Article Type: Generic

The Ontario Genomics Institute (OGI) is adding some pull to its commercialization activities with the formation of Scintelligence, a new division that matches the needs of industry with life sciences research expertise.

Bioniche Life Sciences Inc expects to emerge from a nasty proxy battle and the sale of two major divisions following the settlement with dissident shareholders and the resignation of its founder, president and CEO, Dr Graham McRae.

Analysis

By Dr Vincent Larivière

In recent years, we have witnessed a tendency for granting agencies, particularly at the federal level, to concentrate research funding in ‘elite’ researchers and students who receive an increasingly high proportion of available funds.

ACCC Pre-Budget submission

The association representing Canada’s colleges is asking the federal government to continue building the innovative capacity of its members with a suite of recommendations that, if accepted, would move college R&D funding closer to its long-term goal of securing 5% of the $2.

The Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC) is one of 39 associations to share $3 million in funding under the Global Opportunities for Associations (GOA) program. The ACCC will receive $135,000 to allow for its members to lead or participate in foreign missions to promote college education in Canada — the largest amount awarded to eight education-focused associations receiving money this year.

Builds on advances in genomics

Genome British Columbia is helping to fund an ambitious applied research project that its backers say could contribute to the eventual elimination of HIV/AIDS. The project will see the use of genomics to develop an improved drug-resistance test, an early warning system to monitor and map drug resistance and personalized drug treatment for patients based on their particular DNA profile.

An expert panel has concluded that Canadian industrial R&D (IR&D) remains weak for a host of complex, often poorly understand reasons, although four key industries display considerable strength. Assembled by the Council of Canadian Academies (CCA), the panel’s report — The State of Industrial R&D in Canada — found that while R&D activity is extensive and spread across a wide range of industries, the relationship between R&D, S&T and innovation is asymmetrical and in need of closer examination.

Despite never being officially announced, the National Research Council’s Printable Electronics (PE) flagship platform is up and running, signing on new industrial partners and executing research programs to accelerate the adoption of new functional materials and print-based production processes.

The Experimental Lakes Area (ELA) research facility was officially thrown a life line with the decision by the Ontario government to provide $2 million annually as part of an interim agreement between the province, the federal government and the proposed new operator, the Winnipeg-based International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD).

September 16th rallies

The organizers of last year’s groundbreaking Death of Evidence Rally will be back on Parliament Hill as well as supporting events in 14 other cities from coast to coast on September 16th.