December 18, 2013
BC teams seeking solutions to global health issue
VANCOUVER, BC – British Columbian researchers got a boost today with the announcement of a new $7.5 million fund to seek solutions to Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, a global public health priority that currently affects up to 70,000 people in the province.
Five teams of leading-edge researchers will receive $1.5 million, three-year grants from the new British Columbia Alzheimer’s Research Award Program. The awards will seek discovery of causes of an innovative treatments for this disease and were created by a new partnership of national and provincial funding agencies:
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- Brain Canada
- Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research (MSFHR)
- Genome British Columbia (Genome BC)
- Pacific Alzheimer Research Foundation (PARF)
At last week’s international Dementia Summit in London, leaders from Canada and other G8 countries identified increased funding for research as vital to find the cause and a cure to address one of the world’s largest and most expensive public health issues. By 2040, 1.4 million Canadians are projected to be affected by dementia. Discoveries by researchers funded by the new British Columbia Alzheimer’s Research Award will contribute to the international effort to find a treatment or cure by 2025.
MSFHR initiated the creation of the partnership with $1.5 million from the Government of British Columbia targeted to advance research in the province into biological causes and therapeutic treatments for Alzheimer’s disease.
Genome BC is contributing $1 million to advance translational or clinical research with a genomics component into direct benefits for patients.
PARF is contributing $1.25 million for research in the province into biological causes and therapeutic treatments for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
Brain Canada will match the other partners’ contributions dollar for dollar with funds from the Canada Brain Research Fund, a public-private partnership between Brain Canada and the Government of Canada.
Researchers’ applications will be received, judged and funded in 2014. A Request for Applications and more information for researchers interested in applying for the grants is available on the Brain Canada website: http://braincanada.ca/en/MIRI.
The Alzheimer’s disease collaboration builds upon recent work by the partners to support BC researchers in neurology. Last month, MSFHR and Genome BC contributed a total of $600,000 to two Brain Canada grants totalling $3 million awarded to UBC researchers (Dr. Neil Cashman and Dr. Terence Snutch) leading interprovincial teams investigating brain diseases including ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease), epilepsy and autism.
Quotes
Inez Jabalpurwala, President and CEO of Brain Canada: “We are delighted with this national-provincial partnership and that the Canada Brain Research Fund will double the investment in British Columbia to support a critically important research area.”
Dr. Diane Finegood, President and CEO of MSFHR: “MSFHR is proud to have initiated this partnership to accelerate discovery by BC researchers of new approaches to prevention, diagnosis and treatment of this devastating disease. I hope that families with loved ones experiencing Alzheimer’s disease are encouraged to know that highly-qualified researchers in BC are receiving more support to solve the mysteries surrounding dementia. This collaboration will build upon the nationally-recognized research already conducted in BC to find cures and treatments for this degenerative disorder.”
Dr. Alan Winter, President and CEO of Genome BC: “This is a significant investment in BC in the area of Alzheimer’s disease research and one made all the more impactful through this powerful partnership. A greater understanding of this disease will provide more effective treatment tools and better patient outcomes and ultimately lead to more sustainable health care in this important area.”
Terry Lake, BC Minister of Health: “So many of our friends, family members and neighbours in British Columbia are currently living with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia. Research is vital to preventing, treating and curing this global public health issue. The province is pleased to see these research funding agencies working together to build on the province’s Dementia Action Plan to advance made-in-BC health research.”
Dr. Lynn Beattie, President of The Pacific Alzheimer Research Foundation: “This opportunity to invest in Alzheimer’s disease research is extremely welcome particularly with the strong partnerships involved from British Columbia and Brain Canada. Striving to use research to make a difference ultimately to persons affected by this insidiously progressive neurodegenerative disorder is imperative and BC researchers can make a difference.”
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About Brain Canada
Brain Canada is a national, charitable organization with the vision to understand the brain, in health and illness, to improve lives and achieve societal impact. Brain Canada is achieving its vision by:
- Increasing the scale and scope of funding to accelerate the pace of Canadian brain research;
- Creating a collective commitment to brain research across the public, private and voluntary sectors;
- Delivering transformative, original and outstanding research programs.
The Canada Brain Research Fund is a public-private partnership designed to encourage Canadians to increase their support of brain research, and maximize the impact and efficiency of those investments. Brain Canada has committed to raising $100 million from private and non-governmental sources, which will be matched by Government on a 1:1 basis. The Fund was announced in federal budget 2011, which proposed to “allocate up to $100 million to establish the Canada Brain Research Fund, which will support the very best Canadian neuroscience, fostering collaborative research and accelerating the pace of discovery, in order to improve the health and quality of life of Canadians who suffer from brain disorders.”
For more information about Brain Canada and the Canada Brain Research Fund: www.braincanada.ca.
About Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research
The Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research (MSFHR) harnesses the power of health research to improve the health of British Columbians and their health system. It does this by building BC’s capacity for world-class research by funding the best scientists; coordinating the sharing of health research resources across the province; and bringing people together for health research planning and action. MSFHR is a Partner in the new nationwide research initiative, Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging (CCNA). Learn more at www.msfhr.org.
About Pacific Alzheimer Research Foundation
The mission of the Pacific Alzheimer Research Foundation (PARF) is to eradicate Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. PARF is endeavoring to do this as the result of a grant from the Government of British Columbia and donations from private individuals. PARF will support scientists whose aim is to achieve this objective. PARF will assist universities, hospitals and other qualified British Columbia institutions to recruit investigators who will devote their efforts to eradicating Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.