News Release

1995-87
December 15, 1995

Health Canada contributes to Canada's largest osteoporosis study

OTTAWA - Federal Health Minister Diane Marleau announced funding for the Canadian Multicentre Osteoporosis Study (CAMOS) while attending a news conference launching the study at McGill University in Montreal on Thursday.

The five-year study, which will be lead by Dr. Alan Tennenhouse of the McGill University Bone Centre for the Study of Mineral Metabolism and Metabolic Bone Disease, will involve 8,774 participants and will take place in 11 centres across Canada. The study will provide better insight into the causes of this disease and its prevention.

The total cost for the CAMOS project is $9 million. Health Canada is contributing $2.5 million through the Seniors Independence Research Program (SIRP) and the National Health Research and Development Program (NHRDP). Other partners in the project are Merck Frosst, Eli Lilly, the Medical Research Council, the Dairy Farmers of Canada, Proctor & Gamble Pharmaceuticals and the Osteoporosis Society of Canada.

"Through collaborative research projects like these, where many sectors come together to face a common challenge, we are hopeful that we can gain greater insight into this devastating disease which affects 1.4 million Canadians over the age of 50," said Madame Marleau.

Funding for this study was provided for in the federal budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework. This announcement is an example of how this government is prioritizing its spending to better serve Canadians by making efficient use of their tax dollars.

Information:
Gayle Morris
Special Assistant Communications
Minister's Office
(613) 957-2958

Bonnie Fox-McIntyre/Monique Renaud-Gagné
Health Canada
(613) 957-1588