Provincial support for Biomedical and Molecular Sciences research

News & Announcements | 16 Dec 2024

Recently, the Ontario government announced $92 million in support of 201 research projects through the Ontario Research Fund (ORF), which helps institutions cover research operations and facilities costs. Two research programs at Queen’s Health Sciences (QHS) have secured a total of $1,317,084 in funds.

Learn more about the funded QHS research programs:

• Paul Kubes (Biomedical and Molecular Sciences), Canada Excellence Research Chair in Immunophysiology and Immunotherapy, was awarded $800,000 to acquire equipment such as potent real-time microscopes for imaging of the immune cells within different organs and systems in the human body. The funds will allow the Kubes Lab to take a close look at lymph nodes, spleen, brain, and other organs and follow rapid events like the seeding of cancer metastasis and the dissemination of bacteria. This research will allow the team to visualize what immune cells are doing in the body and in tumors and enable translational and precision medicine research to improve the health outcomes of Ontarians.

• Eva Kaufmann (Biomedical and Molecular Sciences), Canada Research Chair in Immunology and Inflammation, received $517,084 to support the use of sophisticated model systems in investigating the links between early childhood respiratory infections and the development of asthma. Ultimately, the research aims to enable the development of new targeted immunotherapies for asthma.

“When we invest in research, we invest in our province’s future,” said Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges and Universities. "These critical investments will ensure Ontario’s researchers can continue making discoveries that drive key sectors, create good-paying jobs, and improve the lives of all Ontarians.”

By supporting research operations and infrastructure (including building, renovating, and supplying facilities with state-of-the-art equipment), the ORF fosters groundbreaking research that advances knowledge and fuels economic growth through the development of new products and technologies.

“This provincial support will enable our teams to advance research in disciplines from immunology to chemistry and civil engineering,” says Nancy Ross, Vice-Principal (Research). “These projects will inform climate action and the development of new medical therapies and robotics technologies, contributing to talent development and providing solutions to challenges faced by Ontario, Canada, and the world.”

The ORF Small Infrastructure Fund provides matching dollars or builds on projects also funded by the Canada Foundation for Innovation John R. Evans Leaders Fund (CFI-JELF).

Provincial support for Biomedical and Molecular Sciences research

Related topics

Explore Our Stories