Health Canada's mission is to help Canadians maintain and improve their health. Health Canada accomplishes this through health protection, promotion and prevention activities. It also supports the health system through funding for research and the technical support of provincial health systems. Health Canada protects the health of Canadians by identifying, assessing and managing the health and safety risks associated with food, drugs, the environment, medical devices and consumer products. It monitors, investigates and prevents the spread of human disease. Furthermore, Health Canada provides health services to designated groups such as First Nations, federal public servants, Canadian civil aviation personnel, and Canadians in need of emergency health services in cases of national disasters.

Technology is a key tool in enhancing the Department's ability to carry out its responsibilities effectively, efficiently, safely and in a more timely fashion. For example, information technology will allow the Department to improve communication and collaboration among health partners and health networks as well as help in information collection, management and dissemination. Biotechnological advances enable faster and more accurate tracking, testing, diagnosis and reporting of diseases, and the development of disease identification, monitoring, prevention and control. In other areas new technology is enabling Health Canada to apply state-of-the-art knowledge in diverse, technically complex fields in carrying out its regulatory and other mandates.

Health Canada uses a wide variety of mechanisms, such as:

• collaborative and partnership arrangements
• grants
• R&D contracts
• patenting of inventions
• cost-recovery agreements
• licences

Suzanne Lesage

Director, Science and Research Capacity Excellence

Office of the Chief Scientist

Health Canada

Tel: 613-941-9740

Fax: 613-948-2021

E-mail: suzanne_lesage@hc-sc.gc.ca