CANADA, QUEBEC AND FRANCE SIGN AGREEMENT ON

UNCLAS OTTAWA 000912 SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA, OES AND EUR HHS/OGHA PASS FOR NIH/FOGARTY CENTER PARIS PASS FOR USMISSION OECD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TBIO CA SUBJECT: CANADA, QUEBEC AND FRANCE SIGN AGREEMENT ON ALZHEIMER'S RESEARCH ¶1. (U) On July 4, the organizations for HEALTH research funding of Canada (the Canadian Institutes of HEALTH Research's Institute of Neurosciences, Mental HEALTH and Addiction, and Institute of Aging; CIHR),Quebec (the Fonds de la recherche medicale, FRSQ) and France (the Institut national de la sante et de la recherche medicale, Inserm) signed a partnership agreement to accelerate research on Alzheimer's disease. Attending the announcement at the Institut national de recherche scientifique (INRS-Sante) in Laval, Quebec were the Prime Minister of France Francois Fillon and the Premier of Quebec Jean Charest. Quebec was also represented at the event by Michelle Courchesne, Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports and Minister of Families, and Raymond Bachand, Minister of Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade and Minister of Tourism, while France was also represented by Alain Joyandet, Secretary of State for Cooperation and the Francophonie, and Anne-Marie Idrac, Secretary of State for Foreign Trade. ¶2. (U) The agreement makes funds available for research projects which aim to advance the science associated with the diagnosis, treatment or management of patients with Alzheimer's or related diseases. It requires that proposed work be substantial and involve specialists from diverse disciplines and various academic and HEALTH institutions. The accord requires that the structure of these research groups allow for original added value to be contributed in such a way that would not be possible through the work of ONE country alone. ¶3. (U) In Quebec, the agreement is in accordance with the action plan regarding the care, services and quality of life of Alzheimer's patients tasked to an expert committee by the Minister of HEALTH and Social Services Philippe Couillard. The arrangement is also in line with France's plan to fight the disease by linking academic and private partners through a cooperative scientific foundation, announced by President Nicolas Sarkozy on February 1. The FRSQ and Inserm have a 40-year history of cooperation in scientific research. Dr. Alain Beaudet, the newly appointed president of the CIHR, expressed his hope that this Franco-Quebec initiative would serve as a catalyst for broader cooperation throughout Canada in the field of Alzheimer's research. Visit Canada,s Economy and Environment Forum at http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/can ada WILKINS