The Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) announced $1.1 million in funding for advanced research infrastructure at UHN. These investments, provided through CFI’s John R. Evans Leaders Fund, will support the following four projects:
• Enabling biomarker identification and treatment optimization for prevalent neurological disorders, led by Drs. Robert Chen, Mary Pat McAndrews and Jonathan Downar (Krembil), will enhance our understanding of how different components of the affected brain networks interact in Parkinson disease, major depression and epilepsy
• Novel mechanisms of heart failure: discovery to translation, led by Drs. Jason Fish and Phyllis Billia (Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, TGHRI), will identify new blood biomarkers for heart failure that will enable early detection of the disease and develop innovative therapeutic approaches to repair damaged heart muscle cells
• Improving outcomes for organ transplantation: a live imaging platform to target immunologic and fibrotic events, led by Drs. Sonya MacParland and Ana Konvalinka (TGHRI), will reveal new drug targets, therapeutic strategies and decision-making tools to improve outcomes for organ transplant recipients
• Cellular and molecular mechanisms underpinning the initiation, progression and metastasis of pancreatic cancer, led by Dr. Faiyaz Notta (Princess Margaret Cancer Centre), will elucidate the cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate the development of pancreatic cancer
These funds are part of over $42M awarded to 37 universities that will support 186 infrastructure projects across Canada. The announcement was made on April 11 by the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science and Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities.
By providing key support for advanced research infrastructure, the John R. Evans Leaders Fund helps to attract and retain top talent, and enables the acquisition of equipment for new and/or existing research laboratories.