Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to bring to the attention of the House the creation of three new research chairs in transplantation.
This joint announcement was made by the President of the CanadianInstitutes of Health Research, Dr. Alan Bernstein, and the CEO of Wyeth-Ayers Canada Inc., Mr. Aldo Baumgartner.
Dr. Norma Kneteman, of the University of Alberta, will conduct research with the aim of reducing the toxicity of immunosuppressive therapies and develop prevention models for recurring hepatitis C, the leading indication for a liver transplant.
Dr. James Shapiro, also from the University of Alberta, and Director of the “Edmonton Protocol” Team, will conduct research in pancreatic islet transplantation that could ultimately reduce or eliminate the need for people with type 1 diabetes to take insulin.
The University of Toronto's Dr. Li Zhang will investigate the mechanisms involved in donor-specific transplant tolerance.
This demonstrates the importance of research at the national level, thanks to the constant co-operation between universities and the pharmaceutical industry.