Research stories

Our investments support research that benefits Canadians

In CFI-funded labs and facilities across the country, researchers in all stages of their careers are making discoveries, supporting a robust innovation ecosystem and helping solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges. 

Portrait of Nafissa Ismail professor in the School of Psychology at the University of Ottawa.

How neuroendocrinology crosses sectors to create promising new insights

Nafissa Ismail focuses on the effects of hormones on the brain to pin down the interactions between our organs and our emotions
Listen now
Hilary Earl kneels on the floor with her laptop as she prepares for an interview. In the foreground is a video camera.
article

Investigating the causes — and consequences — of war and genocide

How immersive simulation, film, video and podcasting tools are giving Hilary Earl and her colleagues fresh insights into the history of state-sponsored violence
All articles
Portrait of Nafissa Ismail professor in the School of Psychology at the University of Ottawa.
podcast
Ontario

How neuroendocrinology crosses sectors to create promising new insights

Nafissa Ismail focuses on the effects of hormones on the brain to pin down the interactions between our organs and our emotions
All podcasts
Image of various cellphones on a wooden table displaying photos of researchers.
video

A promising future, now: 25 years of investing in ideas that change our world

The Canada Foundation for Innovation has supported cutting-edge research in Canada for 25 years. In these videos, researchers reflect on how CFI funding has advanced their work and how future generations will benefit. They tell passionate stories of curiosity, commitment and innovation.
All videos

All stories

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
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
Viewed from backstage, a group of people on a tour stand on stage looking toward the empty auditorium
article
Saskatchewan

People with disabilities find connection through art

How a lab at the University of Regina combines fine arts and social sciences research to help people with disabilities to express themselves through art
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 jar of yellow liquid arranged with herbs and a bowl of peppercorns
article
Ontario

Booming business in bone broth

A burgeoning new food company all started with a desire to get healthier and a little help from food scientists at Niagara College
An illustration of a woman with white hair sitting up in a hospital bed gazing toward a window
article
Nova Scotia

Understanding the challenges in how we care for our elderly

As COVID-19 magnifies problems in Canada’s long-term care centres, researchers at Mount Saint Vincent University are informing policies to make improvements
Image de Fabien Durif dans le GreenUXlab superposée à une image floue d'une allée de supermarché avec un caddie net au premier plan
article
Quebec

Adapting to changing consumer behaviours

Using a mock retail environment to predict the impact of the pandemic on buying behaviour and the future of consumption
Smartphone screen emitting points of light and appearing to float over an sound wave
article
British Columbia

Diagnosing COVID-19 instantly with artificial intelligence

A Vancouver company’s handheld ultrasound devices are becoming an indispensable tool for quick diagnosis of COVID-19 in remote areas
An illustration of a teacher speaking to several monitors set up on school desks to demonstrate the idea of e-learning
article
Ontario

Education’s next act

A researcher in e-learning and expert in digital literacy is on the front lines for a school system struggling to transition to a new way of teaching.
Three small piles of coffee beans, coffee grounds and coffee pods on a white background
article
Ontario

Trailblazing company turns chaff to caff

With help from a University of Guelph lab, a small business in southern Ontario is finding opportunity in agricultural waste
Teaghan Wellman poses in front of a blurred background
article
Manitoba

Repairing the roads

There’s booming demand for a Manitoba company’s product that transforms unpaved roads into smooth, durable surfaces
A researcher posing for a photo.
video

Revolutionizing construction

A Quebec company has created a construction product that lets builders reach new heights and gives the forestry industry a new way to make money and increase employment