National

B.C. approves health research centre construction at new St. Paul's Hospital

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 20 Dec, 2023 04:53 PM

British Columbia's provincial government is going ahead with the construction of a $638-million "state-of-the-art" research centre at the new St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouver.

Premier David Eby said at a news conference after touring the construction site at the new hospital on Thursday that the province has approved the business plan and funding for the new research facility.

Eby said the research centre is a major step in developing an "ecosystem" of multiple successful companies in the life-sciences sector in B.C., while also ensuring the province has access to the latest medical innovations by attracting top scientists in the field.

"When one company restructures and decides that they are not going to pursue a particular area, there are several other firms that are really excited to hire those experienced workers, and workers transition between the different companies," Eby said.

The goal, he said, is for the province to gain both the economic and health benefits of the knowledge and innovation generated by expert research locally.

"This building will be where we pair up this amazing research that has been happening for a long time with the work that happens in the hospital, so that British Columbians don't just get access to quality care," Eby said. "They get access to cutting-edge care."

Yesterday, we announced that a new Clinical Support and Research Centre will be built at the new St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver. This will result in scientific breakthroughs that help deliver better services and treatments for patients in BC and beyond. https://t.co/ACLk3ymtiy pic.twitter.com/yczVGIr95I
— David Eby (@Dave_Eby) December 15, 2023

The research centre will be built adjacent to the new St. Paul's Hospital.

The operator of St. Paul's Hospital, Providence Health Care, says the $2.2-billion hospital on the site next to Vancouver's Pacific Central rail and bus station is slated to open in 2027.

The province said the research centre will be directly connected to the hospital with a sky bridge and include emerging technology infrastructure such as 3D bio-printing to support medical and health research conducted at the facility.

The cost of construction will be shared by the province, which will contribute about $332 million, Providence Health Care, the St. Paul's Foundation and ChildCare BC New Spaces Fund.

The province said its goal is for the research centre to act "as a cornerstone" for B.C.'s hub for life-sciences research.

Providence Health operates a number of research centres at the current St. Paul's Hospital, and the province said those operations will all move to the new facility, joining "specialty physician practices" that will complement the care provided by the hospital.

Some of the research centres that will make the move include the Centre for Heart Lung Innovation, the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, the BC Centre on Substance Use and the Centre for Advancing Health Outcomes.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Changes to minimum tax to add $2.6 billion over five years for feds: PBO

The parliamentary budget officer says the federal government's proposed changes to the alternative minimum tax will generate an additional $2.6 billion in revenue over five years. The tax aims to ensure high-income earners and trusts don't pay disproportionately less in taxes than other taxpayers.

Changes to minimum tax to add $2.6 billion over five years for feds: PBO

Federal prediction says parts of Canada could see wildfires through winter

The latest federal government forecast says Canada's already unprecedented 2023 wildfire season could continue late into the fall or winter. Energy and Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson says there is potential for increased wildland fire activity from eastern Alberta through to central Ontario at least until the end of this month, while fires in B.C. and the Northwest Territories will continue to smoulder.

Federal prediction says parts of Canada could see wildfires through winter

Derelict boats removal in Surrey

The City of Surrey says it will be removing derelict boats from the Nicomekl River this month. The city says boats have been illegally mooring on a narrow section of the river, dumping raw sewage and garbage into the water, and creating hazards for other boaters.

Derelict boats removal in Surrey

Police return emotional support rabbit that ran loose in Vancouver SkyTrain station

A rabbit that hopped the tracks at a downtown Vancouver transit station was reunited with its owner after efforts by passengers and police. Metro Vancouver Transit Police say the bunny was running loose last Thursday at the Granville SkyTrain station when a passenger picked it up and handed it to officers patrolling the underground stop.

Police return emotional support rabbit that ran loose in Vancouver SkyTrain station

Private donation helps attract teachers to rural B.C. with $10,000 cash welcome gifts

A rural school district in the British Columbia Interior has filled a shortfall of teachers with help from an anonymous benefactor who donated $200,000 to welcome new educators. At a time when schools across the province are struggling with staff recruitment and retention, the Gold Trail School District offered $10,000 incentives to attract new teachers, and $15,000 for those who agreed to move to the small town of Lytton which was devastated by fire two years ago.

Private donation helps attract teachers to rural B.C. with $10,000 cash welcome gifts

'There's no one to fill his shoes': Journalist and author Peter C. Newman dies at 94

Veteran journalist and author Peter C. Newman, who held a mirror up to Canada, has died at the age of 94. He died in hospital in Belleville, Ont., Thursday morning from complications related to a stroke he had last year, which caused him to develop Parkinson's disease, his wife Alvy Newman said by phone.