Health committee  Thank you very much for the questions. With respect to the scholarships, there is no change in the levels of scholarships being provided, so I'm not aware of the percentage reduction you're referring to. Our existing programs, the Vanier, the Banting, the Canada graduate scholarship programs, are all functioning at their steady-state levels.

Health committee  Thank you for the question. This program is a tri-council program, so it's administered by the three granting councils. A national competition is run. The results of that competition determine the relative share of each council. The competition is yet to be run. The money is in the fiscal framework and is available.

Health committee  Thank you very much for the question. Yes, indeed, there is incremental funding again for SPOR. This is the third consecutive year. There's a total of $45 million cumulatively; $15 million from this budget. SPOR is a very overarching strategy with the view of trying to bring the fruits of research directly to benefit patients.

Health committee  Thank you for the question. One area we've been focusing on, in which research is starting to show quite dramatic results, is the efficacy of certain tests. Tests are widely used in this system. There's evidence that they're overused and that they're frequently not effective and are very costly.

Health committee  Science is converging in many ways. The disciplines are working together more and more. As an example, we see it through the work we do with the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council in bringing engineers and medical researchers together to develop more effective medical devices.

Health committee  Again, thank you very much for the question. SPOR was constructed on a premise that we would cost-share 50-50 with our partners. No SPOR expenditures will occur unless matching funding is available. For example, on the support units, the national set of research centres being established across the country, the provinces are coming forward and they are paying their 50%.

Health committee  Thank you for the question. There are no additional funds specifically in those domains in the supplementary estimates, but there are ongoing programs funded under what was provided through the main estimates. There is in fact funding with respect to Alzheimer's roughly of the order of $30 million per annum, including an international component, which you referred to.

Health committee  Thank you. Dr. Beaudet sends his regrets. The momentum around SPOR is really building. We are in negotiations with the provinces with regard to the first rollout of what are called support units. These are regional centres that will be established across the country, centres of excellence to find creative ways of integrating health research findings into the health care system for the benefit of Canadians.