Statement of Purpose Investing in Research Chairman's Message Board of Trustees Grant Review Panel History Dr Frederick Banting Contact Us Annual Report, June 30, 2011 Message from the Chairman, The Banting Research Foundation The mandate of The Banting Research Foundation is to provide grant funding to assist independent medical researchers initiating their careers at a University or Research Institute in Canada. Evidence for the continued need for such early career support is the number of submissions received annually by The Foundation. This has increased substantially in recent years. In the present granting cycle 45 requests for funding were submitted. Each of these projects was evaluated, on the basis of merit, by The Foundation's Grant Review Panel. In the fiscal year, July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011, the funds available to The Foundation were sufficient to award a total of $100,000 to the 5 highest ranked applicants. Their names and a description of their research proposals appear elsewhere on this site. In recent years it is also become evident that a number of highly meritorious proposals could not be supported because of The Foundation's limited resources. Also, many excellent potential candidates, whose ideas have great potential to enhance our present understanding of illnesses and new therapies, presently are ineligible due to the nature of their institution's start-up packages. Both issues are of concern to all Trustees, who recognize the limitations imposed by The Foundation's endowment. Importantly, as this has been managed prudently by our external advisors, we have maintained the capacity to fund our commitments and our very modest administrative expenses. Nonetheless, the Trustees are considering means of augmenting our resources to secure The Foundation's long term capacity to continue to fulfill its stated mission. On October 7, 2010, our fifth fundraising "Toronto Evening" dinner in collaboration with Partners In Research, celebrating the accomplishments of both organizations, was held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. The Foundation's activities were profiled and the grant competition results were announced. Dr. Michael Jackson (University of Western Ontario) described his research concerning amyloid β peptide and the nervous system, then accepted the Banting Research Foundation Awards for 2010 on behalf of all recipients. We are indebted to Mr. John Ambrose, an Honorary Chair of The Foundation, and to all those who volunteered their time, enthusiasm, and expertise to add "Toronto 2010" to a succession of highly successful informative dinner evenings. Special thanks are due to members of the Grant Review Panel, chaired by Drs. Catherine Bergeron and Alexander Marks, who also serves as our Executive Director. The Panel's commitment to select the very best applicants is fundamental to The Foundation's purpose. In this year, The Board welcomed the appointments as Trustees of Dr. Aubie Angel, and Mr. William Hewitt, and thanked Mr. Clive Curtis and Mr. Bruce MacLellan for their enthusiastic and selfless support of The Foundation's mission during their own terms as Trustees. I remain grateful to all the members of the Board of Trustees for their sound advice and unfailing belief in the Foundation's continued importance and future promise. Yours respectfully, John Floras MD DPhil, FRCPC Chairman, Board of Trustees, The Banting Research Foundation