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2003 News Articles

December 21, 2003 December 15, 2003
  • Applications sought for research fellowship

    The University of Alberta School of Business invites applications for the Eric Geddes/AHFMR Research Fellowship in Health Organization Studies. This one-year, $35,000 award, co-sponsored by the Alberta Health Foundation for Medical Research, will provide a highly qualified doctoral graduate with the opportunity to train and conduct research related to the organization and management of the health system. Application deadline: January 30, 2004.
December 12, 2003 December 11, 2003
  • Miriam Stewart receives prestigious award from U of A

    Dr. Miriam Stewart, Scientific Director for CIHR's Institute of Gender and Health, is one of two recipients of the 2004 J Gordin Kaplan Award for Excellence in Research. The two annual awards, named after the first Vice-President (Research) at the University of Alberta, recognizes outstanding work in (i) the general area of humanities, social sciences, law, education, and fine arts and (ii) the field of sciences or engineering.
December 9, 2003 December 3, 2003
 December 1, 2003 November 27, 2003 November 25, 2003 November 20, 2003 November 14, 2003 November 13, 2003 November 10, 2003
  • Drug quantities can vary according to gender

    Dr. Gideon Koren, a CIHR-funded researcher from Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children, has produced new research results that suggest there are strong variations in how men and women process common drugs, such as painkillers, antibiotics and antihistamines. Toronto Star, October 4, 2003, p. Y15.
  • Virus could wipe out cancer cells

    Dr. John Bell, a CIHR-funded researcher from the Ottawa Regional Cancer Centre, has developed a genetically engineered version of a virus that kills many types of cancer cells in mice, while leaving normal cells alone. He expects that clinical trials with humans should start in just over a year. Kingston Whig-Standard, October 21, 2003, p. 13.
  • Fat influences risk of breast cancer

    By studying all recorded international literature related to the field of breast cancer from 1966 to July 2003, Dr. Norman F. Boyd, a CIHR-funded researcher from the Ontario Cancer Institute, determined that intake of total fat, intake of saturated fat, and meat intake are all associated with an increased risk of contracting the disease. 
  • Cholesterol-lowering drugs may cause harm

    Dr. Jim Wright, a CIHR-funded researcher from British Columbia's The Therapeutic Initiative, has discovered that while cholesterol-lowering drugs (CLDs) may stop heart attacks among heart disease patients, they may also cause health problems such as cancer and psychiatric troubles.  The Charlottetown Guardian, October 28, 2003, p. C1.
November 7, 2003 November 4, 2003
  • Brinkman receives award

    Dr. Fiona Brinkman, a renowned CIHR-funded molecular biologist from Simon Fraser University, is the recipient of the Science Council of B.C.'s (SCBC) 2003 Young Innovator Award. The award honours a person under 40 who has had an impact on B.C. science and technology, either in a business, academic or collaborative environment.
  • Protein discovery offers hope for diabetes prevention

    Drs. Rusung Tan and Bruce Verchere at the BC Research Institute for Children's and Women's Health, have identified a protein in the pancreas that is attacked by white blood cells in children who suffer from type 1 diabetes. The discovery could lead to the development of a blood test that determines who is at risk of developing type 1 diabetes.
October 23, 2003 October 22, 2003 October 20, 2003
  • E-coli protein 'solved'

    Dr. Joel Weiner, from the University of Alberta, has determined the structure and function of a membrane protein that occurs in E-coli bacterium. It is the only membrane protein that has been 'solved' in Canada. By understanding potential defects in the protein, researchers may discover how to prevent and treat human neuromuscular diseases.
  • Ontarians don't perform enough CPR

    Dr. Ian Stiell, a CIHR-funded researcher from the Ottawa Health Research Institute, has discovered that few Ontarians are using CPR to rescue cardiac arrest patients. Dr. Stiell stresses that it is important for people to administer CPR to patients prior to the arrival of an ambulance, for it can keep the blood flowing and save lives in the process. The Ottawa Sun, October 10, 2003, p. 20.
  • Hope for treatment for inherited form of blindness

    Thanks to genetics-based research conducted by CIHR-funded researchers Drs. Robert Koenekoop and Guy Rouleau from the McGill University Health Centre, a treatment for retinitis pigmentosa is closer to being developed. The researchers were able to link two new gene mutations in this inherited form of blindness to French-Canadian families who have experienced vision loss.

October 16, 2003

  • Children escape severe SARS symptoms

    Dr. Stanley Read, a CIHR-funded researcher from Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children, has discovered that respiratory problems and coughs weren't always present in probable SARS cases involving children. Windsor Star, October 16, 2003, p. B3
  • Drug relieves pain for breast cancer sufferers

    Dr. John Mackey, a CIHR-funded researcher from the Cross Cancer Institute, has discovered that a new drug called Zometa can relieve the pain associated with breast cancer when the disease moves into a woman's bones. Edmonton Journal, October 16, 2003, p. B3
 

October 15, 2003

October 9, 2003

  • Skin medication effective treatment for osteoarthritis

    Dr. Peter Tugwell, a CIHR-funded researcher from the University of Saskatchewan, has developed Pennsaid, a non-oral Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) which treats osteoarthritis without the stomach complications associated with oral drugs. Windsor Star, October 9, 2003, p. B5

October 6, 2003

  • Discovery may fight infectious diseases and cancer

    CIHR-funded Dr. Michel Desjardins, a researcher who is leading a team from Université de Montréal, National Institutes of Health and Caprion Pharmaceuticals Inc., has made discoveries related to the immune system that will lead to the development of new vaccines for treatment of infectious disease and cancer.

October 3, 2003

  • Genome exhibit on the move

    On October 2, 2003, the Geee! In Genome exhibit moves to Vancouver's Science World, a non-profit organization that reaches over 500,000 children with exhibits, interactive science demonstrations and school workshops each year.

October 2, 2003

  • CIHR-funded team makes important SARS breakthrough

    A SARS vaccine ready for testing in humans could be less than a year away, thanks to a breakthrough discovery by a CIHR-funded team at McMaster University led by Dr. Jack Gauldie.  The vaccine, made by inserting a cloned SARS gene into a common cold virus, will first be tested in animals to see how well it works.  The team is part of a national effort, funded by CIHR, to develop a SARS vaccine.
  • CIHR helps fund translation acceleration program

    CIHR Institutes of Cancer Research and Gender and Health, along with the Canadian Breast Cancer Research Alliance (CBCRA), have jointly awarded over $3 million to the Translation Acceleration Grants program for Breast Cancer Control. This collaborative research effort will help move basic research from bench to the bedside much faster than before.

September 29, 2003

  • Meeting of Heads of International Research Organization (HIRO)

    In early-September, Dr. Bernstein hosted a meeting for the leaders of the world's major health research organizations. These meetings, which are held on a regular basis every year, provide an opportunity for Dr. Bernstein and his colleagues to exchange information and views and discuss possible joint activities. This year, the HIRO group discussed a number of issues, including: peer review, clinical randomized control trials, multidisciplinary research, stem cell research, the global fiscal environment, exciting areas for health research in the future, as well as lessons learned from the recent SARS outbreaks.

September 26, 2003

  • Arthur wins nursing chair

    Dr. Heather Arthur, a CIHR-funded nurse scientist from McMaster University, has been awarded the first chair in cardiovascular nursing. The Hamilton Spectator, September 15, 2003, p. A04.
  • Cancer discovery could treat tumours

    Dr. Peter Dirks, a CIHR-funded researcher from the University of Toronto, has identified cancer stem cells in malignant and benign brain tumours. The discovery of these stem cells, which are building block cells due to their ability to multiply and divide into liver, bone, heart and muscle cells, should afford researchers the chance to 'shut them off' and create more effective treatments.  Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, September 15, 2003, p. A9.
  • Cigarette addiction could happen after one puff

    Dr. Jennfier O'Loughlin, a CIHR-funded researcher from McGill University, has discovered that nicotine addiction can occur among young people almost immediately after they have taken a drag from a cigarette. The Regina Leader-Post, September 15, 2003, p.A3
  • Nominate top 40 under 40!

    Do you know any top health  researchers under 40?  Then why not nominate them for  Canada's top 40 under 40 awards. These awards recognize the efforts of 40 exceptional Canadians under the age of 40 who are outstanding leaders in their chosen fields and are shaping our country's future.
  • Tailor-made chemo treatments

    Dr. Steven Gallinger from Toronto's Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute has discovered a way to determine which colon cancer patients will respond to chemotherapy and which ones can do safely without treatment. The Calgary Sun, July 21, 2003, p. 29.
  • Researchers get to the heart of syndrome

    Drs. Jason Dyck and Peter Light, two CIHR-funded researchers from the University of Alberta, have discovered that certain abnormal channels within the heart might lead to arrhythmias caused by Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. The discovery will spark further research and advances in the treatment of this syndrome.
  • A glass of milk a day can keep the pounds away

    Dr. Angelo Tremblay, a CIHR-funded researcher from Université Laval, has found that women who avoid calcium in milk tend to weigh more than those women who drink moderate to high amounts of milk.  Le Quotidien, July 21, 2003, p. 16.

September 25, 2003

  • New genomics institute embraces all areas of biology

    In the United States, Dr. David Botstein has been appointed the new director of the Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics at Princeton University. The institute breaks down walls and allows biologists, chemists, physicists, and computer scientists to all work together and exchange ideas.
  • Quirion named to Knight of L'ordre du Québec

    Dr. Rémi Quirion, Scientific Director for CIHR Insitute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction, has been recently appointed to the Knight of L'ordre du Québec by Quebec Premier Jean Charest. (french only)

September 17, 2003

  • Dr. Nancy Edwards named to CIHR Governing Council

  • Inaugural NGO Outreach RFP

    The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) are proud to announce the very first Outreach Initiative For NGOs. Championned by the Institute of Gender and Health (IGH) and the Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction (INMHA), five prizes of up to $10,000 each are available. Our goal is to develop improved communications-related partnerships with Canadian non-governmental, non-profit, and community-based organizations. For more information on the ground-breaking initiative
  • New Members appointed to CIHR Institute Advisory Boards (IAB)
  • Request for Participation in Canada on the Move: Step One (CMSO)

    The CIHR Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes is pleased to announce this request for participation in a Strategic Working Alliance Team (SWATeam) to develop Canada on the Move: Step One (CMSO) - September 5, 2003

September 16, 2003

  • Warfarin fares better at higher doses

    Dr. Clive Kearon, a CIHR-funded researcher from McMaster University, has discovered that a blood thinner called warfarin is more effective in treating blood clot patients at high, rather than low, doses. (The Hamilton Spectator, August 21, 2003, p. A14)

  • Surgery right after heart attack best option

    New research conducted by Dr. David Alter, a CIHR-funded scientist with Toronto's Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, shows that surgery immediately following a heart attack is better for patient recovery. (The Globe and Mail, August 7, 2003, p.A8)

  • Penicillin takes away pressure of strokes

    Research conducted by CIHR-funded researcher Dr. Paul Brassard has shown that people over 65 who take penicillin, and who suffer from high blood pressure, will see their risk of stroke cut in half. (Globe and Mail, August 8, 2003, p. A2)

  • Hunting Hamburger Disease

    CIHR-funded Dr. Paul Gooyer is currently conducting a clinical trial involving a naturally occurring antibody present in most adults in the hopes of eradicating E.coli 0157:H7, the bacterial strain that causes the potentially fatal "hamburger disease." (Windsor Star, July 30, 2003, p.A8)

  • Hormone cuts hunger

    Dr. Rémi Quirion, Scientific Director for CIHR's Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction (INMHA), has discovered that a naturally occurring hormone can dramatically reduce a person's urge to eat. (Globe and Mail, September 4, 2003, p.A4)

  • Quirion receives National Mental Health Champion award

    In honour of his tireless efforts to develop the capacity of national non-governmental organizations to effectively partner with CIHR's Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addicition (INMHA) to achieve their respective mandates, CIHR's Scientific Director for INMHA, Dr. Rémi Quirion, will receive the first annual National Mental Health Champion award in the category of research from the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health (CAMIIMH).

  • Epilepsy gene identified

    An international research team led by CIHR-funded researchers Drs. Berge Minassian and Stephen Scherer from Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children has identified a gene responsible for Lafora disease, the most severe form of teenage-onset epilepsy.

  • DTCA increases drug prescriptions

    Dr. Barbara Mintzes, a CIHR-funded researcher at the Centre for Health Services and Policy Research, has discovered that there is a strong link between direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) and the prescription of drugs in Canada - a process which has been banned in Canada.

  • Munroe-Blum and Piper awarded Order of Canada

    Dr. Heather Munroe-Blum, Vice-Chancellor and Principal at McGill University, along with Dr. Martha Piper, president of the University of British Columbia, who were both instrumental in the creation of CIHR, have been named Officers of the Order of Canada.

  • SARS test may be effective in live patients

    Dr. Kevin Kain, a CIHR-funded researcher at Toronto General Hospital, has developed a test for detecting SARS during autopsies that is 100 per cent effective, rapid and commercially available. Dr. Kain hopes to develop a test that is equally rapid for living SARS patients. (Canadian Press Wire, August 21, 2003.)

  • Collaborative discovery in chronic pain

    In an international study involving researchers from Japan's National Institute of Health Science, CIHR-funded Dr. Michael Salter, from Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children, has co-discovered a molecule that causes sharp and chronic pain associated with nerve injury and diseases involving the central nervous system. This work may lead to new ways of treating chronic pain.


August 29, 2003

  • NSERC-CIHR Collaborative Health Research Projects Program

    CIHR and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) have agreed to jointly fund the Collaborative Health Research Projects (CHRP) program. The new agreement will strongly promote new collaborations between the CIHR and NSERC research communities. The CHRP program supports focused collaborative research projects involving researchers in any field of the natural sciences or engineering, and the health sciences

  • Brain patterns don't change, study shows

    Thanks to CIHR-funding, Dr. Randy Flanagan from Queen's University has discovered that brain patterns remain similar if people are actually doing things or if they are watching other people doing the same things. The study could have implications for the  diagnosis and assessment of  people who suffer from impaired movement control.

  • Timeless laughter

    Thanks to CIHR funding, Dr. Prathiba Shammi, from Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care, has discovered that emotional responsiveness to humor doesn't change with age. However, the study's findings do suggest that older adults will not be able to comprehend complex forms of humor.

  • Reading in MacLean's

    In the August 5 edition of MacLean's magazine, Dr. Jeff Reading, Scientific Director of the Institute of Aboriginal Peoples' Health, talks extensively about misconceptions some people may have about Canada's Aboriginal communities at large.

 

August 5, 2003

  • Dr. Jeff Reading has accepted a position as full professor at the University of Victoria  

    Dr. Jeff Reading, Scientific Director of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research - Institute of Aboriginal Peoples' Health (CIHR-IAPH) has accepted a position as full professor at the University of Victoria, effective September 1, 2003. Jeff will continue his duties as Scientific Director of the CIHR-IAPH which will remain situated at the University of Toronto.


July 30, 2003

  • Intern published in Science Next Wave

    In the July 11, 2003 edition of Science Next Wave, Ms. Siobhan Minty, currently a CIHR Undergraduate Science Writer Scholar, published an article on the pride she felt in initially winning the scholarship and the experiences she is having as an intern with CIHR's Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health.

  • Korneluk receives McLaughlin Medal

    On July 10, Dr. Robert Korneluk, CIHR Senior Scientist and Professor of Paediatrics and of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Ottawa, received the McLaughlin Medal from the Royal Society of Canada for his contributions to human molecular genetics.

  • Measuring the toll of asthma  

    CIHR-funded researchers, Dr. Brian Rowe and Mrs. Cindy O'Hara, are tackling a rich vein of Statistics Canada surveys in order to determine if there is a higher incidence of asthma among aboriginal children as opposed to non-aboriginal children. Edmonton Journal, June 28, 2003, p.B6.

July 25, 2003

July 24, 2003

  • New Protein May Play a Role in Obesity

    There is more to losing weight than diet and exercise, according to investigators at the Research Institute at the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC). Their study is the first to identify a new receptor protein present on fat cells that may play a role in fat metabolism.

  • Iron may be hard on children  

    Dr. David Juurlink, a CIHR-funded researcher from the Institute for Clinical and Evaluative Sciences, has discovered that children tend to suffer from accidental iron poisoning around the birth-time of their siblings. The Record (Waterloo Region), July 17, 2003, p. C2

July 23, 2003

  • CIHR one of federal government's greatest successes, Sun says  

    In his July 23 commentary, Ottawa Sun columnist and Canadian Taxpayers Federation Director Walter Robinson praises CIHR for being one the federal government's greatest successes.  The Ottawa Sun, July 23, 2003, p. 15.

July 14, 2003

July 7, 2003

July 4, 2003

  • Gene could be key to male birth control  

    Dr. Josef Penninger, a CIHR-funded researcher from the University of Toronto, has stumbled across a gene which, when removed, prevents the production of sperm cells in mice. The discovery could lead to the development of the first male birth control pill, and could offer insights into spontaneous miscarriages and Down's Syndrome. National Post, May 23, 2003, p.A17

  • Drunk driving study produces sobering facts

    Through a series of tests involving 21 volunteers, Dr. Robert Pihl, a CIHR-funded researcher from McGill University, has determined that, after excessive drinking, it might take a person up to six hours to sober up and drive a car properly. The Kingston Whig-Standard, May 20, 2003, p. 23.
  • Battling the bulge with exercise

    With the help of 500 human subjects, Dr. Robert Ross, a CIHR-funded researcher based at Queen's University, will launch the first five-year study in North America that suggests that obesity can be beaten better with exercise as opposed to diet. The Ottawa Citizen, May 20, 2003, p.A14

  • Young neuroscientist making waves in brain research

    Five years ago, Dr. David Park, a multiple award-winning neuroscientist, was recruited to the University of Ottawa from Columbia University thanks to his leading-edge research into the chemistry of brain cell death. Now, Dr. Park's research, funded by CIHR, could inspire treatments that would reverse some brain diseases or injury. The Ottawa Citizen, June 2, 2003, p.D7.

  • Stem cells may strengthen immune systems

    Dr. John Dick, a CIHR-funded researcher from Toronto's University Health Network, has discovered that injecting stem cells directly into the bone marrow of mice could improve their immune systems which had been previously weakened by cancer treatments or transplants. The Hamilton Spectator, June 9, 2003, p. C02.

July 2, 2003

  • Bernstein op-ed addresses SARS

    In an op-ed piece which was published in the Globe and Mail (June 19) and Le Devoir (July 4), Dr. Alan Bernstein talks about CIHR's three-pronged effort to eradicate Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). He also stresses the need for Canadian researchers to take proactive action against other immuno-based diseases like SARS that may arise in the future.

June 30, 2003

June 25, 2003

  • Blueprint initiative could spell recipe of life

    Thanks in part to funding by CIHR, Dr. Christopher Hogue from Toronto's Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute will develop the Biomolecular Interaction Network Database (BIND). The database will be used to better understand molecular interactions and reactions in humans and other organisms.

  • 80 new Canada Research Chairs announced

    Allan Rock, Minister of Industry, announced today an investment of $80 million to support the creation of 80 new Canada Research Chairs. Thirty of these new Chairs are exceptional international researchers and expatriates.

June 24, 2003

  • IMHA partners with Canadian Space Agency for bed rest study

    The Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis has partnered with the Canadian Space Agency in a study that will hopefully shed light on physiological changes, such as loss of bone and muscle mass, that occur during long-term bed rest.

June 19, 2003

  • Canadian heart institute to assess treatment of abnormal heart rates

    With the help of a CIHR research grant, the Resynchronization/Defibrillation for Advanced Heart Failure (RAFT) study led by Dr. Anthony Tang at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute will provide comprehensive information to determine whether cardiac resynchronization will reduce death and suffering among patients with severe heart failure.

June 17, 2003

  • Drug discovery could help spinal cord patients

    Dr. Wee Yong, from the University of Calgary, has discovered that a drug which is commonly used to treat acne decreases tissue damage and significantly improves movement in mice with spinal cord injury.

June 10, 2003

  • 2002 CIHR/Peter Lougheed New Investigator Announced

    Dr. Andrew Roger, from Dalhousie University, has been awarded the 2002 CIHR/Peter Lougheed New Investigator Award. Dr. Roger's exceptional work is focused around three general research initiatives: (1) early cellular evolution, (2) genomics of single-celled organisms and (3) evolutionary bioinformatics (understanding how molecules and genomes change over the billion-year time scale).

June 2, 2003

  • Possible treatment and vaccine for prion-related diseases

    CIHR-funded researchers, led by Dr. Neil Cashman from the University of Toronto, have developed a possible immunotherapy treatment and vaccine that seems to stop or prevent the brain-wasting damage caused by infectious, abnormal prions. Abnormal prions can lead to mad cow disease and its human variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
  • Discovery helps to explain biochemical process implicated in the onset of schizophrenia

    Researchers at the University of Alberta have discovered a genetic flaw in a family suffering with schizophrenia. Under the supervision of Dr. Diane Cox, the CIHR-funded research was conducted by PhD graduate student Deepak Kamnasaran and is published in the May issue of the Journal of Medical Genetics.

May 30, 2003

  • CIHR-funded researchers make Time

    Drs. Brett Finlay, Kevin Kain, Janet Rossant, Peter St George-Hyslop and Richard Tremblay, who are all CIHR-funded researchers, have had profiles written about them in Canada's edition of Time magazine. Time Magazine, Canadian Edition, May 26, 2003
  • Genetic breakthrough offers hope for Parkinson's patients

    CIHR-funded researcher Dr. Jacques Drouin from the Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal has demonstrated that a mutation in a particular mouse gene, called Pitx3, can lead to cell death and a loss of spontaneous movement that is similar to Parkinson's disease. The discovery lays the groundwork for a genetic understanding of the causes of the disease among human patients.
  • Tuberculosis gene identified by Gros

    Dr. Philippe Gros, a CIHR Governing Council member who is based at McGill University Health Centre, has discovered a gene in mice that regulates susceptibility to tuberculosis. Dr. Gros' work here may help to explain why some people can fight off infection, while others can't. The Ottawa Sun, May 14, 2003, p.10
  • Study finds that high blood pressure exists among children

    CIHR-funded researcher Dr. Gilles Paradis, who works with Montreal's public health department and teaches epidemiology and community medicine at McGill University, has identified through a Quebec-wide study that a substantial amount of children and adolescents boys and girls have elevated blood pressure and that this is related to the increased prevalence of overweight in youth. Substantial proportions of Quebec children presented metabolic abnormalities defining the insulin resistance syndrome and appear at risk of later developing hypertension and diabetes.

  • Supercharging adult stem cells

    CIHR researchers Keith Humphries and Guy Sauvageau discover a stem cell technique that may one day lead to new treatments for leukemia and other blood diseases and eliminate the need for bone marrow transplants. National Post, April 2, 2003

May 22, 2003

  • Dr. Mak awarded Killam Prize

    Dr. Tak Mak, a CIHR-funded researcher at the University of Toronto, has garnered one of five Killam prizes awarded annually to eminent Canadian scholars and scientists engaged in research involving industry, government agencies or universities.

May 21, 2003

May 20, 2003

  • Loeb leads international fight on SARS

    Dr. Mark Loeb, from McMaster University, is leading the world's first broad-based research group on the study of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). Dr Loeb will develop tests to determine who has SARS and who doesn't; analyse what factors put health care workers and the general public at risk of contracting SARS; and investigate the syndrome's effects on the human body's immune system overall. The Hamilton Spectator, May 12, 2003, p. A01.

May 16, 2003

  • Dr. Janet Rossant wins prestigious science award

    Dr. Janet Rossant, one of CIHR's Distinguished Investigators from Toronto's Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, has been awarded the 2004 Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) Excellence in Science Award, which recognizes outstanding achievement by women in biological science.

May 15, 2003

  • Naylor to lead SARS panel

    Dr. David Naylor, a CIHR Governing Council member, will lead a SARS panel created by Health Minister Anne McLellan. Dr. Naylor will examine every aspect of how Canada has battled the SARS virus, from hospital infection control measures to Health Canada's communications with the World Health Organization, in an effort to list the 'lessons learned' from this outbreak. Toronto Star, May 2, 2003, p. A08.
  • Bypassing Normal Protein Offers Answers

    Dr. Wayne Sossin, a CIHR-funded researcher from the Montreal Neurological Institute, has discovered that nerve cells can bypass the cell's normal protein-making machinery allowing for greater understanding of implications for understanding the learning and memory processes in the brain.
  • Taking the punch out of leg ulcers

    As a result of various clinical trials, Dr. Margaret Harrison, a CIHR-funded researcher from Queen's University, has discovered that poor treatment of leg ulcers often results in unnecessary antibiotic ointments or compression bandages. Because of Dr. Harrison's research, Ottawa, Kingston, Kitchener-Waterloo and London have formed teams of registered nurses and doctors who are specially trained in treating leg ulcers. The Kingston Whig-Standard, May 8, 2003, p. 1.
  • Protein discovery good news for MS patients

    Dr. Tim Kennedy, from McGill University, has discovered a protein that is closely aligned with oligodendrocytes (cells related to the development of the spinal cord or central nervous system). This discovery means good news for those who suffer from multiple sclerosis - a disease that degenerates and kills oligodendrocytes.

May 13, 2003

  • CIHR researchers make the top 40 under 40

    In the eighth annual selection process for Canada's top 40 under 40 award, which appeared in the May 2003 edition of the Globe and Mail's Report on Business, the following CIHR-funded people were selected by a national panel which includes CIHR President Dr. Alan Bernstein: Drs. Adalsteinn Brown, William Ghali, Sonia Lupien and Ravi S. Menon.

May 12, 2003

May 8, 2003

  • Lee wins Chair

    Dr. Patrick Lee, a ground-breaking CIHR-funded researcher from the University of Calgary who discovered that an organism called reovirus can infect and kill cancer cells and leave healthy cells alone, was named the first chair of a $12 million program dedicated to fighting cancer at Dalhousie University in Halifax. Edmonton Journal, April 26, 2003, p. B12

May 7, 2003

  • BioPhotonics and Health

    On May 22, 2003, the Advanced BioPhotonics Consortium (ABC) is holding a half-day conference to improve overall understanding of biophotonics (the science of generating and harnessing light to manipulate biological materials). ABC was created out of industry research institutions, and universities with a mandate to drive initiatives that support photonics technology in relation to health.
  • Cryopreservation represents unique funding partnership

    Thanks to funding from both the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), an internationally-renowned cryobiology research group based at the University of Alberta is currently freezing cells and small tissues with the hope of preserving corneas, cartilage, and bio-artificial tissues in the future.

  • Distinguished Investigators published in distinguished journals

    Drs. Brett Finlay and Tony Pawson, CIHR Distinguished Investigators, have had their research published recently in Nature and Science respectively. Dr. Finlay's article details how disease-producing microorganisms infiltrate cells, while Dr. Pawson's piece investigates the burgeoning science of proteomics.

May 1, 2003

  • Chromosome 7 decoded

    Dr. Stephen Scherer, from Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children, and Dr. Johanna Rommens, from the University of Toronto, have successfully decoded the complete DNA sequence and nearly all of the genes on human chromosome 7. Mutations of genes within this chromosome can cause diseases such as cystic fibrosis, leukemia, and autism.

April 24, 2003

April 22, 2003

  • Congratulations Dr. Bisby!

    Dr. Mark Bisby, Vice-President of Research for CIHR, has been nominated by the Board of Trustees to be Vice-President of the Human Frontiers Science Program (HFSP). Based in Strasbourg, France, and co-financed by CIHR, the HFSP supports novel, innovative and interdisciplinary basic research focused on the complex mechanisms of living organisms through research grants and fellowships.

April 15, 2003

  • CIHR fosters science writer prospects for third year

    For the third consecutive year, CIHR's Graduate Health Research Communication award (formely Graduate Science Writer Scholarship), will help burgeoning Canadian science writers develop their careers. These opportunities are available to those who are enrolled in communications, journalism, history, literature or psychology programs with human health and/or science backgrounds. Eligibity criteria and application deadlines are listed here.
  • Bhandari decides to stay home

    Dr. Mohit Bhandari, an orthopedic surgeon from McMaster University with 180 publications and presentations under his belt and international job offers, has chosen to stay in Canada. He will lead the largest collaborative randomized trial of tibial fractures in the world with over $3 million in funding from CIHR and the NIH. Dr. Banhari will also receive a research chair in orthopedic surgery from McMaster University. The Hamilton Spectator, 23 mars 2003, A03.

April 9, 2003

April 7, 2003

  • IPPH- IHSPR- PHR Summer Institute 2003!

    IPPH and IHSPR are collaborating with the Quebec Population Health Research Network and the Fonds de Recherche en Santé du Québec to implement the 2003 Summer Institute
  • Minister McLellan Announces the Appointment of Dr. Robert S. Sheldon to CIHR's Governing Council [ Biography | Media Release ]

April 1, 2003

March 26, 2003

  • Bernstein in Hill Times

    In the March 17 edition of the Hill Times, Dr. Alan Bernstein talks about the need to break down research silos that are impeding health research and embrace a transdisciplinary approach that will drive innovation and turn research into effective action.

March 24, 2003

  • Welsh awarded a Canada Research Chair

    Dr. Donald Welsh, a CIHR-funded researcher from the University of Calgary, received a Canada Research Chair that will allow him to continue developing innovative strategies that will both measure cell-to-cell communication in blood vessels and try and define the impact of vascular disease (such as hypertension).
  • Scott finds protein

    Dr. Fraser Scott, a CIHR-funded researcher from the Ottawa Health Research Institute, has discovered Glb1, a wheat protein that may play a role in the development of type 1 diabetes. Exposing children to Glb1 at a young age could teach the immune system not to overreact when exposed to the protein at a later time.
  • Gene associated with North American Indian childhood cirrhosis identified

    CIHR-funded researchers based at Sainte-Justine's Mother and Child University Hospital Centre have discovered a defect in the Cirhin gene which causes the genetic illness called North American Indian childhood cirrhosis and can be passed on at birth. A diagnostic test has been developed that will used to distinguish healthy carriers of the gene from other healthy individuals for the first time.
  • Celebrating Canada's "brain gain"

    In a March article of the Globe and Mail, Dr. Bernstein celebrates the Government of Canada's consistent financial commitment to health research, which is helping to bring some of Canada's best scientists back to home ground from abroad.
  • Research team finds mutated gene

    With the findings published in March's edition of Genes and Development, CIHR-funded Dr. Jacques Drouin, along with his Clinical Research Institute of Montreal team, has discovered a gene that will help doctors test for isolated ACTH deficiency, a rare hormonal disease which can cause fatal hypoglycemia in newborns.
  • Kotra receives CSPS award

    Dr. Lakshmi Prem Kotra, a CIHR researcher based at the University of Toronto, has received the GlaxoSmithKline Canadian Society for Pharmaceutical Sciences (CSPS) Early Career Award for his research work aimed at developing therapeutic agents for the treatment of infectious diseases and cancer at the molecular level. Dr. Kotra will receive the award at the 6th annual CSPS symposium at the end of May, 2003.
  • Predicting problems with preterms

    In the March 5 edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association, a group of CIHR-funded researchers led by Dr. Barbara Schmidt from McMaster University reported a way of predicting death among extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants who have suffered neurosensory impairment. The method involves counting three common neonatal diseases: lung disease, brain injury and severe retina damage.
  • Researchers honoured with Queen's jubilee awards

    On March 16, the Montreal Gazette reported that Drs. Angela Genge, George Karpati and Brenda Milner, CIHR-funded health researchers from the Montreal Neurological Institute, received the Queen's Golden Jubilee medal to honour the significant contributions they made to the health of Canadians.

March 20, 2003

  • McInnes talks about CIHR's evolution

    In a recent article that appeared in the Toronto Sun, Dr. Roderick McInnes, Scientific Director for the Institute of Genetics, talks about the inclusive, integrated and multi-disciplinary nature of CIHR - and the outstanding growth that has occurred since its inception in June 2000.
  • Plummer profiled in Herald

    Dr. Frank Plummer, a longtime CIHR-funded health researcher whose life's work has been devoted to finding a vaccine for HIV/AIDS in Nairobi, Kenya, was profiled recently in the Calgary Herald. Dr. Plummer's work on resistance to HIV infection among Kenyan prostitutes has directly led to two HIV vaccine initiatives.
  • Spence to step down

    Dr. Matt Spence will step down as president and CEO of the Alberta Heritage Foundation in July, 2004. Dr. Spence helped in the development of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

March 19, 2003

  • Innovative program prepares tomorrow's interdisciplinary leaders

    On February 21, Science's Next Wave profiled CIHR for its Training Program in Health Law and Policy. The program prepares graduate students in health ethics and legislation (at the University of Alberta, Dalhousie University, and the University of Toronto) to be the next generation of policy researchers with the help of transdisciplinary mentors.
  • Affinium on the cusp of biotech greatness

    In their quest to unravel the mysteries of human proteins, three CIHR-funded researchers, Drs. Cheryl Arrowsmith, Aled Edwards and Jack Greenblatt, are emerging as world biotechnology leaders with their company Affinium Pharmaceuticals Inc. They have recently signed independent deals with Glaxo-SmithKline, to have access to its antibacterial-antibiotic research program, and Pfizer.
  • CIHR funded researchers discover mutated heart gene

    With the help of CIHR funding, Drs. David MacLennan and Christine Seidman have discovered that the genetic mutation of phospholamban, or PLN, plays a key role in congestive heart failure among people in their teens and 20s.
  • Stopping a superbug

    Dr. Marie Louie, of Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Sciences, is in the early stages of research to try and stop methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) - a superbug that spreads through skin contact.

March 13, 2003

March 6, 2003

  • Mouse model offers genetic clues

    Dr. Jayne Danska, a CIHR-funded researcher from Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children, has co-designed a mouse model that will offer significant insights into the genetic causes of leukemia - a development that could help in the fight against the spread of the disease into the brain.

March 5, 2003

  • Gene discovery linked to leprosy

    Thanks to CIHR-funding, Drs. Tom Hudson and Erwin Schurr, from McGill University, have discovered a gene that makes people vulnerable to leprosy - a disfiguring disease that is triggered by bacterial infection. The discovery could lead to a vaccine that would eradicate leprosy around the world. Canadian Press Wire, February 10, 2003.
  • MacDonald receives PENCE Chair

    CIHR-funded researcher Dr. Justin MacDonald, from the University of Calgary, received the first-ever Protein Engineering Network of Centres of Excellence (PENCE) Chair for Protein Sciences Research. Dr. MacDonald's research focuses on the identification and characterization of proteins involved in smooth muscle cell diseases such as cardiovascular disease, asthma or Crohn's Disease.
  • Kovacs takes 2003 Gold Medal in Medicine

    Dr. Christopher Kovacs, a CIHR-funded researcher from Memorial University of Newfoundland, will be awarded the 2003 Gold Medal in Medicine from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada for his accomplishments in medical research. The formal medal ceremony will take place on September 12, 2003.

March 4, 2003

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February 28, 2003

  • Congratulations John Challis!

    John Challis, Scientific Director for the Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health, named University of Toronto Vice-President Research and Associate Provost

February 21, 2003

  • Study helps Alzheimer's patients

    Thanks to a unique CIHR-funded study, Dr. Cheryl Grady and a group of Toronto-based researchers have found direct evidence that people who suffer from early stage Alzheimer's disease can engage other areas of the brain to perform memory tasks.

February 20, 2003

  • Congratulations to Dr. Bernstein!

    On February 21, 2003, CIHR President Dr. Alan Bernstein will officially receive the honour of Officer of the Order of Canada. The ceremony will be broadcast on television in Ottawa on February 21 (channel 22) at noon and on Toronto Area Rogers TV stations on February 22 at 2 p.m.
  • CIHR publication wins award  

    Of the more than 1,100 entries submitted across North America, r:evolution, a publication produced about CIHR's health research agenda, was the winning entry in the Health and Medicine category of the inaugural Context1 International Design show.

  • Landmark study for African-Canadians

    In a three-year $1.25 million inaugural CIHR-funded project, African-Canadian researchers from Dalhousie University, York University and the University of Calgary will study nine families in an attempt to understand the impact of racism and violence on the health and well-being of African-Canadians. The Sunday Herald, January 26, 2003
  • Ottawa researchers have a breakthrough

    CIHR-funded researchers Drs. Christine DiDonato, Rashmi Kothary and Robin Parks have discovered a protein that may help in the fight against spinal muscular atrophy, a disease that strikes one in every 6,000 live births.
  • Study offers insights into bipolar disorder

    Dr. Martin Alda, from Queen Elizabeth II Hospital in Halifax, is examining the role that genes play in pre-determining bi-polar disorder in a clinical study that involves approximately 1,100 patients who respond well to lithium treatments. The Sunday Herald, January 26, 2003

February 17, 2003

January 30 2003

  • Bone study could impact osteoporosis

    Thanks to CIHR funding, Dr. Bob Faulkner from the University of Saskatchewan is collecting comprehensive and definitive data on bone mass development, from childhood to adult years, in an attempt to reduce the risk of osteoporosis. Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, November 8, 2002.
  • Drug could limit stroke damage in humans

    CIHR-funded Dr. Michael Tymianski from Toronto Western Hospital Research Institute has discovered a neuro-protective drug that eliminates 90 per cent of ischemic stroke damage in rats. Ischemic stroke occurs when the blood supply is cut off to the brain. National Post, October 25, 2002.

January 29 2003

  • Details of January 2003 Competition Decisions

    Full details of CIHR's Open and Strategic Competition results are now available

    [     Results | President's Message ]


  • Protein discovery could save hearts

    Dr. Jennifer Van Eyk, a CIHR-funded researcher from Queen's University, has discovered MitoKCa -- a protein that can be manipulated in order to protect the heart from further injury after a heart attack. The Kingston Whig-Standard, November 4, 2002
  • Gene discovery offers clues to schizophrenia

    Dr. Philip Seeman, a CIHR-funded researcher from the University of Toronto, has discovered that a variation on a gene called Nogo, when inherited by parents, increases the risk of schizophrenia. The Toronto Star, November 13, 2002
  • Smoking is dangerous for mothers-to-be

    Dr. K.S. Joseph, a CIHR-funded researcher from Dalhousie University, has discovered that when a mother-to-be smokes during pregnancy she increases the risk of death for the fetus or newborn by up to 30 or 40 per cent. BNW, January 14, 2003.
  • Toxin shows therapeutic promise

    CIHR-funded Dr. Jack Stewart, from Mount Allison University, has isolated a toxin from the saliva of northern short-tailed shrews, which might have potential applications in therapeutics, pain relief and cosmetics. National Post, December 20, 2002

January 23 2003

  • Gene discovery could wipe out Leigh's Syndrome

    CIHR-funded researchers Drs. Tom Hudson and Brian Robinson have discovered a gene that is linked to the deadly Leigh's Syndrome - a condition that is particular to residents of the Saguenay region. CP, January 14, 2003.
  • Understanding the genes

    Dr. Martin Alda, a CIHR-funded researcher from QEII Health Sciences Centre, is studying large Nova Scotian families in an effort to understand the genes responsible for bipolar disorder. The Sunday Herald, November 3, 2002
  • Bra put to test

    CIHR-funded Dr. Kathryn King, from the University of Calgary, has designed a more comfortable bra for women who have suffered post-operative problems after sternotomies - a procedure where the breast bone has been cracked open for cardiac surgery. Dr. King plans to test the bra on 450 women nationwide. Calgary Herald, November 1, 2002
  • Losing the war on drugs

    Based on recent data, Dr. Martin Schechter, a CIHR-funded researcher from the University of British Columbia says the federal government may be fighting a losing battle with its 'war on drugs' strategy. Ottawa Citizen, January 21, 2003

January 20 2003

January 16 2003

January 14 2003

January 10 2003

  • Holden on Quirks and Quarks
    Dr. Jeanette Holden, whose CIHR-funded Interdisciplinary Health Research Team project is exploring the mysteries of autism, will be interviewed on CBC Radio One's Quirks and Quarks this Saturday, January 11, 2003 at noon.

January 7 2003

  • Old procedure may be damaging for the future

    Thanks to a clinical trial, Dr. Dean Sandham, a physician from the University of Calgary, has demonstrated that pulmonary artery catheterization (PAC) does not help the survival rate of patients - and may actually increase the likelihood of blood clots in the lung.

January 6 2003

  • Discovery of gene provides hope for SDS sufferers

    In January 2002's edition of Nature Genetics, Dr. Johanna Rommens, a senior scientist at Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children along with a team of researchers, have published their findings about a gene that is altered in Shwachman-Diamond syndrome (SDS) - a rare genetic disorder that affects many organs in the body.
  • Scientist uncovers mysteries of molecule

    Dr. Mitsu Ikura, a CIHR-funded researcher from the Ontario Cancer Institute and the University of Toronto, has discovered how IP3 and its receptor interact to control calcium levels in cells. This could have implications in the fight against diseases such as epilepsy.
  • Hormone stimulates brain regeneration
    Dr. Samuel Weiss, from the University of Calgary, has generated scientific proof that, in female mice, prolactin (a naturally occurring hormone in the human body) stimulates the production of new brain cells. This offers hope for stroke sufferers.
  • Edmonton Protocol Receives Medal

    On December 2, Drs. Ray Rajotte and James Shapiro, CIHR-funded members of the so-called Edmonton Protocol, received the Queen's Golden Jubilee medal for their ground-breaking research in the field of diabetes. The Edmonton Sun, December 2, 2002

January 2 2003

Modified: 2005-03-24

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