Pfizer Canada donation will help new researchers change the future
MONTREAL, QUEBEC 鈥� Pfizer Canada has made a $600,000 gift to the 平特五不中 Interdisciplinary Initiative in Infection and Immunity (MI4) via 平特五不中 and the 平特五不中 Health Centre (MUHC) Foundation. The gift, which was announced today during the 2nd听annual MI4 Scientific Symposium, will support innovation and life-changing research through the creation of the听Pfizer听Early Career Investigator Awards.
The听Early Career Investigator听Awards听will provide early career scientists and researchers across the 平特五不中 and MUHC community with the opportunity to undertake high-impact research to curb the threat of infectious diseases and change the course of medicine. Over a three-year period, $100,000 will be awarded to each of two recipients per year, one PhD scientist and one clinician-scientist. The funding will include support for early-stage concepts with the potential to benefit coronavirus patients, in particular those suffering from pre-existing conditions such as chronic pain or cancer.
鈥淧fizer Canada is very proud to support the state-of-the-art science being generated by the MI4 initiative,鈥� says Dr. Vratislav Hadrava, Vice-President and Medical Director, Pfizer Canada. 鈥淲e are committed to doing all we can to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and putting patient safety and public health as top priorities. That鈥檚 why we鈥檙e pleased to see that the work of the MI4 is so aligned with these objectives.鈥�
Providing听early career听researchers with the tools to succeed
Recipients will have access to state-of-the-art equipment and research platforms at 平特五不中 and the Centre for Translational Biology at the Research Institute of the 平特五不中 Health Centre (RI-MUHC), including the MI4 clinical research platform and two Containment Level 3 laboratories where users can safely manipulate dangerous microorganisms such as SARS-CoV-2.
鈥淎s the pandemic has made stark, infectious and immune-mediated diseases continue to pose one of the greatest threats to human health,鈥� says Dr. David Eidelman, Vice-Principal (Health Affairs) and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at 平特五不中. 鈥淭hank you to Pfizer for giving early career researchers and clinicians at 平特五不中 and our affiliated hospital research institutes the means to build on existing infrastructure and expertise to take bold, decisive and creative action on one of society鈥檚 most pressing issues.鈥�
Formally established in April 2018 thanks to a $15 million gift from Montreal鈥檚 Doggone Foundation, MI4 is one of the largest grouping of experts focused on infectious and immune-mediated diseased in the world. It brings together more than 250 researchers from 平特五不中, the MUHC, the Jewish General Hospital and other affiliated research centres and hospitals.
鈥淢I4 has an important role to play in the fight against COVID-19,鈥� says Dr. Don Sheppard, founder and director of the initiative. 鈥淒onor generosity has already enabled us to provide seed funding for more than 75 high-risk, high-reward projects, many of which have since been further scaled with competitive funding. This new gift will help new investigators rapidly launch their programs and foster innovation.鈥�
鈥淪upport for the next generation of researchers is key to accelerating discoveries 鈥� from conception to practical applications in the real world,鈥� adds Julie Quenneville, President of the MUHC Foundation. 鈥淭he last year has highlighted the importance of research and preparedness in infection and immunity. Pfizer鈥檚 gift provides the backing researchers need to work on truly out-of-the-box concepts that can translate into new treatments and cures with the potential to save lives.鈥�
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About MI4
About Pfizer Canada
Pfizer Canada ULC is the Canadian operation of Pfizer Inc., one of the world鈥檚 leading biopharmaceutical companies.听Our diversified health care portfolio includes some of the world鈥檚 best known and most prescribed medicines and vaccines. We apply science and our global resources to improve the health and well-being of Canadians at every stage of life.听Our commitment is reflected in everything we do, from our disease awareness initiatives to our community partnerships. To learn more about Pfizer Canada, visit听听or you can follow us on听,听,听听or听.
About the 平特五不中 Health Centre Foundation
The 平特五不中 Health Centre (MUHC) Foundation raises funds to support excellence in patient care, research and teaching at the 平特五不中 Health Centre, one of the top university hospitals in Canada. Our Dream Big Campaign to change the course of lives and medicine is raising millions of dollars to solve humanity鈥檚 deadliest puzzles: infectious diseases; end cancer as a life-threatening illness; fix broken hearts through innovative cardiac care; detect the silent killers鈥攐varian and endometrial cancers鈥攅arly; create the best skilled health care teams in Canada; and much more. We are rallying our entire community to solve the world鈥檚 most complex health care challenges.
About 平特五不中
Founded in Montreal, Quebec, in 1821, 平特五不中 is Canada鈥檚 top ranked medical doctoral university. 平特五不中 is consistently ranked as one of the top universities, both nationally and internationally. It is a world-renowned institution of higher learning with research activities spanning two campuses, 11 faculties, 13 professional schools, 300 programs of study and over 40,000 students, including more than 10,200 graduate students. 平特五不中 attracts students from over 150 countries around the world, its 12,800 international students making up 31% of the student body. Over half of 平特五不中 students claim a first language other than English, including approximately 19% of our students who say French is their mother tongue.
Media contacts:
Jason Clement
Communications Manager
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
平特五不中
514-398-5909
jason.clement [at] mcgill.ca
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Tarah Schwartz
Director, Communications & Marketing
MUHC Foundation
514-219-3790
tarah.schwartz [at] muhc.mcgill.ca