Research Profiles – Time to Rewrite the Textbooks: Innovative Tools and Methods
Behind every leap forward in research, there is a new way of doing things or a new technology that made it possible. The microscope gave researchers an unprecedented view of the microbial world. Gene sequencing technology triggered a rapid expansion in our understanding of human development and health. And particle accelerators like the Large Hadron Collider have allowed us to observe particles that previously only existed in theory.
Some of the most innovative work in health research today focusses on how researchers ask questions. These researchers are working on new tools that will make the invisible visible. They are developing knowledge frameworks that will help scientists study mind-bogglingly complex systems. They are repurposing existing technologies to help answer pressing health questions.
The following research profiles highlight the work of CIHR-funded researchers who are using exciting new tools, techniques and methodologies in their work.
- Macrophages are Red, Platelets are Blue...: Dr. Paul Kubes at the University of Calgary has adapted a new microscope technology that allows researchers to look inside blood vessels and study the immune system at work.
- Traffic Control: Dr. Mikiko Terashima at Dalhousie University is using GPS to track ambulances to improve overall emergency services in Nova Scotia.
- Context is Key: Dr. Allan Best at the University of British Columbia is using Rapid Realist reviews to help policy makers evaluate the success of new health care interventions in different settings.
