UOIT receives $58,500 in CFI funding to support innovative research in Chemical Biology

OSHAWA, ON - The University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) will receive $58,500 from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) to support advanced research in Chemical Biology led by Dr. Jean-Paul Desaulniers, assistant professor, chemistry, Faculty of Science. The funding will provide for essential infrastructure that will enable researchers to characterize and develop new chemically modified molecules to treat diseased cells. Innovative strategies that merge biology with chemistry are vital as Canada faces mounting health challenges with an aging population.

"The investments being announced today will further enhance our country's reputation as a destination of choice for outstanding researchers," said Dr. Eliot Phillipson, President and CEO of the CFI. "They will make our universities even more competitive when it comes to attracting the best and brightest researchers from around the world."

"UOIT welcomes the CFI's investment toward Dr. Desaulniers' research," said Dr. Michael Owen, associate provost, Research, UOIT. "UOIT is committed to engaging in research and scholarly activities that will have an impact on society by addressing socio-economical issues of regional, national and global significance."

Of the funding announced today, $45,000 will come from the CFI's Leaders Opportunity Fund and $13,500 from the Infrastructure Operating Fund.

"This announcement is yet another clear indication that UOIT is at the leading edge of research and innovation," said Colin Carrie, Member of Parliament for Oshawa. "UOIT continues to demonstrate its dedication to the development of unique research programs and has quickly become a research-intensive university."

Interdisciplinary research and collaboration is becoming increasingly recognized as an important strategy in addressing many of today's outstanding problems. For example, there is a growing interdependence between chemistry and biology to address global health and ecological issues. UOIT is dedicated to developing research programs and highly qualified personnel to address this need, as evidenced by its unique MSc and PhD programs in Applied Bioscience. Dr. Desaulniers is the director of this unique graduate program, in which colleagues in both the Faculty of Science and Faculty of Health Sciences supervise students. UOIT's Strategic Research Plan promotes five priority research areas which include many interdisciplinary research themes, Applied Bioscience being a prime example.

The CFI announced a total of $27,871,219 in new funds to support 118 projects at 32 institutions across Canada. The investment was approved by the CFI's Board of Directors on March 9, 2010, following a rigorous merit-review process. A total of $21,439,399 was awarded under the Leaders Opportunity Fund, which provides infrastructure support to Canadian institutions so they can attract and retain the very best of today and tomorrow's leading researchers at a time of intense international competition for knowledge workers. The remaining $6,431,820 was awarded under the Infrastructure Operating Fund, a complementary program that assists research institutions with the incremental operating and maintenance costs associated with new infrastructure projects.

For a complete list of the projects awarded, please visit www.innovation.ca.

About the University of Ontario Institute of Technology

As an innovative university, UOIT delivers a leading-edge learning environment that uniquely combines academic knowledge, research opportunities, hands-on skills and a vibrant student life. UOIT's more than 6,500 undergraduate and graduate students are taught by professors who are experts in their fields from around the world. As Ontario's first laptop-based university, the university offers a diverse array of challenging undergraduate and graduate degree programs through its faculties of Business and Information Technology; Criminology, Justice and Policy Studies; Education; Energy Systems and Nuclear Science; Engineering and Applied Science; Health Sciences; and Science. UOIT's commitment to research excellence has resulted in millions of dollars in grants and awards, including six Canada Research Chairs. To find out more, visit www.uoit.ca or call 905.721.8668.

About the Canada Foundation for Innovation

The Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) is an independent corporation created by the Government of Canada to fund research infrastructure. The CFI's mandate is to strengthen the capacity of Canadian universities, colleges, research hospitals, and non-profit research institutions to carry out world-class research and technology development that benefits Canadians. Since its creation in 1997, the CFI has committed $5.3 billion in support of almost 6,700 projects at 130 institutions in 65 municipalities across Canada.

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For further information, please contact:

Yves Melanson
Coordinator, Media Relations
Canada Foundation for Innovation
Tel.: 613-996-3160
Cell.: 613-447-1723
yves.melanson@innovation.ca

About Ontario Tech University
A modern, forwarding-thinking university, Ontario Tech advances the discovery and application of knowledge to accelerate economic growth, regional development and social innovation. We inspire and equip our students and our graduates to make a positive impact in a tech-focused world. For us, it’s not only about developing the next tech breakthrough. Understanding and integrating the social and ethical implications of technology differentiates us as university. Learn more at ontariotechu.ca.

Media contact
Bryan Oliver
Communications and Marketing
Ontario Tech University
905.721.8668 ext. 2209
bryan.oliver@uoit.ca