OTTAWA (November 4, 2002) -- The need for specific aboriginal health research gained a higher profile this week with two events. Dr. Jeff Reading, Scientific Director of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research - Institute of Aboriginal Peoples' Health recently became the inaugural endowed research chair of Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing at the University of Toronto, funded by TransCanada Pipelines Limited.

Today in Ottawa, Dr. Reading is delivering the prestigious annual Amyot lecture on the topic of aboriginal health research. The lecture series, organized by Health Canada, is named after the first Federal Deputy Minister of the Department of Health, Dr. J.A. Amyot who was Deputy Minister in 1919. It is designed to recognize excellence and to foster innovation and debate on leading health policy issues.

"I am personally honoured by this recognition," says Dr. Reading. "But it is even more important to me that these two events demonstrate the emerging importance of aboriginal health issues in mainstream Canada. It shows that people and the federal government are listening to the evidence of the desperate need to improve the health and wellness of aboriginal people."

Dr. Reading's lecture will focus on the national research agenda established by the CIHR Institute of Aboriginal Peoples' Health with "An Innovative CIHR Model for Integration of Research Excellence in a Process Informed by the Aboriginal Community" as the evenings keynote address topic. The afternoon session addresses "Global Indigenous Health Research: An Opportunity for Canadian Leadership." CIHR-IAPH research agenda includes four strategic research priorities such as, improving access to appropriate health services for marginalized groups, fetal alcohol syndrome, diabetes, and HIV/AIDS.

The Amyot lecture will also explore the different approaches now being taken to aboriginal health research. "Health research supported by our Institute is research that includes the input and agreement of aboriginal communities," notes Dr. Reading. " We encourage research that involves community people working alongside health researchers, each contributing their own perspectives and expertise. This combination produces research that is scientifically rigorous, but also relevant to aboriginal communities."

The Amyot lecture will be given in Ottawa at 2:00 p.m, on November 5, 2002 in Health Canada's Banting Theatre.

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) is Canada's premier agency for health research. Its objective is to excel, according to internationally accepted standards of scientific excellence, in the creation of new knowledge and its translation into improved health for Canadians, more effective health services and products and a strengthened health care system. The goal of the Institute of Aboriginal Peoples' Health is to lead a national advanced research agenda in the area of Aboriginal health, and to promote innovative research in this field. The longer term outcome of this research will lead to improvements in the health of Aboriginal people living in Canada.

Information:

Linda Day, CIHR-IAPH, (416) 946-8057
Janet Weichel, CIHR, (613) 941-4563