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Welcome to the 9th Annual CaNIOS Principal Investigators’ Meeting. This is our first
official business meeting after incorporation. As in the past years, CaNIOS continues to work with Lupus Canada and its provincial affiliates hand in hand to foster the
best research program for patients with lupus in Canada, build up awareness of lupus
to the public, and bring the best speakers to share their expertise and knowledge
with those affected by this condition.
Since CaNIOS incorporation from our last meeting in Toronto in April 2009, we have
been very productive publication-wise and challenged funding-wise. Many CaNIOS projects have matured and exciting results, both published and unpublished, are being disseminated
and start to have an impact. Our discoveries span important issues such as the genetics
and immunology of lupus, the diversity of lupus in Canada, the impact of lupus on
the kidney and on the health of Canadians with this disease.
I would like to thank the staff at the CaNIOS coordinating centre, Dr. Ellie Aghdassi,
Mr. Jiandong su, Ms Stacey Morrison and Ms. Cathy Chau as well as the CaNIOS board
of directors, Drs Janet Pope, Christine Peschken, Christian Pineau, Joan Wither
and Douglas Smith, who have worked countless hours to oversee multiple activities that have taken place during the year as well as developed the 2010 business meeting
agenda. I would also like to thank our committee chairs, who have brought new ideas,
comments and concerns to CaNIOS for discussion. Furthermore, I would like to also
thank our sponsors and all of those who support CaNIOS with their time, effort,
and money. In particular, I would like to extend our appreciation to the Lupus Clinical
Trials Consorium, Inc. (LCTC), the Autoimmunity Research Centre (AARC) Foundation
and a generous anonymous donor, Lupus Canada and its provincial organizations, and
with special thanks to Lupus Ontario. CaNIOS also appreciates our industry sponsors
for providing funding support to sustain our infrastructure.
In ending, I would like to express my special and personal appreciation to all persons
living with lupus and who have contributed in so many ways to the successes of CaNIOS. Remember that you are CaNIOS primary “raison d’être”.
Many thanks for your continuous support, and I wish every one an enjoyable summer.
Paul R Fortin, MD, MPH, FRCPC
President, Canadian Network for Improved Outcomes in SLE |
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