Health Sciences

Overview 

Alberta made investments in the health sciences a top priority in its innovation system.  Alberta’s post-secondary institutions are home to leading researchers and cutting-edge research facilities in diverse fields, including oncology, diabetes, and cardiology.  The province has a growing number of biomedical industries with strengths in biomedical technologies and medical devices.

Prominent Health Sciences Research Facilities in Alberta

Northern Alberta Clinical Trials and Research Centre (NACTRC) 
NACTRC provides pharmaceutical and research-intensive companies with access to high-quality, cost-efficient clinical trial research.  It offers state-of-the-art phase one facilities located in a major population centre.

The Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience (CCBN) 
This internationally-recognized group has a broad range of research interests, including the neural mechanisms of learning, brain plasticity, and recovery of function, brain development, and brain disease. The CCBN is a world-class research facility for behavioural neuroscience research.

Health Research Innovation Facility (HRIF)
HRIF is a translational research centre designed to create an environment for innovative "bench-to-bedside" health research by increasing interaction between researchers and clinicians focused on common medical issues. It is located at the University of Alberta, and is home for the Alberta Diabetes Institute, as well as many other research initiatives.  

Health Research Innovation Centre (HRIC)
This centre is located at the University of Calgary and has the capacity to serve over 150,000 patients per year.  The multi-story research facility consists of wet and dry labs, office space, and patient clinics.  The buildings facilitate the translation of research from laboratory benches to patient bedsides.  Institutes within the facility include the Southern Alberta Cancer Research Institute and the Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta.

Alberta Health Services
Alberta Health Services (AHS) will provide a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans.  AHS will coordinate research programs that increase clinical, translational, health services and public health research outputs applied locally, provincially and globally to improve health service delivery, disease/injury prevention and health outcomes.

The National Institute for Nanotechnology
The National Institute for Nanotechnology (NINT) is an integrated, multi-disciplinary institution involving researchers in physics, chemistry, engineering, biology, informatics, pharmacy and medicine. Established in 2001, it is operated as a partnership between the National Research Council and the University of Alberta, and is jointly funded by the Government of Canada, the Government of Alberta and the university.