CIHR, RX&D - HRF to fund research projects on mental illness, palliative care

Oct 22 2010

Six research projects on co-existing heath problems associated with mental illness and one project on palliative care among First Nations received over $9 million in funding announced today. This amount is provided by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Rx&D Health Research Foundation (HRF).

"Rx&D is proud to partner with CIHR to support research that can lead to the development of new treatments, effective health-care programs and medicines to ensure Canadians live longer and healthier lives," said Russell Williams from the Rx&D Health Research Foundation. "We believe that partnerships between the public and private sectors are essential to tackling the most serious health challenges we face in Canada and around the world, and to making Canada a leader in research and innovation."

One of the goals of the partnership between CIHR and Rx&D is to address the social and health costs of co-existing health problems linked to mental disorders by finding solutions through research. Such co-morbidity is of interest to the CIHR Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction because it is more so the rule than the exception. In addition, this collaboration is dedicating resources to the increasing number of Aboriginal Canadians facing end of life each year and the challenge to provide health services to this population.

"About one third of Aboriginal Canadians live in rural or remote First Nations communities, so it is crucial to develop and provide accessible, culturally appropriate palliative care services to the growing number of Aboriginal seniors facing chronic and terminal diseases," said Dr. Malcolm King, Scientific Director of the Institute of Aboriginal People's Health. "CIHR's long-standing partnership with RX&D - HRF has been a success for both sides, and I am pleased that it has grown to involve various CIHR institutes directly in identifying strategic areas for special attention and support."

"Our Foundation helps bring together talented researchers from both the public and private sectors with the ultimate goal of making Canada a leader in research and development." said Dr. Yves Morin, Chair of the Rx&D Health Research Foundation. "Our partnership with CIHR over the past 15 years has provided a concrete example of how all sectors including universities and research institutions can work together for the public good."

The seven funded projects will:
•identify distinct profiles of youth with co-existing disorders that inform prognosis and practice and develop innovative, integrative service delivery models using a community-collaborative framework (Dr. Joseph Beitchman at the University of Toronto);
•examine multiple changes in the brain of animal models to better understand the mechanisms, determine the early stages and devise treatments for the brain deterioration seen with combined disease (Dr. David F. Cechetto at the University of Western Ontario);
•study the risk factors for viral infection to reduce the prevalence of co-existing mental illness, addiction and infectious diseases (Dr. William G. Honer at the University of British Columbia);
•identify the type, frequency and impact of co-existing health problems on multiple sclerosis (Dr. Ruth Ann Marrie at the University of Manitoba);
•explore innovative prevention approaches to HIV and hepatitis C among cocaine users who suffer from mental disorders (Dr. élise Roy at the University de Sherbrooke, Québec);
•use a mobile community research laboratory to improve understanding, treatment and prevention of addiction, mental illness and violence co-morbidities in Ontario communities (Dr. Samantha Wells at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto and London); and
•develop palliative care programs and create a culturally appropriate theory of change to improve end-of -life care in First Nations communities (Mary-Louise Kelley at Lakehead University and Kevin Brazil at McMaster University).
As per CIHR practices, the research projects were selected through a funding competition and put through a rigorous, independent peer review process.

SOURCE Canadian Institutes of Health Research