Daily News

Posted on Jan. 26: McMaster and AstraZeneca announce endowed chair in respirology epidemiology

McMaster University and AstraZeneca Canada, Inc., today announced the appointment of Malcolm Sears, MD, as the first holder of a new chair in respirology epidemiology. Sears is a professor in the department of medicine at McMaster University, and research director of the Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton. The new position will support Sears and his investigation of respiratory diseases, in particular the reasons for the rapid increase in the number of people, especially children, who have asthma. His work has led to new insights into factors related to the risk of development and persistence of allergies and asthma, and to improved strategies for asthma management. "Dr. Sears is an experienced physician and epidemiologist," said Dr. John Kelton, dean and vice president of health sciences at McMaster. "With this appointment we're very pleased and excited to be able to recognize his efforts to improve respiratory health through the study of populations."

Posted on Jan. 26: McMaster launches Ontario Training Centre in Health Services and Policy Research

The launch of the Ontario Training Centre in Health Services and Policy Research (OTC) at McMaster has signaled the beginning of a province-wide initiative to increase the number of Canadian health services researchers and address critical issues in health care delivery. "The establishment of the OTC is a response to the need for an increased number of health services researchers to address critical issues in effective and efficient health care delivery across Canada," says director Alba DiCenso, professor of nursing and clinical epidemiology and biostatistics. "This need has been identified as a top priority by national research funding agencies." Funded for 10 years by the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research for a total of $3.75 million, with additional funding from the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, the OTC will provide students with access to accomplished researchers and health services decision makers through collaborative research, distance education, summer institutes and field placements. The program will allow students to take courses at any of the six participating universities, which include McMaster, Lakehead, Laurentian, Ottawa, Toronto and York.