Photo of two women researchers wearing personal protective equipment in a lab

Responding to COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic underlined the important role Canadian labs play in helping researchers tackle global crises as they arise. Not only were health researchers equipped and ready to contribute to the global effort to develop and test vaccines, but those with expertise in many other disciplines were positioned to share their knowledge on the social measures and policies needed to contain the spread of COVID-19. 

Researchers in psychology offered innovative ways to maintain mental health as stress levels rose; leaders in education technologies extended new options to parents and schoolboards scrambling to teach virtually; material scientists and engineers retooled laboratory equipment and worked with the private sector to produce much-needed medical supplies. 

For more than 20 years, Canada has invested in establishing a strong foundation of cutting-edge labs, equipment and facilities at universities and colleges across the country. That these laboratories were ready to perform under the most urgent circumstances reflects Canada’s foresight and dedication to research that benefits everyone.

#GoResearch

Hear how researchers working in CFI-funded labs are answering the call to help during the COVID-19 pandemic. Produced in collaboration with CFI-funded research institutions, these vignettes delve into how the expertise and insights of bright minds across the country are offering hope. Here are a few examples:

Researchers at work in a lab
Understanding virus-host interactions
A person standing in front of a webcam
Directly supporting families struggling during COVID-19
A person standing in front of a webcam
Developing an easy-to-manufacture COVID-19 ventilator

Navigator facilities respond to COVID-19

Research Facilities Navigator

The Research Facilities Navigator is the CFI’s national directory of research labs that are collaborating with partners in industry, academia and government. Many of these labs responded to the pandemic by shifting their work to contribute to the fight against COVID-19.

From assisting in the development of a vaccine to designing more efficient ventilators and producing personal protective equipment for health care workers on the frontline, many Navigator labs made valuable contributions to help keep Canadians safe and healthy. Here are two examples:

Research Facilities Navigator
Kemitek

This research and technology transfer centre in Thetford Mines, Que., converted its chemical process production plant so it could produce hand sanitizer for a regional hospital in collaboration with local industry partners Prolab Technolub inc. and Solutions Chemco.
Walker Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre

This centre, at Niagara College in Welland, Ont., produced thousands of face shields to protect frontline healthcare workers in collaboration with local manufacturer Jay-Line. Their team also supported McMaster University researchers in developing 3D-printed laryngoscopes that help with the placement of tubes for COVID-19 patients needing assisted ventilation.

Canadian COVID-19 research gives us new tools to tackle a pandemic

The research projects supported through our Exceptional Opportunities Fund – COVID-19 competitions are on the frontlines of developing solutions to the economic turmoil, altered lifestyles and human health costs that have resulted from the pandemic. Here are five examples:

Paper strips printed with CMYK colours
article
Quebec

Taking the fear out of touch with antiviral inks

Montreal researchers aim to develop inks with anti-pathogenic nanoparticles to make printed surfaces safer
Dark liquid flows through a concrete pipe with a river and cityscape visible through the end of the pipe
article
Ontario

Testing sewage to see community infection levels

Researchers at the University of Windsor’s Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research test wastewater as a way of screening whole communities for SARS-CoV-2 and potentially a gamut of other viruses
A graphic of lungs criss-crossed with intersecting lines
article
Alberta

Is COVID-19 a vascular disease?

There is mounting evidence that COVID-19 affects blood vessels. If proven, it could change the way we approach treatment. A University of Calgary research team will use specialized microscopes to test the theory
A person puts a hand to their forehead while sitting on the floor and looking at a laptop
article
British Columbia

Virtual reality offers students mental health support

Researchers at the College of New Caledonia study how virtual reality can help students build resilience and learn coping mechanisms for stress and anxiety
A close up of a vaccine phial besides various superimposed imageswith 3D graphics of a virus layered over a picture of a pair of gloved hands in a laboratory
article
Nova Scotia

Safe facilities will help deliver effective COVID-19 vaccines in eastern Canada

Upgrading two Halifax-area facilities with higher safety measures means researchers in Halifax can develop and test COVID-19 vaccines

Canada’s national facilities at work

Major Science Initiatives Fund

Many of Canada’s large, complex research facilities, supported through the CFI’s Major Science Initiatives Fund, pivoted their research to take on the challenges posed by the global pandemic. Here are a few examples of how:

Major Science Initiatives Fund
SNOLAB

An underground science laboratory specializing in neutrino and dark matter physics at Queen’s University is applying its expertise in gas handling and control systems used in dark matter experiments to design a simple ventilator.
Érudit

An online database of Canadian social sciences and humanities publications, led by Université de Montréal, has opened access to its academic articles on the social, environmental and economic impacts of the pandemic.
CGEn

Canada’s national platform for genome sequencing and analysis, leads the country’s COVID-19 host genome sequencing initiative, which includes sequencing the genome of 10,000 Canadians to understand how the body responds to COVID-19.
Canadian Research Data Centre Network

Headquartered at McMaster University, the network has several social science projects focused on understanding the pandemic’s impact on society, the labour market and the economy.
Canadian Light Source (CLS)

The CLS has three streams of ongoing COVID-19 research taking place on drug development, studying the coronavirus’ physical behaviour and transmission and improving equipment for COVID-19 frontline workers.
Centre for Phenogenomics

The centre collaborated with Sinai Health Systems to streamline the process of sterilizing Personal Protective Equipment, including N95 masks.

As the COVID-19 pandemic took hold, the CFI took action to ensure Canadian research labs would remain at the forefront

Late February
CFI’s programs staff begin to reconfigure 91 expert committee meetings involving 349 experts from 23 countries for the 2020 Innovation Fund competition, keeping the 400-million-dollar competition on track for November 2020 Board decisions, while maintaining the integrity of the review process.

March 16
The CFI’s downtown Ottawa office closes and CFI staff begin working remotely.

March 20
The CFI makes provisions to allow salary support for research personnel who were temporarily redeployed from CFI-funded infrastructure to support COVID-19 research.

March 23
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announces more than $11 million from the Major Science Initiatives Fund to support the operation of VIDO–InterVac in their effort to find a vaccine for the novel coronavirus.

April 3
The CFI provides up to $5 million to optimize the research services offered by VIDO-InterVac to the national research community working against COVID-19.

May 7
The CFI launches the #GoResearch campaign.

June 8
The CFI launches a competition to invest up to $25 million from the Exceptional Opportunities Fund to support COVID-19-related research from all disciplines at Canadian universities and research hospitals.

July 15
A second Exceptional Opportunities Fund competition launches to invest $2 million in research related to COVID-19 at colleges, polytechnics and Cégeps.

November 6
Close to $28 million in funding from our Exceptional Opportunities Fund is announced for 79 projects at 52 universities, research hospitals, colleges, polytechnics and Cégeps to support COVID-19-related research.