Call for expressions of interest - Transformational Research in Adolescent Mental Health (TRAM)

- A Patient-Oriented Initiative

OTTAWA, Jan. 31, 2013 /CNW/ - The Graham Boeckh Foundation and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research are pleased to launch a call for expressions of interest through their partnership, the Transformational Research in Adolescent Mental Health, for an upcoming research network.

The goal of the network is to unite patient and family representatives, policy makers, researchers, service providers, community organizations and other appropriate stakeholders. Together, they will act collectively to improve, within five years, Canada's ability to identify young people with mental illness, and improve the timeliness and quality of care provided to them.

This will involve bringing together Canada's youth mental health communities to collectively build one unique pan-Canadian research-to-practice network.  This call for expressions of interest is the first step in this process.  The intent is to identify the groups, resources, and ideas that will form a pan-Canadian network.

"We are profoundly excited about this opportunity to help the mental health sector in Canada come together to open the doors of quality care to young people in need," said Tony Boeckh, Chair of the Graham Boeckh Foundation.

"TRAM is the inaugural research network supported under SPOR - the Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research," said Dr. Jane Aubin, CIHR's Vice President of Research and Chief Scientific Officer.  "I am thrilled to see this network gaining momentum and I encourage all interested stakeholders to take part in this great initiative."

The TRAM Partnership Lead, Mr. Jacques Hendlisz, will be travelling throughout Canada to encourage involvement in the research network.  "We are looking for creative groups who want to improve mental health care in Canada, by bringing together the two worlds of research and practice, to make a real difference in the lives of young people," said Mr. Hendlisz.

Interested stakeholders are encouraged to take part.  For more information, please visit: www.tramcan.ca

For information on the TRAM Initiative: www.tramcan.ca

For information on SPOR: www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/41204.html

The Graham Boeckh Foundation (GBF) is a private foundation created by J. Anthony Boeckh and his family to fund initiatives in the area of mental health and other related disciplines.  GBF aims to improve mental health care in Canada by strategically leading and funding projects in basic research, research translation, and community outreach.

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) is the Government of Canada's health research investment agency. CIHR's mission is to create new scientific knowledge and to enable its translation into improved health, more effective health services and products, and a strengthened Canadian health care system. Composed of 13 Institutes, CIHR provides leadership and support to more than 14,100 health researchers and trainees across Canada.

SOURCE: Canadian Institutes of Health Research

Stacy Patenaude, JGA Strategic Communications, 514-750-0887
David Coulombe, Media Relations, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, 613-941-4563