Arthritis research gets a boost with $2M research chair

Toronto, ON – A new research chair at the University of Toronto will focus on arthritis and other rheumatic diseases. The first holder of the Pfizer Chair in Rheumatology is Dr Claire Bombardier, director of the division of rheumatology research at the University of Toronto.

Pfizer Canada is donating $1.5 million toward the funding of the $2 million chair, which will bring together University of Toronto affiliated researchers and trainees to provide innovative approaches to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of rheumatic diseases.

“There is still much to be learned about rheumatic diseases,” says Dr Bombardier. “Our population is aging, and at the same time there is a shortage of rheumatologists. We feel that our mandate is to focus our research efforts on unmet needs in rheumatology, such as improved access to early diagnosis and appropriate innovative therapies.”