New scientific director for aging institute

Ottawa, ON – March 22, 2004 – Canadian Institutes of Health Research has appointed Dr Anne Martin-Matthews as the new scientific director for its Institute of Aging. The appointment was effective on March 1.

Dr Martin-Matthews is a professor in the school of social work and family studies, and former associate dean of research and graduate studies and dean pro tem in the Faculty of Arts at the University of British Columbia. She holds a PhD in sociology from McMaster University (1980). She is an internationally recognized researcher, with a book, edited volumes and extensive publications on aging, families and health. She was founding director of the University of Guelph’s Gerontology Research Centre (1983-1995), a research group leader on CARNET: The Canadian Aging Research Network (1990-1995), and editor-in-chief of the Canadian Journal on Aging (1996-2000).

She has also served on the scientific advisory committee of the seniors independence research program of Health Canada, the board of the Canadian Association on Gerontology, and the Research Advisory Council of BC’s Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research. She most recently served as interim scientific director for the Institute of Aging after serving as vice-chair of its advisory board.