Congratulations to WCHRI for another successful Research Day!

On October 18, 2023, the Women and Children’s Health Research Institute (WCHRI) hosted their 16th Annual Research Day—a day dedicated to sharing and celebrating the latest findings in women’s health research.

On behalf of the Alberta Women’s Health Foundation, please join us in extending a sincere congratulations to WCHRI on another successful and meaningful event!

The event is designed to provide a highly engaging platform for trainees to showcase their research accomplishments and engage in a networking environment, complete with judging and awards. Held at the Westin Edmonton, Research Day 2023 brought together a number of WCHRI members, donors and stakeholders, including founding partners the University of Alberta, Alberta Health Services, the Alberta Women’s Health Foundation, and the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation.

We invite you to watch a short video of the event:



Dr. Sandra Davidge
, Executive Director of WCHRI, along with Todd Alexander, Associate Director of WCHRI, shared that WCHRI received 145 abstract applications for the day, which were showcased via posters as well as oral presentations. Sharing remarks from the podium were Dr. Bill Flanagan, President of the University of Alberta, Natalie McMurtry, Interim Vice President of Provincial Clinical Excellence at Alberta Health Services, Delphine Brooker, Board of Trustees representative with the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation.

The AWHF was proudly represented by Sharlene Rutherford, President and CEO, who was invited to share remarks, along with a number of foundation members who hosted a booth invite and encourage more ways to participate in the conversation around improving women’s health and raising awareness of key issues.

“We are on the precipice of societal change in the ways in which we value research in women’s, and how women’s health research impacts health outcomes. [WCHRI] has been instrumental in this shift, and Research Day is about one capstone that celebrates these achievements.”
– Sharlene Rutherford, President & CEO, AWHF

Attendees were also treated to a keynote presentation entitled, “Regenerative medicine in perinatal medicine: a bench to bedside story,” delivered by Dr. Bernard Thébaud. Dr. Thébaud is a senior scientist of the Regenerative Medicine Program at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, a clinician-scientist in the field of stem-cell/regenerative medicine, and a practicing neonatologist and a former WCHRI member.

Thank you again to WCHRI for your commitment to improving women and children’s health, being such a powerful catalyst for collaboration, and helping build a brighter, healthier future. Through WCHRI, the AWHF supports the work of over 160 women’s health researchers, 34 trainees, and four endowed Research Chairs. We are proud to be your partner.

As Sharlene Rutherford stated in her remarks, “We have much to celebrate together – though we are based in Alberta, our collective impact extends far beyond the province’s borders.”

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