The University of British Columbia will gain research strength in experimental bioinformatics and neuroethics with the appointment of two investigators to the university as Canada Research Chairs.
The UBC positions — valued at more than $2.8 million — are among 98 federally funded research positions, representing a total investment of $73.3 million distributed to universities, research institutes and hospitals across Canada recently. In addition, the Canada Foundation for Innovation supported the UBC positions with $254,750 and provided $10.4 million across Canada.
UBC has appointed 145 of the 166 Canada Research Chair positions allocated to the university.
The federally funded research positions are designed to build Canada’s research capacity. An investment of $900 million will support the establishment of 2,000 Chairs at universities across the country.
“The recruitment of these world-class researchers in today’s highly competitive academic environment is a testament to UBC’s international reputation for excellence,” says George Mackie, Vice-President, Academic, and Provost pro tem. “Both the university community and Canada will benefit greatly from the experience and leadership of these bright minds.”
Canada Research Chair in Experimental Bioinformatics, Ronald C. Beavis, is a member of UBC’s Biomedical Research Centre. An expert in proteomics, the identification and tracing of proteins, Beavis is working to establish a “library” of peptides that would aid in the identification of genes and their corresponding expressions.
Judy Illes, Canada Research Chair in Neuroethics, studies the ethical, social and legal challenges presented by advancements in medical imaging, cognitive neuroscience, and pharmacology. She joins UBC from Stanford University, where she was Assoc. Professor of Pediatrics in Medical Genetics and Director of the Neuroethics Program at the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics.
Chair appointments provide research and salary support for either seven- or five-year terms. The seven-year terms are renewable; the five-year terms can be renewed once.
The Canada Foundation for Innovation 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. For more information on Canada Research Chairs, visit www.chairs.gc.ca.
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