Government of Canada Supports Research to Reduce Childhood Injuries

For immediate release

2010-19

Edmonton (July 27, 2010) – Researchers will be tackling the issue of childhood injuries thanks to a significant new investment by the Government of Canada. The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, made the announcement today along with Dr. Malcolm King, Scientific Director at the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

"Our Government recognizes the key role that health research can play in reducing the number of injuries and their consequences," said Minister Aglukkaq. "Today's strategic investment will create new knowledge that will be useful in the development of policies, programs and products related to safety, benefitting all Canadians."

Minister Aglukkaq announced five injury research teams will be funded through CIHR for a total of $8.2 million over five years. Dr. Ian Pike from the University of British Columbia will lead a cross-Canada research team on childhood injury research.

The team will assess the burden of child and youth injury on the long-term costs to the individual, family and society. Novel methods will be used to identify risk factors leading to injuries, including specific child behaviour, and innovative products will be developed to improve communications with youth.

Watch video about Dr. Pike's research project.

"We are proud to be funding these research teams," said Dr. King. "This collaborative effort will help us link many different research areas, enhance the depth and scope of research on injuries, and ultimately help reduce the rate of injuries across Canada."

The teams announced today will be led by the following researchers:

• Dr. Ian Pike (University of British Columbia) - CIHR Team in Child and Youth Injury Prevention
• Dr. Michael D. Cusimano (St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto) - CIHR Team in Traumatic Brain Injury and Violence
• Dr. Martine Hébert (Université du Québec à Montréal) - CIHR team on interpersonal traumas
• Dr. Avery B. Nathens (St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto) - CIHR Team in Trauma System Development in Canada: Overcoming the challenges of geography through an evaluation of structure and process
• Dr. Stephen N Robinovitch (Simon Fraser University, B.C.) - CIHR Team in the Prevention of Fall-Related Injuries in Older Adults through Bioengineering

The CIHR Strategic Teams in Applied Injury Research were funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and important partners including the Public Health Agency of Canada, the Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation, and the Alberta Centre for Child, Family and Community Research.

For the past 10 years, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) has supported better health and health care for Canadians. As the Government of Canada's health research investment agency, CIHR enables the creation of evidence-based knowledge and its transformation into improved treatments, prevention and diagnoses, new products and services, and a stronger, patient-oriented health-care system. Composed of 13 internationally recognized Institutes, CIHR supports more than 13,000 health researchers and trainees across Canada.