Health committee  As you know, it's an area of strength in Canada. Canada has some of the top researchers in the world in the field of neuroscience. We have international repute in that area, and CIHR spends a significant amount of money on that. We're talking about ongoing yearly spending of over $120 million, a commitment for 2010-11, and an ongoing commitment of roughly $300 million, so it's very significant investment in top research.

Health committee  Thank you for the question. As you know, it's very important to understand where research is needed, what the gaps are in our knowledge, and particularly what relates to the relationship between cerebrovascular events and MS, including cerebrospinal venous insufficiency, but not only linked exclusively to insufficiency.

Health committee  First, I perhaps would like to address the question of aboriginal health, because I agree with you that it's a very serious issue. One of the reasons for that seriousness is that very often we don't exactly know how to tackle these issues. As you know, one of the five priorities of CIHR in our next strategic plan is to look at vulnerable populations, and specifically at aboriginal health issues.

Health committee  With regard to the question regarding maternal health, it also is an area that, as you know, we at CIHR are looking at. Our institute of maternal health and child development is focused on that issue. As you know, we look at each proposed project on its merit, on the basis of excellence, on the basis of relevance.

Health committee  If I may, council unanimously approved the nomination of Mr. Prigent. It was welcomed unanimously by council as fulfilling a need.

Health committee  Certainly. Actually, I can even recommend excellent reading, which is the strategic plan of CIHR that was just launched a few weeks ago, where our priorities are very clearly outlined. Without going into a large presentation of our strategic plan, I'll just insist on impartiality and excellence in what we fund, based on excellence, and focusing on excellence and competitiveness internationally, a few select but very important health research priorities based on the needs of Canadians, which includes better support for patient-oriented research, including clinical research; better support for research on our health care system and improving the sustainability of our health care system; better support of research on aboriginal health issues and other vulnerable populations; support for chronic diseases and mental health, which, as you know, are major issues in our society and are only growing with the aging of the population; and further support of research into emerging threats.

Health committee  The letter of support you have is a letter of support by the governing council, signed by all members.

Health committee  Perhaps the other letter was not distributed. There was a letter written to this committee, I think, sent to you on behalf of all members of the governing council.

Health committee  Thank you. Clearly what they say is that, after a careful gap analysis, what was glaringly missing in terms of expertise on the council—because we do have experts in public health, experts in global health, experts in basic research, experts in applied research, and experts in health policy—were experts in commercialization, innovation, and development of pharmacology.

Health committee  First of all, I'd like to reiterate that Dr. Prigent is not representing Pfizer. Actually, if he was representing Pfizer, the outcry wouldn't be from the community; it would be from all the pharmaceutical companies that would also want to have a representative. Dr. Prigent is representing himself.

Health committee  First of all, I can only state what I know. I know for a fact that there's a heavy presence in the U.K. on the board of MRC of the biopharmaceutical sector, and I must say that they are fairly successful at curbing the trend and doing things differently in terms of innovation and public-private partnership.

Health committee  Correct.

Health committee  I can definitely do that. First of all, I would like to go back to the question from your colleague Ms. Bennett. In fact, they are all potentially in conflict of interest. There is a vice-president for research. Is he speaking for his university? Should we have former vice-presidents of research?

Health committee  Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm pleased to appear before you as part of the review of Dr. Prigent's recent appointment to the CIHR governing council. Let me tell you right at the outset how much CIHR's governing council and I personally welcome and support this superb addition to our board.

Health committee  Now then, the first part of your question refers more or less to what you just asked regarding the breadth of vision. With regard to research, we are talking about competitiveness at the national level, about combining our resources and establishing uniform standards of practice across Canada.