BC researchers are at the forefront of tackling our province’s most pressing health challenges, advancing knowledge across biomedical, clinical, health system, and population health research. This year, 26 outstanding scientists and health professionals will receive Michael Smith Health Research BC Scholar and Health Professional-Investigator (HP-I) salary awards, providing the support they need to expand their impact.

  • 15 Scholar awardees are building innovative research programs and mentoring the next generation of scientists. See full list
  • 11 HP-I awardees are building research programs informed by patient care. See full list

Awardees come from across BC, reflecting the importance of research shaped by, and responsive to, diverse communities.

This year’s competition marked the first time our peer review process included an Indigenous health research panel. We are grateful to the Indigenous scholars, advisors, community partners, consultants, and panel members whose guidance helped ensure a culturally safe funding process. We remain committed to building capacity for the review and support of Indigenous health research, while recognizing the importance of continued learning in this work.

Partnerships for impact

Partnerships are integral to maximizing research impact, and this year is no exception. Thank you to the 2025 award partners who will co-fund five Scholar and HP-I awards with us:

  • Parkinson Society British Columbia
  • BC Schizophrenia Society Foundation
  • CLEAR Foundation
  • Alzheimer Society of BC
  • Foundry

These partnerships help secure additional funding and provide vital connections between researchers, partner organizations, and patient groups. Learn more about partnerships

Positioning BC’s research system for the future

Looking ahead, we will pause the Scholar and HP-I programs while we engage the research community in discussions about talent needs and gaps. We will work alongside other organizations to develop appropriate responses to the challenges and opportunities facing research talent in British Columbia.