New funding for research infrastructure at a B.C. university supports an innovative project that will use the most realistic and robust methods available to identify resilient features of our body’s metabolism that could be targeted to fight common and debilitating diseases such as obesity, diabetes and obesity-driven cancers.

“Understanding how our bodies manage energy requires better tools and B.C.’s post-secondary institutions are responsible for life-changing research that has significantly improved the quality of life for people living in our province,” said Brenda Bailey, Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation. “Through our support of the B.C. Knowledge Development Fund, we continue to invest in research to ensure our province leads in innovative solutions and cutting-edge research to improve the lives of all British Columbians.”

Through another round of B.C. Knowledge Development Fund (BCKDF) funding, the Government of B.C. is providing approximately $52.3 million to support infrastructure for 25 research projects at five post-secondary institutions, including the University of British Columbia, University of Victoria (UVic), Simon Fraser University (SFU), University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) and British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT).

This includes $6.84 million for the project Improved Pre-clinical Modeling of Metabolic Resilience for Novel Obesity and Diabetes Therapeutics. BCKDF will help fund UBC research infrastructure to better understand how bodies manage obesity and diabetes. Researchers will utilize approaches that include animal, cell culture and human organoid models and a hormone discovery platform to study metabolic resilience and develop new treatments.

The goal of the project is to identify and leverage the body’s natural strengths to design therapies that correct the metabolic defects that cause obesity, diabetes and related health issues that are on the rise in B.C.

“We welcome this B.C. Knowledge Development Fund support, which gives a vital boost to our team’s ongoing research into diabetes and obesity,” says Dr. Jim Johnson, professor in UBC’s faculty of medicine and lead researcher on the project. “This funding enhances our team’s ability to explore how the body regulates energy, opening up new treatment avenues for individuals affected by these serious chronic conditions.”

Other projects supported by the BCKDF include:

• UVic - Environmental Simulation Facility – Climate Change Impact on Plant Health - The new setup will help researchers study how climate change affects farm crops and forests. Using climate-controlled chambers, scientists can study how different weather conditions and stresses impact plants. The goal is to find the best disease-resistant trees for breeding and reforestoration, create better tests for plant sickness, identify new plant pathogens and predict how climate change will affect forests and berry farms in B.C.

• SFU - The Pacific Ocean Neutrino Experiment Demonstrator - The Pacific Ocean Neutrino Experiment is a new neutrino telescope to be deployed at Ocean Networks Canada off the coast of Vancouver Island. The telescope will aim to reveal insights about the inner workings of the brightest and most enigmatic places in the universe and discover previously unknown astronomical phenomena.

• BCIT - Advanced Mobility Devices to Expand Wheelchair Capabilities for Increased Community Participation – Researchers will investigate and improve new wheelchair technologies to help people move better and faster. These include power wheelchairs with robotic skills such as stair-climbing, and hybrid-manual wheelchairs with ebike-like power assist units. The research may lead to improved health and daily life for wheelchair users, and guide clinicians and consumers in how they select and use these new products safely.

• UFV - Berry Environmental Resilience Research and Innovation Lab – A 980-square-foot (91 square metres) facility outfitted with state-of-the-art technology at UFV’s Chilliwack campus will help researchers understand how berry systems adapt to climate challenges to help address food security issues and strengthen B.C.’s position as a global leader in sustainable berry production.

“These amazing researchers at B.C.’s post-secondary institutions are finding solutions to help British Columbians live healthier and happier lives,” said Lisa Beare, Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills. “This important research investment through the B.C. Knowledge Development Fund continues to support the expansion of critical research capabilities and discoveries at B.C. post-secondary institutions and showcases B.C.’s research excellence.”

The B.C. Knowledge Development Fund helps grow the economy by improving B.C.’s productivity and competitiveness, which is a key objective of the StrongerBC Economic Plan. Other benefits include potential commercialization, spinoffs, patents, improved environmental management and discoveries that directly affect the health and well-being of people in B.C.

By investing in research infrastructure projects, the B.C. government is continuing to support post-secondary institutions to build toward a more innovative, sustainable and inclusive future.

Quotes:

Benoit-Antoine Bacon, president and vice-chancellor, UBC –

“The B.C. Knowledge Development Fund investment in research infrastructure empowers UBC faculty, post-docs and students to drive research and to find solutions to some of our most urgent problems. Supporting critical work in renewable bioproducts, Indigenous archeology and biomedical innovations in areas such as diabetes treatment, RNA vaccines and genetic medicines, today’s investments reflect a breadth of research strengths across UBC. We are thankful for the B.C. government’s vision in supporting research that is improving the lives of British Columbians.”

Lesley Cormack, principal and deputy vice-chancellor, UBC Okanagan –

“I am delighted to see this investment in research infrastructure, which will support UBC Okanagan’s newest Canada Research Chairs and their colleagues. I’m grateful to the Province of B.C. for helping enable our researchers’ cutting-edge and important work in DNA nanotechnology and developing Indigenous approaches to overcoming intergenerational trauma and loss.”

Lisa Kalynchuk, vice-president, research and innovation, UVic –

“The support of the B.C. Knowledge Development Fund is critical to help UVic researchers mitigate the impacts of climate change. This important research will increase the resilience of our forests and food crops in B.C.”

Dugan O’Neil, vice-president research and international, SFU –

“Simon Fraser University is delighted with BCKDF funding support for the Pacific Ocean Neutrino Experiment. This project will leverage research excellence at SFU to expand the foundations of knowledge and advance our understanding of the universe.”

Joanne MacLean, president and vice-chancellor, UFV –

“The University of the Fraser Valley is proud to contribute to our future food security through this opportunity to study the climate resilience of berry horticultural systems and ecosystems. We appreciate that this important work is valued and supported by the B.C. Knowledge Development Fund.”

Jeff Zabudsky, president, BCIT –

“From advances in wheelchair technology to advancing our understanding of the universe, BCIT researchers are putting Canada at the forefront of global innovation. Investment from the governments of Canada and British Columbia enable BCIT students, researchers and faculty to continue to push boundaries and advance applied research in their respective industries. Jaimie Borisoff, Barry Pointon and their colleagues embody the BCIT vision of empowering people, shaping B.C. and inspiring global progress.”

Quick Facts:

• The BCKDF, established in 1998, is the B.C. government’s primary investment in research infrastructure in the province.
• Since 2017, the BCKDF has awarded more than $288 million for 541 projects.
• Funding is available for research at public post-secondary institutions and their affiliated research hospitals and non-profit organizations.
• BCKDF supplies funding for qualified projects, covering up to 40% of the total cost.

Learn More:

To learn more about the B.C. Knowledge Development Fund, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/technology-innovation/bckdf

To learn more about research at the University of British Columbia, visit: https://research.ubc.ca

To learn more about research at the University of Victoria, visit:https://www.uvic.ca/researchinnovation/research-at-uvic

To learn more about research at Simon Fraser University, visit: https://www.sfu.ca/research

To learn more about the University of the Fraser Valley, visit: https://www.ufv.ca/research

To learn more about research at the British Columbia Institute of Technology, visit: https://www.bcit.ca/applied-research  

A backgrounder follows.