New Research Centres and Institutes
are multidisciplinary

Institute of the Environment
The Institute of the Environment (IE) was formed in May 1999 to support interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation in environmental research and education and to promote an understanding of the environment in the community at large. Its mandate is three fold: 1) integration and support of research and teaching on the environment; 2) innovation in interdisciplinary research and teaching on the environment, and 3) promotion and communication of research and teaching on the environment. Quentin Grafton, Associate Professor at the Department of Economics, is the Director of the Institute.

Institute of Population Health
The Institute of Population Health (IPH) was created in November, 1998. The IPH brings together scholars from eight faculties in the University to focus on critical health issues facing Canadians. The collaboration follows a broad, five-step approach to addressing health issues: quantifying the issue, analyzing the full range of determinants, designing cost-effective interventions, proposing how to implement these and, from this, building evidence-based health policy. Joseph Losos will become the inaugural Director of the Institute of Population Health as of May 1st but is already serving as Director of the Institute on a part-time (phase-in) basis. Losos is presently Assistant Deputy Minister with Health Canada.

Centre for Research in Biopharmaceuticals
The Centre for Research in Biopharmaceuticals (CRB) was created in July of 1999. Building on existing strengths and areas of expertise the CRB will focus its interdisciplinary research in bioinformatics, genomics and molecular biology, functional proteomics and medicinal chemistry. The Centre will enable researchers from the Faculties of Medicine and Science to collaborate on a number of projects while strengthening their ties with the biopharmaceutical sector which is rapidly expanding. The Centre is in the process of selecting their first Director.

Institute of Women's Studies
Formally a Program in Women's Studies, the Institute of Women's Studies obtained its new stature in April, 1999. Part of the Institute's mandate is to promote and support multi and interdisciplinary feminist teaching and research activities. The Institute will also foster interuniversity cooperation and exchanges among researchers and students involved in the study of women. For example, the Centre on Women and Politics was recently created under the aegis of the Faculty of Social Sciences and is affiliated with the Institute of Women's Studies. Ruby Heap, Founding Director of the Institute, will complete her six year term on July 1st, 2000.