Nipissing researchers receive funding
Over $250,000 in federal funding for science, technology and innovation initiatives was announced today for projects at Nipissing University. The announcement was made at the university by Jay Aspin, Member of Parliament for Nipissing-Timiskaming.
Dr. Mukund Jha received $121,522 from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) to help battle prostate and breast cancer. The CFI investment will help purchase specialized equipment to analyse newly created molecules specially designed with cancer fighting and high anti-oxidant properties.
Dr. Steve Hansen received $57,402 from the CFI to establish the Sensory Movement Behaviour Lab at Nipissing to study how people use vision to control their movements. His research has applications for the design of more effective rehabilitation programs for people with physical and mental challenges.
Dr. Graydon Raymer earned a $39,386 grant from the CFI to equip Nipissing’s Exercise Physiology Laboratory with state-or-the-art technology in integrative exercise physiology research, making the lab unique in Northeastern Ontario. Dr. Raymer’s research could support a therapeutic benefit of cardiac pacemakers with feedback functions that match heart rhythm with breathing rhythm.
Dr. Haibin Zhu received $19,905 in the form of a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Engage Grant to improve business efficiency and profit by creating a better, more dynamic scheduling software package.
The Nipissing University Biomass Innovation Centre received $15,000 to help strengthen its capacity to provide small and medium sized businesses with consulting and research services that will help position them for expansion and/or realignment in their sector.
“These are exciting announcements that bolster the existing research culture at Nipissing while simultaneously benefiting all Canadians through the amazing research our faculty is conducting. The researchers being celebrated today could directly impact the future health and economic strength of our region and nation, and we are thrilled to open our doors to share it with our community,” said Vicky Paine-Mantha, president and vice-chancellor (interim) of Nipissing University.
“Partnerships between universities and the public and private sector provide students and graduates with invaluable and relevant hands-on research experience. On behalf of Nipissing, I thank the federal government and our local MP for funding these projects.”
“Having been involved in business and economic development in my own business prior to becoming a Member, I understand the value of research and innovation,” said MP Aspin. “These funded projects stand to deliver pragmatic results that will improve our quality of life and help grow our local economy. It is a strong collaboration between academia and business. I am pleased that our government understands the critical value of R & D in diversifying and strengthening the vitality of our economy.”
Backgrounder
This announcement is part of a national university open house – Open Doors, Open Knowledge – organized by the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC). More than 30 Open Doors, Open Knowledge events are taking place at institutions across Canada.
More About Nipissing’s researchers:
Dr. Mukund Jha received $121,522 from Canada Foundation for Innovation to help battle prostate and breast cancer. The CFI investment will enhance Nipissing University’s Organic and Medicinal Chemistry Research Lab with the purchase of specialized equipment to analyse newly created molecules specially designed with cancer fighting and high anti-oxidant properties. In the complex, multi- step process to build a new molecule, the equipment will allow Dr. Jha to determine the identity and purity of the chemical compounds created in each step to ensure the end result meets expectations. As well, Dr. Jha will use the equipment to develop new compounds with biological properties that could potentially be applied to the pharmaceutical and agricultural industries. The equipment also has an environmental function, helping to create more efficient reactions requiring less harmful chemicals.
With a $57,402 investment from the Canada Foundation for Innovation, Dr. Steve Hansen is establishing the Sensory Movement Behaviour Lab at Nipissing University to study how people use vision to control their movements. The new equipment will allow for an in-depth examination of human movement by simultaneously collecting data using 3D motion capture, eye-tracking equipment, and measures of muscle activity. Dr. Hansen’s research has applications for the design of more effective rehabilitation programs for people with physical and mental challenges. The investment will also help to support numerous research collaborations between students and faculty in Nipissing’s Bachelor of Physical and Health Education program and Nipissing’s Psychology and Math departments. The enhanced resources provide a greater opportunity for collaboration between the university and local community partners.
Dr. Graydon Raymer earned a $39,386 grant from the Canada Foundation for Innovation to equip Nipissing University’s Exercise Physiology Laboratory with state-or-the-art technology in integrative exercise physiology research, making the lab unique in Northeastern Ontario. Dr. Raymer is investigating how the heart and lung systems work together during exercise and at rest. On one hand, his research matters to healthy people, even elite athletes, because it is unclear when and why ventilation and cardiac output become mismatched during exercise and how that contributes to muscle fatigue. On the other hand, his research matters to a number of clinical populations as reduced cardio-ventilatory coupling is the hallmark of many cardiovascular diseases, and cardiac inefficiency might partly account for increased mortality. Dr. Raymer’s research could support a therapeutic benefit of cardiac pacemakers with feedback functions that match heart rhythm with breathing rhythm.
Dr. Haibin Zhu received $19,905 in the form of a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Engage Grant to improve business efficiency and profit by creating a better, more dynamic scheduling software package. Project scheduling plays a vital role in determining budgets and deadlines for business. However, it is in a constant state of flux as staff leave, projects change, and new initiatives are introduced, among many other interruptions. Each of these situations requires modifications to the schedule, though to date, no such instantaneous automation exists. These unanticipated situations significantly affect working efficiency and profit. Zhu’s proposal is to build a new software add-on component using algorithms to automate and optimize project resource scheduling requirements.
The Biomass Innovation Centre's program, 'Support for Northern Ontario Bioeconomy Initiatives' is intended to create the foundation for biomass-related project development in northern Ontario. The $15,000 received from the Industrial Research Assistance program, will allow the Centre to provide consulting and research services to five small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across northern Ontario. This project will lay the foundation for SMEs to further develop strategic business plans and/or undertake pre-feasibility studies. The overall goal is to help position northern Ontario businesses for expansion and realignment in their sector.