In 2003-2004, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) awarded the University of Toronto more than $123 million in funding.

That investment is at work right now throughout U of T. It funds well over 1,000 scholars conducting an astounding range of research - from Lorelei Lingard of the Department of Paediatrics, who is improving how health professionals communicate - to Ross Ethier of the Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, who has married engineering with medicine to uncover the causes of glaucoma.

It is this diversity of research funded by CIHR that represents the granting council's true strength.

This year, CIHR celebrates its fifth anniversary. Since its transformation in 2000-2001 as the successor to the Medical Research Council of Canada, CIHR has broadened the definition of medical research and has created opportunities for thousands of scholars. Its unique network of 13 "virtual" research institutes pushes the boundaries of health research for the benefit of all Canadians.

CIHR President Alan Bernstein, recently reappointed for a second term, has led the call for increased funding for health research. We celebrate his successes and that CIHR has become a model for countries around the world. Our advocacy on behalf of CIHR is crucial if it is to reach its necessary funding target of $1 billion per annum.

Our two other national research councils are also undergoing change. Tom Brzustowski retired this year after a decade as president of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. Marc Renaud returned to the Université de Montréal after two terms as president of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. Both have effected change not only through new initiatives and careful strategic planning within their own councils, but through other new federal programs.

Alan Bernstein, Tom Brzustowski and Marc Renaud have provided an unprecedented level of leadership that has changed the international face of the Canadian research enterprise. Their vision of Canada has enabled universities such as ours to become world leaders in research with benefits accruing that are truly global in scope.

U OF T SCHOLARS RECOGNIZED FOR EXCELLENCE
Eighteen U of T scholars and researchers are among 60 Canadians elected to the prestigious Royal Society of Canada this year.

Named to l'Académie des lettres et des sciences humaines is Professor Emeritus Alan Dainard of French.

Joining the Academy of Humanities and Social Sciences are Professor Emeritus Peter Richardson of the Department for the Study of Religion, Ronald de Sousa of Philosophy, Monica Heller of OISE/UT, John Kennedy of Life Sciences at U of T at Scarborough, and Alexander Leggatt of English.

Elected to the Academy of Sciences are Mark Henkelman of Medical Biophysics, Peter Abrams of Zoology, Brenda Andrews and Charles Boone of the Banting and Best Department of Medical Research, James Drummond of Physics, John MacDonald of Physiology, Freda Miller of Medical Genetics and Microbiology, Robert Morris of Chemistry, Michael Salter of Physiology, Michael Sefton of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, John Sipe of Physics, and posthumously, Alberto Mendelzon, of Computer and Mathematical Sciences at the University of Toronto at Scarborough.

Research into topics ranging from traffic congestion to immigration received vital investment with the announcement of nine new Canada Research Chairs in June. The new Tier I chairs ($200,000 annually for seven years) are: Gabrielle Boulianne, Molecular and Developmental Biology; Norman Rosenblum, Developmental Nephrology; Patricia Lynne Howell, Structural Biology; Michael Moran, Molecular Therapeutics; William Trimble, Molecular Cell Biology; and Shoshana Wodak, Computational Biology Bioinformatics. The new Tier II chairs ($100,000 annually for five years) are: Baher Abdulhai, Intelligent Transportation Systems; Randall Hansen, Immigration and Governance; and Herbert Kronzucker, Metabolic Bioengineering of Crop Plants.

University Professor Emeritus Endel Tulving of Psychology was recognized with a 2005 Gairdner Award for his groundbreaking work in cognitive neuroscience. The Gairdner Award is considered one of the most prestigious prizes in medical science.

HUMAN RIGHTS CLINIC ASSISTS IN MUGESERA CASE
U of T's International Human Rights Clinic (IHRC) has helped to affirm that Canada will not be a safe haven for war criminals by bringing the definition of genocide to the Supreme Court of Canada.

In December 2004, IHRC Director Noah Novogrodsky (profiled in Edge Spring/Summer 2005) and three law students appeared before the Supreme Court as an intervener in the appeal, Mugesera v. Citizenship and Immigration Canada. Léon Mugesera was accused of inciting genocide in Rwanda by calling for the extermination of the Tutsi ethnic group. Mugesera immigrated to Canada after the Rwanda genocide and Canadian officials have attempted to deport him for more than nine years.

Novogrodsky and law firm partner Goodmans LLP prepared a joint factum which argued that Mugesera had committed crimes against humanity. The factum was signed by IHRC, the Canadian Jewish Congress and Human Rights Watch.

In a unanimous decision on June 29, the country's highest court said that there was substantial evidence to support claims that Mugesera incited genocide in Rwanda.

EDGE WINS GOLD, SILVER AND BRONZE
Edge won a number of prestigious awards over the past year, including Gold Prize for Best Magazine (Under $100,000) from the Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education; the Award of Excellence (First Prize) in Publications from the International Association of Business Communicators (Toronto Chapter); and Silver and Bronze Awards from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (District II, which includes over 600 post-secondary institutions in the U.S. and Canada).