Minister Aglukkaq announces reappointment of Dr. Alain Beaudet as President of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research

OTTAWA, April 26, 2013 /CNW/ - The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, today announced the reappointment of Dr. Alain Beaudet as President of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) for a five-year term.

"I am very pleased to announce the reappointment of Dr. Beaudet as CIHR's President," said Minister Aglukkaq. "During his tenure, Dr. Beaudet has proven himself as a strong leader and a visionary in Canada and internationally. He has spearheaded such transformative initiatives as the new Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR), a research initiative that places patients at the heart of health research, and the reform of CIHR's open programs and peer review process, which will help ensure the long-term sustainability of its investigator-driven strategy. He also led the launch of numerous strategic research initiatives, aimed at identifying solutions to some of Canada's most pressing health and health care system research priorities including Alzheimer's disease and dementias, personalized medicine, community-based primary healthcare and Aboriginal Peoples' health."

Dr. Beaudet has served as CIHR President since July 1, 2008. Prior to his appointment as President, he was the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Fonds de la recherche en santé du Québec (FRSQ) from 2004 to 2008.

He holds many honours and distinctions. In 2007, France bestowed upon him the Order of Academic Palms distinguished Officer Award and he was made Doctor honoris causa of Université Pierre et Marie Curie. In 2011, Dr. Beaudet became a Knight of the National Order of Quebec, the highest honour awarded by the government of Quebec. Most recently in 2012, he was awarded the Australian Society for Medical Research (ASMR) Medal and toured seven Australian cities as a keynote speaker to highlight the importance of patient-oriented research and illustrate how R&D can be used to face the health needs of aging populations and indigenous people. In November 2012, Dr. Beaudet was also inducted as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada.

Dr. Beaudet earned a medical degree and a Ph.D. in neuroscience from the Université de Montréal. He did postdoctoral training at the Centre d'études nucléaires in Saclay, France and the University of Zurich's Brain Research Institute in Switzerland.

"I have no doubt that under Dr. Beaudet's continued leadership, CIHR will remain synonymous with research excellence in Canada and around the world," added Minister Aglukkaq.

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 health care system for Canadians. Composed of 13 Institutes, CIHR provides leadership and support to more than 14,100 health researchers and trainees across Canada.

Dr. Beaudet's biography can be found on the CIHR website.

SOURCE: Canadian Institutes of Health Research

Media Contacts:

Cailin Rodgers
Office of the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq
Minister of Health
613-957-0200

David Coulombe
Media Relations
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
613-941-4563