Dear Colleagues,
I am thrilled to introduce our second Annual Report. This document demonstrates a remarkable progression since our inception a mere two years ago. One of our most notable accomplishments has been to successfully channel the wide-ranging interests of our members into focused and strategic research themes. Excitement and productivity from all of our members, both administrative and scientific, are the result.
From the beginning, one of our challenges has been gathering support for our numerous and diverse initiatives. However, I believe that our diversity, and the strength that we have garnered from it, are rooted in a common commitment. We are unified in a shared quest to reveal the sophisticated mechanisms of the brain and associated organs. On behalf of all of us at INMHA, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for believing in our unique model.
Firstly, I would like to congratulate the beating pulse of our organization, our scientific colleagues. You are the leaders. You are the pillars in neurosciences, mental health, addiction and the various senses. You lead by example. We've benefited from your creative and divergent thinking - the seeds of discovery. We are indebted to you and your endless commitment to research.
In addition, I sincerely thank all of the members of our Institute Advisory Board. I remain grateful to the Board for your support, counsel and ceaseless motivation. Our institute has reaped many benefits from all of you performing above and beyond your responsibilities. More than a pleasure, it is an inspiration to be your colleague. I wish to express a special thank you to Dr. Anthony Phillips, Chair of the Board, for your wisdom, leadership and commitment.
Also, un très grand merci to our colleagues at CIHR Central. Your assistance and generosity in allowing us to pioneer a multitude of internal projects have made INMHA into what it is today - a dynamic, innovative, driven and productive organization. We could not have accomplished this without unrelenting long-term engagement and collaboration.
Year Two was an opportunity to put many of the priorities identified at the start of our mandate into action. We have successfully forged many fruitful partnerships that are successfully merging all of our interests - neuroscience, mental health, addiction and the various senses. Together we have positioned INMHA as a national and international leader in groundbreaking research.
Amicalement,
Rémi Quirion, Ph.D,
Scientific Director
Dr. Anthony G. Phillips (Chairman), University of British Columbia
Dr. Gordon DuVal, Univeristy of Toronto
Dr. Jack H. Jhamandas, University of Alberta
Dr. Stanley P. Kutcher, Dalhousie University
Dr. Robert Ladouceur, Univiersité Laval
Dr. Alain D. Lesage (Vice-chair), Université de Montréal
Dr. Michel Maziade, Université Laval
Dr. Bruce McEwen, The Rockefeller University
Dr. Lisa McKerracher, Université de Montréal
Dr. Roberta M. Palmour McGill University
Dr. Marlene A. Reimer, University of Calgary
Dr. Michael W. Salter, University of Toronto
Dr. Peter G. Scholefield, Ontario Neurotrauma Fondation
Dr. Eric W. Single, University of Toronto
Dr. Martin J. Steinbach, York University York and University of Toronto
Mr. Philip C. Upshall, Mood Disorders Society of Canada
Mandate: INMHA supports research that enhances knowledge of the brain - mental health, neurological health, vision, hearing and cognitive functioning. Our goal is to reduce the burden of brain illness through prevention strategies, screening, diagnosis, treatment, support system and palliation. We will improve understanding of human thought and emotion,behaviour, sensation (sight, hearing, touch, taste, smell) perception, learning, and memory.
Mission: INMHA fosters excellence in innovative, ethically responsible research in Canada and increases knowledge of the functioning and disorders of the brain, the mind, the spinal cord, the sensory and motor systems, as well as mental health, mental illness and all forms of addiction. We aim to translate this new knowledge into a better quality of life for all Canadians through improved health outcomes, health promotion and health care services.
Vision: Innovative and ethical research provides new knowledge of the biological and socio-cultural processes behind neurological, mental and addictive disorders. This comprehensive approach enhances the quality of life of Canadians, especially those who suffer from brain-related illnesses, thanks to improved prevention, diagnosis and treatments.
Our team is firmly dedicated to the implementation of the strategic plan and the virtual model - with three full time staff at McGill University's Douglas Hospital, on the shores of the Fleuve Saint-Laurent: Rémi Quirion, Scientific Director, Richard Brière, Assistant Director and Ramia Jabr, Executive Manager.
In Ottawa the Institute is represented by Astrid Eberhart, Assistant Director, Partnerships, and Elisabeth Beaucage, Project Officer complete the full-time staff. We added a lead on Communications and Government Relations in 2002 - Justin Kingsley. Building ties with stakeholders, including the media, non-governmental-organizations, policy and decision-makers, the public and the scientific community, are part of his responsibilities.
The Institute Advisory Board (IAB) Focus Groups continue to forge forward and provide us with strategic orientations. Joint meetings and collaborations with other IABs, including the Institute of Aging for example, demonstrate the engagement, commitment and scientific curiosity of the Board. Summaries of all IAB meetings are made public on our Internet site.
Participation in over 25 workshops, conferences and research projects (please see page 14), numerous visits to universities and related institutions across Canada and around the world, give shape to Institute priorities as our team engages and informs stakeholders about brain-related research in Canada.
As for matters of internal CIHR management and best practices, we are proud to champion numerous CIHR projects, including Web renewal, government affairs and communications, ethics issues as well as the CIHR Strategic Plan.
We'll soon be evaluating the strategic plan and our programs, our successes and areas for improvement - all with an eye on what lies ahead. This, in our opinion, is the role of a leader.
Rémi Quirion, Ph.D.
Scientific Director
Richard Brière, Ph.D.
Assistant Director
Ramia Jabr
Executive Manager
Astrid Eberhart
Assistant Director, Partnerships and International Relations
Elisabeth Beaucage,
Project Officer
Justin Kingsley,
Head of Communications and Government Relations
To foster innovation and strengthen Canada's health research community in neurosciences, mental health, addiction, vision, hearing, pain and the other senses, as well as enhanceCanada's competitive position internationally, in four key areas:
1. Training of the Next Generation of Scientists
2. Strategic Initiatives
3. Research in Emerging Areas or Where Unique Opportunities Arise
4. To develop our international presence through research, training and funding partnerships with scientific and research funding agencies in other countries;
Integrity: To the support of excellence, scientific integrity and ethics in research that meet the highest international standards
Innovation: To expand beyond traditional approaches to research.
Caring: To making a difference in the lives of people who may be affected by disorders and illness.
Technology: To taking advantage of the latest advances in research methodology and technology.
Indicators: To developing outcome indicators to determine the impact of research on Canadians' health.
Dialogue: To promoting public debate on issues and ideas about health research.
Teamwork: To fostering commitment to INMHA goals via collaboration with stakeholders.
Transparency: To adopting an ethical, transparent, effective governance and management structure.
Accountability: To be accountable to Canadians, the CIHR Governing Council, and the Government of Canada
The mid-point in our 2001-2005 Strategic Plan is fast approaching. Results from some of the Institute-sponsored research projects are appearing in various publications. While our team is on schedule to fulfill the 2001-2005 Strategic Plan, INMHA and its Advisory Board will soon begin planning for the future. We have vowed that brain-related research in Canada - which includes neurosciences, mental health, addiction, vision, hearing, pain, and spinal cord injuries - will stay on track and ahead of the competition.
The Institute determines the focus of research in the field of neurosciences, mental health, addiction, senses and spinal cord in Canada. We believe that our leadership role demands collaboration. That means bringing in experts in these respective fields so that we can be working in collaboration to determine these strategic priorities. In 2002-2003, a number of new and emerging areas of focus for brain research emerged in Canada. The following are a few examples of how INMHA is working to keep Canada at the forefront of innovation and discovery:
Regenerative Medicine and Nanotechnology: A major challenge for neuroscientists is to find new ways of repairing the brain. In partnership with the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the National Research Council (NRC), as well as other CIHR partners, we are working on developing RFAs that will help Canadian scientists unlock the secrets of the brain using these novel approaches.
Nicotine Addiction and Tobacco Abuse: Another major project led by INMHA and the Institute of Cancer Research - in partnership with the Canadian Tobacco Control Research Initiative (CTCRI). We want to address the greatest preventable cause of early death in adults and develop a national research agenda. The goal is determining more effective prevention and cessation strategies, and a more thorough understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in nicotine addiction and dependence.
Neuroethics: We recognize the relationship between innovative research practices and ethical questions. IAB member Gordon DuVal, a bio-ethicist at the University of Toronto's Joint Centre for Bioethics, and Remi Quirion, INMHA's Scientific Director, have led this initiative and the development of a National Workshop on ethics. In June 2003 INMHA plans to release a neuroethics RFA. Our efforts in this field have led to front-page stories in national newspapers and a presentation to the Washington, D.C.-based President's Council on Bio-Ethics.
Suicide: A joint initiative with Health Canada, our team co-organized the first National Suicide Workshop in Montreal early in 2003 - a gathering of over 40 of Canada's top researchers in the field of suicide. The result is a national research strategy to address the No. 1 cause of death of Canadian males between the ages of 20 and 40 - another CIHR multi-institute initiative.
Autism: INMHA and CIHR continue to try and better understand autism spectrum disorders - from genetic aspects to the delivery of treatments. A multidisciplinary team, supported by CIHR and led by Dr. Jeanette Holden at Queen's University, will try to uncover the genetics of autism disorders. In October 2002, INMHA co-sponsored a national workshop with the National Alliance for Autism Research (NAAR) in collaboration with the Autism Society Canada - which led to two training grants, listed on pages 15-17. We are now on the road to determining a national research agenda to support researchers and help the families of those affected by the disorder.
Co-morbidity: Another important priority - and one that may best embody our diverse community - led us to launch a New Emerging Team (NET) to consider issues related to co-morbidity. This initiative is the first step in developing a major RFA, planned for 2005.
The following is a partial list of workshops and conferences organized, partnered and/or funded by INMHA in 2002-2003:
April 2002
Canadian Tobacco Control Research Summit
Joint Canada-US Health Survey Project
CRISE (Centre de recherche et d'intervention sur le suicide et l'euthanasie)
May 2002
Working Towards an International Spinal Cord Injury Data Set
Hand-Eye Coordination in Human and Non-human Primates
Neurological Significance of Recreation in Early Adolescence
June 2002
Foundation Fighting Blindness Meeting
Women and Mental Health Across the Life Span
Canadian Federation for Biological Sciences Symposium
Challenges in Regenerative Medicine - CHARM
Pilarsky Nanotechnology Workshop
Canadian Epilepsy Research Initiative Scientific Workshop
Symposium du Collegium Internationale de NeuroPsychopharmacologium
24th Annual Meeting of the Bio-Electromagnetics Society
July 2002
11th International Conference on Personal Relationships
10th International Congress on Neuromuscular Diseases
September 2002
Fronto-temporal Dementia Pick Complex
October 2002
Report on Mental Illness in Canada
Ethics and Finance in Biotechnology
May 2002 - October 2002
Canadian Autism Research Workshop
Research Agenda for Canadian Chiropractic Research
International Inner City Health Conference
Neurologically Impaired Child
Poverty, Equity and Health Workshop
November 2002
Neuroethics Workshop
Nanotechnology Workshop
Royal Society of Canada: The Impact of Addiction in Canada
Pan Canadian Proteomics Conference
First Annual New Principal Investigators Meeting, with the Institute of Genetics
December 2002
Canadian Psychiatric Research Foundation's National Anti-
Stigma Campaign
December 2002 - May 2003
Biomedical Beamline Proposal
January 2003
Understanding Behaviour Through Multidisciplinary
Investigations of CNS Structure and Function
January - July 2003
Rehabilitation Taskforce Workshop
February 2003
Neurogenetics Workshop
Suicide Workshop
March 2003
Brain Awareness Week - Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Toronto and Montreal
Technology Enabled Knowledge Translation (TEKT)
Canadian Conference on International Health - Perspectives on Tissue Engineering Workshop
Our Institute made significant progress in its second year as we focused on encouraging the development of innovative research projects in Canada. Some of the challenges to ensure our community thrives is establishing partnerships and cross-cutting initiatives with other member Institutes and the central coordinating office of CIHR.
Considering our diverse community and far-reaching mandate, as well as the number of Institute-related projects and researchers that receive funding, forging good relationships with colleagues is of the utmost importance. In fact, we feel we are leaders in this field, considering that the brain research community sits atop the CIHR ladder in terms of total investment and number of funded projects.
Individual investigators greatly benefit from Institute operating grants and salary awards. The Institute is committed to appropriately represent our researchers and fulfill our mandate, including in 2002-2003 financial support for the following:
New Emerging Team (NET) Grants (4)
Strategic Training Program Grants (10)
Post-Doctoral Fellowship Awards - Japan/Canada Program (3)
Individual Investigator Grants (15)
March 2002 Competition
September 2002 Competition
Special Projects
Salary Awards (21)
More information on grants, awards and other funding announcements are available on the Internet at www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca.
The development of partnerships with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) has been a major focus for our team. In October 2002 we invited our stakeholders, including NGOs, to our first annual meeting in Montreal (please see page 21). The Institute Advisory Board has also reached out to various NGOs at two national workshops. Conclusions from these discussions, organized in 2001-2002, have guided our strategies for increasing advocacy, public awareness and communication between stakeholders.
INMHA continues to move forward. We have fostered partnerships with NGOs to collaborate on advocacy, including appearances before committees at the House of Commons on matters of funding, mental health and the non-medical use of drugs. We have also taken part in numerous meetings with Members of Parliament, who benefit from learning more about our stakeholders and the direction of health research in Canada.
We are continually trying to translate research findings into tangible results for the public, policy makers and industry. Our NGO partners are crucial in this process as we are constantly trying to recruit the next generation of researchers. The year 2002-2003 also marked the beginning of our close working relationship with the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada as well as the Alzheimer Society of Canada - on the vascular health and dementia initiative. In addition, future plans with NGOs include developing communications partnerships that will help in disseminating the benefits of health research for various key audiences.
We partnered with a number of NGOs in 2002-2003 to fund a series of New Emerging Team (NET) Grants and Training Grants - to help prepare the next generation of researchers (please see pages 15-17). Some of our other NGO partnerships include:
Dr. Min Zhuo
The Edith J. Low-Beer Foundation (EJLB Foundation) is an organization of diverse pursuits. A staunch supporter of environmental protection, this non-profit charitable corporation also funds research relating to schizophrenia and other mental illnesses.
Dr. Min Zhuo, who recently joined the University of Toronto from the United States, was named the first recipient of the EJLB-CIHR Michael Smith Chair in Neurosciences and Mental Health, a $1 million EJLB granting fund created in honour of the Nobel Laureate in chemistry - a partnership that also includes the Royal Society of Canada.
The Chair allows a Canadian university or affiliated research centre to invite an international scientist to pursue research in the field of neurosciences and mental health in Canada. Dr. Zhuo is an internationally renowned expert in the study of the molecular and cellular mechanisms of pain.
CIHR and INMHA contribute a total of $550,000 to this initiative. The selected university additionally nominates the candidate for a Canada Research Chair, as well as for an infrastructure grant from the Canadian Foundation for Innovation. INMHA hopes other foundations will adopt the EJLB model.
We are committed to stronger and more effective relationships with our stakeholders.
Organizing the first Annual Meeting in 2002 - a first among all CIHR Institutes - helped us solidify our foundation and implement the Strategic Plan.
For two days over 150 stakeholders, research trainees and scientists participated in four roundtable discussion groups at McGill University's Montreal Neurological Institute. Here is a summary of what was discussed:
More detailed information about key priorities is available on our Web site.
Canada's international reputation in neurosciences is secure and was established many decades ago. While the Institute ensures the strategic orientation of research projects in the present, preparing for tomorrow and encouraging the next generation of researchers are prominent in our mandate.
We have created the BrainStar Program to reflect the CIHR model and mandate, which support established and emerging investigators. The purpose of this unique program is to recognize and support emerging researchers still enrolled in their studies and who have published papers and research findings in important and prominent scientific publications.
Every two weeks an outstanding young researcher in Canada is recognized and awarded $1,000. As evidenced below and further detailed on the Institute Web site, the award recipients are an excellent reflection of the richness of up-and-coming researchers.
The following six BrainStars were invited to make presentations on their published research work at our first Annual Meeting:
David J.A. Dozois - University of Western Ontario, Cognitive Studies in Clinical Depression: Structure, Specificity and Stability, published in Journal of Abnormal Psychology;
Sabine Elowe - University of Toronto, Signalling from the Eph Receptor - Tyrosine Kinase: A Role for p120RasGAP, published in Molecular and Cellular Biology;
Shonna C. Francis - University of Toronto, Story Retelling in Children with ADHD, published in Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology;
Bronwyn Macinnis - University of Alberta, Spatial Requirements for NGF-TrkA Signalling to Promote the Survival of Sympathetic Neurons, published in Science;
Minh Dang Nguyen - McGill University, Pathways to Motor Neuron Degeneration in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, published in Neuron;
Tonia Nichols - Simon Fraser University, Understanding Women's Decision-making in Abusive Relationships: Why Doesn't She Leave?, published in Journal of Couples Therapy.
Canada is home to some of the best brain researchers in the world. Names like Wilder Penfield, Donald Hebb, Herbert Jasper and Brenda Milner have been at the forefront of innovation for decades. Our mandate is to build on Canada's stellar international reputation.
One of our first challenges was to demonstrate the validity of bringing together researchers from all areas of brain research in one place. In a relatively short period of time the Institute's strategic decisions have paid off. Our diverse community - which includes mental health, addiction, the senses, and the neurosciences - is on-board.
By developing and advocating our vision, we've created a unique and innovative research model. Our mandate, for example, is reflected in eight separate groups at the US-based National Institutes of Health (NIH). Building unity among our scientists constitutes the Institute's greatest strength. We are taking that vision to the world. Below is a list of major international initiatives we have had the privilege to undertake.
From the early days of CIHR, Knowledge Translation (KT) was identified as an essential tool for our success. KT - when new knowledge becomes accessible to stakeholders, to various publics, to all Canadians - is carved in the CIHR mandate.
As part of its commitment to ensuring that Canadians have access to the latest brain-related research, we have funded five grants in partnership with the central CIHR office and other institutes on topics including:
Tobacco Abuse and Nicotine Addiction: A major problem with far-reaching consequences, we're attacking the issues from a number of angles, including understanding how some Canadians are more prone to nicotine and tobacco addiction than others, and how to help those who suffer from tobacco-related illnesses.
Mental Health in Rural Areas: Mental health is estimated to affect one-in-five Canadians, and in 1998 the burden of mental illnesses in Canada was estimated at over $14.5 billion. We're committed to reaching out to stakeholders and Canadians affected by mental illness through KT, among other initiatives.
Anthropological Perspectives in Neurosciences: Anthropology holds the secrets to many riddles about humanity's evolution, especially related to neurosciences. We believe that understanding neuro-behaviours and making the information readily available will improve the quality of all peoples' lives.
As we look to the future, we're planning for more KT initiatives, including media and NGO outreach programs, international partnerships with organizations such as the Society for Neuroscience (SfN), and the creation of youth information and resource school kits.
Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction
Douglas Hospital Research Centre
McGill University
6875 LaSalle Blvd.
Verdun, Québec
H4H 1R3
(514) 761-6131 ext. 3932
Fax: (514) 888-4060
http://www.cihr.gc.ca
Rémi Quirion, Ph.D
Scientific Director
Tel: (514) 761-6131 ext. 3932
remi.quirion@douglas.mcgill.ca
Richard Brière, Ph.D
Assistant Director
Tel: (514) 761-6131 ext. 3930
richard.briere@douglas.mcgill.ca
Ramia Jabr
Executive Manager
Tel: (514) 761-6131 ext. 3932
ramia.jabr@douglas.mcgill.ca
Astrid Eberhart
Assistant Director, Partnerships and International Relations
Tel: (613) 941-4643
Fax: (613) 941-1040
aeberhart@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
Justin Kingsley
Head of Communications and Government Affairs
Tel: (613) 297-7190
justin.kingsley@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
