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 300 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
- Youth mental 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
To advocate for equitable, evidence-based policies and innovations; and, to ensure an environment of equity, diversity and inclusion that recruits, trains and retains the best in basic, clinical and translational research aimed at improving the lives of all pregnant people, children, youth and families in Manitoba.
Vision
To be a national leader of knowledge, science and innovation in health for pregnant people, children, youth and families; and, to become a recognized champion for health and healthcare equity for all pregnant people, children, youth, and families in Manitoba by 2026.
Values
We are committed to:
• Viewing everything we do through a lens of equality, diversity and inclusion to help ensure health equity, anti-poverty, and anti-racism in health research and health care delivery for all pregnant people, children, youth and families
• Being mindful of how we identify problems, approach research topics, engage others, collect data, report on results, and apply the resulting research evidence
• Being open to diverse perspectives and ways of doing things
• Engaging interdisciplinary collaborators and community partners in research and the co-creation of knowledge
• Ensuring excellence and integrity in health research and health care delivery for all pregnant people, children, youth and families
• Committing to environmental sustainability practices
• Educating others with respect to these values
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 |
| Dr. Brandy Wicklow | Research Support Unit (RSU) Medical Director |
| Dr. Lauren Kelly | RSU Clinical Trials Director |
| Tannis Erickson | RSU Executive Director |
| Lise Bourrier, RN | RSU Program Manager |
| Jeannine Shellenberg, RN | RSU Trial Manager |
| Jeff Wilson | Finance Coordinator |
| Kathy Chmelnytzki | RSU Financial Coordinator |
| Erin Hill | Digital Communications Specialist |
| Savanna Lubimiv | Communications Specialist |
| Debbie Korpesho | Executive Assistant to Nichola Wigle |
| Chelsea Bowkett | Executive Assistant to Dr. Terry Klassen |
| Lorraine Hernaez | RSU Administrative Coordinator |
| Lana Peters | Administrative Coordinator |
| Meaghan Cabel | Program Coordinator |
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