Graham Boeckh Foundation and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research announce Partnership Lead and Selection Panel

Transformational Research in Adolescent Mental Health (TRAM)
- A Patient-Oriented Initiative

MONTREAL, Jan. 8, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - The Graham Boeckh Foundation and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research are pleased to announce the Partnership Lead and Selection Panel of the new mental health research network, which has been named Transformational Research in Adolescent Mental Health (TRAM) - A Patient-Oriented Initiative.

Mr. Jacques Hendlisz has been chosen to serve in the role of Partnership Lead of the TRAM Initiative.  Mr. Hendlisz was CEO of the Douglas University Mental Health Institute for 17 years.  He focused much of his work at the Douglas on integrating care research and teaching into all clinical programs.  He was a leading advocate in the fight to combat stigma through public education and Web-based programs.  Mr. Hendlisz was a board member of the FRSQ (Fonds de la recherche en santé du Québec) and is presently Chairman of Research Canada, an alliance for health discovery.  He is also Chairman of the Committee consultatif of "Prend soin de toi," a public/private partnership which distributes research grants to mental health organizations in Quebec that aims to improve care, transfer knowledge, and translate mental health practices in frontline services.

"We are delighted that Jacques Hendlisz has agreed to be the Lead in our partnership with CIHR," said Tony Boeckh, Chair of the Graham Boeckh Foundation. "He brings a wealth of experience, knowledge and broad understanding of the complex issues surrounding mental health. He is well known and highly esteemed among all stakeholders in the field, including policy makers, families and patients and the scientific community."

The Selection Panel will be tasked with choosing the successful network among the applicant proposals.  The Panel comprises a diverse group of individuals who bring complementary perspectives and experiences to the area of adolescent mental health.  The Panel Chair is Dr. Dennis Furlong, former New Brunswick Minister of Health. The members of the Panel are: Pam Gillett, Howard Goldman, Austin Mardon, Patrick McGorry, Nina Schooler, Paula Tyler, David Levine, and Kathryn Gill.

"The Canadian Institutes of Health Research are pleased to endorse this outstanding Selection Panel," said Dr. Jane Aubin, CIHR's Vice President of Research and Chief Scientific Officer.  "This international group includes patient representatives, mental health policy experts, mental health care practitioners, and scientists with experience in patient-oriented mental health research and knowledge translation.  Together, they bring expertise, passion, and leadership to this important field of health research."

The TRAM Initiative will be the first of many such initiatives under the Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR).  Its goal is to improve health outcomes, within five years, for young people with mental illness.  The network will transform Canada's health care system by applying research evidence to improve the policies, therapies, and practices used to care for young Canadians with mental illness.

Researchers, policy-makers, patients and service providers involved in this field are encouraged to get involved.  The application process will begin in early 2013.

For information on the Partnership Lead and Selection Panel, visit:
www.tramcan.ca/content/partnership-lead-selection-panel-announced

For information on the TRAM Initiative, visit:
www.tramcan.ca

For information on SPOR, visit:
www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/41204.html

The Graham Boeckh Foundation (GBF) is a private foundation created by J. Anthony Boeckh and his family to fund initiatives in the area of mental health and other related disciplines.  GBF aims to improve mental health care in Canada by strategically leading and funding projects in basic research, research translation, and community outreach.

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) is the Government of Canada's health research investment agency. CIHR's mission is to create new scientific knowledge and to enable its translation into improved health, more effective health services and products, and a strengthened Canadian health care system. Composed of 13 Institutes, CIHR provides leadership and support to more than 14,100 health researchers and trainees across Canada.

Image with caption: "Graham Boeckh Foundation and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research announce Partnership Lead and Selection Panel - Transformational Research in Adolescent Mental Health (TRAM) - A Patient-Oriented Initiative (CNW Group/Transformational Research in Adolescent Mental Health (TRAM))". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130108_C4632_PHOTO_EN_22352.jpg

SOURCE: Transformational Research in Adolescent Mental Health (TRAM)

Stacy Patenaude, JGA Strategic Communications, 514-750-0887
David Coulombe, Media Relations, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, 613-941-4563