The Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of Industry, on behalf of Tony Clement, Minister of Health, accompanied by Dr. Pierre Chartrand, Acting President, Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), announced the recipients of 21 health research grants worth more than 5 million dollars at the University of Calgary Hotchkiss Brain Institute. The funding is for a wide range of brain research projects, including projects in the areas of epilepsy, stroke, movement disorders, stress, depression and workplace mental health.

"Through CIHR, Canada's government is ensuring that important research can be done for various health issues that continue to affect Canadians," said Minister Prentice

The following researchers at the University of Calgary Hotchkiss Brain Institute will take a closer look at workplace stress. Lost productivity from poor mental health is estimated to cost Canadian businesses $33 billion per year.

- Response to stress: Dr. Jaideep S. Bains is investigating how the brain responds to external stress. An inability to manage stress appropriately may underlie the development of mental health disorders such as depression.

- Depression leading to other problems: Dr. Scott B. Patten is examining how depression can cause or lead to the risk of other health-related problems.

- Workplace mental health: Dr. Jianli Wang is tracking employees from Alberta companies for two years to thoroughly understand what triggers mental health problems at work.

Minister Prentice also announced the recipients from across Canada of 1,604 CIHR health research grants worth more than $377.5 million. The funding will support projects in mental health, hospital-acquired infections, cancer, heart health and wait times, among others. The funded research projects will be carried out over periods of one to five years.

Of this major health research investment, funding worth $36 million will be allocated to support health research projects in Alberta. The 143 research projects funded in Alberta will be conducted at the University of Alberta, the University of Calgary and the University of Lethbridge.

"Guided by the Government's S&T Strategy, we will translate today's investments in health research and innovation into the health services and products of tomorrow. To do this, we must keep generating and translating knowledge, supporting talented researchers, and fostering entrepreneurial partnerships," said Dr. Chartrand. "CIHR's commitment to supporting excellence in health research will lead to improved health for Canadians as well as job creation and economic growth."

"It is our honour and pleasure to publicly celebrate the success of University of Calgary researchers in attracting more than $15 million in CIHR funding for 67 projects," said Dr. Harvey Weingarten, President, University of Calgary. "Our scientists, physicians and health researchers are putting their considerable talents and passion into finding answers for fundamental questions about cancer, arthritis, asthma, and obesity, and translating those results into actions to improve people's lives."

The research projects all exemplify CIHR's comprehensive, problem-based approach to funding excellence in health research. All 1,604 CIHR research projects funded across Canada underwent a rigorous peer-review process before being approved.

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) is the Government of Canada's agency for health research. CIHR's mission is to create new scientific knowledge and to catalyze 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 11,000 health researchers and trainees across Canada.

Canadian Institutes of Health Research