Discovery. Collaboration. Impact.
We are shaping the future of health.
Improving health requires more than advancing science—it means putting patients and communities at the centre of all that we do, from prevention to therapies and interventions that improve lives and lead to better outcomes. At the University of Alberta, we’re not just imagining a healthier future. We’re building it.
With a transformational $25 million gift, the Dianne and Irving Kipnes Health Research Institute — housed in the College of Health Sciences — unites researchers, clinicians, learners, policymakers and communities. Together, we will accelerate discovery, connect research to practice and prepare the next generation of health leaders, so that every innovation translates into healthier lives for people in Alberta and beyond.
Director, Dianne and Irving Kipnes Health Research Institute
Big challenges demand bold collaboration. Our mission is clear and urgent: to build a world-class learning health system where state-of-the-art tools and technologies improve care, clinical trials validate new approaches, and specialized programs demonstrate the full cycle of research, from discovery to implementation to impact. Together, these efforts create a continuous cycle of learning and improvement, bringing the best of health research and innovation to Albertans and translating it into better health and better outcomes for all.
The Institute proudly carries forward the vision of Dianne and Irving Kipnes, whose extraordinary generosity is creating new possibilities for health research and innovation.
To create a learning health system where artificial intelligence enhances care, clinical trials validate breakthroughs and specialized programs demonstrate the full cycle of research from insight to impact — continuously improving outcomes for all Albertans.
We help researchers turn ideas into action by connecting them with the data, expertise, analytics, infrastructure and partnerships needed to move their research forward and accelerate its impact.
Working across disciplines and organizations, we champion team science—bringing together researchers, health system partners and other collaborators to catalyze ambitious research initiatives, pursue major team-based funding opportunities, and mobilize diverse expertise to leverage emerging opportunities and address complex health research and healthcare challenges.
Through meetings, events, and other engagement opportunities, we help spark new ideas and collaborations, exchange knowledge, and build a more connected research community.
Have a research idea, an emerging collaboration or a major funding opportunity? Connect with us to explore how the Kipnes Institute can help move it forward.
A diverse, interdisciplinary community dedicated to turning data into solutions — responsibly, collaboratively and for all. The AI + Health Hub develops digital health tools and data-driven solutions that improve prevention, diagnosis and access to care for all populations. Learn more
Catalyzing high-impact clinical trials that bring together researchers, clinicians, patients and other health ecosystem partners to test promising innovations and accelerate their path into better care.
Building on the Dianne and Irving Kipnes Endowed Chair in Lymphatic Disorders, the Lymphedema Research + Training Program advances research and builds awareness and skills across the health system so that more people can benefit from timely, evidence-based lymphedema management.
Learn more about the position, the recruitment process, and opportunities to participate in the selection of the Inaugural Institute Director of the Dianne and Irving Kipnes Health Research Institute.
The University of Alberta is uniquely positioned to lead this transformation. We have:
Our contributions span from the Edmonton Protocol for islet transplantation to global standards in cancer rehabilitation and long-term care.
Alberta’s unified provincial health system provides a foundation for unmatched health data and discovery.
Longstanding partnerships with Indigenous, rural, and underserved communities, built on authentic engagement, ensure innovations improve health for all.
Our world-class infrastructure, experience and expertise make trials more efficient, inclusive and impactful.
Irving and Dianne Kipnes have been part of the U of A community for decades. Irving is a graduate of the U of A Faculty of Engineering, and Dianne spent the early years of her career as a therapist at the U of A Hospital’s Psychiatric Walk-In Clinic. In 2009, both Irving and Dianne received honorary degrees for their commitments to the U of A.
In addition to the Dianne and Irving Kipnes Health Research Institute, the Kipneses have demonstrated a commitment to generating knowledge and improving patient care by supporting the Dianne and Irving Kipnes Endowed Chair in Lymphatic Disorders and a variety of other health-centred research initiatives. The breadth of their giving also includes support of Hebrew studies and projects in the faculties of engineering, business and arts. Over the years, the couple also served in a number of advisory roles with the university.
Though Dianne Kipnes passed away in December 2024, her legacy of caring continues to make a difference at the U of A and beyond.
