With funding provided by the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness, Research Nova Scotia has awarded 15 early-career health researchers in Nova Scotia with a New Health Investigator Grant (NHIG).
These projects align with the province’s health research priorities and Research Nova Scotia’s health missions to advance disease detection, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention, strengthen our healthcare delivery system, care for vulnerable populations, and prevent negative impacts to health and wellbeing.
“Our role in helping to improve healthcare in Nova Scotia is to support talented researchers and promising projects that can tackle complex challenges,” says Stefan Leslie, CEO of Research Nova Scotia. “The NHIG will support these early-career researchers to build the teams and partnerships needed to create a healthier Nova Scotia.”
Recipients received between $89,234 and $100,000 to support the establishment of research programs, expand research to obtain future long-term funding, and to support significant contributions in the health research field.
Recipients’ projects cover a broad range of topics including mental health, cancer, stroke rehabilitation, safe medication practices, health inequities and culturally responsive care. Some projects specifically focus on improving care for African, Caribbean, and Black communities, 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, refugees, youth, and the aging population.
“The New Health Investigator Grant is an incredible opportunity for early-career researchers like me to tackle critical healthcare challenges, such as improving medication safety for Nova Scotia’s aging population,” says Dr. Somayeh Kafaie, a 2024/25 NHIG recipient from Saint Mary’s University. “This award is not just financial support—it’s a vote of confidence that we can make a real difference. I truly believe that grants like these are essential for shaping the future of health research by driving innovation and supporting the next generation of scientists.”
Recipients include researchers from Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia Health, and Saint Mary’s University.
The review process selected projects that will make an important contribution to our province. Projects were reviewed by an expert committee to ensure the highest standards of scientific merit are met.
View the full list of recipients and learn more about their projects.