Fourteen investigators whose research ranges from remote
sensing of forest vegetation to early brain development will
join the University of British Columbia as Canada Research
Chairs (CRC), thanks to a national funding announcement made
today by Prime Minister Paul Martin.
The new UBC positions represent an investment of $2.1 million.
They are part of a national distribution of 200 positions
valued at $176.5 million distributed to universities, research
institutes and hospitals across Canada. UBC has now appointed
114 of the 156 federally funded research positions allocated
to the university.
“The university competes internationally to secure
these investigators. Their decision to accept a UBC appointment
reflects the outstanding calibre of research taking place
here,” says UBC President Martha Piper. “Today’s
announcement is truly a demonstration of the federal government’s
commitment to put Canada among the world’s leaders of
innovation.”
CRC positions are designed to build Canada’s research capacity.
A federal investment of $900 million will support the establishment
of 2,000 Chairs at universities across the country by 2005.
The prime minister also announced research infrastructure
funding of $20 million from the Canada Foundation for Innovation
(CFI), to be distributed across Canada.
The new researchers have been recruited to UBC from prestigious
institutions including Harvard University, Karolinska Institute
in Sweden, Cambridge University, and Woods Hole Oceanographic
Institute in the U.S.
Adele Diamond, Canada Research Chair in
Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, is an expert in brain
development. Her research focuses on the prefrontal cortex
– the area of the brain responsible for memory, problem
solving and other advanced cognitive abilities.
Her work holds promise for better ways to diagnose and teach
young children with autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder. Her research will also improve understanding of
other disorders associated with dysfunction of the prefrontal
cortex, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, schizophrenia
and addictive behaviours. Diamond joins UBC from the University
of Massachusetts Medical School.
Other new UBC Canada Research Chairs are: (in alphabetical
order)
Eric Accili is an expert in specialized
cells that act as pacemakers for heart and brain activities.
These pacemaker channels are an important target for drugs
that can modify or regulate key functions such as heart rhythm.
Alejandro Adem, from the University of Wisconsin,
is a mathematician who studies fundamental questions relating
to origins and mathematical structure.
Samuel Aparicio comes from Cambridge University.
He is an expert in how breast and ovarian cancers form at
the molecular level and his work will help scientists design
better therapies for these cancers.
Mu Chiao is from the University at California
at Berkeley. He specializes in nanoengineering to develop
microsensors for biomedical applications such as implanted
glucose monitoring sensors for diabetics.
Mark Carpenter, from the Karolinska Institute
in Sweden, studies balance impairments that contribute to
falls. His work will aid in better identification and treatment
for Parkinson’s disease and spinal cord injury patients
and for older adults with balance problems.
Marco Ciufolini, from the University of
Lyon in France, is an expert is synthetic organic chemistry.
He creates new complex molecules that help pharmaceutical
scientists design medicines including anti-cancer agents and
antibiotics.
Nicholas Coops comes from Australia where
he has developed satellite and airborne remote sensing technologies
to aid in forest management and conservation activities such
as estimating forest fire potential.
Bruce Edgar explores the genetic regulators
that control cell growth. A better understanding of how cells
divide will lead to improved diagnosis and treatment of diseases
such as cancer, diabetes and obesity.
Hongbin Li is a nanoscientist from Columbia
Univeristy. He engineers proteins at the single molecule level
so they can be used as building blocks for nanomaterials and
noanmechanical devices.
William Pinar, from Louisiana State Univesrity,
is an expert in the internationalization of curriculum studies.
He looks at how culture, society and politics relate to school
curriculum. His research will support curriculum research
and reform worldwide.
Handel Wright is a comparative culture expert
from the University of Tennessee. He examines new youth identities
found in the multicultural environments of North America.
His work will guide education policy and teaching methods.
Victoria Purcell-Gates, from Michigan State
University, is an expert in early literacy who will develop
literacy teaching methods to increase educational achievement
of children from poor and socially marginalized families.
Terrance Snutch specializes in calcium channels,
part of the body’s nerve signalling system. Understanding
these channels will help in the design of therapies for illnesses
such as stroke, migraine and epilepsy.
For more information on Canada Research Chairs, visit www.chairs.gc.ca.
For information on CFI, visit www.innovation.ca.
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