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The Univ of Manitoba’s status as a leader in infectious diseases research received a major boost with the awarding of a US$17-million grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The award will allow university researchers to expand their work on HIV/AIDS in India.

Dr Kevin Keough is leaving his position as chief scientist at Health Canada to take up the helm at the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR). Keough becomes the third president/CEO in the Foundation’s 24-year history when he assumes the position this July, replacing Dr Matt Spence who held the position since 1990.

Genome British Columbia has enhanced its scientific management structure with the appointment of Dr Donald Riddle, a renowned researcher and research administrator from the Univ of Missouri. Riddle begins a three-year term as Genome BC’s chief scientific officer, with several key responsibilities including the creation of a scientific strategy that leverages the strengths of all the players in the province.

A small group of senior health research managers is mounting a major initiative to turn Canada’s yawning health care deficit into a surplus by transforming the way in which health care dollars are spent and how research is financed and commercialized.

The nascent Sea To Sky Univ has received a massive $30.5-million donation from notoriously publicity shy diamond prospector Stewart Blusson, the same philanthropist who donated $50 million to the Univ of British Columbia (UBC) in 1998 (R$, October 28/98).

The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) is continuing to push for additional funding even as it examines ways to launch new initiatives within its current budget allocation. The cash-strapped federal agency hopes to mount what it terms a “modest mission” to Mars early in the next decade and will have to find other areas to cut if it can’t convince the federal government to fund the new initiative.

McMaster Univ is hoping to parlay the largest cash gift in Canadian history into an outpouring of similar gestures that will help to boost health research at its own institution and universities across Canada.

Terry Matthews predicts that 2004 to be an extremely busy year for his technology businesses, so don’t expect him to make time for high level meetings with Canadian politicians. The Canadian technology entrepreneur and chairman of Mitel Networks expresses considerable optimism that the business environment will improve under the leadership of prime minister Paul Martin.

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) has finalized its four-year strategic plan that calls for $379 million in new funding for an annual budget of $1 billion by FY07-08. The document was released earlier this month in Ottawa and caps a campaign to secure additional resources when Paul Martin brings down his first budget as prime minister.

Commercialization top priority

The freshly minted Paul Martin administration has burst out of the gates with the an initial outline of the government’s new structure, who the key players will be and the multifaceted role that S&T and innovation will play in strengthening the Canadian economy.