A federal initiative to attract more Indigenous health researchers – is underway in Ontario.

Western University says the Indigenous Mentorship Network Program of Ontario – officially launched on Thursday.

Western will serve as the hub for the network – made up of 13 of the province’s post-secondary institutions and about 70 researchers – more than half of whom are Indigenous.

The program is one of eight such initiatives being launched across Canada – after the Canadian Institutes of Health Research committed to spend $8 million on a nation-wide network last year.

Researchers with the Ontario program say it’s important to encourage Indigenous scholars to enter the field – so scientific research can be informed by real experience – of the issues faced in the community.