Research Program Update Centre for Hip Health and Musculoskeletal Research (CHH)
February 2006
From Dr. Bernie Bressler,
Vice President Research, VCH
Executive Director, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute
Assistant Dean Research, Faculty of Medicine, UBC
From Dr. Bernie Bressler,
Vice President Research, VCH
Executive Director, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute
Assistant Dean Research, Faculty of Medicine, UBC
I am pleased to announce Dr. Heather McKay as Interim Director of the Centre for Hip Health & Musculoskeletal Research (CHH). Dr. McKay has been integrally involved in the Centre from its inception, and was instrumental in the success of the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) Innovation Fund and Research Hospital Fund awards.
Dr. McKay is Professor of Orthopaedics and Family Practice at the University of British Columbia. She has conducted pioneering research into skeletal health and osteoporosis prevention through physical activity in children, and she is one of the founders of Action Schools! BC.
The Centre for Hip Health has the potential to transform the health of British Columbians of all ages through its unique approach that embraces prevention of disease and also promises to discover novel biosurgical solutions to improve patients' quality of life. Dr. McKay will lead the planning of the Centre's new facility which will house cutting-edge laboratories for musculoskeletal imaging, bone and joint health assessment, population health research and surgical innovations. Within a year of opening, the Centre for Hip Health will enable the discoveries of over 100 researchers, staff and graduate students representing 18 academic faculty members from 15 departments.
The Centre for Hip Health is a leading edge research centre affiliated with Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute and the University of British Columbia, Department of Orthopaedics. Located on the Vancouver General Hospital campus in the heart of Vancouver's biomedical community, the Centre received two CFI grants for construction of an innovative new research facilityat VGH. TheCHH encompasses the broad themes of early detection and progression of osteoarthritis, prevention of hip fracture and biosurgical solutions for hip disease. The research crosses the lifespan, from primary preventive programs in children to early detection of disease in adults and intervention programs for the at-risk elderly.