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| Press Release |
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April
14 , 2000 |
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Treasury Board President, Minister responsible for infrastructure and MP for Westmount--Ville-Marie, Lucienne Robillard, today announced, on behalf of John Manley, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), an investment of $18.8 million over the next four years to launch the Canadian Network for Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics of Cancer and Chronic Viral Diseases (CANVAC). As a new Network of Centres of Excellence, CANVAC intends to develop effective, low-cost vaccines to protect Canadians and people throughout the world from cancer and viral infections, such as AIDS and hepatitis C. “The establishment of the CANVAC Network will help to strengthen Canada’s ability to innovate in the health care field,” declared Minister Robillard during the official launch ceremonies at the Université de Montréal. “Cancer and chronic viral infections, such as, the hepatitis C virus and AIDS have an extremely serious impact on the health care system and the economy. Establishment of the CANVAC Network sends a positive message to these individuals and to their families.” CANVAC combines
67 leading immunologists, molecular biologists, virologists and
clinicians at 44 universities, private firms and government agencies.
The Network will be headquartered at the Université de Montréal. The Université de Montréal is proud to welcome this world-class Network, which will enable us not only to train young researchers in these important fields, but will lend support to partnerships with other research establishments and public and private sector groups to strengthen Canadian leadership in the global race to find cures for these diseases,” said Mr. Robert Lacroix, Rector of the University of Montreal. CANVAC was selected by expert committees through a strenuous, independent evaluation process, upon recommendation of the NCE selection committee, made up of world-renowned leaders in the academic, business and financial sectors. “Canadians need the advanced work conducted by these highly motivated researchers,” said NCE steering committee chairman Tom Brzustowski. “These researchers and their partners have developed visionary strategies that have prompted financial commitments by other sectors of nearly $70 million in goods and funding in addition to the federal government investment.” “This Network will continue in the long-standing Canadian tradition for excellence in health research. I am convinced that, like the other networks, CANVAC will succeed in its ambitious research plans, providing patients with access to innovative discoveries and therapies that will enhance their quality of life,” added Dr. Mark Bisby, Director of Programs at the Medical Research Council. Rafick-Pierre Sékaly, professor of microbiology and immunology at the Université de Montréal, will serve as Director of Research for the new Network. “I am thrilled by the challenges that await us. We have put together an outstanding team of researchers, biopharmaceutical companies and not-for-profit agencies who will have a unique opportunity to advance our knowledge in the battle against cancer, AIDS and hepatitis C.” "The CANVAC Network has a solid research platform in the specific areas mentioned today. Industry is very pleased to be actively supporting and participating with academia, non-government and government agencies in this Network, " said Dr. Gervais Dionne, Chief Scientific Officer, BioChemPharma, Laval, Quebec. In 1999, there were an estimated 129,300 new cases of and 63,400 deaths due to cancer. Lung cancer continues to be the leading cause of death and new cancers continue to appear, especially breast cancer among women and prostate cancer among men. Although the number of deaths attributable to AIDS is decreasing, thanks to improved treatments, the number of new infections caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) continues to rise. An estimated 54,000 Canadians are infected with HIV. Every day, approximately 12 people will be infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS by attacking the immune system. This infection leads to a chronic and progressive illness that leaves sufferers vulnerable to infection and cancer. The virus changes rapidly, transforming and creating new sources that make detection, prevention and treatment extremely difficult. There is currently no cure or vaccine, and treatments are extremely costly. An estimated 275,000 Canadian residents are infected with the hepatitis C virus. We are witnessing a rapidly spreading epidemic that poses a serious threat to public health. In the field of AIDS research, developed countries, including Canada, are committed to stepping-up research to assist countries on the African continent whose populations are being decimated by this deadly virus. NCEs are unique partnerships among industry, universities and government designed to develop the economy and improve the quality of life of Canadians. These nation-wide networks connect excellent research with industrial know-how and practical investment. A total of 463 companies are involved in the NCE program. This includes more than 100 provincial and federal government departments and agencies, 44 hospitals, 61 universities and more than 200 other organizations from Canada and abroad. Industry Canada, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, the Medical Research Council and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council manage this program jointly. For more information, consult the Web site CANVAC Ce document est aussi disponible en français. |
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Last
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