Executive Council
Health and Community Services
Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development
November 27, 2014
Investing in Patient Care and Treatment
Provincial Government Contributing $7.2 Million for Enhanced Patient Care Initiative
The Honourable Paul Davis, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, joined with funding partners IBM and the Government of Canada to launch the Translational and Personalized Medicine Initiative (TPMI). The Provincial Government is contributing $7.2 million to a $50 million fund, which will be allocated over the next five years. Led by Memorial University, TPMI will bring the latest and most innovative discoveries in health research directly to patients in an effort to enhance care and treatment options.
“This is a significant initiative with the potential to lead to new breakthroughs in medical treatments and improved patient care. The collaboration between both levels of government and private business will be a benefit to Newfoundland and Labrador, patients, researchers and the entire health care sector. This project will further build on Memorial University’s ability to deliver top quality research to benefit Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.”
- The Honourable Paul Davis, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador
Approximately $50 million will be invested in this program over the next five years, in partnership with Memorial University:
- A combined investment of $30 million from IBM, including $10 million in equipment and staffing and a further $20 million in-kind investment for big data and analytics software;
- Nearly $13 million from the Government of Canada through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research ($10 million) and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency ($3 million); and
- $7.2 million from the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.
“Our overall goal as a government is to find new efficient and effective ways to improve on how we care for and treat patients. TPMI will provide an opportunity to bring evidence-based research in its early stages to patients. This is an innovative approach to improving health outcomes and can have a real long-term effect on the health care system and most importantly patient-centred care.”
- The Honourable Steve Kent, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health and Community Services
The initiative is comprised of three components:
- The Centre for Health Informatics and Analytics will utilize next generation health informatics and data analytics hardware and software. This component will facilitate change in health system utilization, associated costs and health outcomes.
- The Translational Genetics Research Program aims to improve individual patient outcomes in families affected by genetic disease. Initial work will focus on colon cancer, hearing health, and arthritis.
- The Quality of Care program will conduct applied clinical health research to inform future health policy as a means to decrease health care costs while improving services. Research activities will focus initially on the development of evidence-based interventions to improve services in laboratory services, drug utilization and long-term care.
“The TPMI project will advance the Provincial Government’s innovation agenda and build on our prior investments in the Craig L. Dobbin Genetics Research Centre, our best-in-class centre for health information and our comparative advantage in the field of genomics and genetics research. These strategic partnerships provide cost-effective and beneficial relationships that promote research and development, commercialization, and talent development. As a result, we expect to see increased investment in research and development, and additional investment from private sector collaborators.”
- The Honourable Darin King, Minister of Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development
The TPMI project aims to address the twin challenges of rising health care costs and improving patient outcomes by integrating clinical research and analytical modeling to improve and enhance personalized medicine.
QUICK FACTS
- The Provincial Government, along with funding partners IBM and the Government of Canada, has announced a five-year $50 million fund to support the Translational and Personalized Medicine Initiative.
- The Translational and Personalized Medicine Initiative focuses on bringing the latest and most innovative discoveries in health research directly to patients in an effort to enhance care and treatment options.
- Memorial University will lead the initiative which has three components: the Centre for Health Informatics and Analytics; the Translational Genomics Research Program; and the Quality of Care program.
- The TPMI project aims to address the twin challenges of rising health care costs and improving patient outcomes.
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Media contactS:
|
Heather MacLean Director of Communications Office of the Premier 709-729-3581 heathermaclean@gov.nl.ca |
Donna Ivey Special Assistant (Communications) Office of the Premier 709-729-3551, 699-2402 donnaivey@gov.nl.ca |
| Hugh Donnan Director of Communications Department of Health and Community Services 709-729-1377, 725-6511 hughdonnan@gov.nl.ca |
Tansy Mundon Director of Communications Department of Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development 709-729-4570, 693-1865 tansymundon@gov.nl.ca |
2014 11 27 10:15 a.m.