Western, Lawson get $22 million project funds

Five Western and Lawson Health-based centres have been awarded new funding from a major Canadian foundation.

The local projects were awarded more than $22 million in new funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), which funds 40 per cent of the projects' costs.

Centres for developing environmental technologies, studying the physiology of birds and integrating medical hybrid imaging were among the research projects announced this morning at Western and the Lawson Health Research Institute.

"Institutions in southwestern Ontario are poised to make tremendously important contributions to international-calibre research in key areas like health and the environment over the next decade," says Ted Hewitt, Western's Vice-President (Research & International Relations).

"One of the key successes from this round of CFI funding is that we will now be able to continue our efforts in constructing unique, large-scale research facilities that build upon both existing and emerging regional research strengths."

Project Details:

New Facility for Environmental Research

With increased demand for clean energy and reduced pollution from fossil fuels, researchers in Western's new 10,000-square-foot 'Green' Building will look to convert agricultural resources into valuable biofuels and bioproducts, to develop innovative, environmentally friendly chemical processes and nanomaterials, and to remove pollutants from air and water using solar energy. The new $18 million facility, led by Chemical and Biochemical Engineering professor Hugo de Lasa, received more than $7 million from CFI.

Western to Build Canada's First Bird Wind Tunnel

Led by Psychology professor Scott MacDougall-Shackleton, the $9-million Advanced Facilities for Avian Research (AFAR) which received $4 million in funding, will house the world's first hypobaric, climactic bird wind tunnel for studying the physiology and aerodynamics of high-altitude migratory flight. It will have analytical and experimental facilities to understand birds' abilities to adapt to their environment, will have important ramifications on conservation, ecosystem health, disease and understandings of how birds respond to climate change.

Scientists Bring Hybrid Imaging to London

Lawson Scientists Frank Prato and Jim Koropatnick, professors in the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at Western, received nearly $10 million in support from CFI for their work in hybrid imaging, which combines two or more imaging modes into one platform for the simultaneous acquisition of data needed to improve patient diagnosis and therapy.

Other local projects receiving funding from CFI announced today include:

* Prudence Allen and the National Centre for Audiology, which conducts hearing science and audiologic research, received $667,154.

* Earth Sciences professor Richard Secco received $519,823 for a regional high pressure-temperature facility for design and optimization of materials used in advanced manufacturing.