DrCynthia Ross Friedman, Associate Professor, Biological Sciences
The Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) announced today that it has awarded $278,237 to Thompson Rivers University to support two projects led by Dr. Cynthia Ross Friedman and Dr. Julie Drolet
“These CFI awards show national recognition for the excellence of TRU’s researchers, and the TRU research environment, ” said Dr. Nancy Van Wagoner, TRU Associate Vice-President Research and Graduate Studies“CFI awards are highly competitive and proposals are evaluated by an international team of expertsThis success shows that Dr.s Ross Friedman and Drolet are leaders in their respective fields of research, engaged in innovative research, and providing an enriched educational environment that is training the next generation of researchers” CFI provides matching funds for infrastructure projectsThe total value of the research infrastructure investment is $695,607. With these investments, TRU researchers, working with their students, are engaging in innovative research that enriches the educational experience for students, and also contributes to new discoveries, products and policies that improve the quality of life for all.
‘Every dollar invested directly in research yields over $7 in economic benefits including spin off jobs.’ – Cathy McLeod, Kamloops Thompson Cariboo MP
“The Government of Canada continues to support cutting-edge research infrastructure at TRU, helping stimulate various sectors of our economy that are associated with such capital projects, ” said Kamloops Thompson Cariboo MP Cathy McLeod”. Every dollar invested directly in research yields over $7 in economic benefits including spin off jobs.”
Julie Drolet, Assistant Professor, School of Social Work
The scope of Dr. Cynthia Ross Friedman’s current work explains the reproductive mechanisms of dwarf mistletoe (DMT) and explores its relationships with mountain pine beetle (MPB) and pine hosts at the cellular levelThe CFI funding of $266,533 will go towards the purchase of a scanning electron microscope (SEM) aiding research that will provide critical information about the building blocks of interior forests to establishment a baseline for the development of innovative forest practices.
Dr. Julie Drolet has been granted $11,704 for her research to investigate and to explore human interactions and responses with the environment affected by climate change and disasters in BC, specifically in small cities and rural communitiesThis funding is expected to make up 40 per cent of the cost to develop the research project’s infrastructureThe goal is to better understand the social, political, economic and human realities using multimedia tools to develop deeper levels of understanding and knowledge that will lead to innovation in disaster mitigation strategies.
For more information please contact,
Dr. Nancy Van Wagoner,
TRU Associate Vice-President Research and Graduate Studies
(p) 250-828-5410
(e) nvanwagoner@tru.ca
Dr. Cynthia Ross Friedman
Associate Professor, Biological Sciences
(p) 250-828-5424
(e) cross@tru.ca
Dr. Julie Drolet
Assistant Professor, School of Social Work
(p) 250-828-5258
(e) jdrolet@tru.ca
These CFI awards build on previous CFI contributions to TRU’s Canada Research Chairs, including funding for a state-of-the-art research greenhouse facility, a multi-media research facility, and a research facility for investigating new frontiers in E-learningCFI also funded a Biocatalyst and Bioproduct Development Facility for Dr. Jon Van HammeTRU was also recently awarded new analytical facilities totaling over $2 million and including a new NMR, LC-MS and Meat Testing facility to support a recently endowed BC Regional Innovation Chair in Cattle Industry Sustainability, with funding from Western Economic Diversification and the Southern Interior Development Initiative Fund.
The CFI announced a total of $59,394,902 in new funds to support 262 projects at 40 institutions across Canada todayThe investment was approved by the CFI’s Board of Directors in November 17, 2009, following a rigorous merit-review processA total of $45,688,386 was awarded under the Leaders Opportunity Fund, which provides infrastructure support to Canadian institutions so they can attract and retain the very best of today and tomorrow’s leading researchers at a time of intense international competition for knowledge workers. The remaining $13,706,516 was awarded under the Infrastructure Operating Fund, a complementary program that assists research institutions with the incremental operating and maintenance costs associated with new infrastructure projects.
For a complete list of the projects awarded, please visit www.innovation.ca
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