CSL Behring - Canada Research Chair to develop therapies for treating bleeding and immune system disorders

Oct 5 2009

The Centre for Blood Research (CBR) and the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia have announced the establishment of the CSL Behring - Canada Research Chair in Endothelial Cell Biology. Over the next five years, the CBR and CSL Behring Canada, the biopharmaceutical company co-funding the chair program, will collaborate on the research and development of new therapies for patients with bleeding and immune system disorders. The CSL Behring - Canada Research Chair in Endothelial Cell Biology, a professorship created through the Canada Research Chairs program, will be held by the newly appointed Director of the CBR, physician-scientist Edward Conway, MD, PhD, MBA.

"The Canada Research Chairs program brings together the unique skills of both industry and academia," said Dr. Conway, Director of the Centre for Blood Research and Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology, Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia. "Through our combined efforts, we intend to promote first-class education, training, and research for the management of bleeding and immune system disorders, all of which will accelerate delivery of new discoveries in these fields in Canada and throughout the world."

Dr. Conway trained as a hematologist-oncologist at the University of Toronto and at Harvard University and has been a staff physician-scientist in Toronto and more recently at the University of Leuven in Belgium, where he received his PhD. His scientific interests involve studies of the vasculoprotective properties of the endothelium and its interactions with multiple biological systems. Dr. Conway has wide expertise in the fields of coagulation, vascular biology, angiogenesis, inflammation, and innate immunity.

"CSL Behring Canada is proud to partner with the University of British Columbia to establish this scientifically important chair," said Dr. Heinz Neuhaus, General Manager, CSL Behring Canada. "The CBR goals align with CSL Behring's mission to develop safe and effective therapies that improve the lives of patients with rare and serious diseases, and we look forward to a productive collaboration."

Created as a permanent program in 2000, the Canada Research Chairs program was designed by the Government of Canada to encourage research and development in Canada. Since its inception, the program has allowed chairpersons to improve Canadians' depth of knowledge and quality of life, strengthen the country's international competitiveness and help train the next generation of highly skilled people. There are currently 1,796 research professorships at 70 universities across Canada.

"We are delighted that this important collaboration between academia, industry and support from the federal government has helped to repatriate Dr. Conway back to Canada. Special thanks to Dr. Dana Devine (Vice-President of Medical, Scientific and Research Affairs for Canadian Blood Services) and Dr. Ross MacGillivray (newly named Vice- Dean Academic Affairs for the Faculty, Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology) who were instrumental in securing this gift," said Dr. Gavin Stuart, UBC Vice Provost Health and Dean, Faculty of Medicine.