Saskatchewan Health Researchers Awarded More Than $900 Thousand Through Federal-Provincial Program

Posted January 16, 2003


Prepared by CIHR, SIR, SaskHealth, University of Saskatchewan, and
University of Regina.


SASKATCHEWAN HEALTH RESEARCHERS AWARDED MORE THAN
$900 THOUSAND THROUGH FEDERAL-PROVINCIAL PROGRAM

For immediate release

SASKATOON (January 16, 2003) -- Health research in Saskatchewan will receive
a major boost from $943,032 in grants awarded through a federal-provincial
partnership program.

The money comes from the Saskatchewan Regional Partnership Program (RPP), a
joint initiative of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and
the Province of Saskatchewan.

Five researchers at the University of Saskatchewan and one at the University
of Regina have received funding, based on the scientific merit and potential
health impact of their projects.

-Thomas Hadjistavropoulos (U of R - Faculty of Arts) - $140,556 to study the
fear of pain and fear of falling among seniors.

-Helen Nichol (U of S - College of Medicine) - $82,312 to study the toxic
effects of iron accumulation in cells, using the Canadian Light Source
synchrotron at the U of S to assist in the research

-Jim Thornhill (U of S - College of Medicine) - $174,584 to study the
effects of cellular mechanisms of stroke damage in the brain

-Valerie Verge (U of S - College of Medicine) - $171,312 to study cellular
effects of long-term damage and repair activity in neural tissue

-Lingyun Wu (U of S - College of Medicine) - $203,224 to study the effects
of metabolism in hypertension

-Xia Zhang (U of S - College of Medicine) - $171,044 to study the effects of
lithium in preventing cannabis withdrawal syndrome, work that could result
in effective treatment for marijuana addicts.

This is the fourth year of a five-year, $10-million dollar CIHR/RPP grant
program equally cost-shared between the Province of Saskatchewan and CIHR.

"This is an investment in the future of Saskatchewan," said Minister Ralph
Goodale, Minister of Public Works and Government Services, on behalf of
Health Minister Anne McLellan. "Through this innovative partnership, and
ever increasing federal investments through the Canadian Institutes of
Health Research, Saskatchewan has developed a culture of innovation and
excellence in health research. The projects we are announcing today will
help to improve the health of all Canadians, while also attracting and
retaining some of the best researchers in our province."

The provincial government increased its commitment for health research by $2
million this year in the Action Plan for Saskatchewan Health Care.

"Health research gives us important information that we require to make
better health-care decisions for the benefit of the people of this province
and this country," said Saskatchewan Health Minister John Nilson.
"Provincial research dollars attract additional health research funding and
projects, and attract medical and other health care specialists to the
province."


"We are not only supporting exciting new break-throughs in health science
but are encouraging the potential for further scientific research, for
further education and for further job creation," Industry and Resources
Minister Eldon Lautermilch said. "The opportunities, and the future, are
truly wide open for health and all scientific researchers here in
Saskatchewan."

Successful projects were selected by an advisory committee composed of
representatives from CIHR, U of S, U of R, Saskatchewan Health, Saskatchewan
Industry and Resources, and the Health Services Utilization and Research
Commission.

"This critical program is helping to foster our growing strength in health
research and to build success in the highly competitive national grant
competitions," said U of S President Peter MacKinnon. "Over the past few
years, this program has supported many of the CIHR-funded researchers on
this campus, helping us to retain some of our best researchers."

"This grant acknowledges the dynamic and innovative work being done at the
University of Regina in the area of health research. It is further evidence
of the strong research culture that is developing at the University. That
culture is supported by the work of a number of emerging research teams,
including those led by Dr. Hadjistavropoulos," said U of R President David
Barnard.

The funding partnership was created in May 1999 to make up for an imbalance
in funding to researchers in certain areas of Canada, and to build and
maintain a healthy research community in these areas.

Since its creation, the Saskatchewan-CIHR Regional Partnership Program has
provided support to 39 researchers and has invested $7.98 million in health
research in Saskatchewan.

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FURTHER INFORMATION:

Janet Weichel, Media Specialist
Canadian Institute for Health Research
Phone: (613) 941-4563

Joan Petrie, Communications Branch, Saskatchewan Health
Regina, SK
Phone: (306) 787-7802

Therese Stecyk, Communications, University of Regina
Regina, SK
Phone: (306) 585-4683

Kathryn Warden, Research Communications
University of Saskatchewan
Saskatoon, SK
Phone: (306) 966-2506