Message from Norman Rosenblum, INMD Scientific Director

With the beginning of the New Year, it is time to look forward to new opportunities for the coming year. Many of you will know that INMD held a Workshop in October 2018 in conjunction with the Diabetes Canada and Canadian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism Professional Conference to reflect on the 100th anniversary of the discovery of insulin that will be marked in 2021. In anticipation of this occasion, it is time we consider the state of science and identify Canadian research strengths that could be leveraged to support a strategic research initiative to mark this important milestone in Canadian science. In 2019, I will be embarking on discussions within CIHR and with potential partners such as health charities and other government agencies to consider how we might work together to mark this occasion. I look forward to sharing further details about this initiative as it develops.

I am also looking forward to continuing interactions with INMD partners. At the end of 2018, I had the privilege of participating in a Workshop held in Vancouver with the CH.I.L.D. (Children with Intestinal and Liver Disorders) Foundation. INMD has worked in partnership with the CH.I.L.D. Foundation over many years to support the Canadian Children Inflammatory Bowel Disease Network: a Joint Partnership of CIHR and the CH.I.L.D. Foundation. The Network, led by Dr. Anne Griffiths (SickKids), has been very productive over the past 5 years, and the Workshop was an opportunity to reflect on its accomplishments to date and to determine the opportunities/areas of highest value for the next phase of the Network. I wish to thank the CH.I.L.D. Foundation for including INMD in this Workshop, as well as Dr. Griffiths and the Network leadership and all of the other participants for contributing to its success.

Finally, I am working closely with the INMD Institute Advisory Board (IAB) to draft a new strategic plan for INMD. I hope that you took the time to complete the survey highlighted in the December INMD newsletter that will be used to inform the future strategic priorities for INMD.

Wishing you all a happy and productive New Year!

Norman Rosenblum, MD, FRCPC
Scientific Director, CIHR-INMD

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