CIHR Team Grants

Functional Infectomics of H5/H7 Influenza A virus: Pandemic Preparedness – Influenza Biology, Vaccines, Ethics, Legal and Social Research

SPARC initiated discussions with Dr. Francois Jean to lead UBC's application for a CIHR Avian Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Team Grant. CIHR awarded $2 million (plus $600,000 in overhead costs) to this international, UBC-led team to conduct research on avian influenza strains (e.g., H1N1) and modes of transmission from animals to humans.

SPARC project-managed the creation of an interdisciplinary team and developed partnerships with relevant government and industry bodies to ensure the input of their expertise during the regulatory and marketing planning process.

In April 2010, Dr. Jean organized and held the first CIHR International Symposium on the Functional Infectomics of Influenza A Virus at UBC with his team collaborators. The research findings presented at the symposium on the biology of swine- and avian–origin influenza A viruses make a critical contribution to pandemic preparedness.

Wheeled Mobility for Older Adults (WheeMOAT): Alliances in Mobility in Aging

Dr. William Miller requested SPARC's leadership and project management expertise for his CIHR Team Grant application after participating in a SPARC-sponsored networking event called Discover Aging Day. CIHR awarded $1.5 million (plus $300,000 in indirect costs) to Dr. Miller and his team to improve mobility in Canada’s aging population

SPARC brokered relationships with health authorities, industry, consumers and other partners to create a cohesive research team, involving 14 researchers at five Canadian universities in a variety of disciplines, including medicine, education, engineering and computer science.

Vascular/Stent Team Building

A group of vascular surgeons and engineers across several disciplines requested SPARC’s expertise and assistance in supporting the development of a cohesive research team that is well-positioned to take advantage of relevant funding calls. To date, the team has submitted two successfully funded applications.

Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE) programs

Centres of Excellence for the Commercialization of Research (CECR)

SPARC has also directed the development of several NCE-CECR submissions since the program's inception in 2007, each valued at $15 million. One example of a NCE application benefiting from SPARC development assistance was an industry-led team in collaboration with Canadian universities, small- to large-sized companies, venture capitalists and government agencies. The resulting $15M award now supports a commercialization centre that brings together people, services and infrastructure to transfer ideas to the market.

Canada Excellence Research Chairs (CERC)

The Canada Excellence Research Chairs (CERC) program is a mechanism to attract world-class leaders in research and innovation. UBC submitted four institutional applications in 2009 worth a total of $40 million; SPARC led the submission of one LOI and final proposal, and supported the submission of the other applications. One of these was successful, and UBC is proud to welcome Dr. Matthew Farrer, Canada Excellence Research Chair in Neurogenetics and Translational Neuroscience.

NSERC Programs

NSERC Strategic Project Grants

The NSERC Strategic Project Grant (SPG) program aims to fund specific targeted areas of research and innovation, and thereby strengthen Canadian industry by creating new economic wealth, employment and/or public policy. SPG funding presents the opportunity to establish 3-year research collaborations between UBC researchers and industrial partners. Industry and government organization partners are expected to be full participants in a SPG research project, however cash contributions are not required.

The current 4 priority target areas for SPG funding are as follows:

• Information and Communications Technologies
• Environmental Science and Technologies
• Manufacturing
• Natural Resources and Energy

NSERC CREATE

The NSERC Collaborative Research and Training Experience (CREATE) program supports the training of teams of highly qualified students and postdoctoral fellows from Canada and abroad through the development of innovative training programs that:

• Encourage collaborative and integrative approaches, and address significant scientific challenges associated with Canada’s research priorities; and
• Facilitate the transition of new researchers from trainees to productive employees in the Canadian workforce.