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VANCOUVER – The Province’s
$2.25-million investment in a new B.C. Leadership Chair will support
leading-edge research and the development of innovative treatment approaches by
a world authority on addictions, Advanced Education Minister Murray Coell
announced today.
“Addiction takes its toll on the lives of millions of Canadians, directly and indirectly, and costs our health-care system and our economy billions of dollars each year,” said Coell. “The Province is dedicated to finding new ways to improve the lives of those struggling with addiction. By establishing this Leadership Chair with our funding partners, we will support groundbreaking work toward new and effective treatment approaches.”
The first
Addiction Research Chair at the University of British Columbia will be Dr.
Michael Krausz, a noted psychiatrist and researcher, who will also hold a
clinical appointment at St. Paul’s Hospital, part of Providence Health Care.
Krausz is a world authority on addiction treatment and led the world’s largest
addiction trial, carried out in Germany using heroin-assisted therapy. Examples
of the research he will conduct in his new role will involve gaining a better
understanding of the impact of life experiences like violence and sexual abuse
on addiction, as well as looking at medications and other therapies that can
improve people’s lives.
“The
Province is committed to attracting world-class researchers like Dr. Krausz to
B.C.,” said Coell. “His research will help the many people and their families
who are suffering from the damage caused by addiction. We can justifiably be
proud of how the government, through the Leading Edge Endowment Fund (LEEF), is
supporting pioneering research in the province.”
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. St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation has committed matching
funding of $2.25 million for the Providence Health Care B.C. Leadership Chair
in Addiction Research. This is the province’s tenth B.C. leadership chair.
“The
creation of this new Leadership Chair has provided me with the opportunity to
bring my experience in addictions research to British Columbia,” said Krausz.
“Through research, we can better understand why people become addicted and
develop new therapies and strategies to improve their lives.”
“We are
very pleased to welcome Dr. Krausz,” said Providence Health Care president and
CEO Dianne Doyle. “At St. Paul’s Hospital, we serve thousands of patients with
addiction-related health problems every year. Thanks to the vision of the
provincial government and the generosity of donors to St. Paul’s Hospital
Foundation who supported this cause, the Leadership Chair will be the
cornerstone of a world-class addictions research program based in downtown
Vancouver.”
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contact: |
Communications Manager Ministry of Advanced Education 250 952-6400 250 812-7977 (cell) |
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For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca. |
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