A major investment from the federal government will help Western University fund five innovative projects ranging from studying infectious diseases to developing ways to avoid materials damage in the nuclear industry.
On Thursday, the government of Canada announced a $13.8-million investment through the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI). The funding is part of over $554 million Canada-wide that will go towards 117 new infrastructure projects at 61 universities, colleges, and research hospitals.
It also comes just over seven months after over $3 million was announced for nine projects at Western University through the CFI’s John R. Evans Leaders Fund and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada’s (NSERC) Strategic Partnerships Grants program.
“This investment will help Western’s researchers continue to think big and innovate,” said London West MP and parliamentary secretary for science Kate Young.
“Supporting their work by investing in the lab equipment they need will lead to cutting-edge ideas and help generate social and economic growth.”
The recipients of the funding are:
- Facility for Microcirculatory Imaging and Tissue Analysis with project lead J. Geoffrey Pickering
- Infectious Disease Pathogenesis Facility for the Study of Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases with project lead Eric Arts
- New Horizons in Human Cognitive Neuroscience Research at the Brain and Mind Institute with project lead Melvyn Goodale
- Minimally-invasive Surgery and Therapy Canada Foundation for Innovation with project lead Terence Peters
- The Physical and Chemical Degradation of Materials with project lead David Shoesmith
“As a former academic, I’ve always been very proud of the research that is being carried out at Western University,” said London North Centre MP Peter Fragiskatos.
“The findings generated are extending knowledge in a range of areas and improving human lives in the process. Support for research infrastructure is vital in helping this continue because it provides a key building block for research in the first place. Today’s announcement is a testament to the fact that our government recognizes this and the outstanding work being done at Western.”
Dr. Roseann O’Reilly-Runte, the President and CEO of the Canada Foundation for Innovation, notes that the funding allows institutions to build on and accelerate research to create social, health, environmental and economic benefits for all Canadians.
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