Research

More than $4 million to U of T research

U of T came up big in the latest round of investment from a federal research funding program that emphasizes university collaboration with industry and government.

Eleven U of T projects have been awarded a total of $4,863,439 in the Natural Science and Engineering Council’s (NSERC) Strategic Project Grants (SPG) program. The program’s primary goal is to increase research and training in targeted areas that could strongly enhance Canada’s economy, society and/or environment in the next 10 years. The program aims to encourage collaboration among academic researchers and industry and government partners.

Through this new round of investment, the federal government will invest $55 million through the SPG program in support of more than 120 research teams at Canadian universities.

“Supporting science and research is critical to Canada’s future economic growth,” said Gary Goodyear, minister of state (science and technology). “This investment will bring together teams of some of the world’s top researchers to work with industry on promising new projects that will help strengthen our economy, create jobs and bring other benefits for our communities.”

The grants support early-stage project research led by at least one researcher and a supporting organization.

“Partnership is often a key factor in helping many research projects to reach their full potential,” said Professor Paul Young, vice-president (research). “We are delighted that U of T researchers have done so well in this round of the SPG program. Thank you to the Government of Canada, NSERC and our partners on these projects for helping our researchers conduct work that will make a tangible impact on global society.”

The U of T projects (supporting partner organization in parentheses):

Roman Genov, electrical and computer engineering (ECE), $501,000, a low-cost, compact spectral imaging microsystem for rapid, regenerative and highly selective nucleic acid detection (Dalsa Corporation, UHN Microarray Centre)

Shana Kelley, pharmacy, $434,500, miniaturized microelectronic devices for cost-effective point-of-care diagnostics (Kalgene Pharmaceuticals Inc.)

Joyce Poon, ECE, $533,100, integrated photonics for energy-efficient communications in multi-core processors for exascale computing systems (IBM Canada Ltd.)

Peter Herman, ECE, $563,066, intelligent beam control for ultrashort laser manufacturing of photonic and biomedical microsystems (Elcan Optical Technologies, FiberTech Optica Inc., Teraxion Inc., Trojan Technologies Inc.)

Torstein Utigard, materials science and engineering, $260,600, selective sulfation roasting of Ni concentrate to minimize off-gas pollution (Vale Inco Limited, Xstrata Nickel)

Mitchell Winnik, chemistry, $391,800, ultrasensitive multiplexed mass cytometry immunoassays based on single patch nanoparticles (DVS Sciences Inc.)

Greg Evans, chemical engineering and applied chemistry, $475, 873, investigation of how emission control technologies mitigate health impacts from diesel fuel combustion (Engine Control Systems Limited, Environment Canada)

Douglas Stephan, chemistry, $435,000, chemistry of greenhouse gases: capture and use of CO2 and N2O by frustrated lewis pairs (Lanxess Deutschland GbMH, Nova Chemicals Corporation)

Radhakrishnan Mahadevan, $438,000, chemical engineering and applied chemistry, rational design of microbial strains for novel biochemical products (DNP Canada Inc.)

Emma Master, chemical engineering and applied chemistry, $433,500, reagent development and assessment for biomass conversion (Canadian Forest Services)

Eiji Nambara, cell and systems biology, $397,000, enhancing crop biomass production: tuning hormone balance through systems biology (Syngenta Crop Protection (Canada) Inc).

Tags: Douglas Stephan, Eiji Nambara, Emma Master, Greg Evans, Joyce Poon, Mitchell Winnik, Peter Herman, Radhakrishnan Mahadevan, Roman Genov, Shana Kelley, Torstein Utigard