Backgrounder

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 $7,043,292 to support two projects at Queen’s University.

Projects

Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture: National Agricultural Industrial Hygiene Laboratory (Ontario component)

Supporting a national drive to reduce farm fatalities

Lead researcher: Dr. William Pickett and Dr. Rob Brison
Total project cost: $82,524
Provincial funding: $33,010

In terms of risk for serious and fatal injury, agriculture is one of Canada’s most hazardous industries. Scientists at Queen’s University, led by Dr. William Picket, are working with colleagues at other Canadian universities on a new agricultural injury prevention project. The team is revolutionizing the way we approach health and safety issues by bringing together researchers across disciplines and fields from agricultural sciences to occupational health and hygiene, engineering, toxicology, microbiology and others. The result of this national effort will be fewer farm fatalities and injuries, not only among workers but also children and others in contact with the agricultural environment.

Development of New Assessment Tools for Evaluation of Brain Function and Dysfunction

Unravelling the mysteries of how the brain controls complex behaviour

Lead researcher: Dr. Douglas Munoz
Total project cost: $17,525,705
Provincial funding: $7,010,282

How exactly does our brain control our behaviour? Dr. Douglas Munoz and his team at Queen’s University have developed a revolutionary new approach that will provide fresh insights into this question. By combining various technologies in the study of sensory, motor and cognitive systems among humans and non-human primates, researchers at the Centre for Neuroscience Studies anticipate making transformative breakthroughs in understanding brain function and dysfunction. Major economic and health care benefits will flow from the translation of innovative basic research results into the clinical setting through the commercialization of new assessment tools for the evaluation of brain function and dysfunction.

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.