October 22
(Health and Community Services)

$150,000 Novartis donation to support academic appointment in human genetics

Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc. has agreed to a $150,000 sponsorship over the next three years for an academic appointment in Human Genetics at Memorial University's Faculty of Medicine. The Novartis Professorship in Pediatric Genetics will officially begin with the launch of the new Janeway Hospital of the Health Science Centre in St. John's in 2000. The funds will be matched by the provincial government.

"Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada is committed to supporting research in Atlantic Canada and is proud to enter into this partnership with Memorial University," said Ger van Amersfoort, president of Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc. "As a leading research-based pharmaceutical company, we are
dedicated to supporting the Canadian scientific community and to fostering the discovery, development, and availability of new medicines."

The $50,000 annual donation will be made over the next three years through Memorial's Opportunity Fund campaign. The provincial government matches donations to the Opportunity Fund dollar for dollar.

"We are pleased to be able to match Novartis' donation. The creation of this human genetics position will benefit many Newfoundland families for years to come and provide an insight into genetics in our province," said Joan Marie Aylward, Newfoundland and Labrador's Minister of Health and Community Services.

This position will be part of a planned Pediatric Genetics Research Program at the Janeway. Such a program will improve the lives of families affected by genetic disease through the study of the unique genetic characteristics of the population of Newfoundland.

It will also be an opportunity for the University to take advantage of a matching grant program sponsored by the Medical Research Council and Canada's Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (Rx&D).

"This announcement is very good news all around," said Dr. Axel Meisen, Memorial University's President, when commenting on the significance of the Novartis award. "Through multi-party partnership among industry, government, the university and the Health Care Corporation of St. John's, the Novartis
donation will deliver a return many times its value."

The Opportunity Fund is Memorial University's most ambitious fund-raising project ever -- a $50 million campaign which will support increased scholarships, innovations in teaching and research, and improvements in student service facilities.

For further information, please contact:

James O'Brien
Memorial University
Tel. (709) 737-8287

Rhonda O'Gallagher
Novartis Pharma Canada Inc.
(514) 633-7872

Glenn Bruce
Department of Health and Community Services
(709)729-1377

James O'Brien, MA
Information Officer
Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science
Memorial University of Newfoundland
(709) 737-8287 fax 4042
jobrien@engr.mun.ca

NOTE: This news release was distributed by Memorial University of Newfoundland on Friday, October 22.