September 20, 2024
UBC researchers have been awarded almost $32 million in the latest round of funding from the BC Knowledge Development Fund (BCKDF). Funding from the Government of B.C. through the BCKDF supports the development of research infrastructure, including labs and equipment and helps B.C.'s institutions attract researchers, skilled technicians, and research users.
Three of the awards, totaling more than $31.4 million support projects associated with Canada’s Immuno-Engineering and Biomanufacturing Hub (CIEBH) — a UBC-led national research hub with more than 50 academic, industry, not-for-profit and health sector partners. These projects are aimed at accelerating the development and manufacturing of lifesaving medicine for B.C. and Canada. The projects will enable Canada to rapidly respond to future pandemic threats — in less than 100 days — and address some of the most pressing health challenges facing Canadians.
- Canada’s Immuno-Engineering and Biomanufacturing Hub Advanced Therapeutics Manufacturing Facility (ATMF)
Lead Researcher: Megan Levings (Surgery / School of Biomedical Engineering)
The project involves development of an Advanced Therapeutics Manufacturing Facility (ATMF) for producing gene- and cell-based medicines for use in humans to treat a variety of diseases. ATMF aims to provide a good manufacturing practice (GMP) facility that includes the processes, equipment, and environment for production of advanced therapeutics, including vaccine and cell therapies, at the quantity needed for human testing and with the quality mandated by Health Canada.
BCKDF funding to UBC: $22,233,818
- PROGENITER: Pathogen Response Optimization by GENeratIng ThErapeutics Rationally
Lead Researcher: Sriram Subamaniam (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology / Gobind Khorana Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Precision Cancer Drug Design)
Partnering Institution: Simon Fraser University
Using advanced technologies including artificial intelligence, the PROGENITER program will work to discover and advance techniques to produce clinical-grade antibodies capable of combating pandemic threats.
BCKDF funding to UBC: $6,029,657
- AVENGER: Advanced LNP RNA Vaccines Engineered with Next-Generation designs to Enhance Pandemic Readiness
Lead Researcher: Pieter Cullis (Biochemistry & Molecular Biology)
Partnering Institution: Simon Fraser University
This project will advance messenger RNA vaccine technology that played a crucial role in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The advancements will include lowering doses of vaccines, lengthening immunity to viruses and antibiotic-resistant bacteria, decreasing manufacturing costs and making treatments more accessible.
BCKDF funding to UBC: $3,146,372
Additional projects funded in this round were awarded almost $0.5 million to provide infrastructure to support the research programs of three of UBC’s most recently announced Canada Research Chairs.
- Indigenous Relationships with Land and Ecosystem Health
Warren Cardinal-McTeague (Forest and Conservation Sciences)
BCKDF Award: $125,000
- Encouraging Peers’ Social Inclusion of Children with ADHD
Amori Mikami (Psychology)
BCKDF Award: $36,361
- Mechanisms of viral replication organelle biogenesis
Selena Sagan (Microbiology and Immunology)
BCKDF Award: $294,713