Health researcher Dr. Gerald Zamponi explains his research on new migraine treatments to Prime Minister Paul Martin, University of Calgary President Dr. Harvey Weingarten, Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh, CIHR President Dr. Alan Bernstein and Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan. The Prime Minister today announced $222 million for CIHR-funded health research projects.

CALGARY (March 14, 2005) - Prime Minister Paul Martin, accompanied by the Honourable Ujjal Dosanjh, Minister of Health and Dr. Alan Bernstein, President of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), announced today the recipients of 571 health research grants worth more than $222 million. The Prime Minister made the announcement at the University of Calgary, where leading health research is being supported by the Government of Canada.

"By enabling our researchers to stay at the cutting edge in their fields, we are strengthening our country's position as a leader in building an innovative and cost-effective health care system," said the Prime Minister. "Their work will contribute to strengthening the research and training environment for young Canadians in all regions of the country."

"The knowledge gained through these grants will continue to fuel our progress as individuals and as a nation," added Minister Dosanjh. "This funding allows researchers to build the knowledge we need to maintain our reputation throughout the world as an exceptional place to live, work and learn. I congratulate these researchers and wish them well in carrying out their projects."
 
The 571 research projects funded across Canada will be carried out over periods of one to five years and exemplify CIHR's comprehensive, problem-based approach to funding health research. The funded research projects include the following:

• Dr. Gerald Zamponi (University of Calgary) is conducting fundamental research in calcium channels. His work could lead to new treatments for a variety of neurological problems, including migraines;
• Dr. Allison J. McGeer (Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto) is developing rules to help physicians treat Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea;
• Dr. Gustavo Turecki ( Douglas Hospital Research Centre, McGill University ) and his team are studying the risk factors related to suicide among Aboriginal communities;
• Dr. Zdenka V. Pausova (Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal) is examining the impact of prenatal exposure to maternal cigarette smoking;
• Dr. Jitender Sareen (University of Manitoba) will examine the mental health consequences of peacekeeping for members of the Canadian Armed Forces and their need for mental health treatment.

"CIHR's research grants support the very best ideas of outstanding investigators in universities and teaching hospitals across Canada," said Dr. Bernstein. "CIHR is proud to be catalyzing both important health research and its translation into better health and evidence-based changes in Canada's health care system."

Out of the 571 research projects announced, 58 will be conducted in the Province of Alberta at the University of Calgary, the University of Alberta and the University of Lethbridge . Minister Dosanjh highlighted four Alberta researchers whose work exemplifies CIHR's comprehensive, problem-based approach to funding health research. They are:

• Dr. Peter A. Forsyth (University of Calgary) is investigating a way to treat malignant brain tumours by targeting a protein that helps brain tumour cells invade surrounding tissue;
• Dr. Walter Kipp (University of Alberta) is assessing the effectiveness of community-based AIDS treatment in rural Uganda;
• Dr. Robert J. Sutherland (University of Lethbridge) is examining ways to restore learning and memory by regenerating brain circuitry; and
• Dr. Hasan Uludag (University of Alberta) is working on a way to increase bone mineral in a short period of time to treat osteoporosis.

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research is the Government of Canada's agency for health research. Its objective is to excel, according to internationally accepted standards of scientific excellence, in the creation of new knowledge and its translation into improved health for Canadians, more effective health services and products and a strengthened Canadian health care system. Composed of 13 Institutes, CIHR provides leadership and support to more than 9,000 researchers and research teams in every province of Canada.

- 30 -

Attachments

Grant Allocations - National
Grant Allocations - Alberta
Highlighted Projects Backgrounder

Further information:
Janet Weichel, CIHR, Communications, (613) 941-4563
Adèle Blanchard, Office of Minister Dosanjh, (613) 957-0200

Disclaimer: The number of new projects announced today represents CIHR funding decisions as of March 8, 2005, based on Governing Council approvals for competitions held in the Fall of 2004. These numbers will change over time as, for example, budgets and conditions for approved projects are finalized.