Researchers at the University of British Columbia and its
affiliated hospitals have earned the silver spot in federal
funding — close to $45 million in infrastructure research
funding for nine projects from the Canada Foundation for Innovation
(CFI), it was announced today.
"This funding expands UBC’s capacity as a leading research
university," says UBC President Martha Piper. "It
will enhance ongoing research and bring benefits to the economy
and society in areas ranging from health to the environment."
Université de Montréal ranked first in Canada
for funding.
CFI made a Canada-wide investment of about $450.6 million
to support 126 projects at 57 Canadian universities, colleges,
hospitals and not-for-profit research institutions.
"Our researchers are to be congratulated for their determination
to strengthen UBC research through cutting-edge equipment
and facilities," says Indira Samarasekera, UBC’s vice-president,
Research.
With CFI funding of about $4.5 million, the Centre for Interactive
Research on Sustainability will be built on property shared
by four universities at Great Northern Way in Vancouver. Directed
by sustainability professor John Robinson, the 11,700 sq.-metre
facility will house researchers from a variety of disciplines
as well as community partners who will assist private and
public sector decision-makers on projects to build sustainability
in the region and beyond. The centre will combine the latest
in information technology, computer modelling and advanced
visualization capabilities. The structure itself will be a
model ‘green’ building and serve as a lab to assess new sustainable
building systems.
Other CFI funded projects include more than $7 million for
two UBC-led national projects using beam lines from Saskatoon’s
Canadian Light Source synchrotron — a source of brilliant
light beams that allow scientists to view the microstructure
of materials; and $5 million in laser equipment that will
be used for environmental, chemical and material scientists
at both UBC and Simon Fraser University.
Projects include The Centre for Hip Health, located at the
Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI), that
has received more than $5 million in funding. Led by UBC Assoc.
Prof. Tom Oxland, Canada Research Chair in Biomedical Engineering,
the centre aims to take a lifespan approach to the treatment
of hip disease and injury.
Also approved is the $4.5 million national Canadian Molecular
Cytogenetics Platform that will allow scientists to apply
cell technologies to the study of mental retardation; a $7.7
million expansion to the Prostate Centre at VGH, part of VCHRI;
and $7.5 million for the Centre for Disease Modelling, a resource
for UBC and VCHRI researchers to explore new therapies for
a wide range of infectious and other diseases such as SARS,
HIV, diabetes and cancer.
Also, CFI gave about $3 million to create the UBC-based Population
Health Observatory, an advanced data resource allowing investigators
to explore how health care, education, early childhood experience,
employment, the environment, and other factors work together
to affect the health of individuals and populations.
The CFI support represents 40 per cent of required funding.
UBC researchers will apply to the provincial government for
a matching 40 per cent. The remaining support will come from
private sources and industry.
CFI is an independent corporation established by the Government
of Canada in 1997 to strengthen the capability of Canadian
universities, colleges, research hospitals, and other not-for-profit
institutions to carry out world-class research and technology
development.
VCHRI is a joint venture between UBC and the Vancouver Coastal
Health Authority that promotes development of new researchers
and research activity.
A complete listing of projects can be found at the CFI Web
site at www.innovation.ca.
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