Person: Marc LePage

The Short Report, July 10, 2019: Nuclear power, future skills, health tech

A planned $100-million infusion for Alberta’s artificial intelligence sector — promised in February by then-governing NDP leader Rachel Notley — is on hold, as Premier Jason Kenney’s United Conservative Party scrutinizes the investment. Edmonton-based AI hub Amii (Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute) was slated to to use some of the funds to open a Calgary office, but…

$6.7 million in new federal support for Canadian genomics research

The federal government is providing $6.7 million to fund seven new projects under Genome Canada’s Genomics Applications Partnership Program (GAPP) that connects genomics-focused researchers and companies. Provincial governments, business, and other funding partners will be contributing an additional $14.3 million. The Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, one of the recipients of GAPP funding, will study…

Excerpts: Research ecosystem reacts to Budget 2018

The whole ecosystem is patting themselves on the back, confident that their concerted efforts to lobby behind the Naylor report recommendations — foremost of which was an increase in budget – did not fall on deaf ears. RE$EARCH MONEY offers excerpts of what the ecosystem has to say about the federal budget.

Structural Genomics Consortium expanding clinical and patient reach with new Phase IV funding

Canadian funding for the Toronto-based Structural Genomics Consortium (SGC) has been renewed, injecting $33 million into the ground breaking open innovation organization that determines the three-dimensional structure of proteins related to human diseases. The fourth phase of the public-private SGC will see an expansion its collaborative network to include disease and patient foundations while partnering with clinicians and research hospitals to validate new targets for drug discovery by testing its chemical probes on patients.

Genome Canada considers awarding grants directly to companies

Genome Canada may expand its successful Genomic Applications Partnership Program (GAPP) and award funds directly to companies with the in-house capacity to develop potentially disruptive technologies. The current GAPP program — which announced the results of its latest competition May 26 — only funds university researchers with industry partners, usually small firms that lack the in-house expertise to undertake research projects.

Marc Lepage

Marc Lepage is returning to Canada to take the helm at Genome Quebec after spending seven years in the US. Lepage replaces interim president and CEO Denis Bilodeau, who stepped in following the departure of Jean-Marc Proulx last year. Lepage has had a long career in the public service including stints at the Medical Research…

Dr Alan Bernstein

Dr Alan Bernstein has been appointed president and CEO of the prestigious Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR), effective May 1st. Bernstein replaces longstanding CIFAR head Chaviva Hosek, who announced more than one year ago that she was stepping down after 11 years (R$, December 13/10). Bernstein recently completed a five-year term as executive director…