Established in 2001, the Manitoba Institute of Child Health is the research division of the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba. It is the only research institute dedicated exclusively to pediatric research in the Prairie Provinces. At the Institute, over 220 world-class pediatric medical researchers, technical staff, students and support staff are involved in over $8 million of research and clinical trial activity each year.

The Manitoba Institute of Child Health is located in the heart of Winnipeg on the 5th and 6th floors of the John Buhler Research Centre. The Institute is conveniently situated within the Health Science Centre site and the University of Manitoba Bannatyne Campus. The Institute houses 30,000 square feet of state-of-the-art research space on the 5th floor, with another 30,000 square feet currently under construction on the 6th floor.

Research is the key to saving lives, making sick children well again, and preventing kids from getting sick in the first place. The Institute offers hope to children and their families, as researchers work towards medical breakthroughs and cures for childhood illness.

The Manitoba Institute of Child Health brings together researchers from a variety of health disciplines who share a common goal of improving the health of children and youth. By fostering a collaborative and innovative research environment right here in Manitoba, and by supporting the administrative and infrastructure needs of our researchers, the Manitoba Institute of Child Health is committed to enhancing the quality of children’s lives within our community and around the globe.

The leading research theme at the Institute is the Biology of Breathing. This theme brings together an influential group of researchers who are focused specifically on pediatric respiratory challenges – including asthma, the most common chronic condition affecting children in Canada, with 10 percent of Manitoba kids affected by the disease.

Other areas being studied at the Institute include:

• Vaccines for pediatric infectious diseases
• Nutrition and metabolism
• Childhood obesity and physical activity in children and youth
• Type 1 & Type 2 diabetes
• Kidney disease
• Genetics
• Neurosciences
• Pharmacology
• Autism
• Pediatric HIV

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 support, facilities, space and equipment for scientists to conduct their ground breaking work. Major funding is also allocated to training scientists at all levels of their academic journey.

In 2008, the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba invested nearly $4-million in pediatric research at the Manitoba Institute of Child Health. Another $4-million in funding was received by our researchers through peer reviewed grants in direct support their work.