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October 19, 2007
CIHR-funded Researchers Receive Prestigious SSHRC Awards
Dr. Margaret Lock and Dr. Vinh-Kim Nguyen received top honours at the Awards Night held by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. Both researchers are CIHR funded.
Dr. Lock received the Gold Medal for Achievement in Research, SSHRC's highest research honour. Dr. Lock is a distinguished medical anthropologist (McGill University) who has spent the past 30 years of her career building bridges between medicine and the social sciences.
Dr. Vinh-Kim Nguyen received the Aurora prize, an award given to an outstanding new researcher. Dr. Nguyen is an eminent physician and medical anthropologist (Clinique médicale l'Actuel, Montréal). His research on AIDS programs in Africa explores the political and social impact of these programs on their recipient countries.
October 11, 2007
October 10, 2007
Genetic discovery could lead to new treatments for type 2 diabetes
CIHR-funded researchers from the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute of Mount Sinai Hospital found that eliminating a specific type of gene in mice caused them to become more sensitive to insulin. Eliminating the gene caused more sugar to become stored in the liver, which indicated that insulin had become more effective. The study, co-authored by Drs. Katrina MacAulay and Bradley Doble, could pave the way toward new treatments for type 2 diabetes. Currently, more than two million people in Canada suffer from diabetes, with more than 60,000 new cases diagnosed each year. Type 2 diabetes makes up about 90 per cent of all cases. The study has made the cover of the October 3rd edition of Cell Metabolism.
Influenza vaccination rates more than doubled over last decade
A new study shows influenza vaccination rates across Canada increased to 34% in 2005, from 15% in 1996. Despite the increase in the vaccination rate, high risk groups such as seniors and those with chronic conditions, still fall short of national targets. The CIHR-funded research by Dr. Jeff Kwong was published in the October 2007 issue of Health Reports.
Building parks to end wait times
Reducing hospital waiting lists is not as simple as hiring more doctors - we need to keep people out of the line up for medical treatment altogether. Dr. John Frank, Scientific Director at CIHR Institute of Population and Public Health, offers solutions in an article published in Le Droit on September 28, 2007.
Surgery or immunotherapy: Is one better to treat bladder cancer?
There are two ways to treat aggressive form of bladder cancer - immediate surgery or immunotherapy - but which is better? CIHR-funded researchers have shown that for patients under the age of 60, immediate surgery increased life expectancy. Patients over the age of 70 did better with immunotherapy. The results of this study were published in the September 25th edition of PloS Medicine journal.
Ontario Public Health Association's Nutrition Resource Centre adopts NutriSTEPTM province-wide
The Ontario Public Health Association (OPHA)'s Nutrition Resource Centre has adopted a CIHR-developed tool to detect nutrition problems among preschoolers province-wide. The Nutrition Screening Tool for Every Preschooler (NutriSTEPTM) is a screening questionnaire that was developed by CIHR-funded researchers Dr. Janis Randall Simpson and Dr. Heather Keller of the University of Guelph, with Lee Rysdale and Joanne Beyers, dietitian researchers with the Sudbury & District Health Unit. NutriSTEPTM helps identify nutrition risks or problems among children aged three to five years. This scientifically valid and reliable screening will help improve nutrition and/or early identification of children that need intervention. It was designed for use by parents, caregivers or community professionals and takes no more than five minutes to complete. CIHR funded the validation study of NutriSTEPTM. The program is being monitored by the Government of Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion and NutriSTEPTM will be a requirement of the proposed Ontario Public Health Standards.
Combining aerobic and resistance training to better control Type 2 Diabetes
We have known for a long time that exercise has many positive effects on a person's health. University of Calgary endocrinologist and CIHR-funded researcher Dr. Ron Sigal and colleagues from the University of Ottawa studied how multiple forms of exercise training are beneficial to people with type 2 diabetes. While performing aerobic exercise or resistance training can improve a person's control of their blood sugar, this paper shows that combining the two can double those benefits. This means that diabetics have more options when creating exercise plans, and they can create a personalized fitness plan that will be sustainable in the long run. This research is the largest clinical study of its kind on the effectiveness of aerobic exercise and resistance training. The findings are published in the September 18 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine and appears in the University of Calgary Faculty of medicine News.
Patient-physician communication examination scores predict future complaints in medical practice
Poor communication between patients and physicians has been found to increase the risk of patient complaints and malpractice claims against physicians. A team led by CIHR-funded researcher Dr. Robyn Tamblyn, an epidemiologist from McGill University, examined whether patient-physician communication examination scores in the Canadian national licensing examination predicted future complaints in medical practice. In fact, the team did find that low scores in patient-physician communication and clinical decision making would predict the likelihood of complaints to medical regulatory authorities. Physicians with lower communication scores tend to have higher patient complaint rates. Their findings have important implications for medical educators and licensing authorities. The study is published in the highly cited Journal of the American Medical Association (September 5th issue) and appears in the McGill Tribune.
Advances in multiple sclerosis research
A research team funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research unlocked one of the mechanisms by which very aggressive white blood cells attack the central nervous system. The study, published in the September 9th edition of Nature Medicine, could eventually lead to new ways to prevent multiple sclerosis. Multiple sclerosis is an unpredictable, often disabling disease, affecting the central nervous system, the brain and the spinal cord.
Researchers use skin-derived stem cells to repair spinal cord injuries
Repairing spinal cord injuries with the patient's own skin could be possible in the not so distant future. CIHR-funded researchers at The Hospital for Sick Children and the University of British Columbia have used skin-derived stem cells to repair spinal cord injuries in animal models. This research is reported in the September 5, 2007 issue of the Journal of Neuroscience.
September 7, 2007
Prime Minister launches national Mental Health Commission
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has announced the selection of the Board of Directors for the Mental Health Commission of Canada. The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), along with the research and NGO community were instrumental in presenting background information to the Senate Committee which provided the basis for the creation of the Commission. CIHR is looking forward to working closely with members of the newly created Mental Health Commission.
August 27, 2007
Ethnic background and excess stomach fat
Not all types of body fat are created equal and excess stomach fat presents the greatest risk for developing heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. A team of CIHR-funded researchers led by Dr. Scott A. Lear, a Canadian Obesity Network Investigator from Simon Fraser University, discovered that a person's ethnic background determines where the body stores fat. Specifically, the team found that Canadians of Chinese and South Asian descent had higher amounts of abdominal fat than persons with European or Aboriginal heritage, putting them at greater risk for obesity-related diseases. The study is published in the high-profile American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
August 22, 2007
A new molecular zip code, and a new drug target for Huntington's disease
Canadian researchers funded by CIHR have discovered how Huntington's disease (HD) could be triggered. By doing so, they are paving the way to one day developing a drug that will target the bad proteins that cause the disease. HD causes uncontrolled limb movements and loss of intellectual faculties. The research by Dr. Ray Truant is published in the August 20th edition of the British Journal, Human Molecular Genetics.
August 17, 2007
Early immune responses to SARS predicts severity of disease
A new study shows that during the early stages of the SARS infection, patients produced two different immune responses. The researchers found they could predict how severe the disease would be by determining which type of immune response the patients had. Dr. Mark Cameron (University Health Network, Toronto) and his team studied blood samples from 40 SARS patients. Patients who would later experience only mild SARS symptoms had a different immune system response than those who would later suffer severe symptoms or death. This study, partially funded by CIHR, contributes to our current understanding on how the immune system reacts to SARS and in the future, may be used to target patients who need extra medical care. These findings are published in August issue of the Journal of Virology.
August 16, 2007
New prion protein discovered by Canadian scientists may offer insight into mad cow disease
Canadian scientists have discovered a new protein that might offer fresh insights into brain function in mad cow disease. "In addition to the original prion protein molecule called PrP, our team has defined a second prion protein called 'Shadoo'," said Professor David Westaway, CIHR-funded researcher at the University of Alberta. This is the first discovery since 1985 of a new brain protein.
August 15, 2007
New health benefit for component in tomato
Dr. Leticia Rao, a CIHR-Industry funded researcher at the University of Toronto and her research team have found another way in which lycopene, a naturally occurring component found in red tomatoes and a powerful antioxidant, provides health benefits. In their study, postmenopausal women who had consumed more lycopene in the form of tomatoes and tomato products had a lower amount of a specific bone protein associated with osteoporosis. These findings may lead to new strategies to reduce the risk of osteoporosis. This research is published online in the journal Osteoporosis International. Another clinical intervention study to evaluate the role of lycopene in osteoporosis is now completed and results will be submitted for publication.
New Executive Director for Alberta Bone and Joint Health Institute
The Alberta Bone and Joint Health Institute (ABJHI) has appointed Dr. Cy Frank, the inaugural scientific director of the CIHR Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis (IMHA), as Executive Director. Dr. Frank is a leading orthopaedic surgeon, researcher and professor with an impressive record of promoting bone and joint health and health care for Albertans. He brings more than 30 years of experience to the job.
CIHR researchers develop vaccine for deadly intestinal parasite
Dr. Kris Chadee, a CIHR-funded researcher at the University of Calgary, and his team have developed a vaccine to prevent infection by Entamoeba histolytica, a parasite that kills more than 100,000 people each year worldwide. The vaccine blocks infection by preventing the parasite from attaching to the lining of the intestine. The researchers tested the vaccine on gerbils and found that it provided 100 per cent protection against the parasite. In the future, these finding may lead to the development of a vaccine for humans. The study is published online in the scientific journal Infection and Immunity.
CIHR-funded researchers discover way to enhance bone healing treatments
CIHR-funded researchers at The Hospital for Sick Children SickKids have found a molecular pathway that plays a critical role in bone healing and have found that the drug lithium can improve the healing process. This research is reported in the July 31 issue of PLoS Medicine. Delayed fracture healing can cause substantial disability and often requires additional surgical treatments. Finding a drug that could enhance bone healing has been a long-sought treatment that could improve fracture repair and substantially improve patient outcomes.
CIHR strives to improve the PHSI program on an on going basis
CIHR launches a new website highlighting the Partnerships for Health System Improvement (PHSI) program. The PHSI program supports teams of researchers and decision makers interested in conducting applied health research, research that will be useful to health system managers and policy makers over the next five years. Researchers who visit the new web site will find important information the application procedure, review and evaluation processes for this funding opportunity.
Listening for Direction III: A national consultation on health services and policy issues
In 2007, eight national organizations partnered for the third round of Listening for Direction. Between February and April 2007, nine consultation workshops were held across the country: one national workshop, five regional workshops in the south, and three northern regional workshops in each of the territories. Listening for Direction III aimed to uncover emerging short- and longer- term priority issues, from which related research and synthesis themes and questions would later be developed to inform the research agenda of Canadian health research agencies. Led by the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation (CHSRF) and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research - Institute of Health Services and Policy Research, the other partner organizations included the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health; the Canadian Healthcare Association; the Canadian Institute for Health Information; the Canadian Patient Safety Institute; Health Canada; and Statistics Canada.
Researchers at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), Mount Sinai Hospital and the University of Pittsburgh have identified a previously unsuspected gene found to be associated with ulcerative colitis. This research is reported in the July 5 issue of Current Biology.
A study led by CIHR-funded researcher Dr. Jitender Sareen (University of Manitoba) suggests that exposure to combat or witnessing atrocities during a military mission increases the risk of mental health problems in Canadian military personnel. The researchers found that untreated mental illness in the military was an enormous problem. Their findings are published in the July issue of the journal Archives of General Psychiatry.
July 5, 2007
International Public-Private Partnership Unlocks Structure of Proteins
(First link on left-hand side: "SGC Launches Phase II")
Structural Genomics Consortium launches Phase II with investments from international organizations and two new partners
The Structural Genomics Consortium (SGC), an international public-private partnership established to determine and make freely available the structures of proteins relevant to human disease, today announced new funding of over $100M from public funding agencies in Canada, Sweden and Ontario, charitable foundations in the UK and Sweden, GlaxoSmithKline plc. and two new partners from the pharmaceutical industry-Novartis and Merck. The investments will to support a second phase of the SGC, beginning July 1st, 2007.
"The Canadian Institutes of Health Research is very pleased to be one of the funding partners of the second phase of the SGC," says Dr. Alan Bernstein, President of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. "The SGC is a paradigm of a major public-private partnership that was called for in the government's new S&T strategy."
June 27, 2007
In Budget 2007, the Federal Government announced its plan to set aside funding for the new Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research (CECR) program. Now the program is calling on organizations from across the country to apply for CECR funds. As part of the Government of Canada's Science and Technology (S&T) Strategy, CECR will be awarding five-year grants of $15 million to approximately 11 new centres. The goal of the CECR program is to create internationally recognized centres of commercialization and research expertise in environmental science, natural resources, health and information and communication technologies.
Canada's children are losing the battle of the bulge. Obesity rates have more than doubled in less than 30 years and this means that today's kids may live shorter lives than their parents. Dr. Diane Finegood, Scientific Director of the CIHR Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes, asks you to imagine a world where children eat according to the Food Guide and are enthusiastic about participating in daily physical activity. This vision in achieveble if we work to make the healthy choice the easy choice. The article appears in the June 25th editions of the Toronto Star and L'Express de Toronto.
Alberta is leading the way nationally on hip and knee care thanks to a successful pilot project that resulted in an 85 per cent reduction in wait times. The current non-pilot wait time of 145 days was reduced to 21 days, from accepted referral to first orthopedic consultation. The announcement was made by Dave Hancock, Minister of Health and Wellness for Alberta, accompanied by Dr. Ron Zernicke, Executive Director of the Alberta Bone & Joint Health Institute (ABJHI) and Dr. Cy Frank, Co-Director of ABJHI and past Scientific Director of the Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis at CIHR. The Calgary-based Alberta Bone and Joint Health Institute will receive $6.3 million to help rollout the program province-wide.
Findings on pain published in two international scientific journals
Dr. Gerald Zamponi, a CIHR-funded neuroscientist at the University of Calgary has back-to-back papers being published in two prestigious international journals for his research into pain. "Today's pain medications do not always provide as much relief as we would like. We hope these early findings will lead to new drugs, and give some hope to people with chronic nerve pain, or pain from inflammation," says Dr. Gerald Zamponi. His research is published in the Journal of Neuroscience, and in the renowned journal Nature Neuroscience for his findings on pain pathways in the brain.
June 21, 2007
A team led by Dr. Albert Berghuis, a CIHR-funded researcher and professor at McGill University, has observed a new way in which Staphylococcus aureus, a multi-drug resistant 'superbug', inactivates one of the latest drugs used to fight it. In the future, this discovery may be used to develop strategies to counteract drug resistance. These findings appear in the early online edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
The world's leading experts on topics relating to aging, disability, informal caregiving and new technologies are gathering in Toronto for a one-of-a-kind festival. From June 16-19, 2007, The Festival of International Conferences on Caregiving, Disability, Aging and Technology (FICCDAT) will bring together for the first time five distinctive conferences to facilitate a global dialogue among leading experts on the universal issues of aging, disability, caregiving and the role of technology in helping the world's aging populations live longer and better.
The CIHR Institute of Aging (CIHR-IA) is a proud supporter of FICCDAT and of the symposium entitled Canada Meets UK on Design and Technology for Quality of Life in Old Age to be held on June 17, 2007 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
In a recent study, Dr. Sudeep Gill, a CIHR-funded researcher at the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES), has demonstrated that the use of new atypical antipsychotic drugs could be associated with an increased risk of death among elderly Ontarians who have dementia. Conventional or typical antipsychotic drugs may pose an even greater risk of death.
CIHR and the CIHR Institute of Health Services and Policy Research recently held a special media workshop in Toronto on the subject of health services and policy research. Fourteen freelancers and reporters from outlets such the Toronto Star, CBC Radio, Canadian Press and The Globe and Mail heard presentations by 9 of Canada's leading experts in health services and policy research. The event marked the second in an ongoing series of CIHR media workshops on health research topics.
During spring convocation ceremonies, May 22 - May 30, 2007, Dalhousie University is awarding honorary degrees to 12 prominent Canadians in recognition of their significant accomplishments and profound impact in a diversity of areas. Amongst the 12 recipients are Dr. Alan Bernstein, President of CIHR, who is receiving an award for his outstanding contribution to Canadian science, and Dr. Rod McInnes, Scientific Director of CIHR's Institute of Genetics, who is receiving an award for advancing our understanding of human genetics. These outstanding individuals will receive a Doctor of Laws, honoris causa.
Canadian physician Dr. John Evans has been named the winner of the 2007 Henry G. Friesen International Prize in Health Research by the Friends of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences. The prestigious Friesen Prize represents the exceptional leadership, vision and innovative contributions of Dr. Henry Friesen, a visionary health scientist credited with the discovery of the hormone human prolactin. As the winner of the 2007 Friesen Prize, Dr. Evans will be the keynote speaker at a Public Forum to be held in Montreal on September 19th in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences.
Kudos to IHSPR's Scientific Director, Dr. Colleen M. Flood, for being invited to give the 2007 Jerry Lee Lecture, which is an annual event that takes place at the International Campbell Collaboration Colloquium. The first woman to have been bestowed the Jerry Lee Guest Lecturer honour, Dr. Flood spoke to an audience of hundreds on May 15th about "Barriers to Getting Research Out of the Ivory Tower and Into Practice." The Colloquium was held this year in London, England, from May 14-16th, 2007.
Each year a representative from the private sector, academia, or government presents their own vision of how research can be used to inform policy and practice. Each Jerry Lee Lecture guest speaker has been chosen for their exceptional work in their respective areas of study.
If you would like a copy of Dr. Flood's presentation, please email Meghan McMahon at meghan.mcmahon@utoronto.ca.
The rise of India and China as economic powerhouses, the development of new global communication technologies, global warming, the emergence of new infectious pathogens like SARS, powerful new insights into the workings of the human body, are all creating tremendous challenges and opportunities for countries like Canada. In a flat world, no country is immune from these global tectonic shifts.
The Presidents of Canada's three granting agencies, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), today expressed their commitment to Mobilizing Science and Technology to Canada's Advantage, the Government of Canada's new science and technology strategy. The strategy addresses priority issues such as improving health and protecting the quality of the environment.
Two promising young researchers have won the CIHR-INMHA Marlene Reimer Brain Star Award. Marnie Duncan from the University of Calgary and Marja Van Sickle, now at Queens University, were presented the award in Toronto on May 22, 2007. They received the award for their significant work on cannabinoid receptors in the brain published in 2005 in Science. They hope their work will help reduce the side-effects of conventional treatments for cancer, and also design new treatments for a wide variety of brain conditions. The Award is given to emerging scientists who have had the greatest impact in the field of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction over the past year.
Canada's Aboriginal community and CIHR have broken new ground with the release of ethical guidelines that give Aboriginal people a greater say in how health research projects are conducted. Developed in cooperation with Aboriginal communities, the guidelines balance the pursuit of scientific excellence with Aboriginal values and traditions to improve on the profound disparity in health for Aboriginal communities. An editorial piece was published in the journal Nature, May 17, 2007 to highlight the new CIHR Guidelines for Health Research Involving Aboriginal Peoples.
Ted Paranjothy, a Grade 12 Fort Richmond Collegiate student from Winnipeg, Manitoba, has just won the prestigious sanofi-aventis International BioGENEius Challenge award. The award, which includes a $7,500 (US) prize and an American Merit Scholarship, put Mr. Paranjothy ahead of 13 other students competing in North America. With mentorship provided by CIHR-funded Dr. Marek Los at the University of Manitoba, Mr. Paranjothy has conducted research into how a protein called apoptin can cause cancer cells to die without harming healthy ones. Next year, the student plans to further test apoptin's possible benefits at the University of Manitoba. CIHR's Synapse Youth Mentorship Initiative connects high-school students with CIHR researchers to provide opportunities for youth and advance their interests and abilities in health research. Winnipeg Free Press, May 9, 2007.
May 14, 2007
A study led by Dr. James Carlyle, a researcher at the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, and funded in part by CIHR provides evidence of a unique interaction between a pathogen and the host's immune system.
Cytomegalovirus (CMV), a virus in the herpes family of viruses, escapes detection by the body's immune system by using the host's cellular machinery to produce decoy markers that mimic a healthy, uninfected cell. However, the study also found a range of variations in the receptor that binds to the decoy cellular markers suggesting that the host's cells are using the variations to make it more difficult for CMV to mimic the markers and avoid detection.
These findings published online in the April 2007 issue of Immunity contribute to current understanding of host-pathogen interactions and in the long term, may lead to the development of new methods for the treatment and prevention of CMV.
Keeping up to date with hot new research results reported in the media is a full-time job. In fact, there are so many of them, and the results so often contradict each other, that it has become common in conversation to poke fun at the science behind them. In an editorial article published in the April 10 edition of the Medical Post, Dr. John Frank, Scientific Director at the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, helps readers sort the good from the bad.
Doctors, patients and journalists can now go online to search easily and quickly for information on clinical trials from around the world. The World Health Organization has launched the world's first global online search portal for clinical trials, including unpublished ones. CIHR contributed to the development and through its continued leadership, accelerated the move toward greater transparency of information about clinical trials. In addition, CIHR took the decision back in 2004 that all randomized controlled trials it funds be publicly registered.
Background documents:
May 8, 2007
The heart needs a steady supply of energy to function properly. Dr. Vincent Giguère, a CIHR-funded researcher at MUHC, and his colleagues recently identified several genetic processes that work together to ensure this energy is made available to the heart. Dr. Giguère's findings, published in the May 2007 issue of Cell Metabolism, suggest new approaches to the management of some forms of heart disease.
For her outstanding work and research in community health, Dr. Nancy Edwards, professor at the University of Ottawa School of Nursing, and vice-chair of the Governing Council for CIHR, has won the 2007 University of Ottawa Excellence in Research Award. Dr. Edwards has led national and international studies addressing a number of important program and policy questions in the area of tobacco cessation, falls prevention for seniors, maternal and child health, and HIV/AIDS. Congratulations to Dr. Edwards for this well deserved prize.
Dr. Janet Rossant, one of Canada's top stem cell researchers, is one of the two recipients of the prestigious 2007 March of Dimes Prize awarded for remarkable contributions to science's understanding of mammalian reproduction and development. Dr. Rossant, a member of the CIHR Governing Council, chief of research at the Hospital for Sick Children and professor at the University of Toronto, was among the first to identify placental stem cells and the genes that make them different from embryonic stem cells. The award ceremony will be held in Toronto on May 7, 2007.
April 2, 2007
Dr. Alan Bernstein, President of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, spoke to a capacity audience at the March 26th Canadian Club of Toronto luncheon.
Please see the following links to view a web cast or text of this event.
March 15, 2007
A team led by CIHR-funded researcher Natalie Strynadka, a Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) international research scholar at the University of British Columbia, has uncovered the obscure crystal structure of the enzyme that helps build the durable cell wall in antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This new understanding of the structure of the enzyme may provide scientists with the information necessary to develop new antibiotics to treat deadly infections. These findings were published in the March 9, 2007 issue of the journal Science.
March 12, 2007
A CIHR-funded researcher at the University of British Columbia has developed a new form of the drug Amphotericin B which can now be taken orally. The drug is used to kill blood-borne fungal infections, and is currently administered intravenously. The current form of the drug can cause severe side effects, including kidney toxicity and tissue damage. The new discovery should make the drug easier and cheaper to administer.
Due to their significant health care contributions to Canada and the world, Senator Wilbert Keon, Dr. Endel Tulving, along with the late Drs. Elizabeth Bagshaw, Felix d'Herelle, and Jean Dussault were selected for the honour by an independent committee, and will be formally acknowledged as Canadian Medical Hall of Fame laureates in October 2007.
It is with great pleasure that CIHR president Dr. Alan Bernstein recognizes and congratulates the following outstanding Canadians recently appointed to the Order of Canada for their invaluable contributions to health and science. CIHR commends their achievements which benefit all Canadians.
Officer appointees
Louis Fortier (Science)
Paul Gendreau (Social Sciences)
Antoine M. Hakim (Health Care)
Bryan L. Harvey (Science)
M. Daria Haust (Health Care)
Cyril Max Kay (Science)
Clifford Garfield Mahood (Health Advocacy)
Jaymie M. Matthews (Science)
Arthur B. McDonald (Science)
Francis A. Plummer (Health Care)
Dorothy M. Pringle (Health Care/Nursing/Education)
Rémi Quirion (Science)
Dennis C. Smith (Science)
E. Douglas Wigle (Health Care)
Member appointees
Austin A. Mardon (Health Advocacy)
Timothy M. Murray (Health Care)
J. Norgrove Penny (Health Care)
David S. Precious (Health Care)
Robert O. Stephens (Voluntary Service/Health Care)
A. Jonathan Stoessl (Health Care)
"Canadian researchers are doing an exceptional job making discoveries and generating new knowledge that has the potential to improve the health of Canadians and strengthen Canada's healthcare system and economy but unless this knowledge is actually put into action, these benefits will not be realized," state Drs. Alan Bernstein and Ian D. Graham of CIHR in a special guest column for the February 12th edition of The Hill Times.
Scientists discover new compound that kills drug-resistant malaria
Scientists from multiple disciplines are uniting to develop innovative solutions for malaria. As a global public health threat, malaria causes millions of deaths and inflicts suffering on over 2 billion people each year. Fortunately, a new research study, funded in part by CIHR and led by Dr. Lakshmi Kotra of the Toronto General Research Institute, has discovered a synthetic compound that binds to and inhibits a key enzyme required for the malaria parasite to reproduce and survive. By targeting and killing malaria parasites, including multidrug-resistant strains of the deadliest type of the infectious disease, researchers are closer than ever to the creation of a new anti-malaria drug. This study was published in the February 2007 issue of The Journal of Medical Chemistry.
February 6, 2007
Graphic images on cigarette packages are effective
A new CIHR-funded study conducted at the University of Waterloo has demonstrated the effectiveness of graphic images on Canadian cigarette packages. Researchers surveyed over 2,000 smokers in each of four countries; Canada, U.S., U.K., and Australia as part of an international policies evaluation project. The study's findings support the use of graphic warnings, an important policy issue for the 140 countries that have ratified the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, the first-ever international treaty on public health.
February 5, 2007
Gene May Predict Prostate Cancer Relapse
A study by CIHR-supported researchers Dr. Robert Nam and Dr. Arun Seth suggests that prostate cancer patients who have the gene TMPRSS2:ERG are more likely to relapse after undergoing surgery than patients who do not have this gene. This discovery could lead to the development of a drug that will block the "expression" or production of the gene and prevent the formation of new prostate cancer cells. Doctors may also be able to use this information to identify patients with a high risk of relapse and design more effective treatment plans.
Dr. Bernstein to address The Canadian Club of Toronto, Monday, March 26th, 2007
According to New York Times columnist Thomas L. Friedman, the world is getting flat, creating significant challenges and tremendous new opportunities for countries around the globe.
Dr. Alan Bernstein, President of CIHR, believes Canada is exceptionally well positioned to emerge as a health and science superpower in this flat world, if we are prepared to take the necessary steps to realize this vision. He will explain how Canada can do this when he addresses The Canadian Club of Toronto on Monday, March 26th.
January 25, 2007
CIHR-funded Drs. Susan George and Brian O'Dowd at the Centre for Addiction and Mental health (CAMH) lead a team of Canadian researchers which discovered a distinct dopamine signalling complex in the brain. Composed of two different types of dopamine receptors, this novel target may have a significant role in understanding and treating schizophrenia. Their findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA.
January 17, 2007
January 12, 2007
January 5, 2007
