Supporting Canada Research Chairs with nearly $3.5 million in research infrastructure funding
OTTAWA, ONTARIO — Today, the Government of Canada announced close to $3.5 million in research infrastructure funding through the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) to support 17 Canada Research Chairs (CRCs) at 13 universities across the country.
This contribution, made through the CFI’s John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF), in collaboration with the CRC Program, will help institutions in Canada attract and retain top researchers.
The Honourable Yasir Naqvi, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health and the Honourable Mona Fortier, Member of Parliament for Ottawa—Vanier, made the announcement at Carleton University in Ottawa, on behalf of the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry.
Projects being funded through the JELF-CRC include:
- Combatting mosquito-borne viruses: Viruses that are transmitted by mosquitoes, like Zika, Chikungunya and the ones that cause dengue, infect around 400 million people every year. These illnesses cause symptoms ranging from fever to long-term disability and create an enormous burden on human health and the economy. With increasing global temperatures, mosquitoes are spreading to new locations, bringing with them the viruses they carry. We lack specific antivirals and vaccines for most of these viruses, partly because we don’t fully understand how they reproduce and spread in mosquitoes and humans. With new CFI-funded tools, researchers at the University of Toronto will study how the viruses interact with RNA molecules in their hosts and how to mitigate these diseases in Canada and worldwide.
- Preparing oil and gas workers for a green energy transition: Canada’s fossil fuel industries are major employers, but as countries start moving toward cleaner energy production, Canada will need to prepare for a transition. Researchers at Memorial University in St. John’s, Nfld., are looking at the implications for workers and communities dependent on those industries. They will use CFI funding to help build the Equitable Transitions Collaboration laboratory to examine policy options for a transition to green energy that considers the future and wellbeing of people who work in the industry. This will involve analyzing data and interviews with workers in the industry about the opportunities and barriers they face in transitioning to new jobs, engaging industry experts and providing research findings to policy leaders to help support the change.
- Understanding blood clots in underrepresented populations: Thrombosis is a group of blood clotting disorders that contributes to one in four deaths globally. Blood thinners, the main drug type used to prevent and treat thrombosis, are also the most common cause of emergency hospitalizations for adverse drug events in older adults in Canada. While decades of research have improved our understanding of thrombosis, most studies have involved patients of European descent. Data suggests the disease presents differently among ethnic and racial groups, but there is little known about whether current risk prediction tools can be generalized to minority populations. Researchers at the University of Ottawa will use state-of-the-art blood clotting tests and advanced computing capabilities to ensure that tools used to predict and treat thrombosis are reflective of all Canadian populations.
Quote
“With this funding, the CFI is strengthening Canada’s ability to attract and retain top researchers. The John R. Evans Leaders Fund helps build and outfit the vital spaces in postsecondary institutions where these bright minds are making discoveries and driving innovations that improve lives.”
– Sylvain Charbonneau, President and CEO, Canada Foundation for Innovation
Quick facts
- These research infrastructure investments are part of $641 million of Government of Canada funding being announced today which t supports science, researchers and students. Read about what else is being announced here.
- Projects supported through the John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF) will also receive additional funding through the CFI’s Infrastructure Operating Fund (IOF) to cover the costs of operating and maintaining the research infrastructure. The total investment of $3,482,831 includes $803,730 from the IOF.
- The CFI collaborates with the Canada Research Chairs Program to create competitive packages for the funding of infrastructure and research support at institutions.
John R. Evans Leaders Fund
Funding for infrastructure associated with a Canada Research Chair
John R. Evans Leaders Fund
Funding for infrastructure associated with a Canada Research Chair
List of approved projects by institution
NOTE:
As part of this announcement, an additional $780,814 was awarded under the Infrastructure Operating Fund, a mechanism that assists institutions with the incremental operating and maintenance costs associated with the new infrastructure.