The Honourable Tony Clement, federal Minister of Health announced May 7, 2008, funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) for 764 health research projects across Canada, totalling more than $298 million. Researchers at McGill University and four of its affiliated institutions – the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC), the Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI), the Jewish General Hospital (JGH) and the Douglas Mental Health University Institute – received more than $35.5 million, one of the highest allotments in the country.

“The results from the most recent competition amount to just over $7.3 million in operating and seed grants for Douglas researchers. This amount represents about 22% of the totals sums to be granted. We are proud of those results, which testifies to the high quality of scientific research at the Douglas,” stated Rémi Quirion, OC, PhD, FRSC, CQ, MS, Scientific Director of the Douglas Research Centre and Scientific Director of the Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction (INMHA).

“The Government of Canada is committed to investing in knowledge, science and innovation,” said Minister Clement. “In Budget 2008, we increased CIHR’s budget by $34 million and we made a number of other strategic investments designed to further strengthen Canada’s research capacity. The research being supported with the funding announced today will help us address important health issues affecting Canadians, such as cancer, heart disease and HIV/AIDS.”

These grants, allocated between July 2007 and January 2008, fund more than 80 cutting-edge research projects in fields as diverse as arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, multiple forms of cancer, nutrition, epilepsy, medical imaging, health care delivery, infertility, heart disease, cell biology and pharmacology, to name but a few.

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.