CIHR president resigns

---

Dr Alan Bernstein, president of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and regarded by many as Canada's top scientist has informed Tony Clement, the federal minister of health and CIHR's governing council that he will be resigning his position, effective Oct. 31, 2007.

Based on CIHR's remarkable progress to-date, he said now was a good time for him to step aside and allow the federal government to seek new leadership for Canada's flagship health research agency adding that he had completed what he came to Ottawa to do, which was to develop and implement a unique vision and structure for health research that embraces all approaches to health and disease, built on a base of excellence in research.

During Dr. Bernstein's tenure, the institute enjoyed tremendous growth and benefited from its budget being increased from $360 million annually in 2000 to its present annual amount of $800 million. Bernstein also helped transform the CIHR into a unique institute that embraces all approaches to health and disease that is used as a model for other health research funding agencies worldwide.

"Dr Bernstein has provided exceptional leadership to both CIHR and the health research community. All Canadians are benefiting from CIHR's important contributions to health research made during Dr Bernstein's tenure," said Tony Clement. "The government of Canada remains committed to CIHR and will be moving quickly to find a successor for Dr Bernstein."

Dr Bernstein became the inaugural president of CIHR in June 2000 following a stellar career as an internationally recognized scientist and research leader.