Dr Philippe Couillard has been appointed chair of the board of directors for the Health Research Foundation (HRF) of Canada's Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (Rx&D). Couillard was previously Quebec's minister of health from 2003 to 2008 where he led development of the provincial drug policy. He succeeds Dr Yves Morin, who is retiring after serving a six-year term as HRF board chair. Among his duties at HRF, Couillard will encourage research teams and projects in areas that don't always receive optimal support such as childhood obesity prevention and treatment and mental illness….