AHFMR News
AHFMR awards $59 million for Alberta health research
(Edmonton, AB) March 20, 2007... The Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR) is offering $59 million in personnel awards to 55 health researchers in Alberta. AHFMR programs offer the richest and lengthiest health research awards in Canada.
Dr. George Chaconas, a new AHFMR Scientist at the University of Calgary, investigates Lyme disease—the number one insect borne disease in North America—with the goal of future drug development to block or fight the disease. New AHFMR researcher, Dr. Paul Veugelers, at the University of Alberta is identifying successful strategies to combat overweight and obesity in Alberta's school children.
"AHFMR was created to improve the health and well-being of Albertans. Our 27-year support of excellent people engaged in health research is the way we are fulfilling our mandate. A vibrant health research community creates new knowledge, attracts the best students and professors, and draws the best clinical people to the province," says Dr. Kevin Keough, President and CEO of AHFMR.
AHFMR investigator awards are awarded to researchers in annual competitions and applications are peer-reviewed by scientists from around the world. Researchers must meet the highest international standards of excellence in order to be funded.
"AHFMR's strategy of supporting globally competitive researchers has been a key factor in catalyzing our province's strengths in health research and clinical care," says the Honourable Doug Horner, Minister for Advanced Education and Technology. "The AHFMR model is unique in Canada and helps Alberta promote investment and research in knowledge-based industries."
AHFMR operates on a portion of the investment earnings from an endowment established by the Government of Alberta in 1980 for the support of health research In 2005 the Alberta government supplemented the Endowment with $500 million.
Results of the September 2006 Independent Investigator Award Competitions
For more information call Dwayne Brunner, AHFMR Communications and Media Coordinator at (403) 619-4556.
Backgrounder
AHFMR's 2007 senior personnel awards have been offered to 55 researchers working in a variety of areas at the University of Alberta and University of Calgary. The new seven-year awards begin on July 1, 2007.
For more than 27 years, AHFMR has supported more than 6,000 researchers at all levels.
AHFMR has invested more than $900 million in health research in Alberta over the past 27 years.
With the new awards, to be implemented July 1, 2007, AHFMR will be funding more than 600 researchers and researchers in training at the provinces three main universities.
AHFMR funding helps institutions support health researchers through salaries and benefits, equipment, laboratory start-up infrastructure, and other support for top health researchers in Alberta.
The 2007 awards include offers to 33 researchers who have received previous Heritage support. Another 22 researchers are new recipients of AHFMR awards.
This year's competition includes successful applicants from a number of different university faculties including, Medicine and Dentistry; Science; Veterinary Medicine; Law; the School of Public Health Sciences; Agriculture, Forestry and Home Economics; Social Sciences; Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences; Nursing; Kinesiology; and Rehabilitation Medicine.
In 2005, the provincial Government announced $500 million in additional funds for AHFMR's endowment. Forty percent of the amount has been allotted to the Endowment with the balance expected over the next two years.
Heritage investigators have earned international acclaim for their pioneering work in areas such as: heart attack therapy, islet transplantation for diabetics, nerve regeneration, the cell biology of cancer, pediatrics, drugs for viral infections, electrical therapy for paralysed people, vaccines, and better understanding and treatment of arthritis.
The Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR) supports a community of researchers who generate knowledge that improves the health and quality of life of Albertans and people throughout the world. For more information, visit www.ahfmr.ab.ca.