The Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM) is the research division of the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba. At the Institute, more than 270 world-class pediatric medical researchers, technical staff, students, and support staff are involved in nearly $20 million of research and clinical trial activity each year. CHRIM is the first research facility dedicated exclusively to pediatric research in the prairie provinces.
CHRIM brings together top researchers from a variety of health disciplines who share a common goal of improving the health of children and youth. By including a wide range of disciplines, CHRIM has the unique ability to look at the overall picture of pediatric health – not just one area. The Institute fosters a collaborative and innovative research environment, offering hope to children and their families as researchers work towards medical breakthroughs and cures for childhood illness.
Key areas of study at CHRIM include:
- Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes
- Respiratory challenges
- Developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD)
- Vaccines for infectious diseases
- Nutrition and metabolism
- Obesity and physical activity
- Kidney disease
- Genetics
- Neurosciences
- Pharmacology
- Autism
- Emergency medicine
- Oral health
The Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba is the main operating funding source for the Institute. The Foundation invests directly into research by providing core funding for research projects, and provides administrative and infrastructure supports for researchers. With the support of the Foundation and the resources provided by the Institute, CHRIM investigators have more opportunities and better success in applying for external funding.
Mission, Vision & Values
Mission
The mission of the Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba is to improve the health of infants, children, youth, maternal health, and society by creating an environment that attracts and retains the best scientists and clinicians. As a leading voice and recognized advocate for excellence in research, the development and application of treatments and cures will lead to improvements in child health.
Vision
The vision of the Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba is to be a leading contributor of science and knowledge through discoveries. The institute will improve the quality of life for infants, children, youth, and maternal health within Manitoba and beyond.
Values
Knowledge, Innovation, Integrity and Involvement –
of our research community
Strength and Effectiveness –
of partnerships with the broader health care community (special attention to our partners in Manitoba)
Dedication –
as an unwavering expectation of staff at CHRIM
Support –
of donors through the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba
Excellence –
as a standard in child health research and care
History
Pediatric research has a long and well-respected history in Manitoba, dating back to at least 1925. Manitoba’s pediatric researchers have received international acclaim and made important contributions to many areas of research including respirology, allergy and clinical immunology, genetics, and neonatology.
A dependable source of funding for pediatric research did not exist in Manitoba until 1959 when the Children’s Hospital Research Fund was created. That fund led to the establishment of the Children’s Hospital Foundation in 1971. Since then, the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba (CHFM) has continued to successfully raise and distribute millions of dollars each year for child health research and care.
In 2001, the CHFM created the Manitoba Institute of Child Health, which changed its name to the Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM) in 2015. As the research division of the Foundation, the Institute took over the administration of all Foundation research support programs and oversaw the development and strategic expansion of operations of the 5th floor of the John Buhler Research Centre.
In 2008, CHRIM expanded to the 6th floor of the John Buhler Research Centre, allowing for the development of state of the art collaborative lab spaces and additional office space for researchers. This expansion made CHRIM the largest pediatric research facility in the Canadian prairies.
Our Team
| Dr. Terry Klassen | CEO & Scientific Director |
| Nichola Wigle | Chief Operating Officer |
| Kelly Ross | Human Resources Manager |
| Stephanie Matthews | Director of Communications & Marketing |
| Scott Gray | Director of Finance |
| Brandy Wicklow | Research Support Unit Medical Lead |
| Tannis Erickson | Research Support Unit Executive Director |
| Rachel Keijzer | Research Support Unit Program Manager |
| Jeff Wilson | Finance Coordinator |
| Erin Hill | Communications Specialist |
| Savanna Lubimiv | Communications Specialist |
| Debbie Korpesho | Executive Assistant to Nichola Wigle |
| Chelsea Bowkett | Executive Assistant to Dr. Terry Klassen |
| Lorraine Hernaez | Administrative Coordinator, Research Support Unit |
| Lana Peters | Receptionist |
Board of Directors
- Scott Lancaster, Chair
- Joy Cramer, Vice-Chair
- Arlene Hintsa, Secretary
- Chris Kauenhofen, Treasurer
- Wilf Brock
- Philipa Caplan
- Dr. Kevin Coombs
- Dr. Meaghan Jones
- Dr. Richard Keijzer
- Dr. Adena Madison
- Cheryl Moser
- Dr. Peter Nickerson
- Zoe Richardson
- Dr. Kelly Russell
Ex-Officio
- Dr. Terry Klassen
- Dr. Patricia Birk
- Stefano Grande