Investing in the next generation of digestive health research

McMaster is launching a search for the next generation of groundbreaking digestive health researchers as it recruits the inaugural Douglas Family Chair in Gastroenterology Research. The new Douglas Family Chair will be part of the Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute.

“Thanks to a very strategic and generous investment from the Douglas family, McMaster will continue its 30-year history of being a worldwide leader in digestive health,” says McMaster President Patrick Deane. “We are deeply appreciative of the Douglas family’s generosity and foresight as they contribute to the Farncombe Institute’s impactful research and patient care.”

Gastrointestinal research has been a significant strength at McMaster for more than three decades. In 2008, the Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute was launched seeking to understand the role of intestinal bacteria in the maintenance of health and the expression of chronic diseases within and beyond the gut.

“The new Douglas Family Chair will augment a team of leading researchers and clinicians who are advancing patient care and working on preventative approaches,” says Paul O’Byrne, Dean and Vice President, Faculty of Health Sciences. “The ability to retain or secure the next generation of Canadian health scientists in this field is essential to continue this work. I am profoundly thankful for the Douglas family’s generous support and investment.”

The Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute is home to 28 full-time and associate members focused on primary research on the role of intestinal microbiota in health and disease. The Institute’s translational research profile is internationally recognized and its clinical research centre is home to clinical trials and meta-analyses studies conducted in hospitals around the world.

“Providing opportunities for the next generation of outstanding researchers is critically important for the health and wellbeing of Canadians,” says Stephen Collins, Institute Director. “This investment will result in new approaches, new discoveries and better ways of treating digestive health illness. Moreover, directing this gift to the next generation of scientists will signal to our trainees that the creation of new career opportunities is an institutional priority. We salute this impactful and important gift from the Douglas Family.”

The search for the inaugural chair is now underway.