are essential for people’s wellbeing. Building on years of collaboration with communities, this proposed FRI will work initially with four communities across Nova Scotia on priority issues identified by these community partners. They will undertake real-world experiments to discover better ways to engage and advance inclusive, sustainable, resilient and livable communities by identifying local issues related to province-wide social problems. These discoveries will build more restorative communities made of healthier, happier people with a sense of belonging and trust in each other and institutions.
Nova Scotia’s Pathway to Green Hydrogen: Sustainable Generation and Utilization (NS-GHU)
Dr. Mita Dasog, Dr. Michael Freund, Dalhousie University and Verschuren Centre
Nova Scotia’s Pathway to Green Hydrogen (NS-GHU) would bring together researchers, industries, and government to speed up the province’s shift from fossil fuels to green hydrogen, making a positive social, economic, and environmental impact. NS-GHU would help Nova Scotia reach its emissions reduction target of at least 53% by 2030 by improving hydrogen-producing technologies, enabling Nova Scotia use of hydrogen, and engaging with the community.
Income Security – A pathway to Quality of Life
Jennifer McGill, Pier Labs
This proposed FRI would focus research on finding better ways to connect individuals experiencing or vulnerable to poverty with employment opportunities and support them in building sustainable careers that earn a living wage. By increasing income security, the proposed FRI hopes to create positive effects that ripple through individuals, families, and communities, such as better access to healthcare and healthy food, social inclusion and community connectedness, resulting in overall improved health and lower healthcare costs.
Frailty Research to Enhance Seniors’ Health in Nova Scotia (FRESH-NS)
Dr. Kenneth Rockwood, Nova Scotia Health
FRESH-NS would help older adults in Nova Scotia stay fit and avoid frailty. This proposed FRI would investigate ways to prevent and manage frailty, using both new and existing knowledge and partnerships. The goal is to empower older Nova Scotians to age healthily and ‘in place’.
Homeward Bound: Enhancing Healthcare, Housing, and Social Support for Aging Rural Nova Scotians.
Dr. Alison Grittner, Cape Breton University
A Homeward Bound FRI would aim to ease pressure on the healthcare system by helping seniors stay in their chosen homes longer. They focus on rural areas with lots of seniors, called Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs). Homeward Bound would test whether an integrated and tailored approach to healthcare, housing, and social support would support NORCs to help seniors avoid moving into long-term care facilities and reduce hospital visits.
Etuaptmu’k W’loti: Using Mi’kmaw Knowledge to Create Health and Wellness Solutions
Dr. Margot Latimer and John R Sylliboy, IWK Health and Tajikeimɨk
The Etuaptmu’k W’loti FRI would build on existing efforts by Mi’kmaw to incorporate their knowledge into healthcare, with the goal of improving health and healing while addressing the impacts of colonialism. The research outcomes, developed with input from Tajikeimɨk and provincial health partners, include using Mi’kmaw data to identify healthcare gaps, reducing racism in healthcare, education, and research, and improving access to culturally appropriate services. Etuaptmu’k W’loti would be hosted by IWK Health and Tajikeimɨk, an organization dedicated to transforming healthcare for Mi’kmaw communities in Nova Scotia.