The University of British Columbia has received funding to purchase equipment for five research projects, including a study to develop non-invasive cancer detection and an ocean observation system in the Canadian Arctic.

The projects will receive over $490,000 from this year’s BC Knowledge Development Fund. This amount is in addition to $26.9 million previously announced on Oct. 27, 2014, toward 70 UBC research projects. In addition to equipment, the funding will go toward renovating and modernizing laboratory space.

UBC’s newly-funded cancer research project aims to create a database of medical imaging information, which will help determine the traits of different cancers. Funding for studies in the Canadian Arctic will help scientists collect data about ocean physics, biology and chemistry in a variety of weather conditions and remote environments.

The grants will also go towards updating laboratories for public health and infectious disease studies, the purchase of research equipment to map 3D high-resolution images of the brain’s vascular health and providing equipment to study the consequences of poverty.

The BC Knowledge Development Fund has awarded six public post-secondary institutions in B.C. with over $40 million for more than 100 research infrastructure projects in 2014, with more awards expected in 2015.

Quotes:

Advanced Education Minister Amrik Virk -

“Our government invests millions of dollars in innovation at public post-secondary institutions to build on the growth and diversification of our economy and advance technology. Developing research at UBC will offer students hands-on study opportunities and lead to the jobs and investment that makes B.C.’s technology sector an important contributor to the provincial economy.”

Technology, Innovation and Citizens’ Services Minister Andrew Wilkinson -

“The BC Knowledge Development Fund helps keep B.C. at the leading edge of research and technology. The work being funded pays dividends in new discoveries and economic growth, fostering greater environmental knowledge and improving health care treatments for British Columbians.”

University of British Columbia president Arvind Gupta -

“The University of British Columbia is a leader in research and development. With the help of the government of British Columbia, this funding will help continue our tradition of excellence by engaging students and researchers in cutting edge advances to benefit the future of our province.”

Quick Facts:

• Since 2001, government has invested more than $2 billion to research and innovation in B.C.
• The government has leveraged an additional $1 billion in research funding from other sources.
• That’s a total of $3 billion for research and innovation.
• $550 million has been awarded through the BC Knowledge Development Fund.

Learn More:

BC Knowledge Development Fund: www.gov.bc.ca/citz/technologyandinnovation/

Media Contacts:

Stacey McGaghey Jones
Communications Manager
Ministry of Advanced Education
250 952-6400

Brian Murphy
Senior Media Relations Specialist, Public Affairs
The University of British Columbia
604 822-2048

BACKGROUNDER

UBC awarded funding for cancer research, Arctic Ocean studies

Projects receiving funding at UBC are:

• Applied public health research and infectious disease studies (Research lead - Amee Manges) - $125,000
  Funding goes toward research equipment and expanding and modernizing the project laboratory.
• Image-assisted cancer prognosis (Research lead - Mehdi Moradi) - $88,832
  Funding goes toward research equipment for building a large database of medical imaging data to assist with non-invasive cancer detection.
• Investigation of vascular function in the brain (Research lead - Alexander Rauscher) - $27,329
  Funding goes toward research equipment to map the brain’s vascular health.
• An ocean observing system in the Canadian Arctic (Research lead - Stephanie Waterman) - $147,052
  Funding goes toward research equipment to study ocean physics, biology and chemistry. Equipment is designed to operate in different weather and environments.
• Research into the consequences of poverty and its psychological effects (Research lead - Jiaying Zhao) - $102,053
  Funding goes toward research equipment and laboratory renovations to develop a theory about the effects of resource shortages.

Media Contacts:

Stacey McGaghey Jones
Communications Manager
Ministry of Advanced Education
250 952-6400

Brian Murphy
Senior Media Relations Specialist, Public Affairs
The University of British Columbia
604 822-2048