The PEI Health Research Institute places emphasis on supporting and developing research that will be eligible for funding through national, peer-reviewed sources. The Institute also has a mandate to serve the needs of both developing and seasoned researchers affiliated with academic, voluntary, and government organizations.
The Institute promotes and supports the excellence of new and established investigators. While focused on building research that will be competitive at the national level, the Institute is responsive to the needs of Prince Edward Island and seeks to maximize economic development opportunities that arise through its activities.
The success of the PEI HRI is determined by the efforts of the researchers who are associated with the activities of "their" Institute and the PEI HRI therefore has a member-centric governance approach. The governance structure is designed to ensure that:
* The researchers who are its mainstay have significant input into its governance
* The Institute is responsive to external influences and sensitive to the PEI community
* The Institute has the capacity to provide leadership, and set direction
Director of Programs and Partnerships
The Director of Programs and Partnerships provides leadership for the vision, policy, business, and communication functions of the Institute. This includes day-to-day managing of the activities of the PEI HRI, facilitating external and internal communications, organizing the seminar series, and coordinating the internal and external review processes including serving on the PEI HRI Research Committee. The Director of Programs and Partnerships reports to the Vice President, Research & Development, UPEI, for all matters concerning the PEI HRI and makes decisions in consultation with the PEI HRI Research Committee, the PEI HRI Advisory Council and PEI HRI members.
Chief Research Officer
The Chief Research Officer is responsible for providing leadership to the research community, for advancing the research vision of the Institute, and for overseeing of the research excellence of programs and activities directly associated with the Institute. The Chief Research Officer, in conjunction with the PEI HRI Research Committee, works with the research community and coordinates grant proposals for support of the PEI HRI activities. The Chief Research Officer reports to the PEI HRI Director of Programs and Partnerships.
Membership
There are three PEI Health Research Institute membership categories:
* Full Member,
* Affiliate Member, and
* Graduate/Postdoc Member.
The criteria for membership will be reviewed by the PEI HRI after three years of operation. There is no fee to become a member of the PEI HRI.
Full Membership: Full members are independent or primary investigators conducting health research or with an interest in conducting health research on PEI. A primary or independent investigator is defined as a researcher who, independently or as part of a research team, is eligible to receive grant funds from research funding organizations and whose salary is not dependent on support from grant funds. Criteria for continuing active involvement in health research may be included as the PEI HRI develops. Full members are eligible to receive support from the PEI HRI as outlined in accompanying documents. Full members are permitted and expected to acknowledge association with the PEI HRI in publications and to acknowledge any financial support. Full members are also expected to participate in the activities and functions of the PEI HRI.
Affiliate Membership: Affiliate Membership is available for individuals or organizations who do not meet the requirements for full membership or who are not actively engaged in health research, but who are interested in supporting health research on PEI and in being kept informed of PEI HRI activities. Affiliate members are encouraged to participate in PEI HRI activities and to have input into the direction and activities of the PEI HRI.
Graduate/PostDoctoral Membership: This category is open to all graduate students and postdoctoral fellows whose supervisors are members of the PEI HRI. All recipients of support from the PEI HRI are expected to be members. Graduate/postdoctoral members are eligible to participate in the activities of the PEI HRI.
PEI HRI Research Committee
The PEI HRI Research Committee provides representation from the different areas of health research on PEI - social sciences, biomedical, university, government and community. The function of the Research Committee is:
* to provide input to the Director of Programs and Partnerships and the Chief Research Officer in carrying out their duties,
* to participate in decisions regarding the dispersion of funds to support research activities,
* to participate in developing and delivering strategic research directions for the Institute, mentoring and grant review programs, publicity, developing new research opportunities and funding support, providing links with researchers on PEI and across Canada, and
* other activities consistent with the goals of the PEI HRI.
The PEI HRI Research Committee consists of:
* the Director of Programs and Partnerships, PEI HRI,
* the Chief Research Officer, PEI HRI,
* three researchers from the University,
* one researcher from the provincial government, and
* an individual from the community (either health care or voluntary groups).
All individuals must be members of the PEI HRI. Representatives from the University are selected by the Director of Programs and Partnerships and the Chief Research Officer in consultation with the Vice President, Research & Development, UPEI. The UPEI members must be active researchers in human health with a well-established research program and a successful record of obtaining funding. They must hold either a professional degree and a Masters/PhD, or a PhD degree. The primary emphasis is on candidate excellence, but at least one representative must be from biomedical sciences and one must be from the social sciences. These members serve for a period of two years and may serve for a maximum of three consecutive terms.
Research committee candidates are selected from volunteers or nominations sent to the Director of Programs and Partnerships who will issue a call for Research Committee members as needed.
The representative from the provincial government must hold either a professional degree and a Masters/PhD, or a PhD degree, and must currently be engaged in active research. The selection is made by the Deputy Minister of Health and Social Services, or designate, in consultation with the PEI HRI Director of Programs and Partnerships and the Chief Research Officer. The appointment is for two years and there is no limit on the number of terms this individual may serve.
The Community representative, an affiliate member of the PEI HRI, plays an important role in ensuring appropriate external communication dealing with research activities and grants. The Community representative is selected, from nominations and volunteers, by the PEI HRI Director of Programs and Partnerships, the Chief Research Officer, the Vice President, Research & Development, UPEI and the Deputy Minister of Health and Social Services, or designate. The community representative serves for a period of two years, which is renewable once.
The Research Committee meets at least once every three months and on an as-required basis.
PEI HRI Advisory Council
The PEI HRI Advisory Council is responsible for providing advice and direction to the Director of Programs and Partnerships, the Chief Research Officer and the Vice President, Research & Development, UPEI, on major policy issues for the PEI HRI. The Council also serves as a major communications link across the province and with Atlantic Canada.
The Vice President, Research & Development, UPEI, is responsible for inviting individuals to serve on the PEI HRI Advisory Council.
The PEI HRI Advisory Council reviews the activities of the PEI HRI on a yearly basis, and meets at least once a year.
The Advisory Council consists of, but is not be restricted to:
* the Vice President, Research & Development, UPEI (Chair)
* Director of Programs and Partnerships, PEI HRI
* Chief Research Officer, PEI HRI
* Deputy Minister of Health and Social Services (or designate)
* Deputy Minister of Economic Development (or appropriate department or designate)
* Representative of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)
* the Biomedical representative from the PEI HRI Research Committee (two year term)
* the Social and/or behavioural sciences representative from the PEI HRI Research Committee
* PEI Medical Society/Institute for Human Health Research representative
* Association of Nurses of Prince Edward Island representative
* Non-governmental health-related organization representative (to be rotated every two years among organizations)
* Member of the general public with an interest in health research (2 year term)
* A Biomedical representative from other Atlantic Universities with a major health research interest (2 year term)
* A social sciences representative from other Atlantic Universities with a major health research interest (2 year term)
* A representative from a health-related industry (2 year term)
