End-of-year message from Dr. Weiss

Dear Colleagues,

I am very pleased to reach out to you one final time this year, in particular to report that we have officially convened the INMHA Institute Advisory Board (IAB). This board serves an essential role in our activities by providing the Institute with access to diverse and timely expertise to guide our strategic direction. I am delighted with the calibre and diversity of the board, which comprises the following members:

  • Dr. Yves De Koninck, Professor of Psychiatry & Neuroscience, Laval University (Chair)
  • Dr. Judy Illes, Professor, Division of Neurology, University of British Columbia (Vice-Chair)
  • Ms. Deanna Groetzinger, Manager, Public Affairs & Partnerships, Neurological Health Charities Canada
  • Dr. Helen-Maria Vasiliadis, Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Sherbrooke
  • Dr. Henry Harder, Professor, School of Health Sciences, University of Northern British Columbia
  • Dr. Jaideep Bains, Professor, Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, University of Calgary
  • Dr. Karen Davis, Professor, Krembil Research Institute, University of Toronto
  • Dr. Patricia Conrod, Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Montreal

These members, which have been approved by CIHR Governing Council, were selected from a list of individuals who were already, or were recently members of CIHR IABs. An open and transparent recruitment process will launch in 2018 to fill any remaining gaps in expertise. Visit the Call for Nominations page for more information on that process, including the new funding CV template for IAB applications.

In other news, I am happy to report that INMHA has funded eight new Planning and Dissemination grants from the Summer 2017 competition. Congratulations to those that received funding; view the funding decisions for a complete list (sort by Assigned PRC = PMA). We will be launching the winter competition early in the New Year, so stay tuned for those details coming very soon.

The last item of business that I would like to report on this year is an immensely productive workshop that I had the pleasure of participating in this week. Held in Calgary, the Canadian Concussion Research Network Planning Meeting brought together a core group of experts from across Canada to plan a national research agenda in concussion. The Canadian government has mandated that the Ministers of Health and of Sport and Persons with Disabilities work together to support a national strategy to raise awareness about concussion and this meeting was an important step in that process. INMHA is committed to developing funding opportunities to support concussion research, particularly to benefit Canadian kids and amateur athletes. We will be working hard in the coming year on this and other important opportunities, so stay tuned. 

In closing, and on behalf of all of the CIHR-INMHA staff, I wish you a restful and enjoyable holiday season and I look forward to connecting with you again in 2018 for what is sure to be an exciting and productive year.

Best,

Samuel Weiss, PhD, FRSC, FCAHS
Scientific Director
CIHR Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction

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