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Significant New Funding Building Prion Research in Alberta
June 17, 2009
$15 million allocated to new projects, infrastructure and attracting world-class recruits
CALGARY– Recent investments by the Alberta Prion Research Institute (APRI), and the Alberta Ingenuity Fund (AIF), which total nearly $15 million, have been committed to support new research infrastructure, university and industry-led research projects, and the recruitment of new prion researchers to Alberta. Support from APRI and AIF has attracted additional funding from industry and other provincial and federal agencies, amounting to $26 million, for basic pre-commercial research and development across the province.
Ms. Alana DeLong, Member of the Legislative Assembly for Calgary-Bow, was on hand at the University of Calgary to make the announcement.
“Our vision of making Alberta a hub of international excellence in prion research is coming true,” said Alana DeLong, MLA for Calgary-Bow. “I am pleased that our government’s investments in prion-related research will not only help strengthen Alberta’s research and innovation system, but potentially improve human health. The infrastructure investment will also substantially increase the prion research capacity for the University of Calgary.”
Industry projects aimed at basic and pre-commercial research involving partnerships with industrial collaborators – Sanimax and ChemRoutes Corporation, have received funding from various partner including : AIF’s nanoWorks Program, the National Institute for Nanotechnology, APRI, PrioNet Canada and the University of Alberta. These effective partnerships between industry and provincial and federal agencies allows for optimal investments in the area of prion research. Another key aspect of this announcement is the funding towards the new bio-safety level 2 laboratory, at the University of Calgary, which will allow APRI funded researchers to study different forms of prions.
“APRIs immediate goal is to unravel the mysteries associated with of prions. But the end result is more than just answers. In working to achieve our goals, we are building research capacity and expertise here in Alberta” said Dr. Kevin Keough, interim Executive Director of APRI.
The Alberta Prion Research Institute is a $35 million initiative that supports top researchers working on solutions to the serious scientific and socioeconomic challenges associated with prions, the proteins that cause diseases such as Creutzfeldt-Jacob-Disease (CJD) in humans, BSE in cattle, and CWD in deer and elk.
A backgrounder and a detailed list of the funding announcements are attached.
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Contact: Lyanne Foster, Communication Manager
Alberta Prion Research Institute
780-702-2724 or 780-932-4979
