Â鶹AV health research gets $3.7-million boost
CHRP program to fund research ranging from nanotech treatment of melanoma to the development of artificial skin and cartilage
Seven Â鶹AV-led research projects aimed at improving the health of Canadians received a significant boost today from the Collaborative Health Research Projects (CHRP) program, an initiative of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). A total of $3,752,779 will be allocated to the seven projects over 3 years.
The Â鶹AV projects range from research into the problem of infections acquired in hospitals to the use of nanotechnology in the treatment of melanoma, an often deadly form of skin cancer. Other projects include looking at new ways to grow artificial skin and cartilage and the development of "McSleepy," the first completely automated anesthesia-delivery system.
"We are very grateful for the support of CIHR and NSERC," said Dr. Rima Rozen, Â鶹AV's Interim Vice-Principal (Research and International Relations). "The new CHRP funding is a testament to Â鶹AV's leadership role in collaborative medical research -
key work that brings together the expertise of researchers in engineering and natural sciences with medical researchers. These funds will contribute to better health for Canadians in years to come."
"This is a wonderful example of the dynamic collaboration that will lead to great changes in diagnosis, treatment and improved quality of life in this century," said Richard I. Levin, Vice-Principal (Health Affairs) and Dean of Medicine at Â鶹AV. "Congratulations to the outstanding scientists whose work will significantly benefit from this crucial support."
The announcement was made today by the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology), at the University of British Columbia. Â鶹AV was among 12 universities across the country to be awarded grants through the CHRP program - an initiative designed to support new projects that involve partnerships between any field of the natural sciences or engineering and the health sciences, with an impact on the health of Canadians.
"Our government supports innovation because it creates jobs, strengthens the economy and improves the quality of life of Canadians," said Minister Goodyear. "These research partnerships will lead to new health benefits for Canadians and more effective health services."
The Â鶹AV projects receiving CHRP grants are:
Knowledge Based Detection of Hospital Acquired
Infections
Dr. David Buckeridge, Dept.
of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Computational and Statistical Tools for Image-guided
Neurosurgery and Brain Tumors
Dr. Louis
Collins, Montreal Neurological Institute/Dept. of
Neurology & Neurosurgery
McSleepy - The First Completely Automated Anesthesia
Delivery System
Dr. Thomas Hemmerling,
Dept. of Anesthesia
Development of a Biochemical Model of the Aorta to Support
Medical Decision and Prosthetic Design
Dr.
Rosaire Mongrain, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering
Self-illuminating Nanoparticles for Melanoma
Therapy
Dr. Jay Nadeau, Dept. of
Biomedical Engineering
New Technologies and Methods for Growth of Artificial
Cartilage and Skin
Dr. Thomas Quinn,
Dept. of Chemical Engineering
Modeling and Validating the Effect of Transcranial Magnetic
Stimulation on Cortical Excitability: Implications for Post-stroke
Recovery and Depression
Dr. Amir Shmuel,
Montreal Neurological Institute/Dept. of Neurology &
Neurosurgery
For more information on the CHRP: