In 2005, China’s state-owned Minmetals failed in a bid forCanadian nickel miner Noranda, and has since been active inCanada in mostly smaller deals that have involved foreignassets. LARGER PRESENCE Toronto’s Prospectors and Developers Association of Canadaconvention in March was a somber occasion because of volatilemetals prices and difficult financing conditions — except forthe Chinese. “We met with one of the Chinese companies at the PDAC andthey made it very clear that they would look at any project inCanada, so long it is of advanced stage,” said Azimi “They are not interested in exploration They wantnear-term production opportunities They want a sure thing.” China’s commodity push is not new. Azimi, who works with Chinese groups looking foropportunities in Canada, said the presence of Chinese andIndian firms is growing. Companies who have a strong resource basethat are suffering because of the lack of liquidity in themarket,” said Jack Azimi, managing director of FoundationMarkets, a small investment firm in Toronto.

“I think what they are looking for is distressedopportunities … Teck is a major producer of copper, metallurgical coal,zinc and gold, all commodities sought by China. The deal underscores how deep China’s pockets are at a timewhen many sources of credit and financing have dried up in theglobal recession, even for the biggest miners. “Most people thought China would take advantage of this dipin commodity prices and, because they’re the only ones withmoney, take advantage of this financial situation we are in.They have come through big time, be it oil and gas, or anycommodity you can think of,” David Davidson, an analyst withParadigm Capital in Toronto, said in an interview after theTeck deal was announced. Teck said last week it sold a 17.2 percent equity stake tostate-owned China Investment Corp in a deal that allows theCanadian miner to pay down its massive debt while expandingChina’s portfolio of commodity investments. dollars unless noted) By Pav Jordan TORONTO, July 12 (Reuters) – China’s purchase of a C$1.74billion ($1.5 billion) stake in Teck Resources (TCKb.TO) may bejust the opening move from the world’s top resource consumer ina strategy to use its unique wealth advantage to become a keysource of mining capital for Canadian firms.

* Purchase of Teck stake may only be first of many Stocks  |  Mergers & Acquisitions  |  China * Looking at opportunities amid credit crunch * Key commodities include coal, copper and uranium (In U.S. Byrd – Ascertaining Older African Americans for GeneticStudies in Alzheimer’s Disease(Funders: NationalCenter on Minority Health and Health Disparities; NationalInstitute on Aging)–Ulrika Akenine – Why AD patients and caregivers participate inrandomized clinical trials (Self funded)SOURCEAlzheimer’s AssociationAlzheimer’s Association media line, +1-312-335-4078, ; or ICAD2009 press room, July 11-16: +43 (0)1 931020 7501. For moreinformation, visit S. Markgraf – Recruiting for Alzheimer’s disease Research: Asystematic review of recruitment techniques and challenges among NIHfunded ADRCs (Funders: National Institute on Aging, John A HartfordFoundation, Hartford Center of Excellence in Geriatrics Medicine andTraining)–Goldie S. ICAD 2009 will be held in Vienna, Austriaat Messe Wien Exhibition and CongressCenter from July 11-16.About the Alzheimer’s AssociationThe Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization inAlzheimer care, support and research.

Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’sdisease through the advancement of research, to provide and enhance care andsupport for all affected, and to reduce the risk of dementia through thepromotion of brain health Our vision is a world without Alzheimer’s. “Many people withdementia and caregivers will face the question of whether to participate inclinical trials. We hope our research helps inform healthcare providers,advocacy organizations, and pharmaceutical companies who have increasing needto address these questions.”About ICAD 2009The 2009 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference on Alzheimer’sDisease (ICAD 2009) brings together more than 5,000 researchers from 60countries to share groundbreaking research and information on the cause,diagnosis, treatment and prevention of Alzheimer’s disease and relateddisorders.As a part of the Association’s research program, ICAD 2009 servesas a catalyst for generating new knowledge about dementia and fostering avital, collegial research community. People withAlzheimer’s reported to a greater extent than caregivers that they did not seeany disadvantages to participating in a research study.”Research on Alzheimer’s is intense, and there is great hope for new drugsthat will ease the impact of the disease,” Akenine said. Primary motives to participate for both patients and theirrelatives were helping science and contributing to research, hope for easingof symptoms or cure, and getting access to more information about the disease.Patients and relatives reported that access to medical expertise and regularhealth checkups were advantages of study participation.Among the disadvantages were the risk of receiving placebo, discomfort/painduring sample-taking and exams, and the risk of side effects. Inaddition, partnerships with churches and influential community leaders werefound to yield significantly greater interest and participation.”Among survey respondents who had never participated in a research study, 60percent of those in the 60 to 69 age range with a family history ofAlzheimer’s were very willing to participate, independent of their knowledgeof historical research atrocities such as the Tuskegee Syphilis Study,” Byrdsaid.The researchers found that African Americans were willing to participate inseveral types of research studies, including surveys, focus groups, clinicaltrials, and genetic studies – surveys were the most preferred form ofparticipation in all age groups.

Simms Endowed Professor in the Department of Biology at NorthCarolinaA&TStateUniversity, and colleagues surveyed 500 African Americanadults to investigate perceptions and inform recruitment efforts forAlzheimer’s research participation.They found that having a relative with the disease, use of minority studypersonnel, and monetary compensation were the most powerful incentives forparticipation of African Americans in Alzheimer’s genetic research. As part of an effort to recruit AfricanAmericans for an Alzheimer’s disease genetics study, Goldie S Byrd, PhD,Nathan F. The professionals we interviewed told us thatthey best way to meet recruitment goals is to get the support of the localcommunity and physicians.”Encouraging African American Participation in Alzheimer’s Genetics StudiesDespite government regulations on inclusion of women and minorities inclinical research, such as the 1993 Revitalization Act, ethnic minoritiescontinue to be underrepresented in biomedical research studies and clinicaltrials, including Alzheimer’s studies. “The successful ADCs promote studyparticipation while conducting community educational events, and they activelypartner with outside physicians. Despite identified hurdles, 13 ofthe ADCs report meeting annual recruitment goals.”Our data suggest that successful recruitment is a result of a comprehensiverecruitment plan,” Markgraf said. Inaddition, although all ADCs have a website, few (7) see it as a beneficial,active tool for clinical study recruitment.