News Release
2003-44
June 10, 2003
For Immediate Release
Government of Canada announces additional research funding for Severe Acute Respiratory
Syndrome (SARS)
OTTAWA - The Honourable Anne McLellan, Minister of Health, responsible
for Health Canada and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, today announced additional
funding of $5 million for continued public health research into SARS.
"Canada is already a world leader in the control and prevention of SARS," said Minister
McLellan. "This additional funding will strengthen our ability and that of our partners
to deal with SARS, its origins, how to diagnosis it quickly, treat it and,help control
it".
The $5 million will be allocated as follows:
- Two million dollars to Health Canada's National Microbiology Laboratory (NML) in Winnipeg.
The additional funding will allow the NML to recruit additional staff to work on SARS
and other emerging infectious diseases.
- Two million dollars to strengthen Canada's ability to help provinces and territories
respond better to infectious disease emergencies through the development of a new national
public health and epidemiology network.
- One million dollars to Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) to support a health
research strategy on SARS. It will include the creation of the Canadian SARS Research
Consortium (CSRC) to coordinate, promote and support Canadian research on SARS. Areas
of research may include the causes of SARS, diagnostics, prevention and epidemiology
public health and community impact. In addition to Health Canada, several other partners
will support the consortium including the Governments of Quebec, Ontario and British
Columbia; the Canadian Network for Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics; and the Lung Association.
"This funding, combined with the breadth and calibre of the partners involved in this
research effort, will ensure that Canada remains a world leader in SARS research", said
Minister McLellan.
For additional information on SARS research initiatives visit the Health
Canada website and the  CIHR
website.
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Media enquiries:
Farah Mohamed
Office of Anne McLellan
Federal Minister of Health
(613) 957-1694
Emmanuel Chabot
Media Relations
Health Canada
(613) 957-1803
Public Inquiries:
(613) 957-2991
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