Single-Largest Investor in Canadian Health Innovation
ST. JOHN'S, July 20, 2012 /CNW/ - The Honourable Peter Penashue, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, and Dr. Kellie Leitch, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and to the Minister of Labour, visited with researchers at the Memorial University of Newfoundland today where they highlighted how federal investments are helping strengthen healthcare across the country. Minister Penashue and Parliamentary Secretary Leitch joined other members of the Harper Government who made similar visits with health researchers across the country.
"Our Government is proud to support the outstanding health researchers at the Memorial University of Newfoundland," said Minister Penashue. "I was delighted to meet these researchers and find out how their work is helping to improve the health of people in Newfoundland and Labrador and across Canada."
There are more than 10,000 health research projects underway in Canada right now that receive Harper Governement funding. Some recent initiatives announced include:
- Pathways to Health Equity for Aboriginal Peoples, in which researchers will partner with aboriginal communities to carry out initiatives linked to suicide reduction and other key health priorities;
- Funding 13 projects to improve the efficiency of front-line healthcare delivery, whose results will be available for provincial and territorial governments to use to strengthen their systems; and
- Funding for a national transplantation research program.
Minister Penashue and Parliamentary Secretary Leitch met with the following CIHR-supported researchers at the Memorial University of Newfoundland:
- Dr. Marshall Godwin is investigating new health care delivery strategies (nursing services to the elderly and health coaching to middle age adults at risk of heart disease) and whether they result in improved health outcomes.
- Dr. John McGuire is seeking to find new drugs to prevent and treat cardiovascular diseases, such as heart disease and stroke.
"Funding from CIHR provides essential support for researchers like Dr. Godwin and Dr. McGuire," said Dr. James Rourke, Memorial's Dean of Medicine. "At Memorial's Faculty of Medicine, we are doing research that makes a difference in a broad range of areas from primary healthcare to basic science, and the ongoing funding from CIHR ensures that we will continue to make progress in finding answers and improving the health of our people."
Federal support for health research primarily flows through its health research investment agency - the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). CIHR supports the best in peer-reviewed health research with the vision of creating a healthier future for Canadians.
"Canadian health researchers across all research disciplines and themes continue to have a significant impact on the country's international scientific excellence and competitiveness," said Dr. Alain Beaudet, President of CIHR. "At CIHR, we prize the many achievements and contributions our researchers make to resolving pressing health challenges and to improving the health outcomes of patients and supporting a robust and sustainable health care system."
Since 2005-06, the Government has invested over $27 million in health research in Newfoundland and Labrador through CIHR.
David Coulombe, CIHR Media Relations, 613-941-4563
Sharon Gray, Faculty of Medicine, MUN, 709-777-8397
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