November 7, 2005 Source: University of Calgary:
http://www.ucalgary.ca/news/nov05/cfi.html CFI dollars fuel futuristic cancer research, other projects One of only a handful of Canadian research teams working in the pioneering field of Systems Biology today received funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation to set up a new laboratory at the University of Calgary. Dr. Stuart Kauffman and his team at the U of C’s Institute for Biocomplexity and Informatics (IBI) will receive $710,307 to establish a Cell Biology Laboratory as part of a long-term Systems Biology research strategy. Systems Biology focuses on the integrated interplay among the thousands of molecules within and between cells that underlie health and disease. Many scientists believe Systems Biology could be the key to developing bold new approaches to cancer therapy. "Our broad collaborative research effort holds novel therapeutic possibilities and has the potential to affect human health and wellness in very positive ways," said Mr. Bob Este, Deputy Director of IBI, speaking on behalf of institute director Dr. Kauffman, who is away on business. "We are thankful for this funding from CFI, which we feel is a real vote of confidence in where we are headed." The Institute for Biocomplexity and Informatics was established at U of C in April with contributions from the Alberta-based Informatics Circle of Research Excellence, the U of C, and the U of A. Additional funding to develop the IBI’s comprehensive Systems Biology research program is currently being pursued from other government, industry, and private sources All told, the U of C received more than $1.8 million in funding today under CFI’s New Opportunities program, spread among seven projects. The other six projects are: Air Pollution Research & Innovation Laboratory (APRIL); $175,648; Project Leader Jalal Abedi. Canadian Satellite Altimetry Database and Processing System (CADS); $218,980 Project Leader Alexander Braun. Centre for Integrative Chronobiology; $78,944; Project Leader Michael Antle. Generation of a C. Elegans Facility to Study the Control of Stem Cell Proliferation; $153,406: Project Leader David Hansen. Infrastructure for Wireless Microsystem Research; $360,653; Project Leader Geoffrey Messier.Research Tools for Cardiac Electrophysiology; $177,760; Project Leader Anders Nygren. "CFI's New Opportunities funding has been instrumental in helping our newest scholars establish their research programs," said Dr. Dennis Salahub, the U of C's vice-president (research). "Investments such as these allow us to attract and retain research stars like Stuart Kauffman and those who will become the ‘Kauffmans’ of the future." For more information about the IBI, see www.ibi.ucalgary.ca/. For more information about the announcement, see www.innovation.ca. To arrange an interview with Mr. Este of the IBI or one of the other U of C researchers, contact Greg Harris, Media Relations, 220-3506 or cell, 540-7306. __________ Gregory Harris
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