News Release

For Immediate Release
September 18, 2008

MAKING HEALTH RESEARCH WORK FOR PATIENTS

McGuinty Government Supporting Research To Create Jobs, Better Health Care

NEWS

Research aimed at improving therapies for autistic children, winning the battle against breast cancer and improving treatments for heart and lung disease are among the innovative health care research projects receiving $21 million in funding from the province.

The funding from the Ontario Research Fund will support 14 institutions and 116 projects and involve nearly 1,000 health scientists and researchers across the province.

Provincial support for health research is an important part of Ontario’s Innovation Agenda – turning great ideas into good-paying jobs and better lives for Ontario families. Supporting innovation is part of the McGuinty government’s five-point plan for growing Ontario’s economy.

QUOTES

“Ontario is a global leader in the health sciences and we punch well above our weight when it comes to research and commercialization. Today’s investment is an important part of our government’s $3-billion commitment to enable our top researchers to turn their best ideas into new knowledge, new technologies, improved therapies and better disease prevention,” said Minister of Research and Innovation John Wilkinson. 
 
“By supporting our health researchers we are helping them turn their best research and ideas into quality health care. These types of innovations will help reduce wait times and improve access to care for all Ontarians,” said Minister of Health and Long-Term Care David Caplan.

“University research and discoveries are important engines of economic growth in today’s global, knowledge-based economy. This tremendous investment in world-class research at universities across our province is fundamental to keeping Ontario at the forefront of global innovations in health science and health care, while at the same time producing highly qualified personnel and enabling Ontarians to realize their dreams,” said Paul C. Genest, President of the Council for Ontario Universities.

 QUICK FACTS

• Ontario is the largest hub of life sciences activity in Canada and the fourth largest biomedical research centre in North America.
• Ontario has 25 research and academic hospitals that employ 10,000 scientists and clinical investigators and conduct $850 million in research annually.
• This fall the province is announcing $37 million worth of investments through the Ontario Research Fund, including today’s announcement. This funding will support the efforts of more than 1,800 researchers working on more than 200 projects at 17 institutions across Ontario.

LEARN MORE

Learn more about the Ontario Research Fund.

Learn more about Ontario’s Innovation Agenda.

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See also:

• Backgrounder: Ontario Research Fund
• Backgrounder: Inventing The Future Of Health Care
• Backgrounder: Lifes Sciences, Advanced Health Technologies And Pharmaceutical Research Projects
• Recipients