• More Search Options
• CIHR Glossary
• CIHR Site Map

Institute Advisory Board

The first meeting of the Institute Advisory Board (IAB) of the Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction (INMHA) was held on Sunday, March 4, 2001, at the Douglas Hospital in Verdun, Québec. 13 of the 17 members of the IAB were able to attend this meeting. Other participants included Astrid Eberhart, Institute Liaison, CIHR; Mary Ann Linseman, Deputy Director, Neurobiology, Program Branch, CIHR ; Richard Brière, Assistant Director, INMHA and Rémi Quirion, Scientific Director, INMHA.

Rémi Quirion and Tony Phillips (Chair of the IAB) opened the meeting with a few introductory remarks on the role of the IAB and the need to share a common vision to ensure the success of this complex and very large Institute. Each participant then briefly introduced her/himself, a process that revealed a truly impressive group with expertise in basic and clinical sciences, health policy and services research, and population health. The membership even includes a historian turned psychiatrist, a geneticist with an acting background and a philosopher who became a lawyer and ethicist. Two very important members represent consumer groups and non governmental agencies (NGO) who will play key roles in promoting our visibility in the Canadian public and at various governmental levels in order to reduce the many stigmas associated with diseases of the brain, mind and nervous systems. Brief biographies and photos (thanks to IAB member and photographer Dan Krewski) of each IAB member will be posted on the website shortly. Terms of Reference of IAB membership were discussed and Alain Lesage was elected as Vice-Chair of the IAB.

Mary Ann Linseman gave an overview of CIHR programs focusing on non-institute driven activities including investigator-initiated grants, training awards, etc. She also presented information from the last grants competition (September 2000) including statistics specifically related to the INMHA.

Rémi Quirion summarized the initial activities of the INMHA, including visits to 15 Universities across Canada and meetings with various NGOs and government officials. He reported on the three Scientific Directors' meetings held to date in Ottawa highlighting the great chemistry between the 13 Directors and the exceptional support of the CIHR President and staff. A joint meeting was held with Governing Council on February 22, 2001. Rémi Quirion also presented some early suggestions for workshops and strategic initiatives received from the INMHA community of scientists. He summarized his own ideas for early initiatives to actively address some important issues for this constituency. Details of any new programs will be posted on the website as soon as they are finalized and approved.

The afternoon's discussion focused on the development of a short-term plan as well as a 5-year Strategic Plan. There was consensus that training should be a major objective and that trainees should be actively involved in the development of the INMHA. A new program entitled BrainStar Program was approved to be launched immediately and has already been posted on the website. Trainees are invited to submit their best papers for a first award to be made in early 2001.

Another topic concerned the creation of partnerships that are to be a key component to help achieve the objectives of the INMHA. Potential partners include provincial and federal government agencies, NGOs and the pharmaceutical industry. Another priority will be the development of international partnerships and to enhance any existing collaborations of CIHR that fall within the mandate of the INMHA.

In order to actively involve the IAB in the development of the Institute, Rémi Quirion proposed a cabinet-type structure with a variety of portfolios . Discussion resulted in the establishment of seven focus groups including: 1) Strategic Planning and Budget; 2) Communications and Inter-Institute Relations; 3) Federal & Provincial Governments; 4) Partnerships with NGO and Industry; 5) International Affairs; 6) Training and Education; 7) Ethics and Law. Each focus group will have a discussion leader and the Scientific Director, the Assistant Director and the Institute Liaison will be ex-officio members on all groups. Groups will meet on a regular basis (electronically or otherwise) to assist in the development of the Strategic Plan of the Institute and actualization of its Action Plan. Each group is of critical importance to the INMHA and members will be free to consult with or ask colleagues to participate in discussions as needed. The Scientific Director will be kept informed of all activities to ensure that they meet the common vision and goals of the INMHA.

It was also decided that an open call be issued for the organization of INMHA related workshops to provide the opportunity for input and involvement from all stakeholders. Similarly, early suggestions for Strategic Initiatives are invited from the scientific community to gain a complete, overall picture of the need for research in a given field in Canada. Priorities will be established on the basis of criteria developed in partnership with CIHR central, taking into account the four pillars, the economic and social burden of disease and budgetary constraints.

At the end of the meeting IAB members were given the opportunity to raise their personal concerns and vision for the IAB and INMHA. Highly ranking were the need for transparency and adherence to the overall mission of the Institute for members representing a specific interest group. Overall, it was a very exciting and productive day of work. The next meeting will likely be scheduled for May 2001.