April 24 , 2007

ONTARIO RESEARCH FUND – RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM

Through the Research Infrastructure program of the Ontario Research Fund, the McGuinty government helps researchers obtain the tools they need to stay on the forefront of innovation, including lab space, equipment and computer software. This round of funding under the Research Infrastructure program will provide $44,750,347 to support 18 projects in the Greater Toronto Area. The funding will leverage investments from 83 industry and other partners.

Projects

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Maintaining Ontario’s leadership in advanced medical imaging

Lead researcher: Dr. Sylvain Houle
Total project cost: $5,500,000
Provincial funding: $2,200,000

Psychiatric disorders and dementias affect millions of Canadians. At the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, Dr. Sylvain Houle is leading an initiative that will improve the effectiveness of molecular imaging to help scientists develop medical and surgical treatments. The imaging technology will assist multidisciplinary research teams in oncology, neurology, mental health and addiction. The leading-edge imaging system will further enable Ontario’s top researchers to collaborate with scientists around the world in the search for medical breakthroughs.

Major industry and other partners: University Health Network.

Ryerson University

Advanced Biomedical Ultrasound Imaging and Spectroscopy Laboratory

Groundbreaking ultrasonic research pushes biomedical treatment boundaries

Lead researcher: Dr. Michael Kolios
Total project cost: $980,562
Provincial funding: $392,225

Dr. Michael Kolios is leading an innovative project that will push ultrasound technology to new limits in the fight against cancer. Ryerson University and the Princess Margaret Hospital will use next-generation ultrasound spectroscopy to study the structural changes cells undergo during cancer treatment. This groundbreaking work could transform the way ultrasound is practiced and lead to new, more accurate and lower-cost disease diagnosis and treatment monitoring techniques.

Major industry and other partners: Visual Sonics, Ultrasonix.

Centre for Interactive Multimedia Information Mining

Extracting new value from existing digital resources

Lead researcher: Dr. Ling Guan
Total project cost: $2,936,174
Provincial funding: $650,000

Multimedia technologies are revolutionizing education, business, health care and entertainment, creating vast amounts of new information. Yet, our ability to extract and manipulate the information from these resources has not kept pace. At Ryerson’s new Centre for Interactive Multimedia Information Mining, Dr. Ling Guan will use 3D imaging and virtual reality technologies to develop effective systems for “mining” large quantities of data from multimedia resources. The resulting techniques will have wide applications in multimedia areas ranging from health care informatics to the entertainment and gaming industries.

Major industry and other partners: SGI, Dell, Actuality Systems.

Research Infrastructure for Spatial Analysis and Business Geomatics

Finding better ways of turning data into knowledge

Lead researcher: Dr. Tony Hernandez
Total project cost: $1,918,655
Provincial funding: $424,843

Many large Canadian businesses and government organizations are “drowning in data.” Dr. Tony Hernandez and his research team at Ryerson University’s Centre for the Study of Commercial Activity and his research team are working with partners to develop powerful data-driven visualization technologies that could help process massive amounts of raw data to identify large-scale patterns in business activity, such as mapping and processing of consumer energy usage. The goal is to develop effective ways to generate more useful information that can lead to improved decision-making.

Major industry and other partners: IBM Canada, Silicon Graphics, Environics Analytics

The Hospital for Sick Children

Centre for the Study of Complex Childhood Diseases

Accelerating discoveries from the lab to the clinic

Lead researcher: Dr. Martin Post
Total project cost: $20,571,919
Provincial funding: $8,228,769

New research suggests that many adult diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, asthma, obesity and diabetes, originate during the fetal period or early childhood. To accelerate research in this area, Dr. Martin Post will lead the establishment of the Centre for the Study of Complex Childhood Diseases. The centre will help draw top international researchers to Ontario and create collaborative networks with industry partners to advance the development of effective therapies.

Major industry and other partners: SerCon, Applied Biosystems, Leica, Fisher Scientific, Philips, GE, Electrical Geodesics Inc, LMI, Quorum, BioSpherix.

Centre for the Investigation of Neuroplasticity in Developmental Disorders

Exploring how the brain heals itself

Lead researcher: Dr. Carter Snead III
Total project cost: $7,400,293
Provincial funding: $2,960,117

How does a brain learn to compensate for injury or disease? Scientists led by Dr. Carter Snead III at the new Centre for the Investigation of Neuroplasticity and Developmental Disorders, will be focused on finding answers to such critical questions. The centre will become a major focal point for leading-edge studies on neuroplasticity – the brain’s ability to form new nerve connections to compensate for injury and disease and to adjust to new situations or changes in the environment. The centre will offer researchers an extensive combination of resources: imaging, molecular and behavioural research facilities and access to large clinical populations. The discoveries that emerge from the research will help shape new treatments for conditions such as epilepsy, brain tumours, strokes or brain injury due to accidents.

Major industry and other partners: Philips, Avotec Inc, Scalar, Acquired Imaging Services, Femtolasers Produktio, Carl Zeiss Canada.

University Health Network

Cancer Stem Cell Centre

Building on Ontario breakthroughs in cancer research

Lead researcher: Dr. John Dick
Total project cost: $10,732,672
Provincial funding: $4,293,069

Cancer stem cell researchers have made transformative discoveries recently, many of them based on research conducted in Ontario by internationally renowned scientists. To bring those breakthroughs to the next level, Dr. John Dick and the University Health Network researchers are bringing together many of Ontario’s world-leading stem cell researchers to establish the Cancer Stem Cell Centre and launch a pioneering research program. The centre will make possible breakthrough research that will improve the fight against cancer.

Major industry and other partners: BD Biosciences, Carl Zeiss Canada MicroImaging, TECAN, Xenogen, The Hospital For Sick Children.

Comprehensive Systems Biology Approach to Profiling and Modeling of Cancer

Better data management key to improving cancer treatments

Lead researcher: Dr. Igor Jurisica
Total project cost: $12,492,753
Provincial funding: $4,001,041

Cancer research creates a deluge of data that requires new approaches to information management and analysis. Dr. Igor Jurisica and a team of researchers at the University Health Network are taking an innovative, comprehensive systems approach, using computer modeling to analyse current cancer treatments and drug design. Their goal is to significantly improve the quality, effectiveness and cost-benefit of cancer diagnosis, make current drugs more effective, and identify novel and more targeted drugs.

Major industry and other partners: IBM, BlueArc, Thermo Fischer Scientific, Biomedical Photometrics Inc., Applied Biosystems, Carl Zeiss Canada, Dharmacon.

Disease Genomics: Reduction to Practice

Expanded genetic research facilities support research in Ontario

Lead researcher: Dr. Katherine Siminovitch
Total project cost: $12,000,000
Provincial funding: $4,800,000

Extraordinary advances in our understanding of genetic links to lung cancer, Crohn’s disease, osteoporosis, and other human diseases, has opened the door to more effective therapies. Expanded facilities and new, state-of-the-art equipment at the University Health Network’s Clinical Genomics Centre will accelerate this development process. The world-class research team will launch international collaborative searches for the knowledge needed to translate genomic discoveries into more medical treatments. The potential medical and commercial benefits will help Ontario’s life sciences sector continue to be a leader in genomics research.

Major industry and other partners: Nikon, Thermo Fischer Scientific, Rigaku, Sequenom, Transition Technologies, Molecular Devices, Agilent Technologies, Suss Microtech.

The Electronic Living Laboratory for Interdisciplinary Cancer Survivorship Research

Bridging the Gap for Chronic Cancer Care

Lead researcher: Dr. Pamela Catton
Total project cost: $3,316,909
Provincial funding: $1,200,000

There are now more than one million Canadian cancer survivors. A growing number of them are struggling to cope with long-term physical and emotional side effects. Dr. Pamela Catton at the University Health Network’s Electronic Living Laboratory for Interdisciplinary Cancer Survivorship Research will lead a group of scientists dedicated to exploring cancer survivorship from multiple perspectives. Using the laboratory’s innovative research approach, the survivor adopts self-management strategies, creating a self-care environment and developing reciprocal relationships with researchers. The goal is to develop more effective, sustainable strategies to improve the physical and emotional health of cancer survivors.

Major industry and other partners: Desire 2 Learn, Klick Communications Inc.

The Regenerative Medicine Project

Using the body’s own regenerative capabilities to repair damaged tissues

Lead researcher: Dr. Richard Weisel
Total project cost: $18,000,000
Provincial funding: $7,200,000

Countries all over the world have launched major initiatives to further regenerative medicine research because it has the potential to revolutionize the way we prevent, diagnose and treat heart disease, diabetes, spinal cord injuries and many other conditions. The University Health Network is establishing a globally unique research initiative – The Regenerative Medicine (REMEDI) Project – under the direction of Dr. Richard D. Weisel. A multidisciplinary team of Toronto’s leading scientists, engineers and clinicians are collaborating to drive new discoveries in regenerative medicine and create viable clinical diagnostic and therapeutic applications, such as cell- and gene-based therapies and tissue engineering. The research will contribute to reducing the personal, social and economic impacts of chronic diseases.

Major industry and other partners: Sunnybrook and Women’s College, Allentown, Applied Biosystems, BD, Mandel Scientific Company Inc., Oxford Instruments, SGI, Siemens Canada Ltd., Thermo Fischer Scientific, VisualSonics, VWR International, Xenogen.

University of Toronto

800-MHz NMR Spectrometer Enhancement

Probing the molecular activity of leading diseases

Lead researcher: Dr. Lewis Kay
Total project cost: $1,327,947
Provincial funding: $531,179

One of the keys to developing better treatments for cancer, cystic fibrosis and autoimmune diseases is to improve our understanding of protein interactions at the molecular level. University of Toronto researchers led by Dr. Lewis E. Kay will now be able to study proteins at levels that were not previously possible by using enhanced Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy. This research, which is at the cutting edge of structural biology, will involve collaborations with top biomedical researchers at universities around the world including the U.K. and the U.S.

Major industry and other partners: Varian.

An Integrated Centre for Surface and Interfacial Analysis of Advanced Materials

Research charts new territory with 3D chemical mapping of surfaces

Lead researcher: Dr. Charles Mims
Total project cost: $3,411,949
Provincial funding: $1,361,065

Advanced materials are making possible a wealth of Canadian innovations in fields ranging from medical devices to fuel cells and nanomaterials. New state-of-the-art analytical and imaging equipment at the University of Toronto’s Surface Interface Ontario, directed by Dr. Charles A. Mims, will enable researchers from across Canada to further their investigations into surface chemical interactions at the molecular level. The resulting data will enhance Ontario’s global competitiveness and create economic spin-offs for a number of industrial sectors.

Major industry and other partners: Thermo Electron Corp., Datacomp Electronics Ontario, Leica Microsystems, Hiden, Physical Electronics, SFR Ontario for ION-TOF GmbH.

Centre for Plant Phenogenomics

Accelerating plant health and development

Lead researcher: Dr. David Guttman
Total project cost: $5,392,050
Provincial funding: $2,002,758

Discoveries in genetic research are driving the development of innovative new agricultural and forestry products such as improved biofuels and more weather-resistant crops. At the University of Toronto, the Plant Biology Group is establishing a unique, cutting-edge research facility that will enable scientists, led by Dr. David Guttman, to study plant traits at the molecular and cellular levels and improve the speed of commercialization by the agricultural and forestry industries. The results will include healthier plants, improved crop management techniques and the development of new, renewable bio-products.

Major Industry and other partners: BioRad, Zeiss, Beckman Coulter, Thermo-Finnigan, Ontario Scientific.

Facility for Advanced Bioacoustophotonics and Biomolecular Microfluidic Photoacoustics

Old discovery opens new doors

Lead researcher: Dr. Andreas Mandelis
Total project cost: $1,682,421
Provincial funding: $661,599

More than 125 years ago, Alexander Graham Bell discovered that some substances emitted sounds when exposed to light. Today, new generations of lasers and ultra-sensitive microphones have turned Bell’s discovery into a potentially transformative area for research. At the University of Toronto, Dr. Andreas Mandelis and a team of top scientists are exploring possible applications for new cancer imaging technologies and infectious disease and cancer DNA diagnostics. One of the most exciting possibilities is a fast and sensitive DNA molecule identification system that performs full laboratory analyses on a miniature scale. The potential benefits are tremendous in terms of both mobile health care and commercialization.

Major industry and other partners: Fairway Medical Technology, PTD Inc, Coherent Inc., ESC Inc.

Large-scale Impact and High-Velocity Loading and Sensing Facility for Critical Infrastructure

Reducing the impact of natural or man-made disasters

Lead researcher: Dr. Jeffrey Packer
Total project cost: $8,071,955
Provincial funding: $3,228,782

Natural or man-made disasters can have devastating effects on human life, the provision of essential services and national economies. At the University of Toronto, structural engineering researchers led by Dr. Jeffrey A. Packer are using newly acquired equipment to find improved ways to protect Ontario’s critical infrastructure – such as nuclear power plants, vital bridges and hospitals – against catastrophic failure. They will be working closely with staff from Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation and Ontario Power Generation to find real-world solutions to the challenges of retrofitting older structures as well as setting new design standards for structures. This research will generate the knowledge we need to help protect our vital infrastructure. It will also create valuable expertise that will give Ontario firms a competitive advantage internationally in the highly competitive fields of consulting engineering and construction.

Major industry and other partners: Engineering Seismology Group Inc., Metris Canada, MTS Systems Corporation.

Scanning Tunneling Spectroscopy of Molecular Wires and Corrals

Top Canadian scientists extend the frontiers of nanoscience

Lead researcher: Dr. John Polanyi
Total project cost: $770,368
Provincial funding: $308,147

Forecasts by the U.S. National Science Foundation predict that the market for nanotechnology-derived goods and services will reach US$1 trillion by 2015. At the University of Toronto, two of Canada’s top scientists – Nobel Prize winner Dr. John Polanyi and physicist Dr. Al-Amin Dhirani – will investigate recently uncovered nano-phenomena using a newly acquired Low Temperature Scanning Tunneling Microscope, the first of its kind in Canada. Their discoveries will extend the frontiers of nanoscience and bring a wealth of innovative products closer to reality.

Major industry and other partners: Omicron Nanotechnology.

York University

Canadian University Biodiversity Consortium (Ontario component)

Extracting new knowledge from existing sources

Lead researcher: Dr. Laurence Packer
Total project cost: $766,882
Provincial funding: $306,753

Advances in computers and software are making it possible to assemble and analyze large amounts of information to better monitor changes to our environment. Dr. Lawrence Packer at York University is collaborating with scientists at 17 other institutions as part of the Canadian University Biodiversity Consortium, a partnership headed by the Université de Montréal. The goal is to create a networked database containing all biodiversity-related information held in Canadian institutions.
Such a network would prove invaluable to scientists across Canada and around the world working in the fields related to biology.

Major industry and other partners: Leica, University of Toronto, University of Guelph.

Ontario Research Fund

Through the Ontario Research Fund, the McGuinty government is investing $527 million over five years. The fund is a key part of the government’s plan to promote scientific excellence by supporting research that can be developed into innovative goods and services that will boost Ontario’s economy. The Ontario Research Fund also helps researchers move new ideas from Ontario’s labs to the global marketplace.

The Ontario Research Fund is designed to provide one window for research funding. Proposals for funding are evaluated through a competitive, peer-review process.

Through the Research Infrastructure program, the province matches the funding commitment made by the Canada Foundation for Innovation. Project funding is shared among the Canadian Foundation for Innovation (up to 40 per cent), the province (up to 40 per cent), and the research institutions and industry partners (at least 20 per cent).

For more information about the Ontario Research Fund, please visit www.ontario.ca/innovation.