BC Gov News

The following research projects will advance technologies in life sciences, agritech, sustainability and electronics.

Life Sciences:

1. Genetically engineered mouse model for cancer

• $75,000 BCKDF contribution
• This research will investigate how cancer of the lymph nodes develops through recurring gene mutations.

2. Frontiers in molecular medicine

• $75,000 BCKDF contribution
• In B.C. there has been substantial investment in the discovery of new biological indicators of health and disease; this research will turn identified biomarkers into practical, cost-effective, clinical lab tests.

3. Novel radiopharmaceuticals

• $75,000 BCKDF contribution
• This research will develop new imaging drugs that can be used to localize and diagnose cancers.

4. Improving care for patients with elevated cholesterol

• $124,000 BCKDF contribution
• This research will identify DNA changes that affect cholesterol levels, risk of heart disease and response to cholesterol-lowering drugs.

5. Advancement of epidemiology in multiple sclerosis

• $75,000 BCKDF contribution
• This funding will place B.C. at the forefront of international multiple sclerosis research and will improve the outcome of those affected by chronic disease by enhancing data access and analytical tools.

6. Modeling pancreatic cancer

• $125,000 BCKDF contribution
• Understanding how pancreatic cancer develops is key to detecting tumors earlier, predicting disease outcome and picking the right molecules to diagnose and treat pancreatic patients. This project will identify new diagnostic and outcome markers of pancreatic cancer.

7. Motor circuit control disorders

• $125,000 BCKDF contribution
• This research aims to find pharmaceutical targets for curing Alzheimer's disease, developmental coordination disorder and other disorders of motor circuit control. Researchers will use roundworm as a model organism to study how specific genes impact the development of a functioning motor circuit in the brain.

8. Brain disorder diagnosis

• $75,000 BCKDF contribution
• This research will investigate the diagnosis and treatment of brain disorders such as fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, autism, depression and Alzheimer's.

9. Neurodegenerative disease treatment

• $75,000 BCKDF contribution
• This funding will support the development of new drugs for neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s disease.

10. Integrative cerebrovascular physiology laboratory (Okanagan campus)

• $110,000 BCKDF contribution
• This research aims to improve understanding of the basis of treatment for a range of diseases and situations that can cause strokes and impair brain function.

11. Cancer screening technology (Okanagan campus)

• $155,000 BCKDF contribution
• This research will develop new screening technologies that differentiate cancer cells from blood cells.

12. Molecular and materials simulation (Okanagan campus)

• $138,500 BCKDF contribution
• This funding will provide a high-performance computing (HPC) infrastructure upgrade to help researchers understand molecular manufacturing, leading to mechanisms for mitigating the effects of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.

13. Sharing genomics data

• $450,000 BCKDF contribution
• This project will establish a way to share genome information generated at Canadian centres worldwide while maintaining security and confidentiality of patient data.

Agritech:

14. Plant glycosciences and biotechnology (Okanagan campus)

• $250,000 BCKDF contribution
• This research will produce and analyze new plant glycans (sugars) to develop more sustainable, healthy crops, fuels and other useful materials from agriculture and forestry.

15. Sex differences in cellular metabolism

• $108,000 BCKDF contribution
• Differences between males and females affect most aspects of animal biology, such as disease risk and drug response in humans and pesticide effectiveness in insects. This research will examine sex differences at the molecular level to improve human health outcomes and pest control strategies to minimize crop loss.

16. Plant-microbiome interactions

• $144,000 BCKDF contribution
• Much like in the human gut, plant roots have unique bacterial communities that protect them from disease and facilitate nutrient absorption. This research will use plants to identify the role of genetics and environment with the goal of reducing the need for pesticides.

17. Ecohydrology research

• $30,000 BCKDF contribution
• This research will study the interactions between water and ecosystems, called ecohydrology, through different forms of carbon dioxide. This funding will allow for research on carbon variability in a range of land and water environments to increase environmental restoration and support the agrifoods sector.

Sustainability:

18. Renewable energy integration (Okanagan campus)

• $122,000 BCKDF contribution
• This research will support the creation of greener and smarter power grids by integrating large-scale renewable energy efficiently and reliably.

19. Recovering fine coal tailings     

• $125,000 BCKDF contribution
• This research will develop a process and technology to recover fine coal from mining waste, turning industrial waste into coal components that can be used for steelmaking.

20. Natural gas simulation (Okanagan campus)

• $125,000 BCKDF contribution
• This simulation-based research will support design innovations in B.C.'s natural gas industry by examining the complex fluid flows that occur in natural-gas processing and in natural-gas-fuelled vehicles.

21. Wildfire science laboratory (Okanagan campus)

• $67,500 BCKDF contribution
• This funding will be used to create a laboratory that focuses on the creation of data visualization tools and mathematical modelling software to improve decision support in wildfire management and facilitate more rapid response to fires.

Electronics:

22. Advanced Electron Beam Lithography for Quantum Devices

• $800,000 BCKDF contribution
• This funding will introduce a new advanced electron beam lithography (EBL) system at UBC’s Quantum Matter Institute. The new equipment will be used to create and test new generations of quantum electronic circuits, which can be used to create new quantum computers.