The Ontario government has invested over $3.5 million in 12 McMaster research projects as part of a provincewide initiative to support high-impact research and innovation.
The funding is part of a $47 million investment in 195 research projects at universities, colleges and hospitals across the province, and will be used to build, renovate and acquire state-of-the-art equipment for critical research projects and research facilities.
The awarded projects will drive innovation and economic growth in key sectors like agri-food, critical minerals, information technology, life sciences and manufacturing.
“In the face of economic uncertainty, Ontario researchers are bolstering our critical industries with discoveries that cement our province as a global leader,” said Nolan Quinn, minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security.
The investment will have a far-reaching impact on Ontarians, said McMaster President Susan Tighe.
“Support from the Ontario Research Fund empowers our researchers to deliver discoveries that create jobs, strengthen Ontario’s economy and improve lives in Hamilton and across the province,” she said.
The McMaster projects are led by:
Adedapo Awolayo | Faculty of Engineering
Research to advance Canada’s sustainable energy future through characterization of reactive fluid-rock interactions.
Saara Greene | Faculty of Social Sciences
The Community-Engaged Laboratory for Creative Methodologies (The Co-Create Lab) brings together social scientists, community organizations and diverse populations to pioneer new community-situated approaches to CER.
Kathleen Houlahan | Faculty of Health Sciences
Research identifying genetic signals linked to cancer risk and developing blood tests for early detection.
Yingfu Li | Faculty of Health Sciences
A new state-of-the-art facility for basic and translational aptamer research, supporting cost-effective approaches to disease diagnosis and therapy.
Markus Piro | Faculty of Engineering
Research to enhance the performance and safety of nuclear materials for power generation.
Bradley Ruffle | Faculty of Social Sciences
An expanded McMaster Decision Science Laboratory enabling cutting-edge experimental economics research using virtual reality technologies.
Gregory Steinberg | Faculty of Health Sciences
Research focused on developing new ways to increase calorie burning to prevent and treat obesity and related diseases.
Jonathan Stokes | Faculty of Health Sciences
Research leveraging leading-edge AI to discover and design novel antibiotics.
Sandra Lapointe | Faculty of Humanities
A database and co-creation space to study cross-sector collaboration and research training practices that drive public and social innovation.
Elena Verdu | Faculty of Health Sciences
Research examining beneficial microbes to combat disease-causing microbes, supporting the development of novel treatments for human disease.
Ryan Wylie | Faculty of Engineering
Research on new treatments for ocular diseases, focused on improving drug availability and preventing tissue damage.
Marisa Young | Faculty of Social Sciences
The Centre for Advanced Research on Mental Health and Society, advancing mental health research by integrating datasets across families, workplaces and society.