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Thank you for sponsoring our 2008 CaNIOS annual meeting. The support we receive from you is critical to the success of our conference. Your sponsorship is greatly appreciated by all of our members, patients and researchers.

The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada http://rcpsc.medical.org/ 

(The following is excerpted from RCPSC's web site)

The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) is a national, nonprofit organization established in 1929 by a special Act of Parliament to oversee the medical education of specialists in Canada.

Its mission statement reflects this goal:
An organization of medical specialists dedicated to ensuring the highest standards and quality of health care.

Royal College Vision
The RCPSC is the voice of specialty care in Canada. It ensures that the training and evaluation of medical and surgical specialists in 60 specialties and two special programs attain the highest standards. The College requires Fellows worldwide to maintain their competence throughout their careers; it acts and speaks out in support of the most appropriate context for the practice of specialty care and the best patient care. The College is not a licensing or disciplinary body; its mission is educational and dedicated to setting standards.

Functions of the College
The work of the College centres around its prime objective — to ensure the highest possible standards of specialist training and specialist care for the people of Canada. Prescribes the requirements for specialty education in 60 areas of medical, surgical and laboratory medicine plus 2 special programs accredits specialty residency programs assesses the acceptability of residents' education conducts certifying examinations (except in Quebec where it shares this responsibility with the Collège des médecins du Québec) assures a high standard of specialist care through its Maintenance of Certification Program promotes high standards of professional and ethical conduct among its members

Relations with other medical organizations
Relations with other medical organizations The College maintains close working relations with the 17 Canadian university medical schools, numerous national professional associations, voluntary health organizations and governmental agencies where it has a respected and influential voice in discussions affecting medical education, medical research and the delivery of high-quality health care to Canadians.

Canadian Institutes of Health Research http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/ 

(The following is excerpted from CIHR's web site)

CIHR Mandate
"To excel, according to internationally accepted standards of scientific excellence, in the creation of new knowledge and its translation into improved health for Canadians, more effective health services and products and a strengthened Canadian health care system."

CIHR is:
Government of Canada's health research funding agency
Supporting the work of more than 11,000 researchers and trainees in universities, teaching hospitals, and research institutes across Canada
Developing high-quality people, excellent science and training the next generation of health researchers
Funding research that improves Canadians'health, health care system and quality of life
Fostering commercialization, moving research discoveries from academic setting to the marketplace
Allocating 94 cents of every dollar directly to fund Canadian health researchers

Lupus Canada http://www.lupuscanada.org/ 

(The following is excerpted from Lupus Canada's web site)

Formed in 1987 through the association of Canadian lupus organizations, Lupus Canada was federally registered (# 11902 5872 RR0001) as a non-profit charity in February 1988 and incorporated in March 1989 with the objectives of encouraging cooperation among the lupus organizations in Canada and promoting public awareness and general education about lupus.

he Member Organizations of Lupus Canada are found provincially or regionally. Lupus Canada does not have individual memberships; this is the domain of the Member Organizations. For information about membership in a Canadian lupus organization, visit the Get Involved section of this website.

Lupus Canada is managed by a Board of Directors, volunteers from across the country dedicated to the vision and mission of the organization. A committee structure oversees the programs of public awareness and information, advocacy, research and fundraising.