October 28, 2005

ONTARIO RESEARCH FUND

The Ontario government is providing $48 million dollars to research institutions in support of 312 awards for research infrastructure under the new Ontario Research Fund (ORF).

The ORF is a key component of the province's research and commercialization strategy that aims to strengthen Ontario's economic advantage by helping keep Ontario's researchers on the leading edge in priority economic sectors.

The $48-million provincial investment matches the funding commitment made by the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI). Project funding is shared among the CFI (40 per cent), the Province (40 per cent), and the research institutions (20 per cent).

Projects were awarded funding based on scientific and technical merit as well as the following criteria:

• Building a capacity for innovation, economic growth, health and environmental quality
• Strengthening research capabilities
• Increasing the pool of research talent
• Encouraging use of research infrastructure
• Encouraging private sector partnerships.

For a complete list of awards, please visit www.ontario.ca/innovation. The 312 awards, spread throughout 15 Ontario communities, include:

Guelph

University of Guelph - 29 awards totaling $3,642,816

One of the projects will centre on Ontario's poultry farmers, which represent Canada's largest share of the poultry industry. Ontario farmers must protect their livestock from disease outbreaks such as avian flu. Researchers at the University of Guelph received funding to purchase lab equipment to understand how to strengthen immune systems in chickens to fight off infections.

Hamilton

McMaster University - 22 awards totaling $2,323,582

Researchers at McMaster University will undertake a project that focuses on the characteristics of proteins produced by the human body when people are healthy or when they have diseases. This will help to identify the most promising targets for new medicines.

As a result, more effective drug treatments can be designed. This will help patients suffering from diseases such as cancer.

Kingston

Queen's University - 27 awards totaling $3,715,988

Extending the life of Ontario's highways and railways will save Ontario taxpayers millions of dollars per year. Researchers at Queen's University received funding to create a laboratory to determine how to strengthen the clay slopes of Ontario's highway and railway networks. Strengthening the clay slopes will protect Ontario's highways and railway networks from seasonal erosion and from more serious disruptions such as landslides.

London

University of Western Ontario - 32 awards totaling $7,773,880

A powerful Magnetic Resonance Imaging machine will enable University of Western Ontario researchers to develop new ways to see the brain functioning and to measure its activities at the cell level without invasive surgery. By studying patients with neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's, dementia or stroke, the researchers hope to find out how these diseases disrupt normal brain functioning, and to test which treatments work best to restore health.

North Bay

Nipissing University - two awards totaling $523,354

Northern Ontario's native plants are a key source for new drugs and an important food source for Ontarians. Researchers at Nipissing University received funding for a laser scanning microscope and a specialized digital camera to study the genetic makeup of plants. The results of their research could mean new drugs and a new biotechnology industry in northern Ontario. The research could also result in increased reliable harvests for northern Ontario farmers.

Oshawa

University of Ontario Institute of Technology - three awards totaling $262,100

One of the research projects will develop new tools to measure the impact of chemicals used in industry and farming on Ontario's fresh water resources. Finding out how short-term intense exposure to these chemicals affects water quality, fish biology or the growth of infectious microbes will be a primary focus of the research. This will help communities protect the quality and safety of their water.

Ottawa

University of Ottawa - 37 awards totaling $3,709,572
Carleton University - eight awards totaling $1,535,928

Controlling emissions from cars and other greenhouse gas polluters is critical to a cleaner and healthier environment.

Researchers at the University of Ottawa received funding to purchase specialized sensing equipment to study and monitor combustion and other types of emissions with the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants from our air.

Peterborough

Trent University - six awards totaling $668,959

Since the outbreak of SARS in North America, the understanding of highly infectious diseases has become an important research area. Researchers at Trent University received funding to purchase a specially equipped microscope to study how poxviruses, such as smallpox, multiply and spread in an infected person, and to find new anti-viral drugs to treat the diseases they cause.

Sault Ste. Marie

Algoma University College - one award of $125,000

As harmful insects multiply, they threaten our crops and forests. A research project being carried out at Algoma University College aims to eliminate pests without damaging crops or forests.

St. Catharines

Brock University - six awards totaling $366,264

Childhood obesity is becoming a major health problem in Ontario. Overweight children are more likely to suffer from health problems, which only become worse as they grow into adults. Researchers at Brock University received funding to purchase lab equipment that can help them better understand the causes of childhood obesity and cardiovascular disease in adulthood.

Sudbury

Laurentian University - 10 awards totaling $629,671

Researchers at Laurentian University received funding to purchase lab equipment such as high-resolution microscopes and lasers to better understand northern Ontario's oldest rock formations. This project will benefit the mining industry as well as provide Sudbury with a world-class facility that will attract both talent and investment and provide training to young people.

Thunder Bay

Lakehead University - five awards totaling $487,074

Ontario's metals mining industry is a key contributor to the province's economy and a key employer in northern Ontario. Lakehead University researchers received funding for state-of-the-art lab equipment to study how ore deposits are created. The researchers are partnering with mining and exploration companies in the search for new ore deposits both within Ontario and internationally.

Toronto

Hospital for Sick Children - one award of $544,183
Ryerson University - 12 awards totaling $869,206
University of Toronto - 55 awards totaling $11,795,146
York University - 13 awards totaling $2,338,054

Ryerson is establishing the new Space Avionics and Instrumentation Laboratory, which will focus on developing profitable microsatellite systems, enhancing Ontario's reputation as a leader in the field of spacecraft electronics.

Waterloo

University of Waterloo -- 33 awards totaling $6,067,565
Wilfrid Laurier - two awards totaling $159,819

Nanotechnology is the manipulation of materials on a very small scale and has tremendous potential for the high-tech industry, including the plastics industry. The very specialized polymers have important applications in many fields such as fuel cells, biomedical materials, solar batteries and electronic/optic devices. For example, nano-structured polymers could be used to make transparent insulation for windows resulting in reduced heating costs for Ontarians. This research will contribute to Ontario being at the leading edge of the emerging nanotechnology revolution.

Windsor

University of Windsor - eight awards totaling $506,253

Researchers at the University of Windsor received funding to purchase state-of-the-art computer hardware and software that will allow them to determine how metal manufacturers can create light and durable materials for car parts. This research will ensure that Ontario continues to be an international leader in car parts manufacturing.