May 21 Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada establishes research chair at McMaster University to beat IBD
 | HAMILTON, ON (May 15, 2013) – A $3.5 million endowed chair is being established at McMaster University to further research into ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that impacts more than 100,000 Canadians, and millions more worldwide. |
Dr. Kevin Glasgow, CEO of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of Canada (CCFC), said today that the new position is being established because medical research is the only hope for finding cures and better treatments for inflammatory bowel diseases.
May 14 Why join Research Canada?
 | "Research Canada provides a forum for researchers to interact with government and funding agencies, the opportunity for a direct face to face discussion with Parliamentarians on the Hill...and perhaps most importantly, to be presented as a group rather than as individuals. The real issue is how to strengthen Research Canada." - Dr. Robert Roberts, President & CEO, University of Ottawa Heart Institute |
Read more | Comments: 0
May 14 International Agreement spearheaded by Research Canada featured in RE$EARCH MONEY
 | Last month Ms. Deborah Gordon-El-Bihbety, President & CEO of Research Canada, signed a landmark agreement with her counterparts at Research!America, Research Australia and Research!Sweden to pool resources, strengthen collaboration and create a global alliance to advocate for increased and sustainable health research funding. RE$EARCH MONEY recently interviewed all four signatories. Read the article by Mark Henderson. |
Read more | Comments: 0
May 13 More women are dying of heart disease than men
 | "Although health professionals and the lay public have believed for decades that cardiovascular disease is a man’s disease, it actually kills more women than men," says Karin Humphries, Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia. Dr. Humphries attended our recent HRC event on Cardiac Research and Heart Health. She holds the UBC-Heart and Stroke Foundation Professorship in Women’s Cardiovascular Health, British Columbia’s first research program to focus on sex-based differences in cardiovascular disease. |
Read more | Comments: 0
May 13 New disease management program at Health Sciences North in Sudbury is saving lives
| Dr. Atilio Costa-Vitali joined our HRC event on Cardiac Research and Heart Health as Medical Director of the Heart Failure Disease Management Program at Health Sciences North in Sudbury. Patient David Schram says that the program is keeping him alive. |
Read more | Comments: 0
May 13 Do we really know the causes of obesity?
| Dr. Jean-Philippe Chaput, Junior Research Chair in Healthy Active Living and Obesity (HALO) at CHEO, joined 19 other leading researchers from across Canada at our HRC event on Cardiac Research and Heart Health. Learn more about his key recommendations for preventing weight gain and obesity in children and adults. |
Read more | Comments: 0
May 10 Health Research Caucus and Canadian scientists promote cardiac research on Parliament Hill
 |
 |
Read more | Comments: 0
May 01 Celebrating Canada's world-class cardiovascular research sector on Parliament Hill
This coming Monday, May 6, 2013, Research Canada and Hon. Kelvin K. Ogilvie, Senator and Chair of the Health Research Caucus, will be hosting the next HRC event on the latest advances in cardiac research and heart health.
Today's discoveries will support tomorrow's health care.
With Canada's aging population and an increasing incidence of obesity and diabetes, research in heart and cardiovascular health is more vital than ever. Through advancements in preventative care, public health, clinical care and disease management, Canadian scientists are saving lives and making remarkable contributions to the global research community.
Learn more about their ground-breaking work and view the event program here.
Guest speakers include:
- Dr. Robert Roberts, President & CEO, University of Ottawa Heart Institute
- Dr. Jean-Claude Tardif, Directeur, Institut de Cardiologie de Montréal
- Dr. Duncan J. Stewart, CEO, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
- Mr. Russell Williams, President, Rx&D
Apr 09 Health Care Visionary Dr. Harvey V. Fineberg, President of the Institute of Medicine, is named winner of the 2013 Henry G. Friesen International Prize in Health Research
The Prize, established by the Friends of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (FCIHR) in collaboration with the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, recognizes exceptional innovation by a visionary health leader of international stature. President Fineberg will receive the Prize and deliver a public lecture on September 18, 2013 in Ottawa. In 2014, he will undertake one or more Institutional visits in Western Canada.Read more | Comments: 0
Mar 22 Economic Action Plan 2013 provides support to advanced research and business innovation, puts discovery research on austerity diet
OTTAWA, March 21st, 2013 – The 2013 Federal Budget announced today advances innovation and provides significant investments that will help our businesses innovate, secure new markets and create well-paying jobs. Research Canada supports the government’s efforts to invest in the future prosperity of Canadians, but continues to caution that the long-term success of Canada’s innovation system is dependent on predictable and sustainable investments in discovery research – investments that power innovation and keep Canada’s commercialization pipeline rich and deep. Read the media release.Read more | Comments: 0
Mar 01 Letter to the Hon. Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, regarding Budget 2013
On March 1st, Research Canada sent a letter to the Hon. James Flaherty, Minister of Finance, regarding the upcoming federal budget. View the letter here.Read more | Comments: 0
Jan 22 A Message from Research Canada's President and CEO
The global economic turndown a few years ago profoundly
impeded investment capacity in our industry and while there has been a slow
recovery and some encouraging signs of growth, our members are entrenched in
cost saving measures and must demand value and return on every investment.
Recognizing the challenges our members were facing, over the past year, Research Canada offered legitimate discounts on membership fees based on Research Canada’s sliding fee schedule, put in place for times like these. We also gave your institutions an opportunity to shine individually by presenting your researchers at Health Research Caucus events and profiling the unique and ground-breaking research being conducted at your institutions in our unique publication, RC Update, which every Member of Parliament is given personally by the Chair and the Vice-Chairs of the Health Research Caucus at party caucus meetings.
In 2013, we will continue to provide a venue for health researchers from our member institutions to present their research at our upcoming Health Research Caucus event on Cardiac Research and Heart Health in May 2013. We will also organize member institutional visits during parliamentary recesses for Health Research Caucus delegations. These visits, which often include interactions with patients, create a powerful association in MPs minds between health research and improving and saving real Canadian and constituent lives. This year, Research Canada will enhance and fortify the way it represents our members’ interests in two significant ways. READ MORE.Read more | Comments: 0
Jan 17 A Message from our Science Advisor
It’s been an anxious year for Canada’s
health research community. Material, and I underscore much needed change is
afoot. Often a bitter pill to swallow, in my view, the harbinger of our reality
tomorrow is both a good start, and a good thing!
The material changes in how CIHR will be doing business in the future are initiating. Out of the gate a bit too hastily; CIHR has “heard us” both directly and through Research Canada’s Leadership. It has slowed the pace of restructuring its extramural funding programs. Noteworthy is that the incoming funding schemes are not new, they’ve been and have adopted in both the European Union and to some extent and growing in the US. The model can work! While there remain a number of material ongoing concerns, most notable of which are affordability and ongoing sustainability, CIHR is explicitly dedicated to course corrections should they be required.
We must all appreciate that these changes are driven by the political science underpinning and predicating the ongoing support we all receive from the CIHR.
The critical driver has remained constant since the inception of CIHR: discovery health research and its translation into the Canadian healthcare system and beyond. Read more...Read more | Comments: 0
Oct 03 Health Research Caucus Event on Health Innovation Clusters
Members of Parliament were invited to attend a Health Research Caucus Event, hosted by Research Canada on Health Innovation Clusters on Monday, October 1st featuring six health innovation clusters from across Canada. Each cluster demonstrated the social and economic value of health research translated into innovative products and services that improve the health of Canadians and create new jobs that help the Canadian economy to grow and prosper.
Research Canada is most appreciative of the dedicated partners and supporters that contributed to this special occasion, including: Canada's Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies, Astra Zeneca, Canada Foundation for Innovation, Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of Canada, Genome Canada, Graham Boeckh Foundation, Hoffman-LaRoche Ltd, Merck Canada, and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons.
"I just want to congratulate you all for putting together a fantastic event. The importance of these events cannot be stressed enough. It is such an honour and privilege to have the Ontario Brain Institute be a presenter at this event."
- Lucas Ng, Ontario Brain Institute
"Congratulations on yet another wonderful event on the Hill last evening. I know the people who were there found it very useful."
- Dr.
Luis Barreto, Dr. Luis Barretto & Associates
View more photos on our Facebook page.
Jul 27 2013 Federal Pre-Budget Consultation
Research Canada's submission to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance is now available on our web site. Please click here to read the document.(La version français sera disponible dès que possible.)
Read more | Comments: 0
May 22 Members of Parliament Show Support for Brain Research in Canada
Providing a better understanding of current initiatives in brain research -- and the potential they hold for Canadians -- was the goal of a successful Health Research Caucus event hosted May 14th by Research Canada: An Alliance for Health Discovery.
More than 15 eminent scientists presented their research in a kiosk-style event that attracted over 100 Members of Parliament and invited guests. This event fostered valuable one-on-one discussions around three broad areas of brain research: The Aging Brain and Dementia; Traumatic Brain Injury; and Child Brain Development.
Read more | Comments: 2Apr 27 Announcements: Research Canada's Board of Directors
A Message from Research Canada's President and CEO, Ms. Deborah Gordon-El-BihbetyOn behalf of Mr. Jacques Hendlisz and the Board of Research Canada, it is my pleasure to announce the appointment of Ms. Maureen Adamson as the new Vice-Chair of Research Canada. Ms. Adamson became a Research Canada Board Director in November 2011. She is the President and CEO of Cystic Fibrosis Canada, a long-standing and dedicated member of the Research Canada Alliance. Ms. Adamson joined Cystic Fibrosis Canada in January 2011, with extensive knowledge and noteworthy experience in the Senior Public Sector/Healthcare. Prior to joining Cystic Fibrosis Canada she held progressively more responsible roles in financial, administrative and operational leadership in the Ontario Public Sector. Maureen served as Assistant Deputy Minister and Chief Administrative Officer (Health System Investment and Funding) with the Ministry of Health, Assistant Deputy Minister and Chief Administrative Officer, Corporate Services and Organizational Development, and Director, Finance and Office Services Branch, Internal Ministry Services Division with the Ontario Management Board Secretariat. Maureen holds an MBA from the Rotman School of Business (University of Toronto), a BBA from Lakehead University and has completed the Director’s Education Program at the Rotman School of Business.
It is also my pleasure to announce the appointment of Dr. Michael Julius as Science Advisor to the Research Canada Board of Directors. Dr. Julius was Research Canada’s Past Chair and has served on Research Canada’s Board for 10 years. Dr. Julius is the Vice-president, Research, at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto. Research Canada’s Science Advisor is responsible for providing expert advice and leadership to Research Canada’s Board of Directors on science and technology-related activities and policies. S/He provides guidance and counsel on S&T emerging issues and serves as Research Canada’s spokesperson for science-related matters. On behalf of the organization, s/he delivers credible presentations on scientific and science-related policy matters to the Media, Members of Parliament, Research Canada’s members and other stakeholders. The Science Advisor is an Officer of the Board and as such is appointed by the Research Canada Board of Directors on an annual basis for a one-year term. S/He is an ex-officio member of Research Canada’s Board of Directors.
I am sure you join us in congratulating these two dedicated individuals to these positions on Research Canada’s Board of Directors.
We also want to take this opportunity to congratulate and thank Dr. Renaldo Battista, a Research Canada Board Director for two years, who recently resigned from our Board because he was appointed as scientific director and a member of the board of directors of the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Santé (FRQS). We are so pleased for Dr. Battista and thank him profusely for his important contribution to Research Canada’s Board of Directors.
Read more | Comments: 0
Mar 30 2012 Federal Budget
Research Canada's News Release in response to the Budget2012 Federal Budget provides welcome support to academic-private sector partnerships, scales back on discovery research investments
Ottawa - The federal budget announced today advances innovation and provides a plethora of incentives for private sector investments in R&D as a major step towards the nation’s economic growth and prosperity. While Research Canada praises the federal government’s support for creating value-added jobs through these investments, it cautions that the success of Canada’s innovation system over the long-term is highly dependent on the investments made today in discovery research in health sciences.
Read more | Comments: 1
Mar 08 R7 Launches a Partnership in Health Research & Innovation
OTTAWA, March 8, 2012 /CNW/ - Canada's leading national health research and innovation organizations have come together to form Research 7 (R7), an unprecedented partnership to work with Canadian governments to tackle our biggest health and health care challenges and secure Canada's place as a global leader in health innovation.Read more | Comments: 1
Feb 07 CanadaSpeaks! 2012 National Public Opinion Poll
Canadians Reject Possible Cuts to Health and Medical Research in Upcoming Federal Budget
New national poll reinforces Canadians’ resolve to stay the course in health and medical research
OTTAWA, February 7th, 2012 – An overwhelming majority of Canadians (74%) reject the idea of federal cuts to health research in the upcoming 2012 Federal Budget. Most Canadians think that the federal government should maintain (45%) or increase (30%) funding for health and medical research.
Research Canada: An Alliance for Health Discovery asked Angus Reid Public Opinion to conduct a public opinion survey of 1,000 Canadian adults to gauge the importance Canadians place on health research in the context of Canada’s current economic challenges and in advance of Federal Budget 2012. The survey updates selected results from the landmark Research Canada 2006 survey. Read more.
Jan 17 Innovation Fund championed at Provincial Premiers Conference in Victoria
By Rosemary ThompsonTwo of Canada’s Provincial Premiers are championing the idea of an “innovation fund” separate from health-care transfers to save money and improve health-care services across the country. Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall and Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty are promoting the fund at a meeting of Provincial Premiers this week in Victoria, British Columbia.
Read more | Comments: 0Jan 13 CBC News reports on Health Charities Poll
CBC published the following on Jan. 12:Poll commissioned by big-name charities suggests Canadians want more federal involvement
The federal government should be an equal partner in discussions concerning the future health accord, say the majority of Canadians polled in a recent survey conducted by high-profile charities.
At the moment, health care largely remains a provincial responsibility.
Eighty-five per cent of Canadians surveyed said they want the federal government to engage with the provinces and territories to address the health-care needs of Canadians, according to a poll released Thursday. The poll was commissioned by the Canadian Diabetes Association, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada and the Canadian Cancer Society.
The charities want the focus of the health accord debate to be on improving the health care of Canadians — particularly those with conditions such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes and chronic respiratory disease. "While much of the health accord debate has been about financial transfer payments, it is improving the health of Canadians, regardless of where they live, that must be at the centre of health-care reforms," Dan Demers, director of public issues at the Canadian Cancer Society, said in a release.
In the poll, 94 per cent of those surveyed said that preventing chronic diseases should be a top priority, with 50 per cent saying it should be an important but lower priority for the 2014 health accord discussions.
Ninety-three per cent of those polled said the Health Accord should also include a plan preventing Canadians from experiencing severe financial hardship due to a medical condition or medication used to treat it.
The poll of 1,000 Canadians over 18 years was conducted by Environics across Canada between Dec. 6 -11, 2011. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.10 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
Read more at: http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/story/2012/01/12/federal-government-health-accord.html?cmp=rss
Read more | Comments: 0
Jan 06 Building Support for Canadian Health Research in 2012
Research Canada: An Alliance for Health Discovery looks to 2012 with much anticipation for strengthening partnerships and forging new collaborations within Canada's health research community. Now in its 7th year, Research Canada's alliance is growing stronger by the day with the success of its advocacy programs designed to improve health and prosperity for all Canadians.Read more | Comments: 0
Jun 13 Health Research Caucus Reception
The first Health Research Caucus event of this year, was held on Parliament Hill on Tuesday, June 7, 2011. The Reception was a great success and there was a palpable energy in the room. More than 25 MPs and Senators representing all parties attended as well as several distinguished members and guests. Hosted by Health Research Caucus Chair Senator Kelvin K. Ogilvie, and promoted by Vice-Chairs Dr. Kirsty Duncan (Liberal) and Megan Leslie (NDP), the event provided Parliamentarians with an overview of current research taking place at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and the University of Ottawa’s Institute of Mental Health Research.
Guest speakers included Dr. Jeffrey Meyer of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and Dr. Pierre Blier of the University of Ottawa. The evening drew more than 100 guests, reflecting the interest in this important issue.
Pictured above (l-r): Deborah Gordon-El-Bihbety, President & CEO of Research Canada, with MP Scott Brison and Senator Ogilvie; Senator Kelvin K. Ogilvie; MPs Carolyn Bennett and Kirsty Duncan; Dr. Barb Mildon, MP Justin Trudeau, and guest; Dr. John Dirks and MP David Wilks; Dr. Jeffrey Meyer and Dr. Pat McGrath; Dr. Luis Barreto, Russell Williams; Deborah Gordon-El-Bihbety, and Hugh Scott; Dr. Barb Mildon and MP Libby Davies.