Government of Canada and JDRF join forces to defeat diabetes
Building a strong partnership to accelerate clinical research on type 1 diabetes
OTTAWA, April 10, 2017 /CNW/ - David McGuinty, MP for Ottawa South, on behalf of the Honourable Jane Philpott, Minister of Health, announced today that the Government of Canada is investing in a new partnership that will help improve health outcomes and quality of care for the more than 300,000 Canadians living with type 1 diabetes, and their families.
The announcement was made at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO). Members of the All-Party Juvenile Diabetes Caucus – Pamela Goldsmith-Jones, MP for West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, Sonia Sidhu, MP for Brampton South, and Filomena Tassi, MP for Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas – were on hand for the announcement.
The Government of Canada, through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), is partnering with JDRF to support clinical trials research for type 1 diabetes. Both CIHR and JDRF have committed $15M to the Partnership to Defeat Diabetes, for a total investment of $30M.
JDRF and CIHR share a vision of improved care, outcomes and treatment for Canadians living with Type 1 diabetes. The investment announced today will advance the search for a cure and ensure that research results are applied for patient care for those living with diabetes and other autoimmune diseases. This world-class collaboration also provides an opportunity to maintain Canada's leadership in diabetes research and clinical trials.
CIHR welcomes investments from important charities like JDRF. These partnerships play a key role in advancing world-class research that strengthens the health care system and improves the health of Canadians.
Quotes
"The Government of Canada recognizes the impact that type 1 diabetes has on Canadians and their families. This research will help improve the quality of life for Canadians living with type 1 diabetes and drive efforts to find a cure for this condition."
Jane Philpott
Minister of Health
"CIHR is proud to be working with JDRF to support research on type 1 diabetes. This new partnership will focus the efforts of the diabetes research community in Canada and speed the development of new and better treatments for all Canadians with diabetes. "
Dr. Philip Sherman
Scientific Director, CIHR Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes
"We are honoured to partner with CIHR to continue funding the best and brightest scientists in the field. This partnership will enable JDRF Canada to make significant advancements in the fight against diabetes and to positively impact the lives of the hundreds of thousands of Canadians currently living with type 1 diabetes. I am also grateful for the hard work of the All-Party Juvenile Diabetes Caucus, chaired by MP Pam Goldsmith-Jones. Pam is a strong advocate for the partnership between the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and JDRF, and for Canada's leadership in tackling diabetes."
Dave Prowten
President and CEO, JDRF Canada
"Canada is known for its state-of-the-art type 1 diabetes research, and has played a pivotal role in ground-breaking discoveries. We are pleased to be entering into this exciting partnership with CIHR to advance global science excellence."
Derek Rapp
CEO, JDRF International
"As a parent of a daughter who lives with type 1 diabetes, I know how challenging life is for these children and their families. Canadians are very grateful to Minister Philpott and for the constant efforts of JDRF, which have resulted in this historic investment in diabetes research."
Pamela Goldsmith-Jones, MP for West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country,
Chair of the All-Party Juvenile Diabetes Caucus
Quick Facts
- Type 1 diabetes is a disease in which the pancreas does not produce insulin. When this happens, blood glucose levels rise and, over time, the high level of glucose can damage nerves, blood vessels and organs.
- An estimated 300,000 Canadians are living with type 1 diabetes. The number of people living with type 1 diabetes is increasing by 5% annually – and the greatest rise is in children under five years of age.
- CIHR and JDRF have established a $30 million partnership to fund clinical research to improve the treatment of type 1 diabetes and accelerate the search for a cure.
At the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), we know that research has the power to change lives. As Canada's health research investment agency, we collaborate with partners and researchers to support the discoveries and innovations that improve our health and strengthen our health care system. www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca
JDRF is the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes research. JDRF's goal is to progressively remove the impact of type 1 diabetes from people's lives until we achieve a world without type 1 diabetes. JDRF collaborates with a wide spectrum of partners and is the only organization with the scientific resources, regulatory influence, and a working plan to better treat, prevent, and eventually cure type 1 diabetes. As the largest charitable supporter of type 1 diabetes research, JDRF is currently sponsoring $530 million in scientific research in 18 countries.
www.jdrf.ca
SOURCE Canadian Institutes of Health Research
