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Research into the pathogenesis, etiology,
and prevention of skin diseases is limited
and Canada lacks comprehensive systems
for training high quality researchers
in the properties and problems of the
skin.
With this need in mind, approximately
60 individuals with a broad range of
interests in skin health research attended
a one-and-a-half day workshop in 2004.
This workshop was designed to address
issues pertinent to, and to formulate
actions for, a national plan for skin
health research. Participants represented
a broad spectrum of stakeholders including
researchers, clinicians (including dermatologists,
rheumatologists and plastic surgeons),
patients, nurses, industry, voluntary
health organizations, academia, and government
representatives—bringing together
a diversity of opinion leaders unprecedented
in the history of Canadian skin health.
The workshop provided significant insights
into current skin disease research in
Canada. The participants worked to determine
the national priorities for skin disease
research and develop a framework for
a national plan for excellence in skin
disease research in Canada. The workshop
was also intended to provide an opportunity
for a diverse group of stakeholders to
come together for the first time to share
information and exchange ideas about
the future of skin disease research in
this country. From this workshop the
vision of the Skin Research Training
Centre was developed.
In 2006 stakeholders in Canadian dermatology
located in Vancouver, and members of
the University of British Columbia, proposed
the formation of the Skin Research Training
Centre (SRTC) to the Canadian Institutes
of Health (CIHR). With $1.8 million of
financial support of the CIHR, the SRTC
launched in 2007 and recruited its first
trainees in the fall. Since then, the
SRTC has accepted postdoctoral research
scientists, clinician-investigators,
and graduate research students on a biannual
basis. The objective is to support 60
trainee-years in skin research by 2013.
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