OTTAWA, December 12, 2019 – Research Canada: An Alliance for Health Discovery is pleased to welcome nine new Members into its Alliance dedicated to advancing health research and health innovation in Canada: ALS Society of Canada, Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists, Canadian Foundation for Animal-Assisted Support Services, Lady Davis Institute, Myeloma Canada, Pancreatic Cancer Canada Foundation, Saint Paul University, VIDO-InterVac, and Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care.
“Our influence as an organization is rooted in the diversity of our membership” says Dr. Robert McMaster, Chair of Research Canada and Vice President of Research at Vancouver Coastal Health. “These exceptional organizations will bring a unique and diverse perspective to Research Canada’s national advocacy efforts,” says Deborah Gordon-El-Bihbety, President and CEO of Research Canada.
Research Canada engages all sectors – including government – to build support for health research and innovation. The addition of these new Members into the Alliance strengthens the organization’s ability to represent the interests of the health innovation ecosystem as a whole.
“We are delighted to welcome these new Members into the fold,” adds Lori Spadorcia, Co-Chair of Research Canada’s Membership Development and Programs Committee and Vice President of Communications and Partnerships at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. “These organizations represent an enormous amount of research knowledge and practice, and their contributions to the health of Canadians greatly inspire our advocacy efforts,” adds Andrée Dumulon, Committee Co-Chair and Vice President, Public Affairs and Chief Communications Officer at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute.
About Research Canada
Research Canada is a national, broad-based alliance dedicated to advancing health research through collaborative advocacy. Its mission is to improve the health and prosperity of all Canadians by championing Canada’s global leadership in health research and innovation. For more information, visit rc-rc.ca.
For inquiries:
Danielle Flieler
Manager of Membership and Development
613-234-5129
dflieler@rc-rc.ca
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Research Canada advocates for the prioritization of health research and health innovation in the government to improve the health of Canadians. These new Members provide a breadth of knowledge and expertise across many stages of the research continuum.
The ALS Society of Canada advocates for research investment and policy changes that will have a meaningful impact on people living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and builds capacity within Canada’s ALS research community by funding research and fostering collaboration. “We are pleased to begin this new partnership as a Member of Research Canada,” says Tammy Moore, Chief Executive Officer of ALS Canada. “Research funding is vital to achieving the scientific discoveries that will lead to a future without ALS. Working together with other organizations that prioritize the value of health research means that our collective voices can affect greater change.”
The Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT) is the national organization that supports the more than 17,000 occupational therapists (OTs) who work or study in Canada. OTs improve the health and well-being of Canadians by creating client-centred solutions that help them participate more fully in activities that are important to their everyday lives. CAOT provides products, services and learning opportunities that assist OTs in achieving excellence in their professional practice.
“With the recent launch of The Canadian Animal-Assisted Services Research Consortium and Bill C-1, the Accessible Canada Act, joining Research Canada was a significant next step to broaden our horizons,” says Joanne Moss, Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Foundation for Animal-Assisted Support Services (CFAS). CFAS is dedicated to uniting and engaging communities, organizations, disciplines and sectors in order to co-create a collective future in healthcare, social services, and the voluntary sector through the human-animal bond. “We look forward to getting to know you, learning from you, and contributing toward the advancement of health research through the study of human interactions with animals.”
The Lady Davis Institute (LDI) is an integral part of the Jewish General Hospital and has strong academic links to McGill University. The LDI boasts more than 200 researchers, 100 administrative and support staff, and about 175 post-graduate students and post-doctoral fellows who receive their research training at the Institute yearly. Special areas of interest include Cancer Therapeutics, Molecular Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, AIDS/HIV, Aging, Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease, Clinical Epidemiology, and Psychosocial Aspects of Disease.
Myeloma Canada is the only national charitable organization created by and for Canadians impacted by multiple myeloma. “We are honoured to be joining Research Canada as a Member and representing the Canadian myeloma community,” says Martine Elias, Executive Director at Myeloma Canada. “The core objectives of Research Canada’s alliance mirror those of Myeloma Canada’s mission of improving the lives of those affected by myeloma by empowering the patient, caregiver and medical communities through awareness, education and advocacy programs, and supporting clinical research to find the cure.”
Pancreatic Cancer Canada is committed to improving pancreatic cancer survival by investing in research to improve patient outcomes and fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing between researchers from across the country. “Now more than ever, it is imperative that we work together to affect real change in the outcomes for people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer,” says Michelle Capobianco, Chief Executive Officer of Pancreatic Cancer Canada. “We are pleased to become a Member of Research Canada and work closely with likeminded organizations to collaborate on new strategies that advance progress in pancreatic cancer and ultimately save more lives.”
Located in the heart of the nation’s capital, Saint Paul University is a bilingual institution and the founding college of the University of Ottawa, offering undergraduate and graduate study programs. The University has a Centre for Research on Innovations and Social Transformations (CRITS) which is an interdisciplinary venue with a mandate to make a significant contribution to excellence in social innovation research at Saint Paul University, in Canada and internationally through deployment of a program focused on integration Knowledge in the University’s areas of excellence related to social justice, public ethics, social conflict, liberation theology, and social cause marketing.
The University of Saskatchewan’s Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization – International Vaccine Centre (VIDO-InterVac) is a global leader in human and animal infectious disease research and vaccine development. Working with international partners and 150 interdisciplinary personnel, their research attempts to understand infectious diseases in order to develop vaccines and other medicines capable of inhibiting the spread of an infectious organism—and help turn these research findings into commercially available technologies for public health.
Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care (Waypoint) provides strategic leadership on mental health research and academic issues and facilitates innovative science and high quality applied research that prioritizes knowledge translation and improves mental health and addictions care. “Waypoint is excited to be partnering with Research Canada to promote the mutual goal of furthering mental health research,” says Dr. Nathan Kolla, Vice President of Waypoint. “We look forward to showcasing the important work of our talented group of scientists and staff at Waypoint.”