June 23, 2009

ONTARIO RESEARCH FUND

RESEARCH EXCELLENCE PROGRAM

Through the Ontario Research Fund – Research Excellence program Round Three the McGuinty government is investing $12,513,305 to support 89 world-class researchers at two research institutions in Ottawa.

Novel Strategies for Enhancing Oncolytic Virus-mediated Cancer Therapy
Lead Institution: Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
Lead Researcher: Dr. Michael McBurney

Number of Researchers Affected: 9
Provincial Funding: $4,188,814
Funding Program: Ontario Research Fund – Research Excellence

An oncolytic virus infects and breaks down cancer cells but not normal cells. It is a type of targeted therapy. Ottawa Health Research Institute’s Program in Cancer Therapeutics (PCT) plans to use its expertise and its industrial partners’ experience to discover better oncolytic virus genotypes and virus and drug combinations to improve human cancer treatment.

Key private sector partners: Jennerex Biotherapeutics, Matrix Advanced Solutions, Atreus Pharmaceutical

“The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute is leading the way in developing a number of innovative new therapies, including oncolytic viruses for cancer and stem cell therapies for heart attack, multiple sclerosis and vision loss,” said Dr. Duncan Stewart, CEO and Scientific Director, OHRI, Vice-President of Research, The Ottawa Hospital and Professor of Medicine, University of Ottawa. “This new funding from the government of Ontario will greatly accelerate our work, so that we can get new therapies into the clinic more quickly and help people recover from devastating diseases.” 

The Next Crucial Step in Genome Research — Mapping Gene Circuit Boards
Lead Institution: Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
Lead Researcher: Dr. Michael Rudnicki
Number of Researchers Affected: 66
Provincial Funding: $3,828,498
Funding Program: Ontario Research Fund – Research Excellence

Launched in 2004, the Ottawa Health Research Institute’s International Regulome Consortium (IRC) is an ambitious, Canadian-led international research effort.  It brings together over 66 investigators from 34 institutions in 12 countries.  Its focus is mapping gene regulatory circuit boards (similar to electrical circuits) — the next crucial step in genome research.  The findings will help to identify targets for drug development and new therapies for currently untreatable disease.

“Canada is recognized around the world for its leadership in stem cell research, and in the International Regulome Consortium in particular,” said Dr. Rudnicki. “The government of Ontario has been very supportive of this effort. This funding will help pave the way for Ontario to take a lead role in the development of the next generation of stem cell therapies for devastating diseases.” 

Key private sector partners: Invitrogen Corporation

APECS: Advancing Photovoltaics for Economical Concentrator Systems
Lead Institution: University of Ottawa
Lead Researcher: Dr. Trevor Hall
Number of Researchers Affected: 6
Provincial Funding: $3,257,966
Funding Program: Ontario Research Fund – Research Excellence

The world-wide marketplace for high efficiency photovoltaic concentrator technology is growing at 30 per cent per annum. This technology delivers more power at lower cost because it uses a lot less semi-conducting material to convert light into power.  This technology is key to creating cost-effective and efficient solar powered electricity generation that will enable widespread adoption of alternative and green energy.  The University of Ottawa’s cross-disciplinary team has a goal of establishing high efficiency concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) systems as an economically-viable technology for grid-connected solar power generation.  The research team has set an aggressive target of enabling $2/W concentrator system cost, and $0.07/kW-hr grid parity.  The proposed program will contribute directly to improving the environment and reducing non-renewable resource dependence.  The research will develop highly qualified and skilled personnel at the college and university levels.

Key private sector partners: Cyrium Technologies, OPEL International, Semiconductor Insights

MESSAGEs: Media-Server and Support for Advanced Gaming Environments
Lead Institution: University of Ottawa
Lead Researcher: Dr. Nicolas D. Georganas
Number of Researchers Affected: 8
Provincial Funding: $1,238,027
Funding Program: Ontario Research Fund – Research Excellence

Gaming technology has many significant applications in many sectors: the entertainment industry; industrial and government training; education and services development and testing.  Combining high mobility and high performance has great potential in mobile wireless handsets, automobile technological systems and other applications, but there are major technical and creative challenges.  Through MEdia-Server and Support for Advanced Gaming Environments (MESSAGEs), the University of Ottawa’s proposed research will identify solutions to these challenges, with a team of leading Canadian researchers from diverse fields and private sector partners. 

Key private sector partners: IBM, Larus Technologies

Investing in research and innovation has been a cornerstone of Ontario’s economic planning since 2003 and is captured in Ontario’s Innovation Agenda. The agenda is a $3.2 billion plan to make Ontario one of the best places in the world to turn world-class research into world-class jobs.