Message from the President

Retirement of Dr. Pierre Chartrand, Vice-President Research and Chief Scientific Officer

Ottawa - October 20, 2010 - Dr. Pierre Chartrand has informed me that he will be retiring from CIHR effective April 1, 2011.

As many of you know, Pierre joined CIHR in September 2006. Since this time, Pierre has played a critical leadership role as a part of the executive management team, member of the Science Council, respected leader of the Research Portfolio and trusted advisor to me as Chief Scientific Officer. Between 2007 and 2008, Pierre served as Acting President and was instrumental in maintaining the stability and momentum of the organization as it recruited a new President.

On behalf of the Governing Council and all of the CIHR staff, I thank Pierre for his tireless commitment to CIHR, extraordinary professionalism and support of the Canadian health research community.

On a personal level, I am extremely grateful for the advice he provided me over the years, his unwavering dedication and loyalty, and finally, his humanity. I hope Pierre leaves CIHR with great satisfaction for what he accomplished for health research and for Canada. Pierre should be very proud of his outstanding contributions to CIHR and for demonstrating excellence in serving Canadians.

All of us at CIHR wish Pierre and his family well in this next phase of his life.

I will be communicating over the next weeks our plans for recruitment.

Alain Beaudet, Ph.D., M.D.
President, Canadian Institutes of Health Research