| For immediate release - |
2005-04 |
VANCOUVER (March 14, 2005) - The Honourable Ujjal Dosanjh, Minister of Health, Dr. Alan Bernstein, President of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), and Dr. Neil Maresky, Vice-President, Scientific Affairs, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, announced today an investment of $1.1 M over five years to fund a Clinical Research Chair in Vaccines. Dr. David Scheifele, from the BC Research Institute for Children's and Women's Health and the University of British Columbia (UBC), is the recipient.
Created through a partnership between CIHR/Rx&D Research Program, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals and UBC, the Chair will champion vaccinology as a field of medical research; facilitate multidisciplinary approaches to study critical issues; stimulate research and develop standards for clinical excellence, as well as advance the availability of vaccines as a standard of care for all Canadians.
"Today's investment will help to expand our scientific knowledge of vaccines and address infectious disease issues and public health needs in Canada", said Minister Dosanjh. "The knowledge generated by Dr. Scheifele's research will also help to improve the prevention and promote the development of effective interventions and evidence-based practices and policies."
Dr. David Scheifele will examine the epidemiology of target infections based on active surveillance across Canada. He will also evaluate the safety of new products within a network of skilled trial sites, assess the effectiveness and safety of new vaccine programs, and conduct studies of immunization applied to the skin, without needles.
"The Clinical Research Chair announced today will help advance our knowledge in the critical area of vaccines," said Dr. Bernstein. "Dr. Scheifele's work will assist us in continuing to protect the health of Canadians and people around the world, one of CIHR's priorities."
"We are proud to partner with the CIHR/Rx&D Research Program and UBC on the Clinical Research Chairs in Vaccines initiative", said Dr. Maresky. "We believe this initiative will lead to better prevention and treatments in Canada and worldwide."
About CIHR
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research is the Government of Canada's 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 Canadian health care system. CIHR provides leadership and support to more than 9,000 researchers and research teams in every province of Canada.
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Further Information:
Chantal Laflamme
CIHR Communications
Tel: (613) 290-1807
claflamme@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
Karen Lee
BC Research Institute for Children's and Women's Health
Tel.: (604) 828-1286
karenjlee@telus.net
Adèle Blanchard
Office of the Honourable Ujjal Dosanjh
Tel.: (613) 957-0200
Della Rollins
Wyeth Pharmaceuticals
(905) 470-3660
rollinde@wyeth.com
