A B.C. microbiologist and a former Alberta premier will be among those honoured Wednesday in Ottawa at the Canadian Health Research Awards for their efforts in boosting medical research in Canada.

The annual awards honouring Canada's top health researchers are hosted by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), along with the Health Charities Coalition of Canada, Research Canada and provincial health research organizations.

Dr. Robert Hancock of the University of British Columbia will be awarded the prestigious CIHR Michael Smith Prize for his research on finding ways of battling infectious diseases such as pseudomonas aeruginosa, a major cause of lung infections in hospitals and nursing homes.

Peter Lougheed recognized

Peter Lougheed will be named the 2006 Champion of Health Research for his "outstanding leadership in helping stimulate health research in Alberta and across Canada," the CIHR said. Lougheed founded the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research, which has funded more than $850 million worth of health research in the province.

Dr. Peter Singer of the University of Toronto will be a finalist for the CIHR Michael Smith Prize for his research on harnessing life sciences to improve health in developing countries.

Dr. Nicole Letourneau of the University of New Brunswick will be presented with the Peter Lougheed/CIHR New Investigator Award honouring Canada's top young researcher for her work on the impact of domestic violence on infants and their mothers.

"Tonight, we're honouring those individuals who have exemplified excellence and contributed to the health of Canadians and of people throughout the world," Health Minister Tony Clement said Wednesday in a release.

"They have demonstrated, through their achievements and their commitment, the strong link between health research and improved health-care delivery, improved treatment and prevention of disease. Their work has and will have a major impact."

The CIHR is the federal government's health research funding agency that supports the work of up to 10,000 researchers and trainees in universities, teaching hospitals, and research institutes across Canada.

More honours

Other announced winners include:

  • Dr. Stanley Zlotkin, professor of paediatrics and nutritional sciences at the University of Toronto, for his work on ensuring that children with anemia in rural areas of the developing world receive Sprinkles, a dry, tasteless, single serving packet that includes all the nutrients a child or adult needs to fight anemia.
  • Dr. John Mann of DaimlerChrysler Canada Inc. and Dr. Anne Snowdon of the University of Windsor, recipients of the CIHR Partnership Award for their education program Bobby Shooster Rides Safely in his Booster to increase knowledge of child safety in vehicles.
  • Isabelle Chouinard, graduate student at the University of Calgary, recipient of the CIHR Douglas Kinsella Doctoral Award for Research in Bioethics.