Canadians for Health Research 2010 Annual Report

The past year was dominated by the entwined themes of communications and outreach, as our organization staked out new frontiers in its prospective profile among the membership as well as the general public. The centrepiece of this activity was the 35th Anniversary edition of Future Health, which consisted entirely of 35 original research stories provided by a specially selected external editor who oversaw a selection of professional medical writers. This was among the most significant investments that CHR has ever undertaken, marking a major milestone that warranted just such exceptional effort. The result is a product that should make everyone proud, and which will be pleasure to circulate far and wide.

Another major undertaking was a complete overhaul of the CHR Web site. It is clear that the Internet will be an ever more significant means by which people learn about our work, an inescapable fact that underscores the need for up-to-date, effective representation in this powerful medium. Anyone who has engaged in this kind of on-line redesign will know that the process is far from straightforward. It actually took most of the year, but the results have been well worthwhile. The new site, which was launched in September, offers easier navigation and new features, including a news section and interactive elements so readers can send in comments on material they find there.

Prior to the launch, the Web site had been getting some 46,500 visits per year, a number that might now be expected to increase. With that in mind, the next stage of development will give visitors even more to find. CHR should be able to provide members with access to relevant research news from around the world, a calendar of events in various fields, the ability to request copies of particular articles, and a system for notifying interested visitors whenever new material is added to the site.

We are grateful for the considerable talent and energy that went into the deployment of the new Web site. We especially want to thank Maureen Ballentine for her initial suggestions, volunteer Tijana Potkonjak for her contribution to the design, and Liliane Vincent for translations. Above all, we appreciated the patience and genuine interest that was demonstrated by Kasia Wakarecy of Freeform Solutions, who saw this project through its most challenging, final phases.

As always, we remain indebted to Heather Pengelley, who continues to make the editions of Future Health a point of pride for CHR. Even as other parts of the organization’s mandate move into new realms, the quality of existing products remains as significant as ever. The Researcher of the Month series continues to highlight outstanding investigators and their subject matter. Similarly, A True Story, which was first published in 1979 to raise awareness of the role of animals in biomedical research, was revised this year and continues to be a cornerstone document for CHR. A dedicated cadre of volunteers ensured the accuracy of this publication, and we thank Rx&D for its financial contribution in this regard.

Over the past year, CHR fielded more than 500 national and international requests for information, comment, or general assistance with some aspect of health research. In addition to articles of specific or general interest to our members and affiliates, CHR’s environmental scanning service provided multiple articles and other items of daily interest to a wider audience of subscribers.

As always, the Board appreciates the support and encouragement of CHR’s many patrons, champions, members and donors. This support is essential to a body that receives no government funding, and what we do would not be possible without the contribution of individuals and institutions that share a common view of the value of health research to Canadians.

Finally, we wish all the best to departing Board Members Lawrence Sereacki, Nancy Dorrance and Stephanie Lassonde. We thank them for their extensive, loyal service to CHR, just as we thank all of our dedicated volunteer Board members and hard-working Administrative Assistant Julieta Bach, the foundation supporting so much of the office’s efforts.

Tim Lougheed,                       Patricia Guyda,
Chair                                    CM, President