MONTREAL, Jan. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Rio Tinto Alcan announced today a $1 million donation to the Thinking Ahead campaign of the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital (MNI), one of the world's premier centres for neuroscience research and clinical care. This donation will help build, equip and start up the Rio Tinto Alcan Laboratory of NeuroEngineering. "Rio Tinto Alcan believes in supporting innovative institutions and organizations in the communities where we are present," said Dick Evans, Chief Executive, Rio Tinto Alcan. "Good health and strong healthcare facilities are key to a community's success and growth. Supporting the MNI's innovative NeuroEngineering Program is another way that we can play a role in improving the quality of life of people in Quebec and around the world. Advancement in this area could lead to significant scientific and medical breakthroughs that benefit populations everywhere." The Thinking Ahead campaign is a five-year, $40-million initiative to expand the MNI's facilities, attract top talent and equip them with the tools they need to create a world of change in the treatment of brain disease. "We are very proud that Rio Tinto Alcan has chosen to invest in the MNI's ongoing development," said David R. Colman, Director of the MNI. "Rio Tinto Alcan's support of the NeuroEngineering program gives us the opportunity to expand our research into new directions that we can't even imagine now - exploring and bringing together new disciplines and technologies that we hope will improve the quality of life for those debilitated by neurological injury or disease." Rio Tinto Alcan has been a major contributor to Quebec's social fabric and well-being since establishing its presence in the province more than 100 years ago. The Group supports more than 200 organizations in Quebec, including the Festival International de Jazz de Montreal, Sainte-Justine Hospital and its recent contribution to the creation of a new planetarium in Montreal. About Rio Tinto Rio Tinto is a leading international mining group headquartered in the UK, combining Rio Tinto plc, a London listed company, and Rio Tinto Limited, which is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange. Rio Tinto's business is finding, mining, and processing mineral resources. Major products are aluminium, copper, diamonds, energy (coal and uranium), gold, industrial minerals (borax, titanium dioxide, salt, talc) and iron ore. Activities span the world but are strongly represented in Australia and North America with significant businesses in South America, Asia, Europe and southern Africa. About the MNI The Montreal Neurological Institute is a McGill University research and teaching institute, dedicated to the study of the nervous system and neurological diseases. Founded in 1934 by the renowned Dr. Wilder Penfield, the MNI is one of the world's largest institutes of its kind. MNI researchers are world leaders in cellular and molecular neuroscience, brain imaging, cognitive neuroscience and the study and treatment of epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and neuromuscular disorders. For more information, please visit: http://www.mni.mcgill.ca/. DATASOURCE: RIO TINTO ALCAN - EN CONTACT: Rio Tinto Alcan Media Relations, Montreal: Michelle Adams, (514) 848-8151, ; Montreal Neurological Institute: Sandra McPherson, PhD, (514) 398-1902, ; http://www.riotinto.com/riotintoalcan

Copyright