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VANCOUVER – The Province will
invest $2.25 million through the Leading Edge Endowment Fund (LEEF) to help
fund the new B.C. Leadership Chair in Depression Research to be held by Dr.
Allan Young at the University of British Columbia, Premier Gordon Campbell
announced today.
“Over
one million Canadians struggle with depression, and that doesn’t include the
family members and friends who do their best to support them,” said Campbell.
“By establishing this chair with our funding partners, we are taking an
important step toward providing not just innovative new research and treatments
for depression, but also new hope for all those affected by this debilitating
disease.”
Depression
is one of the most common and debilitating illnesses in Canada. The illness can
last for years and, without treatment, can cause permanent disability. It is a
profoundly painful, distressing disorder that rarely can be overcome without
external help.
Dr.
Young is a doctor and a researcher who is internationally recognized for his
study of the neuroendocrine system and its role in mood disorders, and as a
pioneer in the application of brain imaging to the study of mental illness. As
leadership chair, he will conduct leading edge research to translate
neuroscience findings into effective clinical treatments.
“This funding will help support UBC’s world-class environment for clinical research,” said Dr. Young. “Working with outstanding colleagues and with close links to the community, we hope to take a bench-to-bedside approach to the challenges presented by severe mental illness.”
“We would like to express our gratitude to Lloyd and Heather Craig. Their strength, leadership and financial contribution have resulted in increased awareness of the devastating effects of depression,” said Ron Dumouchelle, president and CEO, VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation. “They also helped secure other financial donations to our foundation to match funds for this research chair.”
The funding for the B.C. Leadership Chairs was
established with an initial provincial commitment of $45 million for LEEF.
Twenty leadership chairs will each receive a total endowment of up to $4.5
million, which is cost-shared between the government and the private sector.
The VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation has committed matching funding of $2.25
million for the B.C. Leadership Chair in Depression Research.
“By attracting top researchers like Dr. Young, a body of work will be developed in British Columbia that can only improve the quality of life of those suffering from depression,” said Advanced Education Minister Murray Coell. “We can justifiably be proud of how the government, through the Leading Edge Endowment Fund, is supporting leading edge research in the province.”
This is the province’s third
B.C. Leadership Chair:
·
The
first LEEF Chair, for Spinal Cord Research, was awarded to the Rick Hansen
Institute at UBC. Dr. John Steeves, a recognized leader in spinal cord research
was appointed as the B.C. Leadership Chair in Spinal Cord Research in 2002.
·
The
second LEEF Chair, for Prostate Cancer Research at the Prostate Centre at
Vancouver General Hospital, was awarded to Dr. Martin
Gleave in July 2005.
·
The
remaining B.C. Leadership Chairs will be awarded by the end of 2006.
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contact: |
Communications Director 250 213-1171 (cell) 250 952-6508
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Press Secretary Office of the Premier 250 213-8218
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Leading Edge Endowment Fund 604 742-4258 604 889-6255 (cell)
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Visit the Province's website at www.gov.bc.ca for online information and services. |
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