       
|
Support for VHRC from the Chair, Standing Committee on Health
HOUSE OF COMMONS
CHAMBRE DES COMMUNES
JOSEPH VOLPE, MP
Eglinton-LawrenceChair, Standing Committee on Health
Président, Comité permanent de la santé
Ottawa; Room 349, Confederation Building, Ottawa K 1 A DA6, Tel: (613) 992-6361 Fax: (613) 992-9791
Toronto; 787 Lawrence Ave. W., Toronto M6A 1 C2, Tel:(416) 781-5583 Fax:(416) 781-5586
April 1, 1998
Hon. Allan Rock, P.C., M.P., Q.C.
Minister of Health
Tunney's Pasture
Brooke Claxton Building
Ottawa, Ontario K IA OK9
Dear Minister:
I am writing in support of the Vision Health Research Council's (VHRC's) proposal for the establishment of a grant review committee at the Medical Research Council (MRC) that is dedicated solely to vision research.
According to the VHRC, applications for funding by scientists in vision research are continually spread across the entire funding spectrum. Further, their funding applications continue to be evaluated by Orthopaedic and General Surgeons, a practice that researchers hold as unfair to their investigators. The VHRC would prefer a different process as the MRC transforms itself subsequent to new ftmding infusions.
Mary Ann Linseman, Deputy Director, Programs Branch - MRC, informs me that under the current system of funding allocation, vision research applications are reviewed by one of a number of panels depending upon the nature of the application. Perhaps it is time that applications for vision research be dealt with separately. The suggestion that there are insufficient applications from this research sector - i.e. "not enough critical mass of applications" - is too self-serving, in my opinion.
The VHRC has made great strides in uniting in common effort some 3 5 0 investigators working at 22 Universities representing 25 Specialities.
In the United States, it was found that an independent, nationally funded Eye Research Institute was needed. I think the least Canada can do is establish a "vision grant review committei?without the MRC/CH!
iv/rwf
Sincerely,Joe Volpe, M.P.
Chair, Standing Committee on HealthC.C. Mary Ann Linseman
Vision Health Research Council
