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Canadian for Health Research (CHR; French: Les Canadiens pour la recherche médicale, CRM) is a registered national not-for-profit organisation founded in 1976 and dedicated to engaging Canadian adults and youth in understanding health research issues, scientific processes and their impact, through education and advocacy.

Since 1976, CHR has contributed to the public understanding of progress achieved by members of Canada’s medical and scientific communities. Under the leadership of Patricia Guyda, supported by the efforts of a dedicated volunteer board of directors, the organisation has served as Canada’s premier grass roots science advocacy and outreach organisation.

CHR has developed a strong portfolio of programs and services that communicate the importance of health research to Canadian youth and adults. Amongst many accomplishments, CHR was instrumental in campaigning for the creation of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

On Saturday, November 11, 2017, the Annual General Meeting unanimously approved the dissolution of Canadians for Health Research (CHR/CRM) effective December 31, 2017.

Mission and Vision
Through education and advocacy, CHR addresses Canadian adults and youth to promote an appreciation of health research issues, scientific processes and their impact. By engaging the public, the scientific community, and government, CHR is also committed to improving the stability and quality of Canadian health research.

The work of the organisation embraces three core principles:
 * The primacy of human health.
 * A respect for animals: encouraging the development and use of reliable non-animal methods while advocating for the humane and responsible use of laboratory animals where no viable alternative exists.
 * A commitment to effective dialogue among all stakeholders in the health research enterprise.

The main goals of the organisation are:
 * To develop, support and deliver timely and effective education and communication programs.
 * To be a leading agency of reliable public information on matters related to health research.
 * To be recognised as an effective advocate for informed discussion about issues relating to health research.
 * To obtain adequate resources to ensure that CHR can fulfil its mission.

The main activities of the organisation are:
 * Profile Canadian scientists and identifies their contributions to improving our health.
 * Report on public expenditures for health research projects.
 * Create a forum where mutual problems, concerns and interests can be discussed by the public, the voluntary health agencies, the scientific/medical community and government.
 * Provide information about science policy in Canada.
 * Emphasise the impact of basic, clinical and community health research on Canadian health care.
 * Encourage adequate, long-term funding for research in general and health research in particular in our country.

History
In 1976, the federal government froze the budget of the Medical Research Council of Canada (MRC) for that fiscal year. The response in Montreal was to organize a series of meetings to study the continuing problems of health research in Canada and to discover and discuss alternatives which could help rectify that immediate funding crisis. With the active participation of voluntary agencies, concerned citizens and members of the scientific community, a new voluntary organization was conceived. In February 1976, Canadians for Health Research (CHR) was founded.

Programs and Services

 * Future Health (1979-2017): a unique, 24-page quarterly magazine, devoted to highlighting Canadian health research: features include latest discoveries and milestones, researcher achievements and introspective articles translating how research innovations may change our everyday lives.


 * Youth Health Awareness Award (1985-2005): A national essay competition to stimulate student interest in health research and related research.


 * The Diary (1987- 2017): A twelve-page quarterly newsletter that monitors animal related issues nationally and internationally with a particular emphasis on the activities of the animal “rights” movement as they relate to the care and use of experimental animals.


 * A True Story (1989 – revised 2010): All the facts you need to know about animals and biomedical research. A four-colour illustrated monograph that provides a matter-of-fact presentation on animals and medical research


 * Road to Discovery (1994): Published in 1994 with the Medical Research Council of Canada (which became the Canadian Institutes of Health Research in 2000) to promote student awareness of research in health-care delivery and stimulate their interest in science as a career choice. Copies are no longer available.


 * Organized seven conference/workshops including Security and Legal Issues: Protecting your Interests (1994) and Research Ethics Boards: Today and Tomorrow (1997)


 * Sanofi Pasteur Medal of Excellence in Heath Research Journalism (1995 – 2017): Highlight the pivotal role that journalist play in raising public awareness of Canadian health research. The medal is presented at an appropriate venue and later announced at the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame induction banquet.


 * The use of Animals in Product Safety Testing (1995)


 * Journey Into Genetics (1996)


 * 30 Years of Health Research series (2007-2010): to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Canadians for Health Research, the Board of Directors published a series of monographs that reports on 30 years of progress in scientific research that is vital to the health of Canadians.


 * Importance of Animals in Research: A 7-part series on the contribution of various animal models to medical progress reproduced with the permission of the Foundation for Biomedical Research.


 * Salute to Excellence (1992): Ask the average Canadian to name a few scientists who have made a major contribution to the advancement of medical science and the never-ending battle against disease. He or she will pause, ponder and then maybe, just maybe confidently replay: “Sir Frederick Banting”. And with rare exception, the list will end there. Most Canadians are simply unaware of the glowing achievements by Canadian medical researchers which, in the 20th century, have helped alleviate suffering by control or cure of diseases. Unfortunately, their accomplishments, which have had a profound impact in improving health and prolonging life both in Canada and internationally, are not to be found in one neat book on a library shelf; you have to search to find them. CHR conducted this search in 1992 with the help of others in the scientific community. It was by no means a definitive glossary of “who did what” in Canada. Rather, it was a modest attempt at providing a thumbnail sketch of some of the achievements of Canadian medical research during this century. It is our “salute to excellence”. We are pleased to share some excerpts from that publication

Board of Directors
Patricia Guyda: President from 1977 to 2017 was instrumental in the creation of the Organisation. Patricia dedicated herself to promoting high quality health care research and received multiple awards during her career: Order of Canada ; Canadian Society for Clinical Investigation Distinguished Service Award, Partners in Research Ronald G. Calhoun Science Ambassador Award ; Gordon Kaplan Award.

Notice of closure
“Since 1976, Canadians for Health Research, a national, not-for-profit organization, has contributed to the public understanding of progress achieved by members of Canada’s medical and scientific communities. Under the leadership of Patricia Guyda, supported by the efforts of a dedicated volunteer board of directors, and without any government funding, the organization has served as Canada’s premier grass roots science advocacy and outreach organization. Despite minimal financial resources, numerous publications, programs and services, including intelligence on animal “rights” activism as it impacts health research, have been delivered with credibility and integrity. Amongst many accomplishments, CHR was instrumental in campaigning for the creation of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

Over the past year, CHR’s Board of Directors has faced a fundamental decision concerning ongoing viability of the organization. Over the past several years, the board actively explored various organizational, management and funding mechanisms that might serve to sustain CHR going forward. These included out-sourcing administration to a third-party firm that specializes in small, non-profit operations; meeting with academic institutions to explore endowing a university position that could deliver some of CHR’s current research and communication functions; merging with an organization that shares CHR’s goals; and a range of fund raising options that would allow CHR to fill one or more management roles.

Unfortunately, none of these efforts bore fruit. Given the greatly increased competition amongst organizations dedicated to advocating for health research, the plethora of special interests that have evolved over time to address issues related to research funding, and the glut of information (not all of it credible) with which the public is currently bombarded, the Board has concluded that the expenditures required to support CHR’s work exceed potential revenue sources, and that no viable realistic alternatives exist.

In view of the foregoing, and with deep regret, the Board proposes to dissolve Canadians for Health Research while sufficient resources remain to ensure a responsible and comprehensive process of dissolution. We have retained legal counsel to guide us through each step, with particular emphasis on protecting the name “Canadians for Health Research.”  The credibility and good will associated with this name, after more than four decades, is a legacy that we must strive to protect from co-option for other purposes.

While dissolution is in no way a satisfying solution to a complex problem, we trust that the many people who have supported CHR over its lifetime will share our conclusion that it is a realistic and practical approach. We owe a debt of gratitude to all of you who have made this work well worthwhile, and assure you that the same professional standards we have upheld since our beginning will be adhered to at our end.

Thank you to the dedicated supporters and readers of Future Health. Your contributions and curiosity about the groundbreaking scientific research in this country in the healthcare field have propelled this organization forward for over 40 years. A special thanks and tribute to Pat Guyda, CM, for her years of steadfast dedication to this worthy cause.”

Tim Lougheed, Chairman