Supporting the pursuit of knowledge in all fields

Helping Others Thrive

 

Our work honours the legacy of our founders, compassionate clinician-scientists who believed that bold ideas and meticulous science reveal solutions to daunting problems. As such, we have provided no less than $4.5 million in support of science and humanities research since 1992, enabling excellence in many fields of inquiry, especially those that aim to improve child health.

“So many kids wouldn’t have made it without Dr. Bowman. His life’s work will carry on, helping more people for years to come.”

— Naomi Hinz, 45

Naomi survived infancy thanks to the pioneering work and dedication of Dr. John Bowman.

Read Her Story

How We Make a Difference

 

We are Innovative

Dr. Bowman pioneered a way to save infants from Rh disease, a condition where a protein on the surface of the infants’ red blood cells doesn’t match their mother’s, triggering the mother’s immune system to attack the fetus. After decades of research, the Rh Institute released the vaccine WinRho (Win, for Winnipeg) in 1973. Today, it saves over 1,600 babies annually in Canada alone.

We Believe in Excellence

In 1973 the Foundation established the annual Rh Awards, which support early-career researchers at the University of Manitoba who display exceptional promise in their field. Past recipients have become internationally known researchers. In 2016 the awards were renamed in honour of Terry Falconer, a member of the first Board of Directors and its long-standing chair.

We Make an Impact

In 1997 the Foundation established an award to recognize outstanding senior researchers at the University of Manitoba who have made significant contributions to our understanding of the natural world. The award consists of a research grant, a medal, and a public lecture. In 2005 this prestigious award was renamed in honour of Dr. John M Bowman.

 

Our Chairholder:

Dr. John M. Bowman Chair in Pediatrics and Child Health

 

In 2019, the Foundation supported the creation of the Dr. John M. Bowman Chair in Pediatrics and Child Health through a $1-million gift to the University of Manitoba. The inaugural chairholder is Dr. Kristy Wittmeier, an assistant professor of pediatrics and child health, with a cross-appointment in the department of physical therapy at the University of Manitoba, and an investigator at the Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba. As the chairholder, she will follow in Dr. Bowman’s footsteps by applying the scientific method to clinical practice to find new ways to help children thrive.