Backgrounder
November 6, 2009
Projects Funded In Guelph
Today, through the Ontario Research Fund–Research Infrastructure program, Ontario is investing more than $12 million at the University of Guelph to support 21 research projects and more than 200 researchers. This investment is part of a broader $268-million province-wide investment that will support 214 projects and more than 3,300 researchers in 14 cities, and help to create and preserve more than 1,300 construction jobs over the next four years across the province.
Postharvest Biochemistry of Horticulture Quality
Improving marketability of horticultural products
Lead Researcher: Bozzo, Gale G.
Provincial Funding: $125,242
Researchers Affected: 1
Ontario’s fruit, vegetable, and flowering plant producers may soon be able to improve the marketability of their products, thanks to research being conducted at the University of Guelph. Dr. Gale Bozzo is exploring novel plant biochemistry processes, with the goal of preserving post-harvest colouration. His research will lead to improved aesthetics and health promotion qualities of edible products – and open up new markets for Ontario horticultural producers.
Canadian Writing Research Collaboratory
Facilitating research on Canadian writers and writing
Lead Researcher: Brown, Susan
Provincial Funding: $34,800
Researchers Affected: 10
Dr. Susan Brown wants you to be able to click your way into Canadian literature and culture in a whole new way. The University of Guelph English professor is leading the development of an online national heritage resource on writers and writing in Canada. The database will include texts by Canadian writers and playwrights, scholarship by Canadian academics, and geographical, social, and historical information. A user-friendly search system will allow researchers of all skill levels – from elementary students to university professors – to access and study the information. The new Canadian Writing Research Collaboratory, as it is called, will transform the study of Canadian writing.
Pervasive and Wireless Networking Research
Boosting wireless performance levels
Lead Researcher: Denko, Mieso
Provincial Funding: $101,804
Researchers Affected: 1
Wireless mesh networks show promise in providing broadband wireless Internet access in urban and rural areas. However, they are not yet at optimal performance levels for many applications, and there are significant related costs. Dr. Mieso Denko will develop a state-of-the-art research program in pervasive and wireless networks, and facilitate their evaluation and commercial development. The research findings will have practical applications in health care, “smart homes” and wireless telemedicine. Researchers in academia and industry will have access to software available in the public domain. Flexible, low-cost networking and computer applications have revenue generation and Canada-wide benefit potential.
A Centre for Cognitive-Affective Neuroscience
Developing non-medical treatments for neurological disorders
Lead Researcher: Fenske, Mark J.
Provincial Funding: $163,885
Researchers Affected: 3
Developing cognitive (non-medical) treatments for disorders such as depression and addiction is the goal of research being done at the University of Guelph. At a new Centre for Cognitive-Affective Neuroscience, Dr. Mark Fenske is assessing the characteristics of attention, emotion and memory, and how they interact in the brain, in both healthy people and those with these specific disorders. This research that could have a significant impact by improving treatments while reducing health care costs.
Centre for Biodiversity Genomics
Revolutionizing species identification
Lead Researcher: Hebert, Paul
Provincial Funding: $7,240,524
Researchers Affected: 20
Imagine a day when any living thing can be identified accurately and rapidly to the species level, using a hand-held device the size of a cellular phone. Sound like science fiction? It’ is on the brink of becoming reality, thanks to University of Guelph researcher Dr. Paul Hebert. Dr. Hebert pioneered DNA barcoding, an approach that employs a small fragment of DNA to provide a unique identifier for each living species. He is leading an international effort to barcode species worldwide. The research will accelerate species identification. It also has important implications for pest and disease control, food production and safety, resource management, conservation, and recreation.
To date, Dr. Hebert has received $1,150,000 in funding from the Ministry of Research and Innovation.
Hormonal Signaling In Marine Ecosystems
Exploring the role of hormones and contaminants in water on reproduction and development
Lead Researcher: Heyland, Andreas
Provincial Funding: $125,000
Researchers Affected: 1
Hormones and contaminants in our water are affecting the reproductive and developmental processes of aquatic life – and humans – in ways we do not yet fully understand. At a new functional genomics research lab at the University of Guelph, Dr. Andreas Heyland’s research is shedding light on the subject. Focusing on sea urchins, he’s investigating the possible link between contaminants and proper endocrine function, which is fundamental to normal development. This research will lead to improved management decisions for the environment, as well as provide novel insights into mechanisms underlying fundamental developmental processes.
Understanding How Blood Vessel System Cell Changes Can Result in Kidney Disease
Developing new treatments for renal vascular disease
Lead Researcher: Jones, Nina
Provincial Funding: $121,799
Researchers Affected: 1
Chronic kidney disease is potentially fatal and increasing in frequency. Injury to the kidney’s blood filtration unit (the glomerulus) is a leading cause of kidney failure. The research of Dr. Nina Jones focuses on identifying what causes cells in the blood vessel system to change and how they can result in renal and other diseases. These findings will contribute to biochemical and health research in Ontario. They will also have the potential to contribute to the development of new pharmaceutical treatments for renal vascular disease, cardiovascular disease and cancer, and reduce the enormous burden of these diseases on Ontario communities.
To date, Dr. Jones has received $140,000 in funding from the Ministry of Research and Innovation.
Cutting-edge technologies in life science research: dynamic nuclear polarization NMR and advanced mass spectrometry
Identifying drug targets to advance treatments
Lead Researcher: Lam, Joseph S.
Provincial Funding: $1,820,581
Researchers Affected: 20
While scientists have determined that membrane proteins (protein molecules that are attached to the membrane of cells) account for more than half of the existing drug targets, identifying specific targets for drug development has proven to be challenging. At the University of Guelph, Dr.Joseph Lam, Dr. Vladimir Ladzhansky and co-applicants are using novel nuclear dynamic polarization nuclear magnetic resonance and leading-edge high-resolution mass spectrometry to investigate the structures of membrane proteins and other molecules. These research efforts will lead to a better understanding of diseases like cystic fibrosis, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and cancer and also has important implications for agriculture, food and biofuel research.
Studying the Effect of Dietary Fats on Cancer
Seeking new knowledge in the role of diet on cancer
Lead Researcher: Ma, David W.L.
Provincial Funding: $126,318
Researchers Affected: 1
Breast and prostate cancer are among the most commonly diagnosed forms of cancer in Canada. According to the American Institute of Nutrition, 30 per cent of all cancers are preventable through diet. Dr. David Ma’s research focuses on understanding the role of dietary fat in breast and prostate cancer, the childhood origins of breast cancer, and the impact of nutrition. Results of the proposed research are expected to emerge over the next two to three years. Anticipated benefits are support for training personnel for the knowledge-based and industry sectors, and the development of new diagnostic tools for breast and prostate cancer screening.
Infrastructure for Studies Of Grasslands, Species Loss and Global Environmental Change
Restoring Ontario’s grasslands
Lead Researcher: MacDougall, Andrew
Provincial Funding: $98,091
Researchers Affected: 7
Large areas of southern Ontario (~100,000 hectares) were once grassland, but agriculture and development have reduced them to a fraction of their former extent. This loss threatens many of the species that live there, and also impacts on their potential as carbon sinks given the ability of native grasslands to channel and store atmospheric carbon below ground. University of Guelph ecologist Dr. Andrew MacDougall is working to untangle the effects of global environmental change on the extent and functioning of Ontario’s grasslands. His discoveries will help authorities develop better management and restoration techniques that target the rehabilitation of biodiversity and ecosystem function in this imperiled system.
Model-Based Clustering With Applications in Bioinformatics and Food Authenticity
Advancing knowledge in data-rich disciplines
Lead Researcher: McNicholas, Paul D.
Provincial Funding: $118,362
Researchers Affected: 17
As the amount of information increases, researchers are being challenged to find ways of sorting through it to find data that is useful to them. At the University of Guelph, Dr. Paul McNicholas is using high-performance computing equipment to create software capable of finding groups, or clusters, of information in large datasets (with lots of variables). The methodologies he develops will not only help to advance knowledge in areas like biodiversity, bioinformatics, and food authenticity, they will set an international standard for clustering techniques.
Discovery and Development of Biomaterials
Producing new “green” materials
Lead Researcher: Mohanty, Amar
Provincial Funding: $463,796
Researchers Affected: 12
Making Ontario’s manufacturing sector more competitive is the goal of research being conducted at the University of Guelph. Dr. Amar Mohanty is leading a team of scientists focused on engineering innovative biomaterials using agricultural crop bi-products. These new “green” materials will be used in everything from car parts to fuel. It is research that will not only help Ontario manufacturers reduce their reliance on petro-chemicals, but also provide them with a substantial cost advantage and keep them competitive.
Establishing a Virtual Reality Lab to Study Risk Factors for Child Pedestrian Injury and ‘Best Practices’ For Prevention
Developing programs to teach school-age children how to cross the street safely
Lead Researcher: Morrongiello, Barbara A.
Provincial Funding: $124,563
Researchers Affected: 8
Child-pedestrian injuries are a leading cause of hospitalization and death among school-age children. University of Guelph researcher Dr. Barbara Morrongiello is using virtual reality simulation to study children’s street crossing behaviours under realistic traffic conditions – while not placing them at risk of injury. The goal of the research is to develop programs that train children how to cross streets safely and reduce the number of child-pedestrian accidents.
Remote Tracking Laboratory for Migratory Animals
Investigating why migratory birds are disappearing
Lead Researcher: Norris, Ryan
Provincial Funding: $120,464
Researchers Affected: 50
Where have all the migratory birds gone? Essential to our ecosystems, they are disappearing fast and researchers like Dr. Ryan Norris at the University of Guelph are focused on finding out exactly why that is. At a new remote tracking laboratory, Dr. Norris will use state-of-the-art equipment to follow the birds as they migrate between their Ontario breeding grounds and wintering sites in the south, with the goal of helping to develop effective international conservation and management plans.
To date, Dr. Norris has received $140,000 in funding from the Ministry of Research and Innovation.
Laboratory and Field equipment for Investigations of Organic Chemical Contamination in Fractured Rock Beneath Industrial Sites
Improving groundwater management and protection
Lead Researcher: Parker, Beth
Provincial Funding: $188,200
Researchers Affected: 6
Bedrock aquifers are underground layers of rock. They are a major source of groundwater for Canadians, supplying water for drinking and irrigation. But while scientists know that aquifers are prone to contamination from industrial sources, the means and extent of contamination remains a question. It is one Dr. Beth Parker at the University of Guelph hopes to answer through innovative field research. What she uncovers will help to improve groundwater management and protection – and give Ontario-based engineering and environmental consulting firms an advantage in developing new technologies to sell worldwide.
To date, Dr. Parker has received $4,638,316 in funding from the Ministry of Research and Innovation.
Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SquID) Magnetometer for the Characterization of Molecule-Based Magnetic Materials
Designing the electronics of the future
Lead Researcher: Preuss, Kathryn E.
Provincial Funding: $249,258
Researchers Affected: 1
From MP3 players to iPods to GPS systems, today’s electronics all rely on the transport of electrons in semiconductors such as silicon. Researchers like Dr. Kathryn Preuss at the University of Guelph are working to exploit the spin of the electron in addition to its charge, to create a new generation of innovative ‘spintronic’ devices. It is cutting-edge research that will help to keep Ontario at the forefront of this revolutionary electronics technology that has a potential market worth hundreds of billions of dollars a year.
To date, Dr. Preuss has received $140,000 in funding from the Ministry of Research and Innovation.
Centre for Public Health and Zoonoses
Preventing the spread of animal to human infectious diseases
Lead Researcher: Sargeant, Janice M.
Provincial Funding: $1,018,836
Researchers Affected: 29
Zoonotic diseases, like SARS, West Nile and rabies, are ones that are transmitted from animals to humans and they pose a growing health risk. In fact, more than 75 per cent of the emerging human infectious diseases are zoonotic. How do diseases jump from animals to humans? It’s a question University of Guelph researcher aims to answer at the new Centre for Public Health and Zoonoses. The goal of Dr. Sargeant’s research is to develop new strategies for preventing the spread of zoonotic diseases – and reduce the suffering and loss of life caused by them.
A Novel Approach to the Determination of Anesthetic Efficacy in Animals
Improving general anesthesia for animals
Lead Researcher: Valverde, Alexander
Provincial Funding: $72,356
Researchers Affected: 7
Anyone who has regained consciousness during surgery never forgets the horror – or the pain – of it. And it happens more often than we think. In fact, in one or two of every 1,000 surgeries, the patient is aware of what is going on because they were under-anesthetized. The same thing happens in animal surgery, but the difference is that animals cannot tell us about their experience. At the University of Guelph, Dr. Alexander Valverde is looking at the effects of various anesthetics on controlling pain and stability in different animals during general anesthesia. His goal is to give veterinarians confidence in their protocols and dosages for anesthesia.
Zebrafish Laboratory for Development and Disease
Developing more effective treatments for colon cancer
Lead Researcher: Van Raay, Terence
Provincial Funding: $126,134
Researchers Affected: 1
Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in Canada, claiming close to 9,000 lives a year. Substantially reducing that number is the goal of research at the University of Guelph. Using zebrafish, an excellent model for human diseases, Dr. Terence Van Raay is focused on understanding what happens in a particular signaling pathway (the Wnt pathway) to cause colon cancer. His research will provide valuable insight into this lethal disease and lead to better treatments for it.
High Performance Computing Facility for Studies of the Dynamics of Self-Assembling Block Copolymers
Exploring how complex structures form
Lead Researcher: Wickham, Robert
Provincial Funding: $120,376
Researchers Affected: 4
Polymer physicist Dr. Robert Wickham is fascinated by the push-and-pull interactions between parts of molecules, especially block copolymers. At a new high performance computing facility at the University of Guelph, Dr. Wickham is conducting leading-edge research on the dynamics of structure formation, particularly how structures assemble under the influence of these push-and-pull interactions. It is research that has many applications from designing faster computers, to developing new optical devices to understanding how organisms work.
Studying Nerve Cells to Better Understand Underlying Causes of Neurodegenerative Diseases like Alzheimer’s
Finding the causes of neurodegenerative diseases
Lead Researcher: Winters, Boyer D.
Provincial Funding: $315,922
Researchers Affected: 7
Neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer ’s have significant social, economic and emotional costs that are growing with the aging population — yet there is poor understanding of the underlying disease-causing processes. The research of Dr. Boyer Winters will focus on understanding memory using a variety of techniques. The research findings have the potential to suggest new approaches for diagnosing, treating and preventing dementia-causing neurodegenerative diseases, hugely benefiting Canadian society and beyond.
The Ontario Innovation Agenda
Research at the University of Guelph is an example of Ontario leading the world in the quest for knowledge and discovery. Support for this kind of work is part of Ontario’s Innovation Agenda, the province’s $3.2-billion strategy to make innovation a driving force of Ontario’s economy. By targeting investments toward areas where Ontario already is, or is poised to become a global leader, and by building on our greatest strength – the talent and ingenuity of our people – Ontario is harnessing innovation to ensure ours is one of the winning economies of the 21st century.
Support from the Ontario Research Fund–Research Infrastructure program
Part of Ontario’s Innovation Agenda, the Ontario Research Fund (ORF) is key to the province’s plan to move world-class research from the lab to the global marketplace. The role of the ORF is to help ensure that Ontario researchers have the tools they need to lead the world, or lead international collaborations, in their respective fields.
