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Attracting top scholars and researchers

The CFI to provide infrastructure support to newly announced Canada 150 Research Chairs

OTTAWA, ONTARIO – In celebration of Canada’s 150th anniversary, the Government of Canada announced the first Canada 150 Research Chair recipients today. The Canada 150 Research Chairs Program aims to attract top-tier, internationally based scholars and researchers to Canada to help enhance the country’s reputation as a global centre for science, research and innovation excellence.

Miguel Ramalho-Santos, Associate Professor at the University of California, San Francisco, will be joining the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute at the University of Toronto as the new Canada 150 Research Chair in Developmental Epigenetics. The Canada Foundation for Innovation, through its John R. Evans Leaders Fund, will provide $780,000 in infrastructure support for his research project to improve maternal and fetal health by studying how the environment impacts embryonic development.

“State-of-the-art research infrastructure is critical to attract leading scholars to this country and the CFI is honoured to support the big ideas and aspirations of this inaugural cohort of Canada 150 Research Chairs,” says Roseann O’Reilly Runte, President and CEO of the CFI.

Quick facts

  • The CFI’s infrastructure support includes $600,000 for tools and equipment through the John R. Evans Leaders Fund and an additional $180,000 awarded under the Infrastructure Operating Fund, which helps institutions with the operating and maintenance costs associated with the new infrastructure.
  • The John R. Evans Leaders Fund allows universities and colleges to attract top talent in diverse fields of research by providing them with the state-of-the-art infrastructure required to think big and innovate.
  • The CFI partners with the Canada Research Chairs Secretariat through the John R. Evans Leaders Fund to provide state-of-the-art labs, facilities and equipment for research institutions across Canada.