Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction
Institute of Genetics
Institute of Aboriginal Peoples' Health
Institute of Aging
Institute of Cancer Research
Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health
Institute of Infection and Immunity
Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis
And partner Organizations (to date)1:
ALS Society of Canada
Canadian Space Agency
Canadian Stroke Network
Heart and Stroke Foundation
Jacob's Ladder
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International
National Research Council Canada
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
Neuroscience Canada
Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation
Stem Cell Network
Team Grant Program:
Letter of Intent Deadline: November 1, 2004
Application Deadline: May 1, 2005
New Discoveries: High-Risk Seed Grants:
Registration Deadline: April 1, 2005
Application Deadline: May 1, 2005
With the help of leading health research organizations, who have come together with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) to create a national funding framework, this announcement provides expanded research support in the areas of Nanomedicine and Technology Development, Gene Therapy, Stem Cells, Tissue Engineering, and Rehabilitation Sciences. Examples of supported research under this initiative could include cellular and molecular imaging, biophotonics, drug delivery and targeting, development of novel vectors for gene therapy, bioengineering and tissue replacement, and integration of social, cultural, ethical and health services perspectives of human health within these domains, among others. Key to this initiative is a multi-disciplinary commitment to addressing the larger health issues and questions within this emerging field. The long-term goal is to develop innovative and socially validated treatment approaches based on the science of regenerative medicine and nanomedicine that will ultimately result in improved quality of life for afflicted individuals, populations and their families.
Introduction
Partners
Specific Objectives and Eligible Research Areas
Nanomedicine and Technology Development
Gene Therapy
Stem Cells
Tissue Engineering
Rehabilitation Sciences
Who is Eligible to Apply?
Timeline
Funds Available
Mechanisms of Support
Additional Funding Opportunities related to this Strategic Initiative
Contacts for Further Information
Appendix A
Building on the success of its first strategic Request for Applications in this area in 2003, CIHR and its valued partners listed below are pleased to announce this second round of requests for applications under the umbrella of "Regenerative Medicine and Nanomedicine: Innovative Approaches in Health Research".
This strategic initiative has evolved in consultation with key stakeholders and through a series of workshops co-funded with interested partners, the details of which are available on the CIHR-sponsored website RegenerativeMedicine.ca (new window) [ Help ]. In addition, the September 2003 workshop entitled "Integrating the Physical and Applied Sciences into Health Research" has produced a set of recommendations to facilitate improvements in the Canadian healthcare system through support of research led by or including physical and applied scientists. A summary of the final recommendations of this workshop will be posted on the IG and INMHA websites as soon as it becomes available. Copies of the draft report are available upon request (please see "Contacts for Further Information" later in this announcement).
This strategic initiative announcement provides support for research in Nanomedicine and Technology Development, Gene Therapy, Stem Cells, Tissue Engineering, and Rehabilitation Sciences. The definitions of these areas, and the specific therapeutic and research domains directly supported by partnering organizations and CIHR Institutes, are delineated under "Specific Objectives and Eligible Research Areas" later in this announcement. Applicants are encouraged to explicitly address significant scientific questions or major health research problems in their proposed research projects.
To help achieve the goals of this initiative, this announcement includes support for innovative Team Grants and New Discoveries: High-Risk Seed Grants. Further details of the requirements and specific goals of these grant programs are available under "Mechanisms of Support" later in this announcement. In addition to these two funding opportunities, a number of specific partnered programs are also available, as described under "Additional Funding Opportunities related to this Strategic Initiative."
The fundamental goal of this strategic initiative remains the development of meaningful multi-disciplinary research approaches to regenerative medicine and nanomedicine. This necessitates the continued integration of the physical, engineering, computational and chemical sciences with the health sciences. These approaches need to balance consideration of the social, cultural and ethical impacts of these novel technologies with key rehabilitation and accessibility issues, as well as the potential economic costs of such treatments. Research into the maintenance of health or prevention of disease and degeneration is also encompassed by this initiative. The commitment to supporting truly innovative and leading edge multi-disciplinary research directed against key health research problems makes up the core of this strategic initiative.
The commitment to supporting truly innovative and leading edge multi-disciplinary research directed against key health research problems makes up the core of this strategic initiative.
A number of leading Canadian research agencies and non-governmental and voluntary health organizations have come together with CIHR to re-launch this strategic initiative in Regenerative Medicine and Nanomedicine. The specific focus and requirements for each CIHR Institute are outlined below under "Specific Objectives and Eligible Research Areas". Partner organizations recognize the importance of this area, and encourage their research communities to apply, but are not able to make specific financial commitments at this time. Brief descriptions of each of the partners, outlining their respective strategic interests, are presented in Appendix A.
It is expected that additional partners, including industry and the private sector, will join in supporting these efforts over the coming year. Please note that Letters of Intent and/or full applications may be shared with the partner organizations listed and other potential partners.
Canadian Institutes of Health Research:
Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction (co-lead)ALS Society of Canada
Institute of Genetics (co-lead)
Institute of Aboriginal Peoples' Health
Institute of Aging
Institute of Cancer Research
Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health
Institute of Infection and Immunity
Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis
Specific objectives and eligible areas of research for this strategic initiative are described under the general thematic headings of Nanomedicine and Technology Development, Gene Therapy, Stem Cells, Tissue Engineering, and Rehabilitation Sciences. Please note that there is considerable overlap between these areas, and applicants are not restricted to solely one area. Similarly, applicants are not required to address multiple thematic areas in their application, although a commitment to multi-disciplinary research is critical. Applicants are encouraged to explicitly address large scientific questions or health research problems in their proposed research projects.
1. Nanomedicine and Technology Development
In the first round of requests, nanomedicine was defined as the design, synthesis, or application of materials, devices, or technologies in the nanometer-scale for the basic understanding, diagnosis, and/or treatment of disease. Key to this definition is that phenomena and materials at the nanometer scale are known to have properties that are uniquely attributable to that scale length.
Many current research initiatives in the development of novel techniques and methodologies relevant to biomedical research and clinical practice do not necessarily fit within this strict definition. However, these various microscale technologies are still relevant for nanomedicine, and are included within the scope of this announcement. Some examples could include, but are not limited to: cellular imaging, biophotonics, drug delivery and targeting, and molecular characterization of cellular processes. More generally, this expanded definition also includes the application to health research of existing technologies and methodologies not traditionally associated with the life sciences. Relevant disciplines could include, but are not limited to, mathematics, computational sciences, chemistry, physics, and engineering and applied sciences.
Specific applications of nanomedicine or technology development include, but are not limited to:
The Institute of Genetics (IG), the Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction (INMHA), the Institute of Aging (IA ), the Institute of Infection and Immunity (III), and the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) will consider funding Team grants and New Discoveries grants for proposals in Nanomedicine and Technology Development that are deemed relevant to their respective strategic interests. The Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health (ICRH) and the Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis (IMHA) will consider funding Team grants that relate to their respective strategic interests. Details of the Team and New Discoveries grant programs are listed under "Mechanisms of Support" later in this announcement.
The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) will consider funding New Discoveries grants for proposals relevant to its strategic interests in life sciences, namely diagnostics and bio-sensors. To meet the challenges of conducting science in space, the development of biomolecular arrays, bio-sensors, in situ biomolecular measures and associated hardware for use in neuroscience, bone and muscle loss and cell biology is critical. The design of accompanying instrumentation with telemetric data transmission capability would be welcome. Novel nanotechnology with applications for health and environmental monitoring for use in the space are also priorities. Please consult Appendix A for more information about the strategic interests of the Canadian Space Agency.
The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) have agreed to jointly fund a Collaborative Health Research Projects (CHRP) program that is compatible with the spirit of this strategic initiative. This program strongly promotes new collaborations between the NSERC and CIHR research communities. For more information, please see "Additional Funding Opportunities related to this Strategic Initiative" later in this announcement.
CIHR has also developed a commercialization strategy to help move promising new research breakthroughs toward potential commercial applications. The goal of the Proof of Principle Initiatives is to facilitate and improve the commercial transfer of knowledge and technology resulting from academic health research for the benefit of Canadians. For more information, please see "Additional Funding Opportunities related to this Strategic Initiative" later in this announcement.
2. Gene Therapy
In the context of regenerative medicine and nanomedicine, gene therapy could be broadly defined as any approach that corrects gene expression responsible for disease development. This could include, but is not limited to: insertion of a normal gene into a nonspecific location within the genome to replace a nonfunctional gene, exchange of an abnormal gene through homologous recombination, repair of an abnormal gene through selective reverse mutation, or alteration of the regulation of given gene.
Of particular relevance to this strategic initiative is the development of novel gene delivery systems based on nanomedicine principles, including the application of novel imaging technologies to monitor gene transfer status and determine immune system responses. The integration of gene therapy with stem/progenitor cell research and tissue engineering approaches to regenerative medicine is also encouraged.
Specific therapeutic applications of gene therapy include, but are not limited to:
The Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction (INMHA) and the Institute of Aging (IA) will consider funding Team grants and New Discoveries grants for proposals in Gene Therapy that are deemed relevant to their strategic interests. The Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health (ICRH) and the Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis (IMHA) will consider funding Team grants that relate to their respective strategic interests.
Jacob's Ladder will consider funding New Discoveries grants for proposals that are deemed relevant to their goals and mission.
3. Stem Cells
Stem cells are an area of considerable research excellence in Canada, and form an integral component of this strategic initiative in Regenerative Medicine and Nanomedicine. Eligible areas of research include pluripotent embryonic stem cells and post-natal "adult" stem cells. Researchers are encouraged to consider approaches to integrate stem cell research with tissue engineering and rehabilitation sciences, as well the application of nanomedicine technologies and gene therapy to stem cell research.
Researchers should consult with the "Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Research: Guidelines for CIHR-Funded Research" when preparing their applications. All applications that propose research falling within the scope of the Guidelines will be subject to review by the CIHR Stem Cell Oversight Committee.
Relevant research areas on therapeutic applications of stem cells include, but are not limited to:
The Institute of Aging (IA), the Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction (INMHA), the Institute of Infection and Immunity (III), and the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) will consider funding Team grants and New Discoveries grants for proposals in Stem Cells that are deemed relevant to their respective strategic interests. The Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health (ICRH) and the Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis (IMHA) will consider funding Team grants that relate to their respective strategic interests. The Stem Cell Network (SCN) may participate in funding for stem cell research that meets SCN criteria for funding, especially relating to cardiac and vascular disorders.
3A. Stem Cells and Type 1 Diabetes
In addition to the eligible stem cell research areas describe above, a Joint Program is being established in partnership with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) International to promote the highest quality of research in stem cells in general, and in stem cell research applicable to Type 1 diabetes in particular. This Joint Program also aims to expedite the practical application of scientific advances in our understanding of beta cell growth and differentiation. It is understood that JDRF retains the right to reserve its funding for research programs focusing on Type 1 diabetes and its complications.
The Joint Program may provide support for research to:
The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) International will consider funding Team grant proposals that meet the goals of the Joint Program described above. Team grant proposals under this Joint Program will have a Program Coordinator based in Canada, but may have international collaborators. In addition to compliance with CIHR's Guidelines for Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Research, JDRF has convened its own Oversight Committee that will provide a separate ethical review for all applications in this area. Applications considered under this Joint Program will be subject to JDRF's lay review process. JDRF retains the right to decide whether to participate in funding, and at what funding levels, to projects recommended for funding.
4. Tissue Engineering
One of the key goals of regenerative medicine is to stimulate the renewal of bodily tissues or the restoration of function through the use of natural or bioengineered materials. Tissue engineering is thus an integral part of regenerative medicine, and Canada is recognized for its expertise in several areas, including research excellence in several key organ systems as well as the basic sciences of biomaterials, scaffolding and drug delivery for both soft and hard tissue applications.
Specific therapeutic applications of tissue engineering research include, but are not limited to:
The Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction (INMHA) and the Institute of Aging (IA) will consider funding Team grants and New Discoveries grants for proposals deemed relevant to its strategic interests. The Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health (ICRH) and the Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis (IMHA) will consider funding Team grants that relate to their respective strategic interests.
Jacob's Ladder will consider funding New Discoveries grants for proposals that are deemed relevant to their goals and mission.
4A. Tissue Engineering in the Space Environment
The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) will support high quality ground-based research leading to tissue engineering in microgravity.
Space offers several advantages over the Earth environment for tissue engineering. Shear forces and gravity may contribute to the restricted size of developing tissue complexes. Sedimentation and differences in structures related to density and size of aggregates are reduced or eliminated in weightlessness (microgravity). In addition, the contribution of polymeric matrix components to the tissue can be reduced considerably. Comparing space-grown and Earth-grown tissue, it is possible to gain a better understanding of the role of gravity in tissue differentiation. In preparation for space experiments, apparatus for cell and tissue growth, such as the Clinostat, can simulate reduced sedimentation characteristic of microgravity.
The Canadian Space Agency will consider funding New Discoveries grants for proposals deemed relevant to its strategic interests. In order to encourage innovative and diversified ideas, proposals in the area of tissue engineering in space will not otherwise be restricted to specific areas of research. Please consult Appendix A for more information about the Canadian Space Agency
5. Rehabilitation Sciences
This initiative in Regenerative Medicine and Nanomedicine is also interested in funding innovative research in rehabilitation. Advances in neurosciences, physiology, motor learning and brain imaging techniques have challenged the traditional view of regeneration as it applies to rehabilitation. The broader concept of functional restoration is proposed to embrace the continuum of restorative processes or plasticity induced by rehabilitation interventions that occur in the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves and muscles to promote recovery of function after stroke, injury or disease, or to limit the effects of aging.
Human research studies confirm that cortical re-differentiation can be facilitated with repetitive training incorporating attended, rewarded, non-stereotyped behaviors, progressed in difficulty over time. These recent rehabilitation-related advances set the stage for the development of new, more effective interventions that are based on the basic mechanisms underlying plasticity.
Specific therapeutic applications of rehabilitation research to regenerative medicine include, but are not limited to:
Some of the broader research questions that could be addressed in proposals submitted to this initiative include, but are not limited to:
For more information on the potential applications of rehabilitation sciences to this initiative, please refer to the CIHR-sponsored website RegenerativeMedicine.ca (new window) [ Help ].
Institute of Aboriginal Peoples' Health, the Institute of Aging (IA) and the Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction (INMHA) and will consider funding Team grants and New Discoveries grants for proposals deemed relevant to their respective strategic interests. The Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health (ICRH) and the Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis (IMHA) will consider funding Team grants that relate to their respective strategic interests. The Canadian Stroke Network (CSN) may participate in funding for stroke research that meets CSN criteria for funding, especially with regard to stroke in the context of brain injury and disease.
Jacob's Ladder will consider funding New Discoveries grants for proposals that are deemed relevant to their goals and mission.
Eligibility criteria for all CIHR research funding programs apply. Please refer to Eligibility for Research Funding Programs on the CIHR Website.
For partnered programs, specific eligibility requirements are described under "Additional Funding Opportunities related to this Strategic Initiative" later in this announcement.
Application and funding dates vary for this strategic initiative. Please check details for each specific RFA listed under "Mechanisms of Support" and "Additional Funding Opportunities related to this Strategic Initiative" later in this announcement. Please note that funding of proposals for Team and/or New Discovery grants in this announcement will not commence until late 2005.
This year marks a transition period for this strategic initiative. As such, the total funds available for all programs directly supported under this strategic initiative remain to be determined. It is expected the initial commitment of $2,000,000 established for the first round of requests launched in 2003 will be maintained and potentially expanded for this year's announcement. Additional information will be released when available. Please note that funds in subsequent years are subject to funding availability and budgetary appropriations.
Additional funds are available for the partnered programs listed under "Additional Funding Opportunities related to this Strategic Initiative" later in this announcement.
For instructions on how to apply for Team grants and New Discovery Grants, please refer to the specific Request for Applications (RFAs) below:
| Request for Applications | Funding | Timelines |
| New Discoveries: High-Risk Seed grants RFA is designed to encourage novel, innovative, and inventive research, or support an extraordinary new direction in any of the eligible research areas outlined in this strategic initiative. |
up to $75,000 per year, for 2 years |
Registration: April 1, 2005. Full application deadline: May 1, 2005. |
| Team grants RFA is intended to support the creation or development of teams of investigators undertaking collaborative multidisciplinary research in any of the eligible research areas outlined in this strategic initiative. |
Presently, up to $300,000 per year, for 5 years. Note: the upper limit for funding is under review. Please check back for updates. |
Letter of Intent: November 1, 2004 Full Proposal: |
1. NSERC/CIHR Collaborative Health Research Projects (CHRP)
The CHRP program is jointly funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).
In the context of improved health for Canadians, the objectives of the Collaborative Health Research Projects (CHRP) program are to:
Details of the CHRP program for 2004/05 should be available on the NSERC website (new window) [ Help ] site by early June 2004.
2. Proof of Principle (POP) Initiative
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research is pleased to announce the re-launch of the Proof of Principle (POP) Initiative.
Proof of Principle Phase I (POP-I) Grants will fund proof of principle research projects of up to 12-months duration designed to advance discoveries/inventions towards commercializable technologies, with a view to attract new investment and create new science-based businesses. Funds available are up to $150,000 per application from CIHR.
Proof of Principle Phase II (POP-II) Grants will fund proof of principle research at the co-investment stage undertaking follow-on proof of principle activities in partnership with a non-academic investor. This new funding opportunity is aimed at providing a platform to better enable the academic institution/researcher to move the discovery/invention further down the innovation pipeline. Funds available are up to $250,000 per application from CIHR. An investor must match CIHR funds at a 2:1 ratio (investor:CIHR).
Letters of Intent are due October 1, 2004, with full applications by November 1, 2004. For more information please see the "Proof of Principle" RFA.
For general questions about the strategic initiative, "Regenerative Medicine and Nanomedicine: Innovative Approaches in Health Research," please do not hesitate to contact:
Eric Marcotte, Ph.D.
Team Lead
Strategic Initiative in Regenerative Medicine and Nanomedicine
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Tel: (905) 467-1822
E-mail: eric.marcotte@regenerativemedicine.ca
For questions on CIHR funding guidelines or how to apply contact:
Karen Dewar, Ph.D.
Deputy Director
Knowledge Creation Programs
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Room 97, 160 Elgin Street
Address locator: 4809A
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0W9
Tel: (613) 941-4576
Fax: (613) 954-1800
E-mail: kdewar@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
CIHR Institutes and Partner Organizations
Note: Additional partners, including industry and the private sector, are expected to join this funding initiative over the coming year.
CIHR Institutes:
Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction (co-lead)
The vision of the Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction (INMHA) is that innovative research will provide new knowledge of the biological and socio-cultural processes underlying neurological, mental and addictive disorders. As such, the INMHA's mission is to foster excellence in innovative, ethically responsible research in Canada that aims to increase our knowledge of the functioning and disorders of the brain and the mind, the spinal cord, the sensory and motor systems, as well as mental health, mental illness and all forms of addiction. The INMHA intends to support initiatives that mobilize and link scientists in innovative collaborative programs across these research domains. The INMHA seeks to translate this new knowledge into a better quality of life for all Canadians through improved outcomes, health promotion and health care services.
Institute of Genetics (co-lead)
The mission of the Institute of Genetics (IG) is to support excellent research on the genetic and biochemical basis of health and disease, including the interaction of genes with the physical and social environments, to facilitate the translation of research findings into health policy and practice, and to examine the ethical, legal and social implications of genetic discoveries. The IG encourages translational research by fostering collaboration between the basic and clinical research communities, and collaborates with other Institutes of CIHR to optimize the impact of genetic discovery on other disciplines. A critical responsibility of the IG is to examine the ethical, legal and social implications of new genetic discoveries.
Institute of Aboriginal Peoples' Health
The CIHR Institute of Aboriginal Peoples' Health (IAPH) will support research to improve the health of First Nations, Inuit and Metis people by supporting innovative research programs based on scientific excellence and community collaboration. IAPH's mission is to play a lead role in building research capacity in the First Nations, Inuit and Metis communities, and will support partnerships and alliances between aboriginal communities and non-aboriginal health research organizations/institutes at the local, regional, national and international levels. IAPH supports health research that respects aboriginal cultures, while generating new knowledge to improve the health and well-being of aboriginal people.
The Institute of Aging (IA) will support research to promote healthy aging and to address causes, prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, support systems, and palliation for a wide range of conditions associated with aging. IA has identified five priority areas for research on aging and health (in no particular order): healthy and successful aging, biological mechanisms of aging, cognitive impairment in aging, aging and maintenance of functional autonomy, and health services and policy relating to older people.
The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) fosters research based on internationally accepted standards of excellence, which bear on preventing and treating cancer, and improving the health and quality of life of cancer patients. The ICR supports research to reduce the burden of cancer on individuals and families through prevention strategies, screening, diagnosis, effective treatment, psycho-social support systems, and palliation. Advances in genomics and functional proteomics have the potential to allow much more effective cancer diagnosis, prevention and therapeutic intervention. The ICR is well positioned to support and facilitate the exciting new research challenges and opportunities in population health and health delivery, as well as in critical basic and clinical research issues.
Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health
The mission of the ICRH is to support research into the causes, mechanisms, prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, support systems, and palliation for a wide range of conditions associated with the heart, lung, brain (stroke), blood, blood vessels, critical and intensive care, and sleep. The vision of the ICRH is to achieve international leadership by fostering an environment of openness, excitement, energy, commitment and excellence in highly ethical partnered initiatives focused on research, research training, and research translation in the circulatory and respiratory sciences, for the betterment of the health of Canadians. One of the strategic initiatives of the ICRH is self-regeneration, repair and replacement of damaged and diseased cells, tissues and organs in circulatory and respiratory diseases.
Institute of Infection and Immunity
The Institute of Infection and Immunity (III) seeks to establish national leadership, priorities and programs that promote innovative research to reduce the global burden of infection and immune-based disease and improve quality of life. The III supports research to enhance immune-mediated health and to reduce the burden of infectious disease, immune-mediated disease, and allergy through prevention strategies, screening, diagnosis, treatment, support systems, and palliation. The III has identified a need to support the development of new tools, technologies and methods capable of providing non-invasive evaluation of infectious and immune processes in vivo.
Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis
The Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis (IMHA) will support research to enhance active living, mobility and movement, and oral health; and to address causes, prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, support systems, and palliation for a wide range of conditions related to bones, joints, muscles, connective tissue, skin and teeth. The mission of IMHA is to eradicate pain, suffering and disability, in order to enhance quality of life for people affected by arthritis, and musculoskeletal, oral and skin conditions.
Partners:
Links to External Websites Notice
The links below will direct you to a Web site external to the Government of Canada (GoC). Links to Web sites not under the control of the GoC are provided solely for the convenience of users. Users should be aware that CIHR may link to non-GoC sites that are not subject to the Official Languages Act, and that information may be available only in the language(s) used by the sites in question. [ Help ]
The mission of the ALS Society of Canada is to support research towards a cure for ALS and to support Provincial ALS Societies in their provision of quality care for persons affected by ALS. We fund research for a cure. We support people affected by ALS to serve immediate needs. We provide information to build awareness. The ALS Society of Canada was founded in 1977 as a national voluntary organization dedicated solely to those affected by ALS. Member of the International Alliance of ALS/MND Associations.
The primary objectives of the Space Life Sciences Program of the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) are to explore basic principles of biology to understand the role of gravity in life processes, to better understand how life functions and adapts to the environment of space and readapts upon return to the conditions of Earth, and to obtain knowledge and develop technology to produce safer space travel and improve life on Earth. Particular areas of interest include bone and muscle loss, adaptation of heart and other body systems and organs to weightlessness, maturation of organisms in space, biological effects of space radiation, and space psychology.
Space life science is essential in the preparation for the exploration of space. Long duration flight will become commonplace in future inter-planetary exploration, and understanding the biological consequences of microgravity and radiation exposure may be essential to survival. As more becomes known of these factors, countermeasures and pre-adaptations can be developed. Significant benefits to the quality of life and contributions to human welfare on Earth can be expected from the enhanced knowledge and new medical technologies resulting from the program.
One of the Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE), the Canadian Stroke Network's (CSN) mission is to reduce the effects of stroke on the lives of Canadians and on Canadian society. The CSN was established to create a national consortium with the capacity to enhance our knowledge of stroke, develop new treatment plans and medical technologies to improve individual outcomes, and create policies that will benefit the country as a whole. The Network places Canada at the forefront of stroke research through its multi-disciplinary research program, high-quality training for Canadian scientists and clinicians, and national and global partnerships. The CSN is also equally dedicated to decreasing the physical, social, and economic consequences of stroke on the individual and on society.
The mission of the Heart and Stroke Foundation (HSF) is to improve the health of Canadians by preventing and reducing disability and death from heart disease and stroke through research, health promotion and advocacy. The Foundation is a leading funder of heart disease and stroke research in Canada and is committed to supporting research across the full research spectrum. The area of regenerative medicine and nanomedicine holds tremendous promise for new treatments for heart disease and stroke (through self-regeneration, repair and replacement of injured or diseased cells, tissues and organs in heart and brain) and the HSF encourages research in this area in order to advance the science and facilitate new discoveries.
Jacob's Ladder is a charitable organization established in 1998 that aims to benefit children with leukodystrophies and to reduce the occurrences of these types of diseases in the future. A group of dedicated business and community leaders, doctors, researchers and concerned parents have come together to form The Canadian Foundation for Control of Neurodegenerative Disease, which is aimed at financially assisting the following efforts: research to discover and develop therapy and diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases; genetic screening for parents, and parents to be, in Canada; and to facilitate the education of medical personnel and the public of rare genetic diseases, like Canavan disease and Leigh's disease, and the tests which are currently available.
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) International
JDRF's mission is to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research with emphasis on Type 1 diabetes and its complications. JDRF continues to set the research agenda based upon the results of funded research, and on the latest advances in biomedical technology. As research continues within and across JDRF's three research goals (restoration of normal metabolism; avoidance and reversal of complications; prevention of diabetes and its recurrence), the fast track for the cure increases in potential and speed. Thirty years of pioneering research, focused by the needs of people with diabetes, has created quantum increases in the knowledge of diabetes and potentials for a cure.
National Research Council Canada (NRC)
The NRC is recognized globally as a leader in the development of an innovative, knowledge-based economy for Canada through science and technology. NRC is committed to contributing to significant innovations that support Canada's quality of life, improve the environment, protect health, and create new sources of wealth for Canadians. Through its focused research programs, its Industrial Research Assistance Program ("NRC/IRAP") and the rapid-access service to world-wide scientific, technical and medical information provided by the Canada Institute for Scientific and Technical Information (CISTI), NRC is a key player in the national system of innovation. NRC has also recently formed the National Institute for Nanotechnology (NINT) in Edmonton, Alberta, which will serve as a key resource for developing an Integrated Nanostructures Network in Canada. Working with other progressive organizations, NRC is helping provide the bridge between strategic research and wealth creation.
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)
NSERC is Canada's federal funding agency for university based research in the natural sciences and engineering. Through various programs, NSERC supports fundamental discovery based research, collaborative university-industry research partnerships and the advanced training of Canada's future scientists and engineers. In recognition of the strategic importance and multidisciplinary nature of nanotechnology and nanoscience, within its scientific and engineering community, NSERC recently created a Nano Innovation Platform (NanoIP) to coordinate Canadian university research in this area and to collaborate with organizations such as the National Institute for Nanotechnology (NINT) and NanoQuebec.
Established in 1998 as the successor to the NeuroScience Network Centre of Excellence, NeuroScience Canada is a national, non-profit organization that aims to bring relief and hope to the millions of Canadians challenged by neurological and psychiatric diseases, disorders and injuries. NeuroScience Canada supports researchers across disciplines and institutions who are investigating the mechanisms that protect and repair the brain and nervous system. NeuroScience Canada collaborates with the public, private and voluntary sectors, in order to harness the knowledge and resources of all those who wish to support neuroscience research and training programs. Our collective efforts will ensure that Canada continues and grows its research capacity in the neurosciences and maintains its status as a world-leader in excellent neuroscience research.
Neuroscience Canada and the INMHA plan to work in close collaboration to ensure that priority research areas of mutual interest are funded and that the pool of funds available for brain repair research is expanded. With the support of the CIHR, and in particular, the INMHA and IA, NeuroScience Canada launched the national Brain Repair Program in November 2003. The goal is to fund five teams of Canadian researchers, focused on collaborative, multidisciplinary, multi-institutional, cross-cutting brain repair research. NeuroScience Canada has secured funding for two teams, at $1.5 million over three years per team, and is in the process of engaging relevant Institutes and Organizations from among the partners of this strategic initiative, to leverage this core funding and be able to fund additional teams. In order to partner on this strategic initiative, teams will have to meet the objectives of both programs, and be ranked "must fund" by both the CIHR and Brain Repair Program review committees.
Stem cells play a critical and essential role in the human body, from the embryonic stem cells that can grow into any of the specialized cells that form the body, to post-natal "adult" stem cells that function within the body to repair and regenerate tissue. One of the Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE), the Stem Cell Network brings together experts from all sectors and backgrounds, to share and build on their experiences and ideas, and to work together to achieve common goals. These include being a catalyst for the development of new therapies, creating a critical mass of knowledge and people in Canada by contributing to the training and education of specialists in stem cells, facilitating the transfer of technologies to the marketplace, and promoting informed debate on the source and use of stem cells.
Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation
The Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation (ONF) recognizes the importance of setting and striving for clearly defined goals and practices. In collaboration with consumers, and other provincial and national stakeholders, ONF is committed to continuously strengthening activities and initiatives that support its core business to create new and applied knowledge through strategic investment in the neurotrauma field, and to build the research capacity of the neurotrauma field. The ONF's vision is to achieve reduced impact, incidence and prevalence of neurotrauma injuries and have people living with brain and spinal cord injuries participating as full members of society.