AURORA COLLEGE
Aurora achieves Canadian Institutes of Health Research eligibility

Staff, research associates and students at Aurora College can now apply for a wider range of health-related research grants. Aurora College was recently granted institutional eligibility to pursue funding through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

The CIHR is the major federal agency responsible for funding health research in Canada. Together, the CIHR, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) are referred to as the Tri-Agency - the main federal government research granting agencies. They support and promote high quality research in a wide variety of disciplines and areas, and are a primary mechanism through which the Government of Canada supports research and training at post-secondary institutions.

This will significantly expand the College's research capacity to lead federally funded research projects dedicated to improving health outcomes in the North, including initiatives supporting mental health and Indigenous traditional healing practices. The CIHR eligibility means that Aurora College is now better positioned to collaborate with health authorities, community organizations, and other post-secondary institutions on large-scale health studies that can have real-world benefits for Northerners.

Since 2014, Aurora College has successfully maintained eligibility to apply for and hold awards from SSHRC and the NSERC. The addition of CIHR eligibility makes the College fully Tri-Agency eligible, positioning it as a comprehensive hub for Northern-led innovation.

While the College has a long history of impactful research in environmental science and social development, this new status provides the formal infrastructure needed to pursue dedicated funding in the health research field.

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"CIHR funding will also provide expanded hands-on research opportunities for students, helping to foster the next generation of Northern health professionals and scholars. Research led by Aurora College can be tailored to the specific geographical and cultural context of the Northwest Territories, ensuring that health solutions are developed in the North, for the North."

Dr. Nora Houlahan, Interim President, Aurora College