The federal government has doled out more than half of the $82.5 million it committed to health research in the 1999 budget. So far, $47 million will be spent on research initiatives across Canada over the next 3 years.
Ottawa says the following measures will increase the level of support in several areas of health research and help in the transition to the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR):
- 109 new operating grants and 57 personnel awards ($34 million);
- $2 million per year for 3 years available in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland under the Regional Partnership Program;
- $1.9 million Challenge Partnership Program with health charities;
- $3-million CIHR Opportunity Fund;
- $2.1 million for new clinical trials; and
- 6 new health services research awards.
Dr. Henry Friesen, president of the Medical Research Council of Canada, said the new funding "is a solid first step in the transformation of the MRC to the CIHR." The CIHR is be in place by 2000. Details of the newly funded projects are available at www.mrc.gc.ca in the "What's New" section.