OTTAWA, ONTARIO–(EMWNews – Aug. 6, 2008) – The Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), today announced the appointment of Mr. Louis R. Lamontagne to the Council.

“NSERC, with direction from the governing Council, continues to support university research in science and technology through funding for students and postdoctoral fellows, and I am pleased to welcome Mr. Lamontagne,” said Minister Prentice. “With more than 20 years of experience in life sciences, he will make an enormous contribution to promoting research areas that are targeted to the priorities of Canadians.”

Mr. Lamontagne has served as President and CEO at Painceptor Pharma Corporation since its inception in 2003. Prior to this, his professional experience includes President and CEO, Neurochem Inc; President and CEO and Director with the Ottawa Life Sciences Technology Park and Group Leader, National Research Council of Canada’s Institute of Biological Sciences.

His Board experience includes Chronogen Inc., Stempath Inc., and the Ottawa Health Research Institute where he was also Chair of the Commercialization Committee.

Mr. Lamontagne holds a PhD. (Immunology) from McMaster University and a BSc. (Honours, Chemistry) from Queen’s University.

NSERC is a federal agency whose vision is to help make Canada a country of discoverers and innovators for the benefit of all Canadians. The agency supports some 25,000 university students and postdoctoral fellows in their advanced studies. NSERC promotes discovery by funding more than 11,000 university professors every year and fosters innovation by encouraging more than 1,400 Canadian companies to participate and invest in university research projects.