News Release
1999-122
October 22, 1999
Minister Rock issues call to health research community to apply for programs
TORONTO - Health Minister Allan Rock today announced new funding programs under the proposed  Canadian Institutes of Health Research and invited the health research community to apply for funding now.
Mr. Rock made the announcement at the University of Toronto, joined by students from the University of Toronto and leading Canadian researchers taking part in the Gairdner Foundation International Awards event.
"The creation of the CIHR will herald a new era of health research and innovation that will ultimately contribute to the health of Canadians," said Mr. Rock. "The CIHR will help revolutionize the way we do research in this country and put Canada on the path to becoming a global leader in health research."
The 1999 federal Budget allocated $65 million for the CIHR and its programs for the fiscal year 2000-2001. The call for applications is being made now in order to allow sufficient time for researchers to prepare proposals for funding in 2000-2001.
Programs will be administered through the Medical Research Council (MRC), the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), Health Canada's National Health Research and Development Program (NHRDP), and the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation (CHSRF). Researchers will be invited to apply to these granting councils, agencies and programs.
Earlier this month, in his response to the Speech from the Throne, the Prime Minister emphasized the federal government's commitment to provide increased support to the health research sector, to keep the best and the brightest researchers in Canada, and attract researchers from around the world.
These new research programs have been designed to:
- expand career support to researchers at all stages of their careers;
- strengthen existing programs within the health research community;
- foster collaboration among researchers in the four sectors of health research and encourage multi-disciplinary research projects in order to benefit from a range of perspectives on health issues;
- build Canada's research capacity in all sectors, including broadening the scope of research programs to increase understanding of the broad determinants of health; and
- expand partnerships with the voluntary and private sectors, other levels of government and agencies, local organizations and community groups, and international organizations.
"Canada's international competitiveness depends on attracting, supporting and keeping researchers with bold and innovative ideas in Canada," said the Minister. "These programs are intended to help make Canada a place of expanding opportunity for top researchers."
The funding programs will be established, subject to Parliament's approval of legislation to create the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. Minister Rock is expected to introduce CIHR legislation in the House of Commons over the coming weeks.
Consistent with the role of the CIHR in supporting multi-disciplinary research, the integration of the four sectors of health research will be pursued once the CIHR is established. These sectors are:
- basic biomedical research;
- clinical research;
- research in health services and systems; and
- research related to society, culture and the health of populations.
CIHR will serve as the federal government's main funding agency for health research in Canada. A major focus for this new enterprise will be to improve the way research is supported and conducted in Canada. CIHR's mandate will be to increase understanding of health issues, to generate new health discoveries, treatments, practices and products, and to improve the effectiveness of Canada's health system and services. CIHR will be organized around a series of institutes across Canada, with each institute dedicated to a specific health challenge facing Canadians. To support the transition to CIHR, up to $10 million has been proposed to establish CIHR Institutes and their research mandates.
Recommendations on these programs were developed by the granting councils and a group of distinguished scientists, academics and leaders from across Canada, appointed by the Minister to advise on the implementation of the CIHR.
- 30 -
Media Inquiries
Derek Kent
Office of the Minister of Health
(613) 957-1515
Eric Morin
Health Canada
(613) 957-2978
Public Inquiries
(613) 957-2991
|
