Trent University logo  
Daily News

Calendar of Events

Search the Site

Daily News

News Releases

Sporting News

Special Bulletins

Daily News Archives

Weekly Feature Archives

The View from Trent

Trent Magazine

Focus Trent

Build 2000

 

Trent University Receives $319,086 in CFI Funding to Support Two Researchers

Today, Professor Chris Metcalfe, Dean of Research and Graduate Studies at Trent University welcomed the news of the Canada Foundation for Innovation’s (CFI) total investment of $319,086 supporting the leading research being conducted by Professors Janet Yee and Dirk Wallschläger.

"This announcement is a good news story for Trent University which will bring economic and social benefits to the local community and the region," said Peter Adams, MP for Peterborough.

"Today’s investment in state-of-the-art infrastructure will help support the development of world-class expertise in universities and communities across the country," commented Industry Minister Allan Rock.

Dr. Rey Pagtakhan, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Secretary of State (Science, Research and Development) noted that, "This funding will provide exciting opportunities for Canadian researchers and help to attract the best research minds in the world to Canada."

"These awards recognize new researchers whose work will surely be of direct benefit to Canadians in a wide range of fields," said Dr. David Strangway, CFI President and CEO. "These projects were selected following a highly competitive process and will help ensure that researchers and students at Trent University have access to a world-class research and training environment."

"Trent University appreciates the support of the Canada Foundation for Innovation in providing research equipment and infrastructure for our new faculty," remarked Dr. Chris Metcalfe. "Dr. Yee and Dr. Wallschläger have both come to Trent recently and this financial support from CFI will allow them to advance their world-class research programs in the field of water quality." Dr. Yee’s research is addressing from a medical perspective, the development of a new target for drugs that can kill Giardia lamblia, the microscopic single-celled parasite that occurs in some water sources and can cause Giardiasis, better known as "beaver fever." Dr. Wallschläger’s research focuses on understanding the breakdown of metal-based contaminants in the environment. This research has many practical applications, including how to clean up and eliminate toxic chemicals from industrial environments.

Trent University has developed a national and international reputation for research excellence. The 2002 Maclean’s survey results confirmed that Trent University ranked first out of 21 primarily undergraduate universities nationwide in a number of key performance areas, including the number of research awards per full time faculty and the number of awards received from agencies that fund medical and science research.

Today, a national announcement of over $40 million in funding to 46 institutions across the country was made by Dr. Strangway and Minister Pagtakhan in Ottawa, Ontario.

These investments, approved by the CFI Board of Directors on June 17, 2003, were made under the New Opportunities Fund, providing $33.5 million for infrastructure support to newly recruited academic staff. The New Opportunities Fund is designed to help launch the careers of new and talented faculty members. By attracting and retaining new, high-calibre talent, the CFI is assisting Canada’s efforts to strengthen research training at institutions across Canada.

A complete list of New Opportunities projects by university can be found at: www.innovation.ca

The CFI is an independent, not-for-profit corporation established by the Government of Canada in 1997 to strengthen the capacity for innovation in Canadian universities, colleges, research hospitals and other non-profit research institutions.

Return to Trent University Home
Go to Trent University Site Index
A to Z
Maintained by the Communications Office
Last Updated June 24, 2003