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FEBRUARY 2016 |
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NEWS FROM THE NCE |
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In memoriam |
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The NCE community has lost two highly valued colleagues recently. Neil Gall, Executive Director of the MEOPAR NCE, passed away on January 3. He is remembered in particular as a devoted father and husband, as well as a charismatic leader with a sharp mind, a quick wit and a warm heart. On January 16, Drew Lyall passed away following a long fight against melanoma. Drew is well known to the research community as an influential leader, mostly recently as the CEO of the BioCanRx NCE, and previously as Director of Partnerships at CIHR, and as Executive Director of the Stem Cell Network. The NCE extends its deepest condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of Neil and Drew. |
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Acting NCE Associate VP named |
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Jean Saint-Vil has been appointed as the acting Associate Vice-President of the NCE. Jean has over 23 years of experience working with the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). This includes 11 years working with the NCE Secretariat in various positions. He served most recently as Deputy Director, and in that capacity was in charge of launching the Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research program. Jean will start this 12-month assignment on February 8. He replaces André Isabelle, who retired in January after three years with the NCE and a total of 31 years with NSERC. We welcome Jean back to the NCE, and wish André all the best in his retirement.
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NCE knowledge mobilization workshop set for June |
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A workshop hosted by the NCE will offer participants from NCE networks and centres a chance to share information and learn about the best strategies and tactics organizations can adopt for effective knowledge mobilization. Set for June 27, 2016 in Toronto, “NCE Symposium–Conditions for Impact” will examine two specific topics: “Governance for impact” and “Monitoring and reporting on impact.” The event is scheduled immediately before the fifth annual Canadian Knowledge Mobilization Forum, at the Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning at the Hospital for Sick Children. |
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BL and NCE evaluation reports posted |
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The reports and management responses resulting from recent evaluations of the NCE program and BL-NCE programs have been posted. The evaluations were conducted as part of government requirements to regularly examine the relevance and performance of programs. Read more. |
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Apply to become a CIHR Institute Advisory Board member before February 10 |
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The Canadian Institutes of Health Research are continuing their recruitment campaign to fill up to 75 positions within the five new Institutes Advisory Boards (IABs). Comprised of five horizontal boards serving all 13 CIHR Institutes, this new advisory model will boost collaboration across Institutes and within stakeholder communities by bringing together a wide range of perspectives within each IAB. The five new IABs are: IAB on Research Excellence, Policy and Ethics; IAB on Health Innovation; IAB on Indigenous Peoples' Health; IAB on Health Promotion and Prevention; and IAB on Chronic Conditions. Online applications can be submitted before February 10. |
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NCEs invited to participate in Canada-China S&T meeting |
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Global Affairs Canada (formerly DFATD) will host the 6th meeting of the Canada-China Joint Committee (CCJC) on Science Technology and Innovation Cooperation on February 24-25 in Ottawa, and has invited interested NCE networks and centres to participate. Participants will include a large group of influential Chinese innovation leaders and their Canadian counterparts. Among a number of innovation-related topics, the agenda will offer opportunities for bilateral discussions on specific themes: Low Carbon Development; Agricultural Foods and Bio-products; Environment; Health and Life Sciences; Advanced Manufacturing; and Researcher Mobility. For more information, contact Danyu Bai at Global Affairs Canada: Danyu.Bai@international.gc.ca. |
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National S&T showcase set for May |
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A 10-day celebration of science and technology will take place May 6-15, designed to engage and inspire young people and the general public across the country by showcasing Canada’s S&T accomplishments. Coordinated by NSERC, Science Odyssey is the evolution of the annual National Science and Technology Week that has traditionally been held in October. Science Odyssey is a connection point that brings together existing science promotion activities, while adding some new, innovative and captivating experiences from Canada’s prolific scientific community. Organizations across the country, including NCE networks and centres, will be invited to participate by organizing their own events. Read more. |
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NSERC major awards deadlines coming up |
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Deadlines for a number of major NSERC awards are coming up in the next two months. Of particular interest to the NCE community, nominations for the Synergy Awards for Innovation, which recognize university-industry research and development (R&D) partnerships in the natural sciences and engineering, must be submitted by April 15, 2016. Nominations must be submitted by March 1, 2016 for other major NSERC awards: the Gerhard Herzberg Canada Gold Medal for Science and Engineering, the Brockhouse Canada Prize for Interdisciplinary Research in Science and Engineering, and the NSERC John C. Polanyi Award. Read more. |
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FEATURE |
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IC-IMPACTS Providing Clean Water to First Nations Communities |
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Over five million Canadians lack access to a reliable source of safe drinking water, many of whom live in rural or First Nations communities. An investigation published by CBC in October, 2015 revealed that two-thirds of all First Nations communities in Canada had experienced at least one water problem between 2004 and 2014. Read more. |
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NETWORKS AND CENTRES IN THE NEWS |
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Research and Impacts
- IC-IMPACTS has unveiled an innovative new road in Thondebavi, India. The improved road infrastructure uses advanced Canadian pavement technologies to increase the road’s lifespan and reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. The road is also designed to integrate with water recovery systems, providing additional water resources to communities. Read more
- A potential prostate cancer treatment, developed by PC-TRIADD researchers, has been licensed by pharmaceutical company Roche. The new drug technology, which scans a database of millions of different molecules to find the one that works best, is in pre-clinical development, but could eventually be used to treat prostate cancers that have become resistant to existing treatments. Read more
- Kathy Boutis and Amy Plint, TREKK content advisors, published a landmark study debunking the doctrine that “children fracture before sprain.” When lateral ankle injuries are diagnosed, children are often presumed to have partial growth plate fractures. However, these are often ankle sprains, rather than fractures, making casting unnecessary. This has the potential to simplify care for these common injuries and minimize the cost of overtreatment. Read more
- MaRS Innovation is working with PhD candidate Reza Nosrati and Professor David Sinton at the University of Toronto to commercialize sperm selection technology that could benefit those using in vitro fertilization. MaRS Innovation is contributing to the project with an intellectual property strategy, and by filing patents and securing industry partners and collaborators. Read more
- AllerGen investigators have shown that diesel exhaust can cause an enhanced allergic response in sensitized individuals. The research aims to understand the effects of traffic pollution on the lungs, by simulating the levels found in highly-polluted cities. Individuals who are genetically susceptible were particularly prone to the augmented responses following exposure to an allergen and two hours of diesel exhaust. Read more
People and Awards
- Louis Fortier, Scientific Director of ArcticNet, has won the 2015 Northern Science Award for his distinguished contributions to the advancement of northern knowledge. Dr. Fortier received the honour in November at an event in Ottawa in November. His contributions have directly benefited northern societies and communities. Read more
- C2MI, Teledyne DALSA, Université de Sherbrooke and École Polytechnique de Montréal have won the Technological Partnership Award at the ADRIQ 25th Innovation Awards Gala. The award recognizes the team’s work on infrared imaging sensors, which has a wide range of commercial applications. Read more
- The Cardiac Arrhythmia Network of Canada welcomes Bryce Pickard as Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer. Dr. Pickard was previously Executive Director of Research at Western University and Business Development Manager at WORLDiscoveries. Read more
- GlycoNet Scientific Director Todd Lowary won the 2015 AsTech Award for Outstanding Leadership in Alberta Science. A leader in synthetic carbohydrate chemistry, Dr. Lowary’s work contributes to better diagnostics, treatments and potential vaccines for diseases such as tuberculosis. Read more
Events
- The Ultra-Deep Mining Network hosted its first annual symposium on December 1, 2015, in Sudbury, Ontario. The network’s members had the opportunity to present their projects, engage with several mining companies, debate issues facing the industry, and find other potential synergies. Read more
- Ocean Networks Canada’s Innovation Centre traveled to South America, Asia and Europe to showcase its expertise and world-class technologies in ocean observation. The meetings were essential to help build global partnerships and promote Canada’s expertise in monitoring the ocean environment by highlighting its Smart Ocean Systems. Read more
- The 8th annual PREVNet conference was held in Toronto in November, just prior to national Bullying Prevention Week. The focus of this year’s conference was exploring strategies to promote mental health among youth. Debra Pepler and Wendy Craig, PREVNet’s Co-Directors, led workshops for educators, social workers, counselors, law enforcement officers, volunteers, and parents. Read more
- ArcticNet held Canada’s largest Arctic scientific conference in Vancouver in early December. This was an opportunity for researchers, students, northerners, policy makers and stakeholders to connect and address the challenges and opportunities emerging in the Arctic. New research results helped stimulate discussion and foster collaboration among the participants. Read more
Partnerships, Best Practices and Investments
- GE Healthcare and FedDev Ontario have committed $40 million towards a centre for advanced therapeutic cell technologies, led by CCRM. This new centre will improve patient access to novel regenerative medicine-based therapies by accelerating the development of cell manufacturing technologies. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was in Toronto to announce support for the new facility. Read more
- The Ontario Centres of Excellence and SERENE-RISC have partnered to help forge new relationships between researchers and companies. This partnership will lead to the commercialization of innovative solutions that mitigate cybersecurity threats and enhance Canada’s capacity to manage digital risks. Read more
- The Centre for Drug Research and Development is collaborating with the University of Saskatchewan on a blood test for concussions. Researchers are working on creating a fast, easy-to-use test that diagnoses traumatic brain injuries based on the levels of protein biomarkers in the blood after head trauma. Read more
- GARDN and BioFuelNet are working with Air Canada to help build a Canadian renewable jet fuel infrastructure. The project aims to boost the production of “green” jet fuel to help solve the carbon dilemma, with the ultimate goal of eventually delivering low-carbon fuel on a large scale across all Canadian airports. .
- A partnership between CIMTEC and Proteocyte Diagnostics is helping accelerate progress on a novel technology called Straticyte that could change how head and neck cancers are diagnosed. With a more accurate prognostic tool, patients could receive timely and appropriate access to the required care. Read more
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CONTACT US |
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For submissions or information, please contact:
Hans Posthuma
hans.posthuma@nce-rce.gc.ca
613-943-8752 |
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