Research represents one of the most dynamic elements of the university enterprise at Queen's. The role of the Vice-Principal Research (VPR) reflects the responsibilities associated with coordinating and promoting research, and advancing the research activities that contribute to new discoveries and creative works, scientific and technical breakthroughs, advances in the social sciences and humanities, innovation, institutional reputation, and importantly to the education and training of both undergraduate and graduate students.
Research News
Chair of the Health Sciences and Affiliated Teaching Hospitals Research Ethics Board
The Vice-Principal Research portfolio is seeking internal applications for the position of Chair of the Health Sciences and Affiliated Teaching Hospitals Research Ethics Board (HSREB).
The HSREB Chair has ultimate responsibility for ensuring that the research ethics board acts in accordance with all applicable regulations, guidelines and policies governing research ethics boards, and works with HSREB members to review, propose modifications to, approve, reject, suspend or terminate any proposed or ongoing research involving human participants.
Details of this role and application process can be found at queensu.ca/vpr/hsreb
Research involving Russian affiliations
The Vice-Principal Research Portfolio has provided guidance for the Queen's research community in decision-making with vendors, research partners, students, academics, and others impacted by Russia’s attack on Ukraine. Support information has also been added from the Tri-Agencies who are offering special funding, in the form of supplements to existing research grants, that will provide relief and assistance to research trainees from Ukraine.
View guidance and support
Feedback welcome on Institutional Strategy for Research Data Management
The Vice-Principal Research portfolio, under the direction of Dr. Betsy Donald, Associate Vice-Principal Research and SSHRC Leader, has been preparing for the Tri-Agency Research Data Management (RDM) Policy requirements since Spring 2021. A working group, including representation from the University Library, the Centre for Advanced Computing, Information Technology Services, Research Services, Legal Counsel, and the Privacy Office, was established to fulfill the roles and responsibilities indicated in the Tri-Agency RDM Policy through the creation of an institutional strategy. The draft Queen’s RDM strategy is posted on the VPR website, and the portfolio is actively seeking feedback from the research community. Please take time to review the strategy. Your participation will inform and advance RDM at the institution, and we are dedicated to building RDM capacity at Queen’s.
Safeguarding Research Strategy for Queen’s University
In Spring 2021, the Government of Canada released a Research Security Policy Statement outlining plans to “balance openness and collaboration with appropriate safeguards for Canadian researchers’ knowledge, data and intellectual property.” New guidelines were implemented for researchers working with partners in the private sector and applying for the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada’s Alliance grant. It is anticipated that similar guidelines will apply to all Tri-Agency and Canada Foundation for Innovation grants that have collaborative partnerships. As such, Queen’s University encourages all involved in research to conduct due diligence, attending to potential security risks and taking precautions to protect their research. Ensuring research is not exploited or misused requires a commitment to precautionary measures to mitigate risk, thus ensuring the benefits of research to the research community and beyond. To support the research community in this work, the VPR has created a Safeguarding Research Strategy to acknowledge and support our commitment to the research community in their safeguarding endeavours. Please take time to view the strategy on the VPR website.
New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF)
Queen’s has received $3M from the New Frontiers in Research Fund programs for projects pushing the frontiers of knowledge and pioneering solutions to overcome challenges brought on by the pandemic. Two streams of winners were announced – those in the 2021 Exploration stream, and those in the 2021 Innovative Approaches to Research in the Pandemic Context competition. The full list of winners and a description of their work was published in the Queen’s Gazette.
Resources for Research at Queen’s (R4R@Q)
The 2022 edition of the Resources for Research at Queen’s (R4R@Q) webinar series is underway. The first session on Research Data Management was well received with over 60 registrations. The focus now shifts to a three-part series on EDI in research. The first session saw over 90 registrations for “Introduction to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Research Design.” The goal of the series is to support researchers at every stage of their careers to embed EDI in their research practices. The series continues on April 27 with a session on Developing Inclusive Research Teams and concludes on June 8 with Embedding EDI in Knowledge Mobilization, Translation, and Data Management.
Interested participants can register at queensu.ca/vpr/R4R@Q
Recent Honours and Awards
Dr. Katherine McKittrick’s received the AAG Meridian Book Award for Outstanding Scholarly Work in Geography
Partnerships and Innovation
WEMA wins Audience Choice Award in FACIT Falcons’ Fortunes pitch competition
Recently, WEMA Inc. led by Queen’s researcher Karen Yeates and her Queen’s-based team had the opportunity to participate in the Falcons’ Fortunes pitch competition hosted by FACIT, a commercialization venture firm that builds companies with entrepreneurs to accelerate oncology innovations.
Their pitch on the development of SEVIA (Smartphone Enhanced Visual Assessment) to make virtual screening services more accessible to women, especially in remote communities, will rapidly increase access and accuracy of cervical cancer screening. The pitch was awarded the Audience Choice Award and brought awareness to the SEVIA platform.
Read how QPI helped