Anne SnowdonAnne Snowdon will lead a team of 18 researchers working with 40 partner organizations and citizen advocacy groups across the country to improve supply chains in Canadian health care.

Business professor to lead $2.5 million study on health-care supply chains

A University of Windsor business professor has been awarded nearly $2.5 million to research ways to improve supply chains in Canadian health care.

Anne Snowdon, scientific director and CEO of the Supply Chain Advancement Network in Health (SCAN Health) at the Odette School of Business, will use the grant to fund a five-year research project. The project’s aim is to advance supply chain resilience, workforce sustainability, and economic recovery in Canada’s post-pandemic future.

“COVID-19 has laid bare the need to learn from the past and share knowledge and expertise to strengthen supply chain resilience, capacity, and co-ordination across jurisdictions,” said Dr. Snowdon.

“These new solutions and platforms, informed by research, will enable understanding, collaboration, and co-ordination among the many supply chain teams and stakeholders across Canada to advance and strengthen supply chain resilience, contribute to Canada’s global competitiveness, effectively respond to disruptions in supply, and protect the health and safety of all Canadians.”

Along with University of Calgary professor Pierre-Guelier Forest, Snowdon will lead a team of 18 researchers working with 40 partner organizations and citizen advocacy groups. They will develop supply chain solutions, practices, and measurement tools so the health-care system is better able to manage COVID-19 and respond to future pandemics.

“We look forward to collaborating, sharing knowledge, and breaking barriers that will advance our pandemic response and improve safety for Canadians,” Snowdon said.

The project is one of 809 across the country receiving a total of $175 million from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, François-Philippe Champagne, federal minister of innovation, science, and industry, announced recently.

“Now, more than ever, social sciences and humanities research plays an integral role as we navigate through the post-COVID-19 reality and continue to build a healthier, stronger, and more prosperous Canada,” Champagne said.

“These grants enable scholars to address complex issues about communities and societies, and to further our collective understanding so we can build a better future for all Canadians.”

—Sarah Sacheli

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