Investing in the future: Research leaders get funding

Five University of Manitoba research projects have received  $854,986 in federal funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) John E. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF). The projects range from finding strategies for Prairie watershed management systems, causes of aging at the molecular level, answers to what makes up the universe, the best insects for natural pest control, and the set-up of a new performance studies centre.

“Canadian institutions benefit from investments in research infrastructure which provides the tools needed to be at the forefront of innovation,” says Gilles Patry, President and CEO of the CFI. “The research conducted in these labs and facilities will also train a new generation of researchers which will help Canada maintain its position as a global economic leader.”

The John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF), previously named the Leaders Opportunity Fund, was launched in 2005 to help universities attract and retain top researchers.

“This new funding is critical for our university to remain competitive in attracting and retaining the finest research expertise,” says Digvir S. Jayas, Vice-President (Research and International) and Distinguished Professor. “The new equipment and facilities supported today will have a lasting impact that will add to our ability to generate new knowledge and train the next generation of innovators.”

The projects

Genevieve Ali (geological sciences), $148,242 for MHyLAB: Mobile Hydrobiogeochemical LABoratory for water research in intensively managed watersheds. This research will investigate the interplay between surface and subsurface runoff, nutrient export and plant-water use in artificially-drained agricultural watersheds. The MHyLAB instruments will be operated outdoors in near real-time during snowmelt and rainfall events, thus providing technical capabilities not currently available in the Prairies.

Mazdak Khajehpour (chemistry), $235,812 whose research seeks to better understand aging and the pathogenesis of diseases related to the aging process at the molecular level.  It has been found that a large number of age-related diseases result from proteins not folding properly into their correct three dimensional structure. Khajehpour will examine biologically relevant proteins at a molecular level to understand the interactions that cause proteins to misfold. The ultimate goal is to provide blueprints for better treatments that prevent or relieve debilitating diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s.

Peter Kulchyski (Native studies), $194,193 to establish the Canadian Content Hemispheric Institute Digital Video Library (CC-HIDVL). The library will form an integral part of the Canadian Consortium for Performance and Politics in the Americas and facilitate research into activities that fall under the rubric of performance and politics. Performance studies is a relatively new field of inquiry, often practiced across disciplinary boundaries that include cultural studies, fine arts, political studies, anthropology, philosophy, gender studies, sociology, and native studies among others.

Juliette Mammei  (physics and astronomy), $97,067 to seek answers to one of the world’s most fundamental questions “What are we made of?” The Standard Model of Particles and Interactions summarizes our current knowledge of the fundamental particles and the types of interactions they can undergo. The research will develop unique detectors in a clean space that can then be used in large multinational subatomic physics experiments designed to search for physics beyond the Standard Model and answer the question of what makes up the universe.

Barbara Sharanowski and Alejandro Costamagna (entomology), $179,672 to determine which natural enemies (insect pests) exist in agroecosystems, which species provide the most effective pest control, and which habitats in agricultural landscapes increase their abundance  and efficiency. The team will develop new molecular technology to harness the power of beneficial insects to naturally control agricultural pests and thereby reduce pesticide usage in Canada. Not only will this research increase profits for producers through reduced inputs, it will also lead to healthier and more sustainable food production and reduce the impact of agriculture on the environment, including our air, soil, water, and native biodiversity.

The Canada Foundation for Innovation gives researchers the tools they need to think big and innovate. By investing in state-of-the-art facilities and equipment in Canada’s universities, colleges, research hospitals and non-profit research institutions, the CFI is helping to attract and retain the world’s top talent, to train the next generation of researchers, to support private-sector innovation and to create high-quality jobs that strengthen the economy and improve the quality of life for all Canadians. For more information, visit innovation.ca.