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Dr. Alan Bernstein |
On behalf of the Governing Council of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, I welcome you to the fifth annual Canadian Health Research Awards. This is our opportunity to honour exceptional individuals for their remarkable contributions to health research and its translation into action.
Earlier this year, a prestigious International Review Panel delivered its considered verdict on CIHR's first five years. It concluded this: "Few places in the world have the quality of health researchers, the universal health care system, the university structure and the mandate to put together a program such as that being developed by the CIHR".
Tonight's honourees provide evidence, once again, that Canadian health researchers are among the very best in the world.
You will notice that, while we do not have any new awards this year, some of our awards have had their names enhanced. For the first time, the winner of The Peter Lougheed/CIHR New Investigator Award is also known as Canada's Premier Young Researcher. Similarly, the winner of the CIHR Distinguished Leadership Award is also the 2006 Champion of Health Research.
And the winner of the CIHR Michael Smith Prize in Health Research is also known as Canada's Health Researcher of the Year. These additions to long-standing award names underscore the fact that these awards are not just recognition from CIHR; they are given in the name of our country and reflect Canada's broader commitment to improving the lives of people throughout the world.
I would like to thank the Health Charities Coalition of Canada and Research Canada: An Alliance for Health Discovery.
They have been our national partners since 2003. I would also like to recognize the provincial health research organizations listed at the end of the program for their ongoing commitment to and support for health research and their participation in tonight's ceremony.
I am particularly pleased to acknowledge and thank The Globe and Mail as our first-ever national media sponsor for this celebration. We have been privileged to have André Picard, the Globe's health policy reporter, as our Master of Ceremonies previously. Now, we are delighted to welcome his entire organization!
Finally, I thank all of you for joining us in honouring the outstanding health researchers who are being recognized this evening.
Dr. Alan Bernstein
O.C., FRSC
President, Canadian Institutes of Health Research
