By Lori Dillon<\/p>\n
Two McMaster-based research projects have received a combined $8.7 million from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) to support research infrastructure development. The funding was announced at the University of Manitoba by the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science.<\/p>\n
The Good Bugs, Bad Bugs program, led by Canada Research Chair in Chemical Biology, Eric Brown, received nearly $6 million to allow researchers to generate a more thorough understanding of the ways in which microbes benefit us and sometimes cause disease.<\/p>\n
Brown, who\u2019s also the director of the Biomedical Discovery and Commercialization Program, says the investment will allow researchers to expand their work on developing innovative solutions.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur goal is to apply these advances to accelerate the discovery and development of effective antimicrobial therapies that improve quality of life and health outcomes,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
The Canadian Research Data Centre Network (CRDCN) \u2013 a national network housed at McMaster \u2013 received nearly $2.7 million for the CRDCN Transition to High Performance Computing: Liberating Data for Research and Policy project.<\/p>\n
Led by Michael Veall, academic director of McMaster\u2019s Statistics Canada Research Data Centre, and Martin Taylor, CRDCN\u2019s executive director, the project will allow researchers to access and analyse the statistical data needed to answer pressing social and health research questions for Canada.<\/p>\n
Taylor says the investment will significantly increase the Network\u2019s research capacity and strengthen Canada\u2019s position as a leader in this area.<\/p>\n
\u201cResearchers within CRDCN are engaged in statistical analysis of Canadian economic, social and health data. This investment will advance our knowledge of critical social issues for the country and inform the development of high priority public policies at the federal and provincial levels,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
McMaster was the first Canadian university to host a Research Data Centre, some 17 years ago. Veall credits the work of his predecessor and now CRDCN Research Program Director, Byron Spencer, for positioning McMaster to become the national lead.<\/p>\n
\u201cByron played a huge role in the creation of our data centre and the development of CRDCN which now includes 30 centres at universities across the country,\u201d he says. \u201cHis leadership, along with Martin\u2019s, has ensured that we will take our research to the next level by taking advantage of the latest available technology.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rob Baker, McMaster\u2019s vice-president, research, says infrastructure investments like these are a testament to our research reputation.<\/p>\n
\u201cAntimicrobial research and access to data are both areas of critical importance to the country, and of strategic importance to McMaster,\u201d he said. \u201cThe federal government\u2019s investment demonstrates its confidence in our work and our researchers. I share that confidence and congratulate Eric, Mike and Martin on their success.\u201d<\/p>\n
Minister Duncan stressed how crucial it is for Canada to invest in research infrastructure.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur government understands that scientists need to have the best labs and tools if they\u2019re going to make discoveries that will pave the way to a brighter future for all people,\u201d said Minister Duncan, \u201cThe discoveries, innovations and skills developed in these new, state-of-the-art labs will go a long way in improving our lives, our economy and our future prosperity.\u201d<\/p>\n