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FREDERICTON, N.B. – New Brunswick’s health and bioscience research organizations are merging, beginning a new era of support for scientific discovery and economic investment.
The New Brunswick Health Research Foundation (NBHRF) and BioNB announced the merger today in Fredericton. The two organizations will come together under a new name and brand, which will be released later this month.
“We’re incredibly excited about bringing together these uniquely skilled and focused organizations,” said Damon Goodwin, who will serve as the new organization’s chief executive officer. “A number of healthcare sector challenges intersect with the environmental sciences, resource, and clean tech sectors. By combining forces, we can be stronger advocates for research in the province and provide the strategic leadership the research sector needs to truly fulfill its potential.”
Combining the expertise and leadership of NBHRF and BioNB will support the province to attract and retain high-caliber talent across sectors, improving health care for New Brunswickers, and growing New Brunswick’s bioeconomy.
“We’re pleased to support the merger of the New Brunswick Health Research Foundation with BioNB,” said Bruce Fitch, provincial Minister of Health. “A healthy research sector supports the recruitment and retention of top talent to our province. By combining forces as a new organization, they can better support health and bioscience research and that will benefit all New Brunswickers. ”
The NBHRF is an innovation enabler, supporting a wide range of health research projects from the ground up by providing funding and offering critical guidance to researchers, connecting them to additional funding sources, and helping expand their network. In 2022, total investment in New Brunswick’s health research sector reached $59 million, a 26 percent increase over the year before.
“By joining with BioNB, the NBHRF is committed to expanding research and innovation to contribute to a better New Brunswick,” said Tracy Clinch, NBHRF board chair. “This merger means we’ll be better equipped to support provincial government priorities and challenges ranging from improved access to primary health care to addressing the impact of climate change on the agricultural industry.”
BioNB is also engaged in the research sector and has a mandate to foster New Brunswick’s bioscience sector by providing leadership and support to increase the province’s research, development, and commercialization capacity. It works with start-ups, established companies, associations, research institutions, and governments to advance the provincial bioeconomy by supporting entrepreneurs and researchers who translate their science into economic opportunities.
“New Brunswick has an incredibly active and lucrative biosciences sector,” said David MaGee, BioNB board chair. “By joining with the NBHRF, we’ll be able to continue to drive the province’s bioeconomy and expand our scope to focus on the connections between our work and that of the NBHRF, making important advances with life-changing results. Together, we’ll make smarter investments with our research dollars that lead to better impacts for New Brunswickers.”
Media Contact:
Patricia Seaman
New Brunswick Health Research Foundation
506-455-8886
patricia.seaman@researchnb.ca
