Nearly $24M in infrastructure funding announced

Ottawa, ON – The Canada Foundation for Innovation today approved $23.7 million to support 135 projects involving 160 researchers at 32 research institutions across Canada. $18.2 million has been awarded under the New Opportunities Fund (NOF) for infrastructure support to newly recruited academic staff and an additional $5.5 million to assist universities with the incremental operating and maintenance costs associated with new infrastructure projects.

The investments announced today cover a wide spectrum of cutting-edge research from looking into the next generation of desktop computing beyond the keyboard/mouse paradigm in Nova Scotia to allowing specialized research into alternative uses for aluminum in Quebec. New faculty in northern Ontario will look into ways of retaining medical school graduates in rural communities and new equipment in Manitoba will allow further research and collaborations on the global warming impacts on the Arctic’s ecosystem.

"The capacity of a country to innovate rests largely on the availability of highly qualified people. Since research is the foundation of innovation, it is critical that Canadian institutions are successful in attracting and retaining the very best talent," says Dr Eliot Phillipson, president and CEO of the CFI. "The New Opportunities Fund continues to play a crucial role in helping institutions to develop and enhance their research and training capacity, as well as their ability to transfer knowledge."

Since its creation in 1997, the CFI says it has invested more than $262 million through its New Opportunities Fund and provided 2497 newly recruited faculty membersmore than 40% of them from abroadwith state-of-the-art equipment.

Following are project titles and maximum CFI contribution, listed by university:

Dalhousie University
– Establishment of a Facility for Innovative Multi-Level Studies on Myocardial Repair, $127,332

Ecole Polytechnique de Montral
– Advanced Micro and Nanofabrication Laboratory, 225 072 $

HEC Montral
– Laboratoire de calcul en finance et assurance, 46 057 $

Laurentian University / Universit Laurentienne
– Server and Related Equipment/Software to Support Rural Health Research, $25,025

McGill University
– Advanced Radiotherapy by Combined Novel Three-dimensional Ultrasound Techniques and Monte Carlo Dose Calculation, $159,830
– An Integrated Computing Platform for Enabling Innovation in Signal Processing and Scientific Computing, $232,633
– From transcription factors to cell function: novel insights into the regulation of bone resorption by osteoclasts, $174,997
– Bench to Bush Infrastructure for Wildlife Bioenergetics Research with Application to Human Obesity, Biodiversity, and Climate Change, $174,087
– Computing Infrastructure for the Analysis of Non-coding Functional Regions of the Human Genome, $89,964
– Infrastructure for Laboratory of Craniofacial Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, $156,018
– Infrastructure for the Measurement of High-speed Interconnects, Microwave Electronic Circuit Components and Packaging Effects, $204,929
– Infrastructure to Explore the Interplay of Ecological and Evolutionary Dynamics in Plankton Communities, $174,816
– Integrated High Performance Computing and Audio/Video Conferencing Facility for High Energy Physics Research, $205,078
– Laboratory for Correlative and Interdisciplinary Research on Cancer Nutrition and Rehabilitation, $120,033
– Measurement and Development Tools for Computational Acoustic Modeling of Music Instruments and Sounding Objects, $175,403
– Resistively Detected NMR in Low-dimensional Nanostructured Systems: A Tool to Study Fundamental Quantum Phenomena, and Application to Spintronics, $175,000
– Single-Molecule Visualization and Imaging Facility for Mechanistic Study of DNA Repair Enzymes with Nanometer Precision, $175,000
– Transdisciplinary Research in Poultry Science: Nutrition, Environment, and Health, $174,850
– Work-work-work: Infrastructure to Characterize the Biomechanics of Repetitive Motion Disorders, $157,739

McMaster University
– Comprehensive Analyses of Low Abundance Metabolites by Capillary Electrophoresis-mass Spectrometry, $80,000
– Cryo-electron Microscopy Studies on Proteases Involved in the Cell Protein Quality Control System, $108,564
– Establishment of a Biosafety Level 2 Animal Facility for Investigation of Chronic Inflammation and Pulmonary Fibrosis, $123,829
– Fetal Origins of Child and Adult Disease: The Role of Environmental Toxicants, $56,326
– High-field Biomolecular Nuclear Magnetic Resonance at McMaster University, $170,000
– Research Facility for Inert-atmosphere Synthesis and Electrochemistry, $80,000
– Structural and Functional Studies of DNA Replication and Repair Proteins, $112,509

Memorial University of Newfoundland
– A Microstructure Profiling System for Measuring Turbulent Mixing in Coastal Seas, $64,012
– Development of Micro-Mechatronics Laboratory, $159,269
– In Vitro and In Vivo Studies for Virus Infection and Cellular Signaling Pathways, $138,950
– Musical Performance Analysis Facility, $334,619

Mount Saint Vincent University
– Atlantic Research Centre for Family-Work Issues, $44,998

Queen’s University
– Dependable Software Systems and Their Evolution, $108,000
– Developmental Psycholinguistics Research Facility, $80,000
– Molecular and Cellular Function of Tumor Suppressor Genes, $100,000
– Novel Methods to Assess Bone Quality In Vivo and Determine Critical Factors Associated with Bone and Joint Health, $54,400

Ryerson University
– A Computational Modeling Environment for Innovation in the Detection and Treatment of Cancer, $64,698
– Optic Fiber Sensing Wireless Network Laboratory, $132,068
– Wavelength Dispersive X Ray Fluorescence Facility for Multi-element Analysis in Biological Samples, $83,650

Saint Mary’s University
– Interactive, High Degree-Of-Freedom Tools for Multimedia Applications, $57,840

Simon Fraser University
– Community Health Assessment and Management Facility, $200,000

Universit Laval
– Cell Imaging Platform for the Study of the Role of Novel Proteins in Angiogenesis, 176 279 $
– Dotation d’quipements pour la caractrisation thermodynamique des matriaux, 175 114 $
– Laboratoire d’imagerie spectrale pour l’estimation en-ligne et le contrle de la qualit des produits industriels, 151 602 $
– Laboratoire d’cologie comportementale applique, 161 368 $
– Virtual Components and Complex Signal Processing Systems Laboratory, 206 052 $

Universit de Montral
– Discovery of New Antiviral Approaches for the Treatment of Human Papillomavirus Associated Diseases, 247 921 $
– Infrastructure for a Xenopus Developmental Biology Laboratory, 159 349 $
– Molecular Mechanisms of Viral Immune Evasion Strategies, 229 077 $
– Unlocking the Potential of Planar Chirality: Asymmetric Olefin Metathesis as the Key, 93 865 $

Universit de Sherbrooke
– Non-Contact Time-Resolved Laser Induced Fluorescence Diffuse Optical Tomography, 165 000 $
– Rcepteurs des kinines et corrlation fonctionnelle dans l’inflammation vasculaire, 157 476 $

Universit du QC Institut national de la rech. scientifique
– Establishment of a Laboratory for the Study of Morbillivirus Pathogenesis, 234 419 $
– Establishment of a Molecular Virology Laboratory to Study the Human Pathogen Herpes Simplex Virus, 111 006 $

University of Alberta
– An Interdisciplinary Program in Carbohydrate, Medicinal, and Computational Chemistry, $135,141
– Centre for the Study of Oral Discourse, $91,173
– Multi-platform Computational Resources for the Study of Molecular Photochemistry, $134,205
– Semiochemical Research Facility for Insect Chemical Ecology Research, $65,443

University of British Columbia (The)
– Biomedical Signal and Image Computing Laboratory (BiSICL), $250,000
– CO2 Separation Technology in Combustion Systems, $124,453
– Creation of the Ac
tive Transport Collaboratory to Assess and Facilitate Research on the Linkages Between the Built Environment, Travel Behavior, and Public Health, $50,000
– Diagnostics for Energy Efficient Powertrain: Imaging Mixture Preparation on Advanced Combustion Technologies (DEEP-IMPACT), $176,380
– Facility for Environmental Biochemistry and Physiology Research (FEBPR), $249,796
– Facility for the Nanoscale Analysis of Apoptosis Mechanisms in Diabetes, $175,000
– High-performance Computer for Processing Astronomical Large Data Sets, Data Simulation and Data Analysis, $37,261
– Infrastructure Support for the UBC Systems Neuroendocrinology Laboratory, $125,000
– Laboratory for Quantum Materials Research with Ultra-Cold Atomic Gases, $175,000
– Laboratory for Ultrastable Femtosecond Optics, $149,932
– Laboratory of Immune System Functional Genomics, $87,975
– Laboratory of Viral Immunopathology, $125,000
– Oceanographic Laboratory for Coastal Transition Zone Studies, $125,000
– Rapid Product Development for Innovation, $115,830
– Reducing the Burden of Injury in Canada: Injury Biomechanics Facilities, $115,000

University of Calgary (The)
– Establishment of a C. elegans Facility to Study Genetic Regulators of Organ Formation, $138,524
– Imaging Laboratory for Functional Recovery, $207,900

University of Guelph
– Cryptosystems Security Research Laboratory at the University of Guelph, $118,542
– Development of Tools and Technologies for Sustainable Wastewater Reuse, $125,000
– Ecology, Traceability and Detection of Foodborne Pathogens in Food Production and Processing Chains, $73,017
– Integrated Facility for Studies on Microbial Ecology, Biogeochemistry and Bacteria-mineral Interactions in Soils and Sediments, with Applications to Environmental Protection, $249,370
– Manipulation of Myoblast and Fibroblast Cell Expression by Mechanotransduction, $107,085
– Social and Legal Responses to Violence in Canada, $93,373

University of Manitoba (The)
– An Electron Cooler Trap for Highly Charged Ions for Precise Mass-measurement of Exotic Nuclei and Tests of Quantum Electrodynamics, $98,357
– Core Facility for the Analyses of Natural Health Products: Chromatographic Fingerprinting of Herbal Medicinal Extracts and Isolation of Bioactive Compounds, $100,000
– Field Laboratory for the Study of Retrofitted Landfill Leachate Removal Systems, $100,000
– Gene Expression Analysis of Cardiac Hypertrophy, $100,069
– Laboratory for Synthesis and Characterization of Liquid Crystal/Nanoparticle Composite Materials, $99,843
– Large Animal Biosecurity Laboratory, $99,697
– Parasite Vaccine Development Laboratory, $100,000
– Patch Clamp with Imaging by Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer: Visualization of Ion Channel Function in Living Cells, $99,875
– Protein Biochemistry Laboratory, $99,782
– Remote Sensing of Marine Biological Hotspots in the Canadian Arctic, $100,000
– Ultra-Wide-Band Microwave Imaging Laboratory, $99,822

University of New Brunswick
– AEC Interactive Collaboration Lab, $70,759
– Biomechanics Infrastructure for Clinical Gait Research, $22,986

University of Ottawa / Universit d’Ottawa
– Acoustic Measurement of Flow and Sediment Transport for Analysis of River Channel Change, $41,000
– Automated Microbial Culture Facility for Experimental Evolution, $200,001
– Impaired Cytotoxic T cell Function and its Role in HIV Pathogenesis, $75,000
– System for RNA Structure/Function Relationship Studies, $97,689
– The Ontario Cardiac Arrest Registry: An Integrated Data System Measuring and Improving Out-of-hospital Cardiac Arrest and Other Critically Ill Patient Outcomes, $70,000

University of Regina
– In-situ Infrared Spectroscopy for Synthetic Inorganic, Organic, and Organometallic Chemistry and Catalysis, $64,141
– Molecular Tools for Environmental and Food Processing Microbiology, $51,189
– Rough Music and Audio Digital Interaction Lab (aRMADILo), $59,655

University of Saskatchewan
– Genetics, Genomics and Breeding for Improved Durum Wheat End-use Quality, $67,600
– Hierarchical Peer Grid, $60,000
– Molecular Systematics and Mutation Scanning Facility for Parasitology, $63,444
– Plasma Ion Implantation Equipment for New Photonic Materials, $80,000
– Structural Characterization of the Pentachlorophenol (PCP) Biodegradation Pathway: Insight on the Early Stage of the Molecular Evolution of Enzymes, $62,000

University of Toronto
– Cities, Health, And Neighbourhood Geomatics (CHANGE) Laboratory, $70,488
– Creation of a Laboratory to study the Causes and Consequences of Genomic Instability, $199,031
– Critical Accessories for a Functional Mass Spectrometry/Proteomics Facility at the Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, $41,089
– Infrastructure for a Distributed Microsystems Laboratory, $107,361
– Infrastructure for Genetically Encoded, Flourescent Nitric Oxide Receptors, Modulators and Sensors, $356,464
– Laboratory of Colloid and Formulation Engineering, $109,520
– Molecular Genetics of Mammalian Vascular and Hematopoietic Development, $181,138
– New Facility for Signal-Transduction and Networking Studies in Plant-Pathogen Interaction, $199,950
– Social Cognitive Neuroscience of Attitudes, $129,929
– Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometer for Planetary Sciences, $260,000

University of Victoria
– Fluid Mechanics Laboratory, $224,577
– Laboratory for Advanced Wireless Communications Research at UVic, $127,001
– Medical Physics Laboratory, $125,796
– Oceanographic Laboratory for Biogeochemistry and Phytoplankton Research, $176,211

University of Waterloo
– Electricity Market Simulation & Optimization Laboratory (EMSOL), $145,000
– Facility for Research in Piano Design, Technology, and Manufacturing, $111,999
– Micro-Systems Research Center, $340,488
– Mobile Experimental Behavioral Laboratory (MEBL), $58,348

University of Western Ontario (The)
– Crystallographic Studies of Key Proteins in Translesion DNA Replication and Mutagenesis, $240,000
– Establishment of State-of-the-art Cardiovascular Tissue Engineering Laboratory, $199,513
– Laboratory for the Study of Radiation Induced Chemical Processes and Transport, $295,035
– Mechanisms of Neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s Disease and Neuronal Injury, $260,006

University of Windsor
– Biological Irradiation Facility, $41,890
– Facility Infrastructure for Evaluation of Single Motor Unit Properties During Movement, $50,281
– Facility for Applied Social Welfare Research, $47,759

Wilfrid Laurier University
– Enantioselective Synthesis of Axially Chiral Biaryls. Applications in Asymmetric Synthesis, Total Synthesis and Materials Science, $59,006

York University
– A Facility for the Study of Plant Evolutionary and Population Genomics, $234,134
– Aquatic Facility and Center for the Integrative Study of Fish Physiology and Endocrinology, $218,489
– The Role of Sensory Information in Motor Control and Learning, $191,665.