Fact Sheet - New investment in HIV/AIDS research in Canada

[ Press Release 2012-60 ]

On November 27, 2012, the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, announced an investment of $13 million over five years to support new research initiatives to address HIV/AIDS in Canada.

This investment includes $3 million to support two community-based HIV/AIDS research centres.

  • Ms. Renée Masching at the Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network will receive $1.5 million to support the Aboriginal HIV & AIDS Community-Based Research Collaborative Centre, which will bring Aboriginal communities and researchers together to address specific challenges for Aboriginal Canadians.
  • Dr. Sean Rourke at the Ontario HIV Treatment Network will receive $1.5 million to support the REACH CBR Collaborative Centre in HIV/AIDS, which will focusonbuilding capacity to carry out innovative HIV/AIDS research across Canada.

It also includes $10 million to support four research teams that will aim to help Canadians living with HIV by examining the link between HIV and other chronic health issues specifically related to aging and mental health.

  • Dr. Hélène Côté at the University of British Columbia will receive $2,500,000 to examine HIV and aging in HIV-positive women and children.
  • Dr. Lesley Fellows at McGill University will receive $2,492,705 to study how to improve brain health in HIV-infected individuals.
  • Dr. Christopher Power at the University of Alberta will receive $2,479,990 to carry out multi-disciplinary research on neurocognitive disorders associated with HIV.
  • Dr. Cécile Tremblay at Université de Montreal will receive $2,489,724 to study risk factors for cardiovascular disease in HIV-infected individuals.

These teams were funded through the CIHR HIV/AIDS Research Initiative in partnership with the following organizations:

Other Government of Canada investments in HIV/AIDS research

  • The Government invests in high quality, peer-reviewed HIV/AIDS research through the Federal Initiative to Address HIV/AIDS in Canada and the Canadian HIV Vaccine Initiative.
  • This research is administered by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. In 2011-12, CIHR supported over 500 HIV/AIDS research projects across Canada - a total investment of $46 million.