Public urged to help keep medical research healthy

Jan 8, 1998

UBC scientists are asking the public to join a letter-writing
campaign aimed at increasing funding for medical research.
Federal government cuts in Medical Research Council (MRC)
funding are limiting research that is essential for the health
and well-being of all Canadians. Thirty new UBC research projects
of sufficient calibre to have been funded last year received
no monies this year. Many projects in progress have not been
re-funded, with a direct loss of research jobs. And another
$10 million is expected to come off the MRC base budget this
year. The public is being urged to voice their concerns to
their member of Parliament or the ministers of Finance, Health
or Industry.

  • Contact: Prof. George Mackie, MRC regional director
    and head, Biochemistry Dept. 604.822.5943

Students take a real-life look at HIV/AIDS

Plans are underway for an expanded version of an innovative
course designed to teach health care students about HIV/AIDS.
Aboriginal spiritual leaders, drug addicts and natural medicine
practitioners were among the presenters that helped students
put a human face on the illness in last year’s pilot program,
created by a team of UBC faculty and community health specialists.
Pharmacy, medical and nursing students also spoke directly
to many AIDS patients. The Interprofessional Elective in HIV/AIDS
has been lengthened to six weeks and will include social work
students when it is offered again from May 4 to June 12.

  • Contact: Prof. Anne Wyness, School of Nursing,
    604.822.7485

On-line courses succeed on international level

The first course in an international series of on-line courses
attracted 42 students from 17 countries last semester. The
second in the series, offered by UBC Continuing Studies, starts
Jan. 12. The course content matches its delivery — it deals
with the use of new educational technologies such as the Internet
and CD-ROMs. In addition to registration through UBC in the
first course, the Virtual University (ITESM) in Monterrey,
Mexico, registered another 65 students. Aimed at academics
and instructors in post-secondary education, the course uses
the Internet and a CD-ROM to enable participants to improve
the selection and use of educational technologies.

  • Contact: Tony Bates, director, Distance Education
    and Technology, 604.822.1646

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