OTTAWA - The Honourable Anne McLellan, Minister of Health, today announced the appointment of Dr. Michel Bureau of St-Denis-de-Brompton, Quebec, to the Governing Council of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

"It is with great pleasure that I announce the appointment of Dr. Michel Bureau to the CIHR Governing Council," said Minister McLellan. "Dr. Bureau brings both experience and enthusiasm to an already outstanding group of Canadians. Through the strong leadership of its Governing Council, CIHR will continue to build an integrated, innovative and interdisciplinary health research agency responsive to Canadian health needs."

CIHR's Governing Council is comprised of 19 volunteer members from across the country that represent a wide spectrum of expertise and experience in health research and policy. Charged with the responsibility of ensuring CIHR works to fulfill its mandate, the Governing Council sets the overall strategic direction, goals and policies of CIHR and the Institutes. Over the last year, CIHR has created 13 virtual institutes, appointed Scientific Directors to run them, selected over 200 volunteers to guide the institutes and provided funding to over 5,000 established researchers and thousands of trainees across Canada. Appointed for three years, members are selected as individuals rather than as representatives of any particular group or organization.

Further biographical information and details about the entire CIHR Governing Council are available at:

• http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/

CIHR is Canada's premier agency for health research. Its objective is to excel, according to internationally accepted standards of scientific excellence, in the creation of new knowledge and its translation into improved health for Canadians, more effective health services and products and a strengthened health care system.