Role of government in cardiovascular research.

Despite some major advances, cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death globally and here in Canada. Support of research in this area has always been a key thrust of the Medical Research Council's (MRC) efforts and remains so today. Public knowledge about the causes of heart disease and its prevention remains low, requiring implementation of a comprehensive, multifaceted approach to the reduction of disease risk. Some reform of the health care system is coming, and it is vital that it be done properly in order to improve efficiency and control costs while not doing harm. This reform should be based on a solid foundation of research based findings. Dramatic changes in sources of research funding, with government providing less and the private sector increasing more, are bound to have an impact on the kinds and location of research activities carried out in Canada in the future. Academia must increasingly seek support from the private sector to maintain and strengthen academic research. Partnerships and alliances, such as those being pursued by the MRC, offer enormous opportunities for the development of new technologies and products with resulting benefits to the health and wealth of Canadians.