• Time magazine names CIHR-funded study top medical breakthrough of the year

  Time magazine published its top 10 medical breakthrough of 2007. An international research study led by Dr. Stephen Moses, a CIHR-funded researcher, won the coveted first place. In December 2006, two clinical trials of male circumcision proved successful in reducing HIV incidence in young men. CIHR provided over $2.5 million in funding to this study.

December 21, 2007

• CIHR Scientific Director named to the Order of Ontario

  Dr. Roderick McInnes, the Scientific Director of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research's Institute of Genetics, was named to the Order of Ontario, the province's highest official honour. Recipients of the Order are recognized for having made an outstanding contribution to society in Ontario and around the world. Dr. McInnes is a professor at the University of Toronto and a senior scientist at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. Lieutenant-Governor David Onley will distribute the awards to 27 recipients on January 24, 2008.

December 13, 2007

• New possibilities for treating dementia?

  Certain antibiotics may be an effective treatment for Alzheimer's disease, although it's not clear why they work. Dr. William Molloy, a CIHR-funded researcher from St. Peter's Hospital in Hamilton, is currently studying whether antibiotics can be used to treat Alzheimer's disease. His study will also be featured in a documentary currently being produced.

December 12, 2007

• New study shows environmental contaminants increase risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma

  A study, partly funded by CIHR, suggests that there is a link between environmental contaminants such as organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and an increased risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). With his team, Dr. John Spinelli, lead author and senior scientist at the BC Cancer Agency, collected blood samples from close to 900 British Columbians - half with NHL and the other half without - and tested the samples for exposure to organochlorine pesticides and PCBs. The study, to be published in International Journal of Cancer on December 15, 2007, will contribute to the body of knowledge needed to help identify environmental risk factors for cancer.

December 11, 2007

• Video games can be good for you

  People exercising using stationary bicycles are 30 % more likely to train when the exercise is integrated with a video game. This is according to a study led by Dr. Darren E.R. Warburton, a CIHR-funded researcher from the University of British Columbia.

• How to get a baby to like fruits and veggies

  A new CIHR-funded study has found that babies learn to like fruits and vegetables when their moms regularly eat those foods while breastfeeding. Researchers at the Monell Center in Philadelphia published their results in the December 2007 edition of the journal Pediatrics.

December 10, 2007

• Breastfeeding great, but may not protect against obesity after all

  Breastfeeding is great for baby's health, but contrary to what previous studies said, don't count on it to protect against children becoming overweight. These are the findings from the largest randomized trial ever undertaken in the area of breastfeeding, the PROBIT study. The article was published in the December edition of The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The lead author of the study is Dr. Michael Kramer, Scientific Director of the CIHR Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health.

December 6, 2007

• CIHR Researcher Receives Prestigious Physiology Award

  Dr. Phillip Gardiner, a CIHR-funded researcher from the University of Manitoba, is the 2007 recipient of the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP) Honour Award. The award recognizes outstanding contributions to exercise physiology.

  Dr. Gardiner is the Director of the Health, Leisure and Human Performance Research Institute at the University of Manitoba and the Canada Research Chair in Physical Activity and Health. His research focuses on understanding the impact of regular physical activity on the nervous system.

December 4, 2007

• More funding for research on stem cells, water and cars

  The Government of Canada will invest $68.8 million over 4 years for research on stem cells, water and the automotive industry. Of this funding, the Stem Cell Network based at the University of Ottawa will receive $6.4 million per year. The funding announcement made today renews the Government of Canada's commitment to the Networks of Centres of Excellence. The Networks of Centres of Excellence are partnerships between universities, industry, government and not-for-profit organizations and are an important part of the federal government's science and technology strategy.

December 3, 2007

• World Aids Day Message from Dr. Bhagi Singh

November 23, 2007

• Folic acid to prevent Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
  
  A new study has found that folic acid could be used in treating alcoholism and preventing Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. The CIHR-funded study was published by Dr. Bhushan Kapur of the University of Toronto Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in the December edition of the Journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research.
  
  
• IAPH's Scientific Director Dr. Jeff Reading to be recognized at 2008 National Aboriginal Achievement Awards
  
  Dr. Jeff Reading, Scientific Director of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research's Institute of Aboriginal People's Health (CIHR-IAPH), will receive an award in the Health category at the 2008 National Aboriginal Achievement Awards. Dr. Reading has published extensively in the world's health literature, covering areas from cardiovascular physiology, diabetes research, tobacco misuse, and health research capacity building. Perhaps one of his more notable achievements, Dr. Reading was instrumental in the development of the network of Aboriginal Capacity and Developmental Research Environments (ACADRE) centres across Canada, dedicated to conducting and advancing capacity in Aboriginal health research. The event will take place on March 7, 2008 at the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts in Toronto, taped live, to be televised on both the Global and APTN television networks.

November 20, 2007

• Women treated differently in emergency rooms

  Older women visiting emergency rooms appear less likely than men to be admitted to the intensive care unit. As a result, women are more at risk of dying in intensive care and in hospital. Dr. Robert A. Fowler from the University of Toronto Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre published these findings in the December 4, 2007 edition of the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ).

• CIHR New Investigator first Canadian appointed to American Academy of Nursing

  Dr. Linda McGillis-Hall, a CIHR New Investigator, is the first Canadian to be inducted The American Academy of Nursing. Dr. McGillis-Hall was inducted as a Fellow during the Academy's 34^th Annual Meeting & Conference, on November 10, 2007 in Washington, D.C.

November 8, 2007

• Caffeine used to regulate breathing of premature babies
  
  Premature babies who received caffeine to regulate their breathing had a lower risk of disabilities up to 2 years after birth. Dr. Barbara Schmidt, a CIHR-funded researcher at McMaster University, led an international research team that studied over 2,000 premature babies who received either caffeine or a placebo, and found that those receiving caffeine had better rates of survival and were less likely to develop cerebral palsy and cognitive delay. The results of this study were published in the November 8^th issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

October 23, 2007

• CNC/CODATA announces the biennial Sangster Award
  
  The Canadian National Committee for CODATA (the Committee for Data, part of the International Council for Science) is now accepting applications for the the biennial Sangster Award. The award, which is worth $3,000, allows a Canadian graduate student or a graduate who finished his/her graduate degree within three years of the application deadline to attend and present their work at the 21st International CODAT Conference, Scientific Information for Society - from Today to the Future in Kyiv, Ukraine. The deadline for applications is March 31st, 2008.

October 19, 2007

• CIHR-funded Researchers Receive Prestigious SSHRC Awards
  
  Dr. Margaret Lock and Dr. Vinh-Kim Nguyen received top honours at the Awards Night held by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. Both researchers are CIHR funded.

  Dr. Lock received the Gold Medal for Achievement in Research, SSHRC's highest research honour. Dr. Lock is a distinguished medical anthropologist (McGill University) who has spent the past 30 years of her career building bridges between medicine and the social sciences.

  Dr. Vinh-Kim Nguyen received the Aurora prize, an award given to an outstanding new researcher. Dr. Nguyen is an eminent physician and medical anthropologist (Clinique médicale l'Actuel, Montréal). His research on AIDS programs in Africa explores the political and social impact of these programs on their recipient countries.

October 11, 2007

• Dr. Alan Bernstein is appointed as Inaugural Executive Director of the Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise
  
  The Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise today announced the appointment of CIHR's out going President, Dr. Alan Bernstein, as Executive Director. Dr. Bernstein will lead the coordination of a strategy to develop an HIV vaccine at the same time as building partnerships between researchers, donors and advocates. The Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise is charged with setting scientific priorities, mobilizing resources, and improving collaboration in the HIV vaccine field. Under Alan Bernstein's leadership, it is expected that the Enterprise will bring new energy to the HIV vaccine field. Congratulations Dr. Bernstein!

October 10, 2007

• Message from Dr. John Frank about IPPH's transition

October 4, 2007

• Genetic discovery could lead to new treatments for type 2 diabetes

  CIHR-funded researchers from the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute of Mount Sinai Hospital found that eliminating a specific type of gene in mice caused them to become more sensitive to insulin. Eliminating the gene caused more sugar to become stored in the liver, which indicated that insulin had become more effective. The study, co-authored by Drs. Katrina MacAulay and Bradley Doble, could pave the way toward new treatments for type 2 diabetes. Currently, more than two million people in Canada suffer from diabetes, with more than 60,000 new cases diagnosed each year. Type 2 diabetes makes up about 90 per cent of all cases. The study has made the cover of the October 3^rd edition of Cell Metabolism.

October 2, 2007

• Influenza vaccination rates more than doubled over last decade

  A new study shows influenza vaccination rates across Canada increased to 34% in 2005, from 15% in 1996. Despite the increase in the vaccination rate, high risk groups such as seniors and those with chronic conditions, still fall short of national targets. The CIHR-funded research by Dr. Jeff Kwong was published in the October 2007 issue of Health Reports.

October 1, 2007

• Building parks to end wait times

  Reducing hospital waiting lists is not as simple as hiring more doctors - we need to keep people out of the line up for medical treatment altogether. Dr. John Frank, Scientific Director at CIHR Institute of Population and Public Health, offers solutions in an article published in Le Droit on September 28, 2007. 

• Message from Dr. Branton about ICR's Transition

September 28, 2007

• Surgery or immunotherapy: Is one better to treat bladder cancer?

  There are two ways to treat aggressive form of bladder cancer - immediate surgery or immunotherapy - but which is better? CIHR-funded researchers have shown that for patients under the age of 60, immediate surgery increased life expectancy. Patients over the age of 70 did better with immunotherapy. The results of this study were published in the September 25^th edition of PloS Medicine journal.

September 20, 2007

• Ontario Public Health Association's Nutrition Resource Centre adopts NutriSTEP^TM province-wide

  The Ontario Public Health Association (OPHA)'s Nutrition Resource Centre has adopted a CIHR-developed tool to detect nutrition problems among preschoolers province-wide. The Nutrition Screening Tool for Every Preschooler (NutriSTEP^TM) is a screening questionnaire that was developed by CIHR-funded researchers Dr. Janis Randall Simpson and Dr. Heather Keller of the University of Guelph, with Lee Rysdale and Joanne Beyers, dietitian researchers with the Sudbury & District Health Unit. NutriSTEP^TM helps identify nutrition risks or problems among children aged three to five years. This scientifically valid and reliable screening will help improve nutrition and/or early identification of children that need intervention. It was designed for use by parents, caregivers or community professionals and takes no more than five minutes to complete. CIHR funded the validation study of NutriSTEP^TM. The program is being monitored by the Government of Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion and NutriSTEP^TM will be a requirement of the proposed Ontario Public Health Standards.

• Combining aerobic and resistance training to better control Type 2 Diabetes

  We have known for a long time that exercise has many positive effects on a person's health. University of Calgary endocrinologist and CIHR-funded researcher Dr. Ron Sigal and colleagues from the University of Ottawa studied how multiple forms of exercise training are beneficial to people with type 2 diabetes. While performing aerobic exercise or resistance training can improve a person's control of their blood sugar, this paper shows that combining the two can double those benefits. This means that diabetics have more options when creating exercise plans, and they can create a personalized fitness plan that will be sustainable in the long run. This research is the largest clinical study of its kind on the effectiveness of aerobic exercise and resistance training. The findings are published in the September 18 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine and appears in the University of Calgary Faculty of medicine News.

September 14, 2007

• Patient-physician communication examination scores predict future complaints in medical practice
  
  Poor communication between patients and physicians has been found to increase the risk of patient complaints and malpractice claims against physicians. A team led by CIHR-funded researcher Dr. Robyn Tamblyn, an epidemiologist from McGill University, examined whether patient-physician communication examination scores in the Canadian national licensing examination predicted future complaints in medical practice. In fact, the team did find that low scores in patient-physician communication and clinical decision making would predict the likelihood of complaints to medical regulatory authorities. Physicians with lower communication scores tend to have higher patient complaint rates. Their findings have important implications for medical educators and licensing authorities. The study is published in the highly cited Journal of the American Medical Association (September 5^th issue) and appears in the McGill Tribune.

September 11, 2007

• Advances in multiple sclerosis research
  
  

  A research team funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research unlocked one of the mechanisms by which very aggressive white blood cells attack the central nervous system. The study, published in the September 9^th edition of Nature Medicine, could eventually lead to new ways to prevent multiple sclerosis. Multiple sclerosis is an unpredictable, often disabling disease, affecting the central nervous system, the brain and the spinal cord.

September 10, 2007

• Researchers use skin-derived stem cells to repair spinal cord injuries
  
  Repairing spinal cord injuries with the patient's own skin could be possible in the not so distant future. CIHR-funded researchers at The Hospital for Sick Children and the University of British Columbia have used skin-derived stem cells to repair spinal cord injuries in animal models. This research is reported in the September 5, 2007 issue of the Journal of Neuroscience.

September 7, 2007

• Prime Minister launches national Mental Health Commission

  Prime Minister Stephen Harper has announced the selection of the Board of Directors for the Mental Health Commission of Canada. The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), along with the research and NGO community were instrumental in presenting background information to the Senate Committee which provided the basis for the creation of the Commission. CIHR is looking forward to working closely with members of the newly created Mental Health Commission.

August 27, 2007

• Ethnic background and excess stomach fat

  Not all types of body fat are created equal and excess stomach fat presents the greatest risk for developing heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. A team of CIHR-funded researchers led by Dr. Scott A. Lear, a Canadian Obesity Network Investigator from Simon Fraser University, discovered that a person's ethnic background determines where the body stores fat. Specifically, the team found that Canadians of Chinese and South Asian descent had higher amounts of abdominal fat than persons with European or Aboriginal heritage, putting them at greater risk for obesity-related diseases. The study is published in the high-profile American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

August 22, 2007

• A new molecular zip code, and a new drug target for Huntington's disease
  
  Canadian researchers funded by CIHR have discovered how Huntington's disease (HD) could be triggered. By doing so, they are paving the way to one day developing a drug that will target the bad proteins that cause the disease. HD causes uncontrolled limb movements and loss of intellectual faculties. The research by Dr. Ray Truant is published in the August 20^th edition of the British Journal, Human Molecular Genetics.

August 17, 2007

• Early immune responses to SARS predicts severity of disease
  
  A new study shows that during the early stages of the SARS infection, patients produced two different immune responses. The researchers found they could predict how severe the disease would be by determining which type of immune response the patients had. Dr. Mark Cameron (University Health Network, Toronto) and his team studied blood samples from 40 SARS patients. Patients who would later experience only mild SARS symptoms had a different immune system response than those who would later suffer severe symptoms or death. This study, partially funded by CIHR, contributes to our current understanding on how the immune system reacts to SARS and in the future, may be used to target patients who need extra medical care. These findings are published in August issue of the Journal of Virology.

August 16, 2007

• New prion protein discovered by Canadian scientists may offer insight into mad cow disease
  
  Canadian scientists have discovered a new protein that might offer fresh insights into brain function in mad cow disease. "In addition to the original prion protein molecule called PrP, our team has defined a second prion protein called 'Shadoo'," said Professor David Westaway, CIHR-funded researcher at the University of Alberta. This is the first discovery since 1985 of a new brain protein.

August 15, 2007

• New health benefit for component in tomato
  
  Dr. Leticia Rao, a CIHR-Industry funded researcher at the University of Toronto and her research team have found another way in which lycopene, a naturally occurring component found in red tomatoes and a powerful antioxidant, provides health benefits. In their study, postmenopausal women who had consumed more lycopene in the form of tomatoes and tomato products had a lower amount of a specific bone protein associated with osteoporosis. These findings may lead to new strategies to reduce the risk of osteoporosis. This research is published online in the journal Osteoporosis International. Another clinical intervention study to evaluate the role of lycopene in osteoporosis is now completed and results will be submitted for publication.

• New Executive Director for Alberta Bone and Joint Health Institute
  
  The Alberta Bone and Joint Health Institute (ABJHI) has appointed Dr. Cy Frank, the inaugural scientific director of the CIHR Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis (IMHA), as Executive Director. Dr. Frank is a leading orthopaedic surgeon, researcher and professor with an impressive record of promoting bone and joint health and health care for Albertans. He brings more than 30 years of experience to the job.

August 3, 2007

• CIHR researchers develop vaccine for deadly intestinal parasite
  
  Dr. Kris Chadee, a CIHR-funded researcher at the University of Calgary, and his team have developed a vaccine to prevent infection by Entamoeba histolytica, a parasite that kills more than 100,000 people each year worldwide. The vaccine blocks infection by preventing the parasite from attaching to the lining of the intestine. The researchers tested the vaccine on gerbils and found that it provided 100 per cent protection against the parasite. In the future, these finding may lead to the development of a vaccine for humans. The study is published online in the scientific journal Infection and Immunity.

August 1, 2007

• CIHR-funded researchers discover way to enhance bone healing treatments

  CIHR-funded researchers at The Hospital for Sick Children SickKids have found a molecular pathway that plays a critical role in bone healing and have found that the drug lithium can improve the healing process. This research is reported in the July 31 issue of PLoS Medicine. Delayed fracture healing can cause substantial disability and often requires additional surgical treatments. Finding a drug that could enhance bone healing has been a long-sought treatment that could improve fracture repair and substantially improve patient outcomes.

July 31, 2007

• CIHR strives to improve the PHSI program on an on going basis

  CIHR launches a new website highlighting the Partnerships for Health System Improvement (PHSI) program. The PHSI program supports teams of researchers and decision makers interested in conducting applied health research, research that will be useful to health system managers and policy makers over the next five years. Researchers who visit the new web site will find important information the application procedure, review and evaluation processes for this funding opportunity.

July 30, 2007

• Listening for Direction III: A national consultation on health services and policy issues

  In 2007, eight national organizations partnered for the third round of Listening for Direction. Between February and April 2007, nine consultation workshops were held across the country: one national workshop, five regional workshops in the south, and three northern regional workshops in each of the territories. Listening for Direction III aimed to uncover emerging short- and longer- term priority issues, from which related research and synthesis themes and questions would later be developed to inform the research agenda of Canadian health research agencies. Led by the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation (CHSRF) and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research - Institute of Health Services and Policy Research, the other partner organizations included the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health; the Canadian Healthcare Association; the Canadian Institute for Health Information; the Canadian Patient Safety Institute; Health Canada; and Statistics Canada.

July 19, 2007

• New CIHR-funded proteomics research promises to revolutionize biomedical discovery
  
  Montréal - Human cells function through the concerted action of thousands of proteins that control their growth and differentiation. Yet, the specific function of most human proteins remains either unknown or poorly characterized. Since diseases are caused by aberrations in the function of key cellular proteins, a number of large-scale research initiatives have been launched internationally to crack the function of all human proteins. In a research article to be published in the July 20^th issue of the journal Molecular Cell, a research team led by Dr. Benoit Coulombe from the Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM) describes a powerful proteomics approach that promises to profoundly impact our current understanding of the human proteome and the function of its individual proteins.

July 17, 2007

• Researchers discover how HIV suppresses the immune system
  
  A team led by Dr. Éric A. Cohen, the Canada Research Chair in Human Retrovirology and CIHR-funded researcher at the Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montréal has discovered how a specific HIV protein suppresses the immune system. The HIV protein stops the cells of the immune system from replicating, thereby reducing the ability of HIV-infected persons' to fight the infection. In the future, these findings could lead to the development of new drugs to combat HIV. The study appears online in the July issue of the open access journal PLoS Pathogens.

July 13, 2007

• Nature provides helpful words of advice for effective scientific mentorship

July 12, 2007

• Message from the President of CIHR, Dr. Alan Bernstein
  
  Dr. Alan Bernstein discusses achievements made at CIHR under his leadership for the past seven years, and speaks to his hopes for the future of Canada's flagship health research agency.

July 11, 2007

• A New Use for the Little Blue Pill
  
  Researchers at the University of Alberta have found a new use for Viagra, the little blue pill used to treat erectile dysfunction. In a CIHR-funded study, Dr. Evangelos Michelakis and his team have shown that Viagra can improve heart function. The researchers suggest that Viagra can be used to treat the heart when the right ventricle is failing, a condition for which there is no treatment currently available. These findings will appear in the July edition of Circulation, a journal of the American Heart Association.
  
  
• Researchers find a new link to blocked airways in asthma
  
  In people with severe asthma, excessive mucus can block the airways and lead to suffocation and death.  Dr. Wei-Yang Lu, a CIHR-funded researcher at the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, and his team have shown that a specific chemical signal from the cells lining the airways stimulate the formation of new cells which produce mucus.  Their findings, published in the July issue of Nature Medicine, contribute to the current understanding of asthma and may be used to develop new treatments for asthma in the future.

July 10, 2007

• CIHR-funded researchers find gene associated with ulcerative colitis

  Researchers at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), Mount Sinai Hospital and the University of Pittsburgh have identified a previously unsuspected gene found to be associated with ulcerative colitis. This research is reported in the July 5 issue of Current Biology.

July 6, 2007

• Exposure to combat associated with higher risk of mental disorders

  A study led by CIHR-funded researcher Dr. Jitender Sareen (University of Manitoba) suggests that exposure to combat or witnessing atrocities during a military mission increases the risk of mental health problems in Canadian military personnel. The researchers found that untreated mental illness in the military was an enormous problem. Their findings are published in the July issue of the journal Archives of General Psychiatry.

July 5, 2007

• Research reveals missing link in Parkinson's disease and suggests new therapeutic target

July 3, 2007

• International Public-Private Partnership Unlocks Structure of Proteins
  (First link on left-hand side: "SGC Launches Phase II")

  Structural Genomics Consortium launches Phase II with investments from international organizations and two new partners
  
  The Structural Genomics Consortium (SGC), an international public-private partnership established to determine and make freely available the structures of proteins relevant to human disease, today announced new funding of over $100M from public funding agencies in Canada, Sweden and Ontario, charitable foundations in the UK and Sweden, GlaxoSmithKline plc. and two new partners from the pharmaceutical industry-Novartis and Merck. The investments will to support a second phase of the SGC, beginning July 1st, 2007.

  "The Canadian Institutes of Health Research is very pleased to be one of the funding partners of the second phase of the SGC," says Dr. Alan Bernstein, President of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.  "The SGC is a paradigm of a major public-private partnership that was called for in the government's new S&T strategy." 

June 27, 2007

• Competition is open for Centres of Excellence funding

  In Budget 2007, the Federal Government announced its plan to set aside funding for the new Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research (CECR) program. Now the program is calling on organizations from across the country to apply for CECR funds. As part of the Government of Canada's Science and Technology (S&T) Strategy, CECR will be awarding five-year grants of $15 million to approximately 11 new centres. The goal of the CECR program is to create internationally recognized centres of commercialization and research expertise in environmental science, natural resources, health and information and communication technologies.

• Make Healthy Choices the Easy Choice

  Canada's children are losing the battle of the bulge. Obesity rates have more than doubled in less than 30 years and this means that today's kids may live shorter lives than their parents. Dr. Diane Finegood, Scientific Director of the CIHR Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes, asks you to imagine a world where children eat according to the Food Guide and are enthusiastic about participating in daily physical activity. This vision in achieveble if we work to make the healthy choice the easy choice. The article appears in the June 25th editions of the Toronto Star and L'Express de Toronto.

June 22, 2007

• Alberta at forefront of hip and knee care-more surgeries completed and Albertans waiting less time

  Alberta is leading the way nationally on hip and knee care thanks to a successful pilot project that resulted in an 85 per cent reduction in wait times. The current non-pilot wait time of 145 days was reduced to 21 days, from accepted referral to first orthopedic consultation. The announcement was made by Dave Hancock, Minister of Health and Wellness for Alberta, accompanied by Dr. Ron Zernicke, Executive Director of the Alberta Bone & Joint Health Institute (ABJHI) and Dr. Cy Frank, Co-Director of ABJHI and past Scientific Director of the Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis at CIHR. The Calgary-based Alberta Bone and Joint Health Institute will receive $6.3 million to help rollout the program province-wide. 

• Findings on pain published in two international scientific journals

  Dr. Gerald Zamponi, a CIHR-funded neuroscientist at the University of Calgary has back-to-back papers being published in two prestigious international journals for his research into pain. "Today's pain medications do not always provide as much relief as we would like. We hope these early findings will lead to new drugs, and give some hope to people with chronic nerve pain, or pain from inflammation," says Dr. Gerald Zamponi. His research is published in the Journal of Neuroscience, and in the renowned journal Nature Neuroscience for his findings on pain pathways in the brain.

June 21, 2007

• Superbug antibiotic defence uncovered

  A team led by Dr. Albert Berghuis, a CIHR-funded researcher and professor at McGill University, has observed a new way in which Staphylococcus aureus, a multi-drug resistant 'superbug', inactivates one of the latest drugs used to fight it. In the future, this discovery may be used to develop strategies to counteract drug resistance. These findings appear in the early online edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

June 15, 2007

• Festival brings together the world's experts on caregiving, disability, aging, and technology
  
  Five distinctive international conferences generate solutions to the challenges facing the world's aging populations

  The world's leading experts on topics relating to aging, disability, informal caregiving and new technologies are gathering in Toronto for a one-of-a-kind festival. From June 16-19, 2007, The Festival of International Conferences on Caregiving, Disability, Aging and Technology (FICCDAT) will bring together for the first time five distinctive conferences to facilitate a global dialogue among leading experts on the universal issues of aging, disability, caregiving and the role of technology in helping the world's aging populations live longer and better. 

  The CIHR Institute of Aging (CIHR-IA) is a proud supporter of FICCDAT and of the symposium entitled Canada Meets UK on Design and Technology for Quality of Life in Old Age to be held on June 17, 2007 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

June 8, 2007

• Antipsychotics could be linked to increased risk of death in elderly

  In a recent study, Dr. Sudeep Gill, a CIHR-funded researcher at the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES), has demonstrated that the use of new atypical antipsychotic drugs could be associated with an increased risk of death among elderly Ontarians who have dementia. Conventional or typical antipsychotic drugs may pose an even greater risk of death.

June 4, 2007

• 2nd CIHR Journalist Workshop - Wait times, Drug advertising, Public-Private Funding and other Hot Button Issues

  CIHR and the CIHR Institute of Health Services and Policy Research recently held a special media workshop in Toronto on the subject of health services and policy research. Fourteen freelancers and reporters from outlets such the Toronto Star, CBC Radio, Canadian Press and The Globe and Mail heard presentations by 9 of Canada's leading experts in health services and policy research. The event marked the second in an ongoing series of CIHR media workshops on health research topics.

May 29, 2007

• Researchers find mechanism that controls calcification
  
  A team led by Dr. Marc McKee, a CIHR-funded researcher and professor at McGill University, has discovered the existence of a mechanism that controls calcification in bones, teeth and other bodily tissues. This discovery could lead to new ways of treating defective calcification in skeletal and dental disease, and in a host of other ailments such as cardiovascular disease and arthritis. Their findings will be published in the May 25, 2007 issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry (JBC) Online.

May 28, 2007

• Dr. Alan Bernstein and Dr. Rod McInnes amongst recipients of Spring Convocation honorary degrees at Dalhousie University

  During spring convocation ceremonies, May 22 - May 30, 2007, Dalhousie University is awarding honorary degrees to 12 prominent Canadians in recognition of their significant accomplishments and profound impact in a diversity of areas. Amongst the 12 recipients are Dr. Alan Bernstein, President of CIHR, who is receiving an award for his outstanding contribution to Canadian science, and Dr. Rod McInnes, Scientific Director of CIHR's Institute of Genetics, who is receiving an award for advancing our understanding of human genetics. These outstanding individuals will receive a Doctor of Laws, honoris causa.

• Renowned Canadian Physician Wins Prestigious Friesen Prize in Health Research

  Canadian physician Dr. John Evans has been named the winner of the 2007 Henry G. Friesen International Prize in Health Research by the Friends of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences. The prestigious Friesen Prize represents the exceptional leadership, vision and innovative contributions of Dr. Henry Friesen, a visionary health scientist credited with the discovery of the hormone human prolactin. As the winner of the 2007 Friesen Prize, Dr. Evans will be the keynote speaker at a Public Forum to be held in Montreal on September 19^th in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences.

• Dr. Colleen M. Flood, first woman in history bestowed with Jerry Lee Guest Lecturer honour

  Kudos to IHSPR's Scientific Director, Dr. Colleen M. Flood, for being invited to give the 2007 Jerry Lee Lecture, which is an annual event that takes place at the International Campbell Collaboration Colloquium. The first woman to have been bestowed the Jerry Lee Guest Lecturer honour, Dr. Flood spoke to an audience of hundreds on May 15^th about "Barriers to Getting Research Out of the Ivory Tower and Into Practice." The Colloquium was held this year in London, England, from May 14-16^th, 2007.

  Each year a representative from the private sector, academia, or government presents their own vision of how research can be used to inform policy and practice. Each Jerry Lee Lecture guest speaker has been chosen for their exceptional work in their respective areas of study.

  If you would like a copy of Dr. Flood's presentation, please email Meghan McMahon at meghan.mcmahon@utoronto.ca.

May 24, 2007

• Canada in a Flat World: A Health & Science Superpower

  The rise of India and China as economic powerhouses, the development of new global communication technologies, global warming, the emergence of new infectious pathogens like SARS, powerful new insights into the workings of the human body, are all creating tremendous challenges and opportunities for countries like Canada. In a flat world, no country is immune from these global tectonic shifts.

May 23, 2007

• The Presidents of Canada's three granting agencies respond to the Government of Canada's announcement on the new Science and Technology Strategy

  The Presidents of Canada's three granting agencies, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), today expressed their commitment to Mobilizing Science and Technology to Canada's Advantage, the Government of Canada's new science and technology strategy. The strategy addresses priority issues such as improving health and protecting the quality of the environment.

May 22, 2007

• Calgary students win CIHR-INMHA Marlene Reimer Brain Star of the Year Award

  Two promising young researchers have won the CIHR-INMHA Marlene Reimer Brain Star Award. Marnie Duncan from the University of Calgary and Marja Van Sickle, now at Queens University, were presented the award in Toronto on May 22, 2007. They received the award for their significant work on cannabinoid receptors in the brain published in 2005 in Science. They hope their work will help reduce the side-effects of conventional treatments for cancer, and also design new treatments for a wide variety of brain conditions. The Award is given to emerging scientists who have had the greatest impact in the field of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction over the past year.

May 17, 2007

• Rules tightened for aboriginal studies

  Canada's Aboriginal community and CIHR have broken new ground with the release of ethical guidelines that give Aboriginal people a greater say in how health research projects are conducted. Developed in cooperation with Aboriginal communities, the guidelines balance the pursuit of scientific excellence with Aboriginal values and traditions to improve on the profound disparity in health for Aboriginal communities. An editorial piece was published in the journal Nature, May 17, 2007 to highlight the new CIHR Guidelines for Health Research Involving Aboriginal Peoples.

May 15, 2007

• Student mentored by CIHR-funded researcher earns top science award

  Ted Paranjothy, a Grade 12 Fort Richmond Collegiate student from Winnipeg, Manitoba, has just won the prestigious sanofi-aventis International BioGENEius Challenge award. The award, which includes a $7,500 (US) prize and an American Merit Scholarship, put Mr. Paranjothy ahead of 13 other students competing in North America. With mentorship provided by CIHR-funded Dr. Marek Los at the University of Manitoba, Mr. Paranjothy has conducted research into how a protein called apoptin can cause cancer cells to die without harming healthy ones. Next year, the student plans to further test apoptin's possible benefits at the University of Manitoba. CIHR's Synapse Youth Mentorship Initiative connects high-school students with CIHR researchers to provide opportunities for youth and advance their interests and abilities in health research. Winnipeg Free Press, May 9, 2007.

May 14, 2007

• Researchers find unique host-pathogen interaction

  A study led by Dr. James Carlyle, a researcher at the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, and funded in part by CIHR provides evidence of a unique interaction between a pathogen and the host's immune system.

  Cytomegalovirus (CMV), a virus in the herpes family of viruses, escapes detection by the body's immune system by using the host's cellular machinery to produce decoy markers that mimic a healthy, uninfected cell. However, the study also found a range of variations in the receptor that binds to the decoy cellular markers suggesting that the host's cells are using the variations to make it more difficult for CMV to mimic the markers and avoid detection.

  These findings published online in the April 2007 issue of Immunity contribute to current understanding of host-pathogen interactions and in the long term, may lead to the development of new methods for the treatment and prevention of CMV.

• A Beginner's Guide to Judging Research Studies: Six quick tips to sort the wheat from the chaff

  Keeping up to date with hot new research results reported in the media is a full-time job. In fact, there are so many of them, and the results so often contradict each other, that it has become common in conversation to poke fun at the science behind them. In an editorial article published in the April 10 edition of the Medical Post, Dr. John Frank, Scientific Director at the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, helps readers sort the good from the bad.

May 11, 2007

• New WHO Web Portal for Clinical Trials

  Doctors, patients and journalists can now go online to search easily and quickly for information on clinical trials from around the world. The World Health Organization has launched the world's first global online search portal for clinical trials, including unpublished ones. CIHR contributed to the development and through its continued leadership, accelerated the move toward greater transparency of information about clinical trials. In addition, CIHR took the decision back in 2004 that all randomized controlled trials it funds be publicly registered.

  Background documents:

  • CIHR Policy about the International Registration of Randomised Controlled Trials
  • International Randomized Controlled Trial Register (ISRCTN)
  • Ottawa Statement on Trial Registration and publications

May 8, 2007

• Discovery may pave way for new cardiac therapies

  The heart needs a steady supply of energy to function properly. Dr. Vincent Giguère, a CIHR-funded researcher at MUHC, and his colleagues recently identified several genetic processes that work together to ensure this energy is made available to the heart. Dr. Giguère's findings, published in the May 2007 issue of Cell Metabolism, suggest new approaches to the management of some forms of heart disease.

• Edwards receives Excellence Award from the University of Ottawa

  For her outstanding work and research in community health, Dr. Nancy Edwards, professor at the University of Ottawa School of Nursing, and vice-chair of the Governing Council for CIHR, has won the 2007 University of Ottawa Excellence in Research Award. Dr. Edwards has led national and international studies addressing a number of important program and policy questions in the area of tobacco cessation, falls prevention for seniors, maternal and child health, and HIV/AIDS. Congratulations to Dr. Edwards for this well deserved prize.

• Rossant receives 2007 March of Dimes Prize

  Dr. Janet Rossant, one of Canada's top stem cell researchers, is one of the two recipients of the prestigious 2007 March of Dimes Prize awarded for remarkable contributions to science's understanding of mammalian reproduction and development. Dr. Rossant, a member of the CIHR Governing Council, chief of research at the Hospital for Sick Children and professor at the University of Toronto, was among the first to identify placental stem cells and the genes that make them different from embryonic stem cells. The award ceremony will be held in Toronto on May 7, 2007.

April 24, 2007

• CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC Call for Nominations for Members: Interagency Advisory Panel on Research Ethics (Closing date: 31 May, 2007)
  
  
• Researchers find that neurons compete to become part of memory networks in the brain
  
  A study led by Sheena Josselyn, and funded in part by CIHR, has found that our brain cells (neurons) are at odds with each other, battling to connect to form a memory trace. Furthermore, they have discovered that the success of brain cells in becoming part of a given memory is determined by a protein called CREB, which decides the winner of the competition. These findings, published in the April 20, 2007 issue of Science, will contribute to the development of new treatment and prevention strategies for learning or memory disorders, ranging from the gradual weakening of memory with age to the total memory destruction of Alzheimer's disease.

April 19, 2007

• Neural stem cell formation may be a factor in abnormal brain development
  
  An innovative approach investigating how neural circuits are formed and developed has linked stem cell development during the embryo formation stage to genetic syndromes. Funded in part by CIHR, and led by Dr. Freda Miller, the research team has identified a protein that if mutated, disturbs stem cell differentiation (the process that determines cell type) into nerve cells. This disruption may cause learning disabilities and mental retardation. These findings, published in the April 19, 2007 issue of Neuron, lay the foundation for examining other genetic disorders.
  
  
• Novel Transfusion Strategy for Pediatric Patients in Intensive Care
  
  Montreal, April 19th, 2007 - Dr. Jacques Lacroix, CIHR-funded researcher at the CHU Sainte-Justine, led a multi-center randomized clinical trial that compared transfusion strategies for patients in pediatric intensive care units. The study was conducted in 637 children in 19 intensive care units in Canada, England, Belgium and the USA. The findings were published in the April 19th, 2007 edition of the NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL of MEDICINE.

April 4, 2007

• Hancock receives 2007 Killam Prize
  
  CIHR-funded researcher Dr. Robert Hancock of the University of British Columbia is the recipient of the 2007 Killam Prize for his internationally recognized achievements in the field of microbiology and infectious diseases, specifically antibiotic resistant infections. This $100,000 prize, which is administered by the Canada Council for the Arts and named after the late Izaak Walton Killam, recognizes distinguished Canadian scholars and scientists engaged in research in the fields of health sciences, natural sciences, engineering, social sciences and humanities. The other winners include Drs. J. Richard Bond, Roderick A. Macdonald, Shana Poplack, and A.P.S. Selvadurai.

April 2, 2007

• MUHC study makes headway in understanding pediatric brain tumours
  
  A CIHR-funded study led by researchers at the McGill University Health Center (MUHC) has significantly advanced the understanding of pediatric glioblastoma (pGBM) - the most deadly form of brain tumor. The study, published in the April 1 edition of the Journal of Clinical Oncology, reveals that there are at least two subsets of pGBM, which are activated through different genetic pathways.

March 28, 2007

• CIHR President addressed the Canadian Club of Toronto on March 26, 2007

  Dr. Alan Bernstein, President of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, spoke to a capacity audience at the March 26^th Canadian Club of Toronto luncheon.
  
  Please see the following links to view a web cast or text of this event.

March 15, 2007

• Understanding structure of enzyme may help develop life-saving antibiotics

  A team led by CIHR-funded researcher Natalie Strynadka, a Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) international research scholar at the University of British Columbia, has uncovered the obscure crystal structure of the enzyme that helps build the durable cell wall in antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This new understanding of the structure of the enzyme may provide scientists with the information necessary to develop new antibiotics to treat deadly infections. These findings were published in the March 9, 2007 issue of the journal Science.

• CIHR Funds Randomized Study on the Treatment of Unruptured Cerebral Aneurysms (French only)
  
  CIHR is funding the first five-year phase of a vast international multi-centre study on the endovascular treatment of unruptured brain aneurysms. Researchers conducting this randomized study, which is directed by CHUM (Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal), plan to recruit 2002 patients who have been diagnosed with one or more unruptured cerebral aneurysms, from 60 international centres.

March 12, 2007

• Toronto Fire Services Use of New Defibrillators for a Research Program to Improve Survival from Cardiac Arrest
  
  Unless cardiac arrest victims receive defibrillation treatment within minutes to shock their heartbeat back to a normal rhythm, they could become yet another victim of out-of-hospital cardiac deaths, which claim over 30,000 Canadians each year. Fortunately, CIHR-funded researcher, Dr. Art Slutsky with "Resuscitation Outcomes Consortium" is equipping the Toronto Fire Services with the newest state of the art semiautomatic defibrillators as part of his clinical trials. This study will examine potential new treatments for cardiac arrest.
  
  
• Potential new drug for serious lung disorders
  
  Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) and other related lung diseases are characterized by over-zealous healing signals in the lungs that continuously create scar tissue and inhibit the lungs' ability to provide oxygen to the body. Although the life expectancy of IPF is 3-5 years from the time of diagnosis, to date there are no effective therapies for lung fibrosis. But, CIHR-funded researchers, led by Dr. Nasreen Khalil, from the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI), are developing a drug that stops the scar tissue from uncontrollably forming.

March 5, 2007

• Killing fungal infections without risking a patient's kidney
  
  

  A CIHR-funded researcher at the University of British Columbia has developed a new form of the drug Amphotericin B which can now be taken orally. The drug is used to kill blood-borne fungal infections, and is currently administered intravenously. The current form of the drug can cause severe side effects, including kidney toxicity and tissue damage. The new discovery should make the drug easier and cheaper to administer.

• Dr. Rémi Quirion recognized by the Schizophrenia Society of Canada at 5th Annual Tribute Luncheon
  
  For his significant contribution at reducing stigma around schizophrenia, Dr. Rémi Quirion, Scientific Director at the CIHR Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addition, received the 2007 Pacesetter Award from the Schizophrenia Society of Canada. The prize was presented at the 5th Annual Tribute Luncheon on March 8th in Toronto.

March 2, 2007

• CIHR congratulates 2007 inductees into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame
  
  CIHR extends congratulations to five outstanding individuals who have been selected as 2007 inductees into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame. The five inductees are true heroes of health care - individuals who have contributed to the understanding of disease and the improved health and well-being of people everywhere.

  Due to their significant health care contributions to Canada and the world, Senator Wilbert Keon, Dr. Endel Tulving, along with the late Drs. Elizabeth Bagshaw, Felix d'Herelle, and Jean Dussault were selected for the honour by an independent committee, and will be formally acknowledged as Canadian Medical Hall of Fame laureates in October 2007.

• Canadian researchers lead largest effort to identify 3-D structure of proteins behind human health and disease
  
  Canadian researchers are leading the world's largest collaborative effort to determine the 3-D structure of some of the key proteins involved in human health and disease. The Structural Genomics Consortium is an effort that seeks to unlock the secrets of the proteins that make all living organisms work. The Canadian Institutes of Health Research is a major funder of the project, which will help researchers in Canada and around the world pursue cutting-edge work in areas as diverse as diabetes, cancer and malaria.

February 27, 2007

• SickKids researchers find prenatal multivitamins reduces risk of childhood cancers
  
  A CIHR funded research team at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) have found that taking prenatal vitamins containing folic acid, before and during pregnancy, can reduce the risk of three common childhood cancers including leukemia, brain tumours and neuroblastoma. This research, led by Dr. Gideon Koren, director of the Motherisk Program at SickKids, is the first of its kind and has been published in the February 21st, 2007 edition of the online journal Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics.

February 26, 2007

• Dr. Bernstein congratulates individuals recently appointed to the Order of Canada

  It is with great pleasure that CIHR president Dr. Alan Bernstein recognizes and congratulates the following outstanding Canadians recently appointed to the Order of Canada for their invaluable contributions to health and science. CIHR commends their achievements which benefit all Canadians.

  Officer appointees

  Louis Fortier (Science)
  Paul Gendreau (Social Sciences)
  Antoine M. Hakim (Health Care)
  Bryan L. Harvey (Science)
  M. Daria Haust (Health Care)
  Cyril Max Kay (Science)
  Clifford Garfield Mahood (Health Advocacy)
  Jaymie M. Matthews (Science)
  Arthur B. McDonald (Science)
  Francis A. Plummer (Health Care)
  Dorothy M. Pringle (Health Care/Nursing/Education)
  Rémi Quirion (Science)
  Dennis C. Smith (Science)
  E. Douglas Wigle (Health Care)

  Member appointees

  Austin A. Mardon (Health Advocacy)
  Timothy M. Murray (Health Care)
  J. Norgrove Penny (Health Care)
  David S. Precious (Health Care)
  Robert O. Stephens (Voluntary Service/Health Care)
  A. Jonathan Stoessl (Health Care)

February 16, 2007

• The Hill Times publishes special column by CIHR President Dr. Alan Bernstein and Dr. Ian D. Graham, Vice President Knowledge Translation, on putting health research to action.

  "Canadian researchers are doing an exceptional job making discoveries and generating new knowledge that has the potential to improve the health of Canadians and strengthen Canada's healthcare system and economy but unless this knowledge is actually put into action, these benefits will not be realized," state Drs. Alan Bernstein and Ian D. Graham of CIHR in a special guest column for the February 12^th edition of The Hill Times.

• Scientists discover new compound that kills drug-resistant malaria

  Scientists from multiple disciplines are uniting to develop innovative solutions for malaria. As a global public health threat, malaria causes millions of deaths and inflicts suffering on over 2 billion people each year. Fortunately, a new research study, funded in part by CIHR and led by Dr. Lakshmi Kotra of the Toronto General Research Institute, has discovered a synthetic compound that binds to and inhibits a key enzyme required for the malaria parasite to reproduce and survive. By targeting and killing malaria parasites, including multidrug-resistant strains of the deadliest type of the infectious disease, researchers are closer than ever to the creation of a new anti-malaria drug. This study was published in the February 2007 issue of The Journal of Medical Chemistry.

February 9, 2007

• Message from Dr. Stewart about IGH's transition
• Canada's New Government Launches Nationwide Pre-Budget Consultations

February 6, 2007

• Graphic images on cigarette packages are effective

  A new CIHR-funded study conducted at the University of Waterloo has demonstrated the effectiveness of graphic images on Canadian cigarette packages. Researchers surveyed over 2,000 smokers in each of four countries; Canada, U.S., U.K., and Australia as part of an international policies evaluation project. The study's findings support the use of graphic warnings, an important policy issue for the 140 countries that have ratified the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, the first-ever international treaty on public health.

February 5, 2007

• Gene May Predict Prostate Cancer Relapse

  A study by CIHR-supported researchers Dr. Robert Nam and Dr. Arun Seth suggests that prostate cancer patients who have the gene TMPRSS2:ERG are more likely to relapse after undergoing surgery than patients who do not have this gene. This discovery could lead to the development of a drug that will block the "expression" or production of the gene and prevent the formation of new prostate cancer cells. Doctors may also be able to use this information to identify patients with a high risk of relapse and design more effective treatment plans.

• Dr. Bernstein to address The Canadian Club of Toronto, Monday, March 26^th, 2007

  According to New York Times columnist Thomas L. Friedman, the world is getting flat, creating significant challenges and tremendous new opportunities for countries around the globe.

  Dr. Alan Bernstein, President of CIHR, believes Canada is exceptionally well positioned to emerge as a health and science superpower in this flat world, if we are prepared to take the necessary steps to realize this vision. He will explain how Canada can do this when he addresses The Canadian Club of Toronto on Monday, March 26^th.

February 2, 2007

• Effectiveness of cholesterol-lowering drugs differ for men and women
  
  Widely used Cholesterol-lowering drugs, Statins, don't lower the risk of cardiac death for women to the same extent that they do for men. CIHR-funded research conducted by Dr. Louise Pilote from McGill University published in the January 30^th edition of the Canadian Medical Association Journal looked at the effectiveness of the drugs based on gender and found that these drugs were less effective for women.

February 1, 2007

• Message from Dr. Alan Bernstein, CIHR President, about IGH Transition

January 29, 2007

• Breast Cancer: McGill finds new path
  
  New drugs for diabetes and obesity may be fast-tracked for cancer trials as early as this fall. CIHR-funded researcher, Dr. Michel Tremblay and his research team at the Cancer Centre at McGill University have recently reported in the magazine Nature and Genetics their discovery of a drug that suppresses the gene which creates the overactive enzyme (PTPB1). Their research shows that suppressing the enzyme, which is present in over 40% of breast cancer patients, could slow or even prevent tumour growth.
  
  
• CIHR Recruitment of members for various Committees, Boards and Community Members for CIHR Peer Review Panels
  
  The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) is seeking members to fill voluntary membership positions for the following: renewal of membership for its thirteen Institute Advisory Boards (IABs); creation of the CIHR Clinical Research Initiative's Steering Committee; and Community Reviewers for the CIHR Open Operating Grants Peer Review Panels. CIHR invites you to assist by encouraging excellent candidates to apply.

January 25, 2007

• Canadian team discovers new dopamine brain target - potential breakthrough for schizophrenia treatment

  CIHR-funded Drs. Susan George and Brian O'Dowd at the Centre for Addiction and Mental health (CAMH) lead a team of Canadian researchers which discovered a distinct dopamine signalling complex in the brain. Composed of two different types of dopamine receptors, this novel target may have a significant role in understanding and treating schizophrenia. Their findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA.

January 24, 2007

• Dr. Bernstein says health research can lead to progress in times of social, scientific and technological change
  
  In the recent edition of Canada Foundation for Innovation's online magazine, CIHR President Dr. Alan Bernstein addresses how Canada's health research community can progress if the country is consistently able to attract or retain innovative minds and sustain substantial funding. In a world full of social, scientific and technological change, Canada can make this progress happen by encouraging collaboration among researchers, research funders and policy makers. That way, we can translate research into effective action and help humanity solve problems related to disease.

January 17, 2007

• Small molecule offers big hope against cancer
  
  A recently published study suggests that a small, odourless, colourless and inexpensive molecule causes regression in several cancers, including lung, breast, and brain tumours. Dr. Evangelos Michelakis, a CIHR-funded researcher from the University of Alberta, published this finding in Cancer Cell on January 16, 2007.

January 16, 2007

• Researchers discover another gene related to Alzheimer's Disease
  
  Dr. Peter St George-Hyslop, a CIHR-funded researcher from the University of Toronto, along with an international team of researchers, has discovered a gene related to Alzheimer's Disease called SORL1. When SORL1 is mutated, the gene can allow a toxic byproduct of a particular protein to cause initial damage in brain cells that control memory and learning. This, in turn, can lead to further brain damage related to Alzheimer's. More research is needed to fully understand problems related to the SORL1. However, results of this international study, which will be published in Nature Genetics, shows that people who have mutated versions of the gene face a greater risk of developing Alzheimer's later in life.
  
  
• Vaccine developed for cattle may help prevent E-coli transmission among humans
  
  A vaccine to battle the E.coli 0157:H7 bacteria, based on a discovery by CIHR-funded Dr. B. Brett Finlay at the University of British Columbia, has been authorized for use in Canada. The vaccine, which was developed at the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) in Saskatchewan, will be administered to Canadian cattle. The primary effort will be to stop the attachment of E. coli to the intestinal surface of cattle and prevent the bacteria from remaining there. That way, any meat and produce that has the potential to be exposed to animal products will be less likely to transmit E.coli among humans.

January 12, 2007

• President's Message to the Research Community - January, 2007

January 5, 2007

• Drugs used in the treatment of Parkinson may increase the risk of heart valve damage
  
  A CIHR-funded study has shown that the use of pergolide or cabergoline, two drugs used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease, was associated with a significant increased risk of heart valve damage. The study was published in The New England Journal of Medicine on January 4, 2007. Dr. Samy Suissa from McGill University was part of the German research team which conducted the study.
  
  
• Binge drinking and depression: relationship stronger for women than for men
  
  A recently published study suggests that the link between major depression and binge drinking is stronger for women than for men. Dr. Kathryn Graham, a CIHR-funded researcher from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, published this finding in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research in January 2007.