The Heart and Stroke Foundation and Boehringer Ingelheim meet with top researchers and clinicians to announce major partnerships

Posted January 17, 2012

From left to right:  Sam Weiss, PhD (Director, Hotchkiss Brain Institute), Dr. Tom Feasby (Dean, Faculty of Medicine, U of C), Ted Witek, PhD, (President & CEO, Beohringer Ingelheim Canada), Donna Hastings (CEO, Heart & Stroke Foundation, Alberta), Dr. Todd Anderson (Director, Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta).The importance of partnerships in supporting innovation in research was heralded at meetings held in Calgary and Edmonton yesterday and today.

The Heart and Stroke Foundation (HSF) has negotiated a commitment of $450,000 from Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd. These funds will support the advancement of heart and stroke research in Calgary and Edmonton over the next three years.

Of this commitment, $300,000 will support two professorships at the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Medicine: $150,000 will support the Heart and Stroke Foundation/Hotchkiss Brain Institute Professorship in Stroke Research; and $150,000 will support the Heart and Stroke Foundation/Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta Professorship in Cardiovascular Research; the University of Calgary is matching these funds. Another $150,000 will support innovative research in atrial fibrillation at the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute in Edmonton.

“As a family owned organization for more than 125 years, our goal is to deliver ‘more health’ to patients and families worldwide. This valued partnership with the Heart and Stroke Foundation, and our support of the University of Calgary Faculty of Medicine, the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute in Edmonton, and the University of Alberta will ensure the continuation of important research. This work will lead to the discovery of innovative solutions that will reduce the tremendous burden of atrial fibrillation and stroke not only on our health care system, but most importantly, for patients.” says Dr. Ted Witek, President and CEO, Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd.
 
“The Heart and Stroke Foundation, Alberta, NWT & Nunavut would like to acknowledge our generous supporter, Boehringer Ingelheim (BI), for their continued support of the Foundation’s mission,” said Foundation CEO, Donna Hastings. “We look forward to exciting developments ahead.” HSF is committed to funding the gold standard of research and it is donors and partners such as BI that enable us to do so. Partnerships between organizations like Boehringer Ingelheim, the University of Alberta, the University of Calgary and the Heart and Stroke Foundation are a model for innovative funding strategies.”

“Our partnership with the Heart and Stroke Foundation enables our scientists to pursue research which ultimately helps patients. During the past 10 years our cardiac care has achieved the lowest post-heart attack mortality rates in Canada and specialized stroke research supported by the HSF has resulted in the Calgary Stroke Program being recognized as one of the leading programs of stroke treatment and research in the world,” said Dr. Tom Feasby, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Calgary.

“The University of Alberta couldn’t be more thankful for the support of both Boehringer Ingelheim and the Heart and Stroke Foundation,” said interim Dean of the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry at the University of Alberta, Dr. Vern Yiu.  “The money will be used to further our excellent cardiac research at the U of A. “

Senior representatives from Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd; the Heart and Stroke Foundation; the Hotchkiss Brain Institute; the Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta; the University of Calgary; the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute; and the University of Alberta were on hand as the commitments were celebrated.