Canadian Stroke Network receives $18.8 million to find new ways of preventing
and treating strokes
Ottawa, April 7, 2000 - John Manley, Minister of Industry and Minister
responsible for the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of
Canada (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities and Research Council
(SSHRC), today launched the Canadian Stroke Network (CSN), a federal Network
of Centres of Excellence (NCE). The CSN will receive $18.8 million over
the next four years to develop innovative stroke prevention and recovery
strategies through multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral research.
"The Canadian Stroke Network is part of the government's commitment
to investing in the well-being of Canadians," said Minister Manley.
"It will help find solutions to the serious health and social problems
affecting individuals who have suffered from a stroke."
"The Canadian Stroke Network represents a critical step in building
Canada's capacity to undertake world class research and innovation and to
ensure the quality of life and wealth of Canadians," added Dr. Tom
Brzustowski, Chair of the NCE Steering Committee and President of the Natural
Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC).
Marc Renaud, President of the Social Sciences and Humanities and Research
Council (SSHRC), also noted, "This new multidisciplinary network is
an excellent example of how social sciences and medical research techniques
can be combined to tackle health issues of primary concern to Canadians."
The University of Ottawa will host the administrative centre of the new
NCE and Dr. Antoine Hakim, Director of the Neuroscience Research Institute
and Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Ottawa,
will serve as the network's Scientific Director.
"I am delighted about the creation of the Canadian Stroke Network and
the opportunity it will provide researchers to advance our knowledge on
the factors contributing to strokes," said Dr. Hakim.
"The Canadian Stroke Network is a fine example of what can be achieved
when government, industry and academia work together," said Dr. Henry
Friesen, President of the Medical Research Council and Chair of the Interim
Governing Council of the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR).
"This network, in conjunction with initiatives such as CIHR, will undoubtedly
have a positive effect on the health of Canadians."
The Right Honourable Ramon Hnatyshyn, former Governor General of Canada
and Member of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Stroke Network, called
the creation of the new Network "an excellent opportunity to make a
difference in the lives of people affected by stroke."
A stroke occurs every ten minutes in Canada. Stroke commonly results in
death or, alternatively, in enormous disability. For every ten Canadians
suffering a stroke two will die, six will have varying degrees of disability,
and two will achieve some neurological recovery but will have a diminished
quality of life.
The CSN was created following a national competition to determine which
sectors of industry would receive NCEs, rigorous and independent evaluations
conducted by expert panels in the field of stroke research, and recommendations
of the NCE selection committee. The network includes 145 researchers working
in basic and clinical sciences, social sciences, epidemiology, health economics
and policy, together with database experts and rehabilitation specialists
from 24 Canadian universities, 22 industries and 39 government departments,
agencies and other organizations.
NCEs are unique partnerships among industry, universities and government
designed to develop the economy and improve the quality of life of Canadians.
These nation-wide networks connect excellent research with industrial know-how
and practical investment. A total of 463 companies are involved in the NCE
program. This includes more than 100 provincial and federal government departments
and agencies, 44 hospitals, 61 universities and more than 200 other organizations
from Canada and abroad. Industry Canada, the Natural Sciences and Engineering
Research Council, the Medical Research Council and the Social Sciences and
Humanities Research Council jointly manage this program.
For more information, visit the CSN
web site and the CSN fact sheet.
|
