[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/CIBC-edited.jpg” caption=”Peter George, McMaster president and vice-chancellor, with Neil Gordon, vice-president, Southern Ontario, CIBC.”]CIBC today announced a gift of $500,000 to McMaster University students for research bursaries related to breast cancer. The funds will be matched by the Ontario government through the Ontario Trust for Student Support Fund.

Noting CIBC's previous support of McMaster University, President and Vice-Chancellor Peter George said the bank's interest in the university is not only historic, it is diverse and visionary.

“This contribution reflects a matching of McMaster and CIBC's priority projects,” said George. “We will ensure their vision becomes a reality.”

The bursaries will allow students to pursue their educational goals in the field of breast cancer. The CIBC Medical Bursaries in Breast Cancer are for medical students of the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, and the CIBC Graduate Bursaries in Breast Cancer is for graduate students of the Faculty of Health Sciences working on breast cancer or related fields.

The gift was announced in addition to $1 million in support for the establishment of the CIBC Breast Assessment Centre at Henderson General Hospital.

The CIBC Breast Assessment Centre, to be completed after the Henderson redevelopment in 2009, will be one of the most comprehensive and up-to-date breast assessment facilities in the region and one of a few such centres in Ontario. It will bring together three multidisciplinary medical specialties involved in making an assessment –radiologists, surgeons and pathologists–and will streamline breast cancer diagnosis thus shortening patient wait times.

“CIBC's investment in Hamilton Health Sciences and McMaster University is part of an ongoing commitment to support breast cancer research, education, awareness and treatment,” said Neil Gordon, Vice-President, Southern Ontario, CIBC.

Regarding the bursaries, Marie Bountrogianni, MPP for Hamilton Mountain, said: “The McGuinty government is so pleased the CIBC's $500,000 investment for research bursaries related to breast cancer will be matched through the Ontario Trust for Student Support Fund. This means that more students will have the opportunity to pursue their educational goals while helping to shape the future of health care.”