Dr. K.S. Joseph, an associate editor at CMAJ for 4 years before he left to pursue a research career at Dalhousie University 18 months ago, is 1 of 5 Canadian researchers to receive major awards from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).
Joseph, an associate professor of perinatal epidemiology at Dalhousie, received the Peter Lougheed/CIHR New Investigator Award during a Nov. 20 ceremony in Toronto. It “is given to Canada's brightest young health researchers at the beginning of their careers.”
The other recipients were:
· Dr. Anthony Pawson (Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto) — Michael Smith Prize in Health Research, which recognizes innovation, creativity, leadership and dedication to health research.
· Dr. Janet Rossant (Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute) and Dr. Samy Suissa (Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal) — CIHR Distinguished Investigator awards, which honour outstanding work by Canadian researchers recognized as international leaders in their fields.
· Dr. Jean Shoveller (Centre for Community Health and Health Evaluation Research, University of British Columbia) — Dorothy J. Lamont Scientist Award, which honours excellence in the field of cancer control research.
Joseph's research topics include the perinatal effects of delayed childbirth. His award is worth $525 000 — $275 000 in salary support over the next 5 years and $250 000 in an unencumbered research allowance over the next 3 years. He said the award will give his career a “very important” boost. “I'm [also] hoping that it will make me a little more contemplative.” CIHR President Alan Bernstein says the awards “are synonymous with exceptional, internationally recognized, cutting-edge research.” — Patrick Sullivan, CMAJ