For immediate release--
2007-30
GRAVENHURST, ONTARIO (August 9th, 2007) - The Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Health, Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario (FedNor) and Member of Parliament for Parry Sound - Muskoka, and Dr. Alan Bernstein, President of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), today announced at Gravenhurst's Bethune Memorial House the creation of a scholarship program that will attract top young Chinese students to Canada to study and advance health research.
The Canada-China Norman Bethune Health Research Scholarships Program will offer up to 30 scholarships annually to top students from China to pursue PhDs at Canadian universities and their affiliated institutions. The scholarships are for tenures of four or five years, and the first recipients are scheduled to start their training this fall.
"Canada has a pressing need to attract more top foreign students to study and complete work in health research. This scholarship program will strengthen Canada's ties to the global supply of ideas and talent, and it will build on Canada's international reputation for having advanced scientific research and expertise," said Minister Clement. "Dr. Norman Bethune is known for having done extraordinary work in the medical field in both China and Canada, and the prestige associated with this name makes it perfect to attribute to the scholarships program we are announcing today."
"This program offers an exciting opportunity for outstanding young Chinese researchers to undertake doctoral research and study in Canada." said Dr. Bernstein. "It is also a good example of how CIHR is playing an important role in the government's S&T strategy by improving Canada's international reputation for research and excellence and building a larger base of scientific expertise."
CIHR will offer the scholarships through its Strategic Training Initiative in Health Research (STIHR). Through the STIHR, CIHR funds with partners almost 90 Research Training Programs across Canada in virtually every area of health research. Each training program consists of a group of health research mentors/educators who work collaboratively to offer research training to trainees at one or multiple sites across Canada.
In China, this agreement will be coordinated by the Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges of the Ministry of Education, and implemented by the China Scholarship Council (CSC), who will ensure that the country`s top students have the opportunity to train in Canada.
About the CIHRThe Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) is the Government of Canada's agency for health research. CIHR's mission is to create new scientific knowledge and to catalyze its translation into improved health, more effective health services and products, and a strengthened Canadian health care system. Composed of 13 Institutes, CIHR provides leadership and support to more than 11,000 health researchers and trainees across Canada. www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca
About Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China (MOE) MOE is the central government body under the State Council, whose mandate includes the formulation and implementation of policies, strategies, guidelines and standards on education reform and development at all levels as well as international cooperation and exchanges in the education sector. www.moe.edu.cn/english/index.htm
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For further information, please contact:
CIHR Media RelationsTel: +1-613-941-4563Email: mediarelations@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
