Carleton University’s Alex Wong, Kyle Biggar, Edana Cassol and Ashkan Golshani, have received $250,000 from the Canada Foundation for Innovation’s (CFI) Exceptional Opportunities Fund (EOF). The funds will provide needed equipment to bolster six ongoing research projects to fight COVID-19.
“Carleton University would like to thank the Canada Foundation for Innovation for their foresight and commitment to funding this exceptional and important research”, said Rafik Goubran, vice-president (Research and International). “The fight against COVID-19 is unprecedented and our researchers at Carleton University have pivoted admirably to join the battle. This funding will ensure that six of our ongoing COVID-19 research projects have the tools they need.”
On Friday, Nov. 6, 2020, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced close to $28 million in research infrastructure support through the CFI. The funding, which covers the urgent need for equipment for ongoing research related to COVID-19, will support 79 projects at 52 universities and research hospitals, colleges, polytechnics and Cégeps across Canada.
The EOF is designed for instances when an exceptional research opportunity would be missed if a project had to wait to undergo a national competition.
This important funding will support six Carleton projects related to COVID-19 by providing crucial tools for research on the molecular biology of the virus. Each of the projects uses molecular biology to address one or more components of Canada’s COVID-19 Strategy.
The projects focus on prevention, through decontamination and surveillance, and treatment, through development of novel therapeutics.
With the requested infrastructure, this work will generate significant benefits with the potential to enhance Canadians’ health and the health-care system by protecting front-line workers, assessing hospitals for environmental contamination, developing novel therapies and vaccine adjuvants, and assessing the impact of secondary infections on COVID-19 patients.
“Economic benefits to Canada will accrue from decreased disease treatment costs, as well as reducing the impact on the country’s economy by controlling the pandemic’s spread and reducing shutdowns,” says Wong.
“We are incredibly grateful to receive this funding that seeks to improve the health of Canadians and contribute to Canada’s ongoing fight against COVID-19.”
This CFI funding will employ and train at least six students and highly qualified personnel, and create opportunities for collaboration with eight private and public partners.
Media Contact
Brenna Mackay
Communications Co-ordinator
Carleton University
brenna.mackay@carleton.ca
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Monday, November 9, 2020 in News Releases
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