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SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY

S.03-90

Senate Committee on University Priorities

Memorandum

TO: Senate

FROM:

John Water u

Chair, SC

Vice Pr ide t, Academic

Faculty of Health Sciences Proposal

DATE:

September 19, 2003

At its September 17, 2003 meeting SCUP recommended the following motion:

Motion

That Senate approve and recommend to the Board of Governors the establishment of

a Faculty of Health Sciences at SFU effective September 1, 2004 as outlined in

S.03-90

Attached is a copy of the proposal for the Faculty of Health Sciences which was

reviewed and approved by members of SCUP.

end.

D. Maclean, Director, IHRE

B. Brandhorst, IHRE

M. Hayes, IHRE

Proposal

Fora

Faculty of Health Sciences

Background: Evolution to a Faculty of Health Sciences

Health research and education has a long history and is well established at

Simon Fraser University. Its roots can be traced to the creation of the School of

Kinesiology in 1970, the establishment of the Gerontology Research Centre in

1982 and the establishment of the Department of Psychology. Over the past

twenty years health research has developed in all Faculties of the University and

extends to nearly all disciplines. As a consequence, Simon Fraser University now

has over 120 faculty members active in health research, but such activity is

widely dispersed.

As early as 1992 efforts were underway to create a coherent framework around

this dispersed activity as well as to create new areas of health research and

teaching. In May 1994, the Task Force on Applied Health Programs

recommended the development of a new unit for the delivery of a Health Studies

Program at the undergraduate and graduate level (see Appendix A for a copy of

the Task Force report). The Senate Committee on Academic Planning (SCAP)

supported the general direction of the Task Force's report and recommended the

establishment of an Applied Health Programs Planning Committee. This marked

the first occasion where a Senate committee supported a proposal for the creation

of a new unit that would focus and consolidate health-related research and

programming at SFU. This initiative faltered in 1995 due to the absence of an

obvious champion to lead the programming initiative.

In 1999, interest in developing new health research and programming initiatives

re-emerged. This activity was encouraged by the emergence of several significant

internal and external factors:

• increased interest, expertise and advocacy within Simon Fraser University

for developing a coherent, more visible and innovative presence in health

research in Canada;

• restructuring of federal funding for health research which reflected a new

broadly based conceptualization of health (e.g., the creation of the

Canadian Institutes for Health Research);

• increased priority for the management of health systems and health care

on the public policy agenda; and,

• a global increase in the level of awareness and concern for health-related

issues, the social, economic and cultural determinants of health, and

health care financing.

These events defined an opportunity for Simon Fraser University to distinguish

itself from traditional University health programming and Medical Schools

within Canada.

After completing a comprehensive self-study and consultation process, it was

determined that Simon Fraser University should establish an Institute as a first

step towards the development of a graduate school in health studies. The

Institute, formally established in 2000 (see Appendix B for a copy of the proposal

creating IHRE), was founded upon a broad conception of the term "health" that

spanned the entire spectrum of research approaches, methods of inquiry, levels

of analysis and research perspectives that are employed by researchers engaged

in exploring and understanding health and disease. In its conception the Institute

was to be a home and incubator of research programs and new educational

programming across the university.

"Some of its researchers will investigate the social roots of disease, the organization

and social dynamics of clinical practice, and the factors that control health-related

institutions, systems, and policies. Research in association with the Institute will

explore environmental aspects of health, the impacts of social policies and programs,

the development of health policy, and the investigation of alternative approaches to

disease prevention and health promotion. The Institute will support research directed

to understanding biological, physiological, anatomical, biochemical, behavioural,

biobehavioural, genetic and other phenomena that operate at the level of the molecule,

cell, organ, individual or society. The Institute will promote research aimed at the

application of health treatments and clinical interventions, technological innovations

in support of discovery and understanding, health information systems, and the ways

in which health services are administered, structured, and provided. The Institute

has a comprehensive conceptualization of health research and it will invite all faculty

engaged in health-related research to participate in its evolution.

The goal of the Institute was to "foster health-related research", to "promote,

• ?

stimulate and nourish research collaborations that bridge basic biomedical,

clinical and social science sectors", and to develop graduate programming.' The

establishment of the Institute in 2000 reflected Senate's support for the evolution

of health-related educational programming and research at SFU and recognized

the need for an administrative structure that would provide a coherent

framework for collaborative and innovative health education and research.

The vision of the Institute approved by Senate stipulated that IHRE develop into

an internationally respected Graduate School for Health Research and Education

offering unique graduate programming. It further stipulated that the Institute be

required to identify and foster core strengths that would ensure that SFU

uniquely and significantly contribute to health educational programming and

research in North America. This development of core strength was to

simultaneously incubate and promote corollary research and teaching programs

within other individual departments and schools.

Since the creation of IHRE, Senate has further recognized the strategic

importance of health-related research at the University and has approved it as

one of the ten research priorities for the University as stated in the Strategic

Research Plan submitted to the Canada Research Chairs program.

Proposal for the Institute for Health Research and Education at Simon Fraser University May 11,

2000.

SFU slightly altered the CIHR sector categorization and defined health research at SFU as that

which would fall under one of five sectors: (1) Basic Biomedical, (2) Clinical Interfaces, (3) Health

Services and Systems, (4) Societies, Cultures and the Health of Population, and (5) Technology

and Health.

Vision

Simon Fraser University has built its reputation on excellence in research and

creative educational programming. The timing is right to initiate the

transformation of health education on this campus, particularly at the Graduate

level. The research and teaching programs that are developed within the Faculty

of Health Sciences will share the essential defining feature of the Faculty:

the

integration of social and natural science research with population outcomes,

societal application and policy analysis.

This integration will combine a broad

spectrum of research approaches, methods of inquiry, levels of analysis and

research perspectives. This unique approach will enable researchers and students

to make original contributions to the study and understanding of health and

disease and will establish Simon Fraser University at the forefront of multi-

disciplinary health research in Canada.

The new Faculty of Health Sciences will support research and develop teaching

programs that bridge science, policy and practice' across the five sectors at the

foundation of IHRE. As described in the following section there are currently a

number of areas which will be further explored for possible program

development. These areas fit well with the vision of the new Faculty and are

consistent with existing capacity at SFU. Each new program area will be defined

by a set of shared features:

(1)

the integration of science, outcomes analysis and policy,

(2)

the cross-sectoral nature of the research questions and programs, and,

(3)

the adoption of multiple perspectives, modes of inquiry and levels of

analysis.

The major funding vehicle for health-related research in Canada, the CU-JR, has

had a significant increase in the proportion of its funding envelope directed to

research that transverses these areas. Clearly, CIHR along with other health

research funding agencies in Canada are being aligned to promote more broadly

based and integrated health research across the spectrum from the bench to the

community. Embodied within the vision of the new Faculty is an effort to

position SFU's health research and education in the same manner.

Aside from research funding support, which is acknowledged as an important

driver for knowledge creation, the integrated approach to research and teaching

programs will create new opportunities for the research plans of individual

health researchers across campus. The faculty complement of the new Faculty

will be strategically determined to ensure that they become core assets to

complement the research programs of individuals working in the natural and

social sciences, population health research and policy arenas. This underscores

the incubator approach to be employed of the new Faculty.

The term practice is used here in a broad context beyond that which is normally associated with the work

The

health

term

care

science

practitioners.

is used here

. ?

to mean both social science and natural science

New health programs within the Faculty will form new areas of focus, each one

of which draws together and builds upon the knowledge and approaches to

inquiry present in each individual health sector. The end result is an integration

of our understanding of health and its biological and social determinants that can

then form the foundation for new discovery. The shared defining features of each

new health program situate them in an overlapping (and further integrating)

arrangement that provides coherence to the overall framework of the new

Faculty. The areas of focus identified for the new Faculty of Health Sciences do

not subsume the research and programming currently being conducted within

each health sector across the University. Rather, these programs draw the

individual sectors together in new ways.

The new Faculty of Health Sciences will have a core complement of faculty

chosen for their multi-disciplinary approach to health-related research and their

ability to examine questions from varying methodological perspectives. Their

expertise will provide a bridging function to existing research and teaching

programs and will complement the specialized expertise of faculty working

within existing departments. These new faculty members will have

primary appointments and teaching responsibilities in the new Faculty.

0 ?

Initial Program Possibilities and Research Initiatives

Implementation of a proposed graduate program in Population and Public

Health is viewed as the first step in implementing a series of teaching and

research programs related to health. This initiative will require hiring new

faculty having expertise in epidemiology, biostatistics, health economics, and

health policy analysis. The new Faculty will assess development of other

integrative health science programs consistent with national and regional

opportunities and SFU interests and expertise. Some initiatives will focus on

research, while others are likely to involve development of new graduate

programs. A major goal of the new Faculty is to develop new undergraduate

education programs. As a consequence, undergraduate programs related to

human health sciences are ultimately expected to emerge arising either from

other programs \ departments which have undergraduate teaching migrating to

the new Faculty or the new Faculty itself developing specific undergraduate

offerings (possibly in collaboration with other academic units).

We describe here examples of 5 potential program/ research areas, emphasizing

their integrative aspects and multi-disciplinarity that cross the boundaries of

existing sectors. The 5 areas are: Population and Public Health, Infectious

Disease, Aging and Chronic illness, Brain Function and Development, and

Biomolecular Interactions. The proposed program Population and Public Health

will be advanced for Senate consideration this fall. Other programs will be

developed over the next two to three years. One way of thinking about the

proposed Faculty is that it will act as an incubator for new health programs and a

home for researchers and programs that fit the integrated vision.

A brief example of the multi-disciplinary nature of each of these areas is

provided below.

(1)

Population and Public Health:

Population and Public Health focuses on the factors that influence health

and disease and on developing, implementing, and evaluating

interventions and policies that may produce changes in health at the

individual and population level. This area of health research and

programming requires an analysis of the causes of disease and the

determinants for health that are situated in the social, economic, cultural

and physical environments in which people live. The program as

envisioned would be multi-disciplinary, requiring an integration of

knowledge and methods from fields such as epidemiology, biostatistics,

environmental health, medicine, sociology, anthropology, demography,

economics, biology, geography, communications and health policy and

administration. Population and public health transects all SFU research

pillars and has particular relevance for those in the Faculties of Arts and

Education who are interested or have expertise in health research and

programming, particularly in important areas such as health education

and medical history.

A potential area for development would be to examine the individual and

population outcomes of health systems and policies. An integrated

approach at the intersection of technology, public policy and health

systems would provide educational and research opportunities across an

expansive range of health topics. This is an important area in British

Columbia and in Canada where the health system is undergoing

significant change with decentralization and a greater focus on the

renewal of primary care and public health within a fiscal framework that

the province and country can afford.

(2)

Infectious Disease:

The program and research development would be focused initially on

immunology, particularly as it relates to vaccine development. Such a

program would transect the basic biomedical field and would extend

research in this domain to its impact on the health of populations,

treatment and effective therapy, education and prevention, through to

policy implications. In addition, such an initiative complements the

proposed graduate Program in Population and Public Health, which will

require associated faculty members having expertise in infectious and

communicable diseases.

An initiative that views infectious disease from a broad based approach

would differentiate SFU from most of the major medical schools and

would make significant contributions to society in examining these issues

from this perspective. Concerns about HIV, AIDS, West Nile Virus, SARS,

BSE, and potential bioterrorist agents have heightened public and

government awareness of the need for more effective ways to respond to

and contain historic as well as new infectious agents. Recruited faculty

having research expertise in areas such as microbiology, virology,

immunology, and vaccine development would be able to contribute to the

developing new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to infectious

diseases and interact effectively with basic biomedical and bioinformatic

researchers at SFU. Other new faculty would be more focused on

education about and prevention of, infectious diseases, as well as public

policy issues.

Immunology and vaccine development is the focus of a Tier 1 Canada

Research Chair application under development at SFU between IHRE and

MBB. It is anticipated that this CRC will fulfill a leadership role at SFU in

the development of this program area.

(3)

Biomolecular Interactions:

A new research initiative that would integrate bioinformatics, functional

genomics, proteomic, and molecular genetic approaches for identifying

new genes, signaling pathways, and macromolecular interactions with

• physical approaches to detecting and characterizing novel biomolecular

interactions and complexes with design devices for diagnosis, monitoring,

and drug delivery.

A CFI proposal to acquire infrastructure for a proposed Center for

Biomolecular Interactions and Health Research (CBIHR) has been

produced with the assistance and commitment of IHRE. Efforts to secure

some initial infrastructure support for CBIHR's activities via an

institutional infrastructure grant from the Michael Smith Foundation for

Health Research which was led by IHRE has been successful. CBIHR

would bring together approximately 30 researchers from Chemistry,

Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Kinesiology, and Biosciences, as well

as from three other universities. Bioinformatic, functional genomic,

proteomic, molecular genetic, microscopic, physiological, physical

biochemical, and spectroscopic approaches will be focused on discovering

and characterizing biomolecular interactions, macromolecular complexes,

and signaling pathways that regulate the functions of cells. In turn, nano-

devices for disease diagnosis, health monitoring, and drug delivery will

be developed by the materials scientists associated with the initiative. This

proposal is an example of a grass roots, multi-disciplinary research

initiative spanning existing Faculties that can be fostered within the

proposed Faculty as part of its mandate to enhance research and graduate

education activities related to health on a university-wide basis.

This area of health research once developed could provide significant

resources and technical analysis at the level of the gene (DNA

manipulation, sequencing and mass spectrometric analysis of proteins),

molecular structure and molecular interactions (titration microcaloimetry,

surface-plasmon resonance and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy)

and the cell (microscopy, flow cytometry and cell sorting). These

capabilities will greatly enhance the biomedical research of program areas

in population and public health (molecular epidemiology), infectious

diseases, brain function and development, and aging and chronic disease.

(4)

Aging and Chronic Illness:

SFU's reputation in the field of gerontology is known worldwide. There

are emerging programs in rehabilitative engineering in the Schools of

Engineering and Kinesiology. SFU is the home of the CIHR Institute of

Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes. SFU faculty members in Kinesiology

and Gerontology have externally funded research programs in

cardiovascular disease, risk factors and conditions, and obesity. SFU is

developing an exciting partnership with the Canadian Center for Arthritis

Research and together have sponsored a British Columbia Leadership

Chair in Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Research.

The opportunity for program development and research aging and

chronic illness would draw together a broad array of perspectives

including assistive devices, population health issues, social and health

policy including such things as pension issues, and the exploration of

diseases associated with aging at the biomedical, cellular and genetic

level. Examining the area of aging and chronic illness from a multi-faceted

approach would enable the extension of research focused on individual

aspects of this complex area. Development in this domain is critical given

the population demographics both nationally and internationally, as well

as the stresses that such demographics are having on areas such as health

care, pension legislation, mandatory retirement, assisted living

architecture, to name just a few.

(5)

Brain Function and Development:

An initiative in brain function and development would see the integration

of research perspectives across neurodegenerative disorders, brain repair,

neuroscience, child development, sleep disorders, brain injury, dementia

and social and health policy. Clearly, this domain transects and

complements studies in aging and chronic disease as well as those related

to children and youth.

SFU faculty members in this area have excellent scientific reputations in

cognitive, biological, developmental, and social science. For example, as

well as an APA/CPA accredited program in clinical research and practice,

the Department of Psychology is developing a comprehensive program in

neuro-psychology. Other units and programs within Arts (e.g., Cognitive

Science Program; Linguistics; Gerontology) and the broader SFU

community (e.g., the Consortium for the Advancement of Child Health

(CACH) sponsored by IHRE) provide a sound intellectual and collegial

foundation for the interdisciplinary nature of heath research and

education on the SFU campus. Biomedical research programs in

neuroscience are underway in Kinesiology, Biosciences and Molecular

Biology. An emerging strength at SFU in development disabilities related

to brain function and development has brought dramatic advances in

knowledge in the past decade. There is an enormous potential to develop

new strategies for early intervention that will ultimately improve the

quality of life of individuals with development disabilities and to facilitate

policy solutions that will reduce overall costs for individuals, families, and

communities.

IHRE and a Data Warehouse

In addition to the educational program areas above, the Faculty of Health

Sciences will become the permanent home for the Institute for Health Research

and Education (H-IRE) and one additional research centre.

(1)

Inst it ute for Health Research and Education

The Faculty of Health Sciences, as home to the Institute for Health

Research and Education, would maintain its principle strategic objectives

to support, promote, and develop health-related research opportunities

• across the University. For example, in addition to fostering the CBIHR

initiative, IHRE has received external funding in support of grant

facilitation, community liaison efforts on behalf of researchers, and

improvement of the library collection related to health. IHRE's extensive

web site has significantly raised the profile of health research at SF0. The

Faculty would provide a focus for building interdisciplinary ties among

health researchers, identifying and establishing common resources and

facilities to support health-related research and education of university

wide interest. It will expand its ties to the provincial and federal

government for health policy development and evaluation.

(2)

Centre for Population Data Warehousing and Analysis (CPDWA)

Though not yet fully

developed, the vision for the Centre for Population

Data Warehousing and Analysis would be a fully-integrated collection of

databases covering a variety of overlapping data and populations. The

data might include biochemical, genetic, clinical, pharmacologic,

economic, cultural and behavioral data, with the populations covered

being as large and inclusive as possible. The Centre will be developed so

as to complement and share resources and data with existing Centres and

programs at SFU, such as IRMACS and the Bioinformatics Research and

Training Programs (the latter already funded by CIHR), as well as

external health agencies, government databases, and other database

'• ?

providers. The Centre will be a significant asset to all health-related

researchers at the University.

As the new Faculty of Health Sciences evolves, other areas of research and

teaching programming would be considered. The Faculty will be committed to

an incubator role for working with faculty members across the University who

have ideas for new educational programming and research projects that would

promote multi-disciplinarity and innovative programming in health research

and education.

While the research agenda and programming initiatives undertaken by the new

Faculty of Health Sciences will be independent, they will also extend the work of

existing health research and programming at SFU. New graduate programs and

research projects will complement the current strengths of outstanding health

researchers already positioned at SFU.

Faculty Appointments and Departmental Connections

The initial core complement of the Faculty of Health Sciences will be comprised

of approximately 14 tenure-track positions (with a mix of senior and junior

appointments). A portion of these faculty members will have expertise in

technical and methodological areas such as health economics, epidemiology (e.g.

chronic disease, infectious disease, occupational health, health systems/ policy),

demography, qualitative research methods, public health/ community health,

international health and biostatistics. This initial core will ensure that SFU has

the breadth in methodological approaches to provide the graduate programming

envisioned and to launch the first of the new graduate programs (Population and

Public Health).

Academic leadership and the strong desire to work with others will be critically

important qualities for new faculty appointments in the Faculty of Health

Sciences. Of the fourteen initial faculty members, four will be Canada Research

Chairs who will be expected to provide leadership and develop research and

teaching programs. The Faculty of Health Sciences, in consultation with the

Deans of the other faculties, will determine how best to use these resources to

ensure the necessary leadership for the development of potential new programs

and centers.

It is envisioned that the Faculty of Health Sciences will collaborate with existing

departments in developing programs in both the new Faculty and in existing

units. A variety of appointment arrangements are envisioned including joint

appointments of faculty members between the Faculty and other academic units

on campus, associate member status with the new Faculty or by new faculty in

the Faculty to other existing academic units, and adjunct appointments for

individuals located external to SFU, either at other universities or in public

health or health service organizations. These appointments will enable others to

make critical contributions to the research and graduate education programs

being offered in the Faculty of Health Sciences and for individuals from that

Faculty to contribute to existing units.

A collaborative relationship is also envisioned for graduate students. Graduate

students within the Faculty could expand their education by taking courses

hosted by other academic units and build graduate supervisory relationships

that extend beyond the Faculty. Equally, graduate students from academic units

across campus will be able to enroll in courses offered by the new Faculty and

will could utilize faculty from this unit on their supervisory committees in other

academic units.

The possibility (given appropriate approvals and processes) is open for existing

research groups and teaching programs at SFU to migrate to the FHS. Within a

period of five to ten years it is expected that the FHS will evolve into a faculty of

similar size to other professional faculties at SFU.

The vision being put forward in this document is one of an integrated

multidisciplinary approach to health research and education which defines

health in its broadest context. Therefore, irrespective of how the new Faculty

develops and what structural form it ultimately takes, to be successful it is

essential for the new Faculty to develop close collaborations and working

relationships with interested members of University's existing units concerned

with health.

In addition, it is anticipated that substantive collaborations will develop between

the new Faculty and other universities in BC. As examples, both the University

of British Columbia and the University of Victoria have already expressed

interest in this regard. Preliminary discussions have occurred with the

• Department of Epidemiology and Health Care at UBC and St. Paul's hospital on

possible collaboration with respect to urban health. The IHRE supported

Consortium for the Advancement of Child Health (CACH) has already received

matching funding support from the Human Early Learning Partnership based at

UBC. In addition IHRE has been approached by the UBC Centre for Health

Promotion on a number of health related research and education programs.

Resources

In 2000, as part of the university's decision to develop a coherent and visible

presence in health research and programming in health, a five year budget

commitment was made totaling $1.8 million in recurring personnel and

operating costs (including 10 tenure track faculty positions, administrative

personnel, program development and senior leadership), as well as $1.1 million

in nonrecurring start up and equipment costs (primarily related to the

establishment of research facilities for the new faculty complement). Budget

allocations have been made in each of the past three years towards this

commitment. A portion of the budget will be maintained to preserve the

operations and goals of stimulating, supporting and incubating health research

outside the new Faculty through IHRE. Additional funding in line with the

annual budget projections will be set aside over the next four years to ensure the

successful implementation of the health initiative at SFU.

It was also anticipated that approximately $10 million in fund raising would be

required to construct adequate facilities to house the new faculty complement.

As elsewhere in the University, space is a significant issue for this initiative. The

University is actively engaged, as part of its space and capital planning exercises,

in finding the necessary office and research facilities to adequately house the new

faculty members to be recruited over the next three years.

Timelines

Clearly, with the establishment of a new faculty at SFU there will be the need for

a transition period to allow for the development of the appropriate faculty

policies, governance structures and procedures as well as the need to situate the

new faculty within the policy and governance structures of the University

including the approval of new programs both within and external to the

University. The timing for some of these activities is difficult to predict as

significant components are beyond our control.

We anticipate the following timelines (assuming approval of the FHS by BOG in

December 2003):

Faculty

recruitment

Initial recruitment of 5 to 6 new faculty members will occur in a staged manner

between June, 2004, and September, 2005. Further faculty recruitment of an

additional 6 to 8 new FTh's will occur between 2005 and 2008 depending on the

availability of space and research facilities. Some of these most likely will be joint

appointments with existing units in support of new research and teaching

programs. A CRC Tier 1 nomination was recently submitted in Immunology and

Vaccine development. With approval the position will begin in September, 2004,

creating an opportunity to fill a new faculty position in molecular virology or

immunology by September 2005.

New programs

The new MSc program in population and public health will be developed as a

priority, with the preliminary program proposal submitted to graduate studies

by January, 2004, on approval of the FHS by the BOG. With approval, the full

program proposal will be developed, submitted and approved by January, 2005.

The first cohort of students will be admitted to the MSc program in September,

2005.

Additional new educational programs will be developed after this period in

collaboration with other University units.

Assessment

A comprehensive external review of the MSc program and FHS will occur in the

fourth year of the new program. The review will be consistent with University

policy and include an assessment of the educational programs, faculty

complement and their scholarly activities.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the creation of the Faculty of Health Sciences is the next logical

step in the evolution of health research and education at SFU that began over

three decades ago. The new Faculty will establish a unique presence in North

America in health research and educational programming. Its defining character

will be the integration of science, policy, and practice. New integrated and

innovative program areas will be developed characterized by a set of shared

features, namely (1) the integration of science

, outcomes analysis and policy, (2)

the cross-sectoral nature of the research questions and programs, and, (3) the

adoption of multiple perspectives, modes of inquiry and levels of analysis. The

Faculty will house the Centre for Population Data Warehousing and Analysis

(CPDWA) and the Institute for Health Research and Education (IHRE). Graduate

programming within the Faculty will commence with a MSc Program in

Population and Public Health.

The primary advantages for the development of a new Faculty of Health Sciences

at SFU are:

• The Faculty will establish innovative new graduate health programming in

•

Canada that is distinct from that offered by traditional medical schools.

• SFU will become an attractive destination for faculty and students interested

in broadly based health research and education.

• The Faculty will establish a locus for new health research that integrates

science, policy and practice, thus contributing to improving health.

• The core academic appointments in the Faculty will bring important new

expertise to SFU and provide a critical mass of faculty working at the

intersections of health research sectors.

• The Centre for Population Data Warehousing and Analysis in the Faculty will

provide essential data research resources and infrastructure to population

and basic biomedical researchers across the university.

• The visibility provided by a new Faculty will place SFU in a position of

inclusion at local, national and international health policy tables and will

establish SFU as a key participant in health-related education and research in

Canada.

Other Universities in Canada and particularly in BC, are strategically positioning

themselves for increased activity in health fields. Many have made significant

commitments to clinical programs. By adopting an integrated approach to link

The term science is used here to mean both social science and natural science

? -

social, scientific, population and policy issues, Simon Fraser University can