IHDCYH achievements in 2024 and new members of our advisory board
Message from Dr. Christine Chambers

Happy New Year to everyone in the IHDCYH community! Last year we celebrated a number of big accomplishments, several of which are profiled in our 2024 Making a Difference report. Highlighting activities and partnerships that support delivery of our Institute’s Strategic Plan is an important annual acknowledgement that collaboration and planning are critical for laying the groundwork to increase research impact and foster better beginnings, vibrant childhoods, and empowered youth.

The new year brings a time of transition for our Institute Advisory Board (IAB), as we extend our thanks and appreciation to three valued members who completed their terms at the end of 2024. Our Board chair Dr. Steven Miller has brought valued perspectives grounded in extensive experience in leadership roles at children’s hospitals including SickKids and BC Children’s Hospital and done an incredible job leading IAB meetings and engagements sessions. Cecilia Van Egmond, a Director with Health Canada, has brought many insights into ways IHDCYH and CIHR can collaborate with policymakers for increased impact. Fabiana Bacchini, Executive Director of the Canadian Premature Babies Foundation, has consistently brought the parent voice and a willingness to meaningfully engage with clinicians and health researchers to improve experiences for some of the most vulnerable patients in the Canadian health care system. Thank you all.

I’m pleased to announce that stepping into the role of IAB Chair is Dr. Bernard Thébaud, and I am glad to welcome Dr. Kristin Connor as Vice-Chair of our IAB. Thank you to Bernard and Kristin for your commitment to providing ongoing leadership to our board. We also welcome new IAB members Rachel (Rae) Martens, Dr. Ryan Giroux, and Dr. Padmaja Subbarao.

CIHR’s annual call for IAB applications is ongoing and applications received by April 25, 2025 will be considered in the 2025 cycle. Diverse voices are critical for advising an Institute with a lifespan-based mandate as broad as IHDCYH’s. CIHR has created video tutorials outlining the steps to apply to join an IAB.

Sincerely,

Christine
Scientific Director of the CIHR Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health

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