February 28, 2018
Baycrest, home to the Rotman Research Institute and the federal and provincially funded Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation, commends the Federal Government for the proposal in Budget 2018 to provide $20 million, spread over the next five years, to address the collective national challenge of dementia on our population.
Baycrest President and CEO Dr. William Reichman has consistently called for increased budgeting and planning around the challenges of brain health and dementia to help both those suffering from the disease and all the families and caregivers affected by it.
"Dementia is one of the greatest demographic challenges we've ever faced as a species. This funding will help us intervene earlier in life to try to delay the onset of dementia - that's where the bulk of the research activity is now leading us in terms of advances,” says Dr. Reichman. "We welcome this new budget proposal of increased funding toward action on dementia and view it as a significant step towards addressing the needs of Canadians."
Dr. Allison Sekuler, Vice President of Research and Sandra A. Rotman Chair in Cognitive Neuroscience at Baycrest, sits on Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada’s Committee on Discovery Research and she is pleased to see the increase in funding to basic research.
“This is excellent news for foundational research and it’s especially exciting that the budget gave a nod to the importance of interdisciplinary research - that’s what is needed to be able to solve today’s biggest problems,” says Dr. Sekuler. “It’s why places like the Rotman Research Institute are such powerful tools for discovery. We tackle problems collaboratively from multiple directions and this funding will play a major role in our future success.”
About Baycrest Health Sciences
Baycrest Health Sciences is a global leader in geriatric residential living, healthcare, research, innovation and education, with a special focus on brain health and aging. As an academic health sciences centre fully affiliated with the University of Toronto, Baycrest provides an exemplary care experience for aging clients combined with an extensive clinical training program for students and one of the world’s top research institutes in cognitive neuroscience.
www.baycrest.org
For media inquiries:
Jonathan MacIndoe
Baycrest Health Sciences
416-785-2500 ext. 6579
jmacindoe@baycrest.org
Michelle Petch Gotuzzo
Baycrest Health Sciences
416-785-2500 ext. 6932
mpetchgotuzzo@baycrest.org