EDMONTON — A landmark $93.5 million gift is making history, cementing a long-standing partnership between some of Alberta’s leading forces in women and children’s health research.
Today, the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation (SCHF) and the Alberta Women’s Health Foundation (AWHF) announced a gift of a combined $93.5 million to the University of Alberta-based Women and Children’s Health Research Institute (WCHRI) over the next 10 years — the largest gift in the U of A’s history.It includes commitments of $70 million from SCHF and $23.5 million from AWHF.
WCHRI is Canada’s only research institute dedicated to investigating women’s, children’s and perinatal health. It operates at the U of A through a partnership with the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation, the Alberta Women’s Health Foundation and Alberta Health Services.
This commitment marks the third consecutive decade of the collaboration, adding to the foundations’ combined support of more than $112 million since 2006. The new gift secures another decade of funding for critical research, building on these partners as global leaders in health care.
The partnership supports the research of clinicians and scientists who strive to close critical gaps in research for women and children, resulting in healthier pregnancies, more resilient kids, and better outcomes for Alberta families. The research happening through this partnership ranges from reducing children’s pain and distress in hospital to groundbreaking findings that women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are three times more likely to develop diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
More information can be found here. For interviews, please contact:
Sarah Vernon | Media Strategist, University of Alberta | svernon@ualberta.ca | 780-818-0901
Cheryl Spencer-Morley | Director, Communications, Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation | cheryl.spencer-morley@stollerykids.com | 780-989-7392
Lindsay Robertson | Vice President of Communications, Marketing, and Brand, Alberta Women’s Health Foundation | lrobertson@royalalex.org | 780-217-2612
Quotes:
“Together, we are advancing a future where health is more than the absence of illness. It is the opportunity for every woman and child to thrive. Supported by this historic gift, we are shaping the wellness of generations to come.”
Bill Flanagan, President and Vice-Chancellor, University of Alberta
"Health research is deeply embedded across local hospitals and community sites, and we are profoundly grateful for the support that makes this work possible. Our partners' long-standing investment has empowered researchers to accelerate discoveries that directly improve patient care. This remarkable gift ensures we can confidently advance our mission of life-changing research, training, and clinical excellence for years to come."
Brenda Hemmelgarn, Dean and Vice-Provost, College of Health Sciences, University of Alberta
"This landmark gift is a powerful testament to our shared long-term vision, reaffirming women’s, children’s and perinatal health as top-tier academic and clinical priorities. Working alongside our strategic partners, this sustained funding enables us to continue supporting research crucial to closing knowledge gaps by turning hypotheses into tangible outcomes. Over the next decade, keeping these vital areas at the forefront of innovation and care will shape a healthier future for women, children and communities as a whole."
Sandra Davidge, Executive Director, Women and Children’s Health Research Institute
“Children’s health is evolving quickly. New technologies, new scientific discoveries and new collaborations are opening doors that didn’t exist even a few years ago. By investing in research today, we’re helping create the breakthroughs that will transform how childhood illnesses are prevented, diagnosed and treated in the future. And we’re incredibly excited to see what the next ten years will bring.”
Karen Faulkner, President and CEO, Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation
“Only seven per cent of health research in Canada is specific to women’s conditions and diseases. As a result, women are often left with more questions than answers about their health. The gap in women’s health is a national concern, but we can be the generation that closes it.”
Sharlene Rutherford, President and CEO, Alberta Women’s Health Foundation
“We’re very grateful for this gift and what it means for families across Alberta. It will help our teams continue improving care for mothers, babies and children, and support new ideas that make a real difference for patients and families every day.”
Andre Tremblay, CEO, Alberta Health Services
About the University of Alberta (ualberta.ca | @UAlberta)
The University of Alberta exists to inspire and ignite the human spirit in pursuit of a better tomorrow. Its work is rooted in a commitment to creating a university community where everyone feels valued, barriers to success are removed, and thriving connections are fostered while honoring Indigenous identities, languages, cultures and world views.
As one of the world’s top 100 teaching and research universities, the U of A ranks among the Top 4 in Canada, providing a $19.4 billion annual economic impact in Alberta alone. The U of A seeks to challenge, to change and to always be Leading with Purpose.
About the Women and Children’s Health Research Institute (wchri.org | @WCHRIUofA)
WCHRI was founded in 2006 as a collaborative partnership between the University of Alberta, Alberta Health Services, the Stollery Children's Hospital Foundation, and the Alberta Women's Health Foundation. It supports research dedicated to improving the health and lives of women and children and is the only research institute in Canada — and one of the few in the world — to focus on both women’s and children’s health, including perinatal health.
About the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation (StolleryKids.com | @StolleryKids)
The Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation is the fundraising partner of the Stollery Children’s Hospital. Through the historic $1 billion No Bounds campaign, the Foundation supports world-class care today while helping to build a new stand-alone children’s hospital.
Donor funds support funds equipment, research, training and specialized programs that improve care and outcomes for kids. Together with our partners and community, we are helping every child have the best chance to live a long and healthy life.
About the Alberta Women’s Health Foundation (albertawomenshealthfoundation.org | @abwomenshealth)
The Alberta Women’s Health Foundation is dedicated to advancing the health of women and all individuals with female anatomy through research, education, and advocacy. As an initiative of the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation, the AWHF seeks to bridge the gender health gap and drive meaningful change in women’s health care.
About Alberta Health Services (albertahealthservices.ca | @AHS_media)
Alberta Health Services provides acute care services for more than five million Albertans at hospitals, urgent care centres and health centres across the province. Our mission is to provide excellent and accessible patient-focused healthcare for all Albertans. Our current focus is on reducing emergency department wait times, increasing access to surgeries and improving patient flow.