| For immediate release - |
2004-12 |
OTTAWA (March 15, 2004) - Dr. Alan Bernstein, President of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), along with CIHR's Governing Council announced today the appointment of Dr. Anne Martin-Matthews as the new Scientific Director for the CIHR Institute of Aging. This appointment was effective March 1, 2004.
Dr. Martin-Matthews is a professor in the School of Social Work and Family Studies, and former Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Studies and Dean pro tem in the Faculty of Arts at the University of British Columbia. She holds a Ph.D. in sociology from McMaster University (1980). She is an internationally recognized researcher, with a book, edited volumes and extensive publications on aging, families and health. She was Founding Director of the University of Guelph's Gerontology Research Centre (1983-1995), a Research Group Leader on CARNET: The Canadian Aging Research Network (1990-1995), and Editor-in-Chief of the Canadian Journal on Aging (1996-2000).
Dr. Martin-Matthews has also served on the Scientific Advisory Committee of the Seniors Independence Research Program of Health Canada, the Board of the Canadian Association on Gerontology, and the Research Advisory Council of BC's Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research. Dr. Martin-Matthews most recently served as interim Scientific Director for the Institute of Aging after serving as Vice-Chair of its Advisory Board.
Over the last three years, the Institute has worked with its stakeholders to prioritize strategic areas of research and put in place the infrastructure necessary to build a robust research environment.
"Dr. Martin-Matthews is a welcome addition to the CIHR team," said Dr. Bernstein. "Her expertise in the field of aging will build upon the solid foundation created by the Institute over the last three years."
CIHR is comprised of 13 Institutes, each led by a Scientific Director. They are responsible for developing their Institute, championing research at the highest levels of international excellence, establishing and nurturing partnerships and fostering effective communication and knowledge dissemination.
As one of CIHR's Institutes, the Institute of Aging is dedicated to supporting research and building research capacity. Its broad mandate covers supporting research that promotes healthy aging and addresses causes, prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, support systems, and palliation for a wide range of conditions associated with aging. The Institute links and supports researchers located in university, hospitals and other research centres across Canada.
CIHR is the Government of Canada's premier agency for health research. Its objective is to excel, according to internationally accepted standards of scientific excellence, in the creation of new knowledge and its translation into improved health for Canadians, more effective health services and products and a strengthened health care system.
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Biography:
Dr. Anne Martin-Matthews
Further Information:
Janet Weichel, CIHR Communications, (613) 941-4563
