Federal, provincial and municipal governments invest $563,424 to help accelerate health and medical research, and encourage product development in the region

November 17, 2017 – Sudbury, ON – Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario – FedNor

Northern Ontario researchers, entrepreneurs and healthcare professionals will benefit from increased secure access to health and scientific information, and cutting-edge research as a result of a $563,424 investment by the Government of Canada, Province of Ontario and Greater Sudbury Development Corporation. The funding will be used to purchase equipment and complete the technology upgrades and renovations needed to establish a new satellite office of the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences(ICES) at Health Sciences North Research Institute.

Paul Lefebvre, Member of Parliament for Sudbury, was joined today by Marc Serré, Member of Parliament for Nickel Belt, to announce the FedNor funding on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for FedNor. Sudbury MPP and Minister of Energy, Glenn Thibeault, was also on hand to announce NOHFC funding for the project on behalf of the Honourable Michael Gravelle, Ontario’s Minister of Northern Development and Mines and Chair of the NOHFC. Both levels of government are providing matching contributions of $221,712.

Representing the Greater Sudbury Development Corporation, Mayor Brian Bigger, City of Greater Sudbury, also announced a municipal contribution of $120,000 to support the initiative.

Quotes

“The Government of Canada is proud to invest in technology and innovation to help commercialize new products and keep Northern Ontario’s health sciences sector at the forefront of the industry. By providing researchers and industry professionals with the information and resources they need to succeed, our government is helping to ensure Canadians continue to have access to the best patient care available.”

– Paul Lefebvre, Member of Parliament for Sudbury

“Connecting Health Sciences North to ICES’ network will help increase scientific collaboration and assist in developing tools for better patient outcomes. I look forward to the positive results today’s announcement will deliver for patients, families and healthcare professionals living and working in the region.”

– Marc Serré, Member of Parliament for Nickel Belt

“Ontario is committed to ground-breaking research that addresses unique health-care challenges in the North. The Ministry of Northern Development and Mines and the NOHFC are proud to support the ICES North project and the important work of Northern Ontario’s medical research community. Ensuring access to high quality health care to all Ontarians is a key component of Ontario’s plan to create fairness and opportunity, including a plan to provide free prescription drugs for everyone under 25 through the biggest expansion of medicare in a generation.”

– Michael Gravelle, Minister of Northern Development and Mines, Chair of the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation and Member of Provincial Parliament for Thunder Bay-Superior North

“The Health Sciences North Research Institute and Institute of Clinical Evaluative Sciences are working to ensure the highest-quality health care for all Ontarians. Innovative initiatives such as the ICES North project will attract more physicians, researchers and medical experts to Northern Ontario. I am proud to announce another significant investment in health care and research in Sudbury. By supporting organizations like HSNRI the Government of Ontario is creating jobs, building the economy and ensuring the best possible health care for the people of Sudbury.”

– Glenn Thibeault, Member of Provincial Parliament for Sudbury and Minister of Energy

“With the support of the City of Greater Sudbury through the Greater Sudbury Development Corporation, we are proud to contribute $120,000 to HSNRI to help establish ICES North. This investment is evidence of our continued support for Greater Sudbury to become leaders in the health and life sciences sector. ICES North serves as an asset in attracting and retaining researchers to our community to conduct life-changing research that is globally recognized.”

– Mayor Brian Bigger, City of Greater Sudbury

“ICES North is the first and only satellite to be established in Northern Ontario. It is a confirmation of the quality of health research happening here and the calibre of researchers we have successfully attracted. It will add value to the research being conducted at Health Sciences North Research Institute and by our partners. ICES North is an important resource for attracting leading researchers to the North and to developing the next generation of researchers who are discovering real health solutions for the North.”

– Dominic Giroux, CEO of HSNRI

“It was always clear the ICES network would not be complete until we were present in the North. ICES North extends our capacity to generate high-quality, locally informed research. By engaging with scientists and the breadth of expertise and local knowledge available in the North, our partnership will contribute to the effectiveness, quality, equity and efficiency of health care and health services for all people in the North and throughout Ontario.”

– Dr. Michael Schull, President and CEO, ICES

“We at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine are very excited about the establishment of ICES North. ICES North will allow us to put issues affecting Northern Ontarians—especially those in rural, remote, Indigenous, and Francophone communities—even further under the metaphorical microscope, enabling us to better understand and address the priority health concerns faced in our region.”

– Dr. Roger Strasser, Dean, Northern Ontario School of Medicine

“The establishment of ICES North further highlights the collective strength of health research in Northern Ontario. This invaluable resource, will better inform research priorities as we continue our work in developing innovative, patient-focused research collaborations between researchers at Laurentian University, The Northern Ontario School of Medicine and Health Sciences North Research Institute.”

– Dr. Rui Wang, Vice-President Research at Laurentian University

Quick Facts

• The funding announced today is provided through FedNor’s Northern Ontario Development Program, which supports projects that promote sustainable community economic development, enhance business development and growth, and facilitate innovation throughout the region.
• The project is led by Health Sciences North Research Institute, in partnership with Laurentian University, and the Northern Ontario School of Medicine.
• Health Sciences North Research Institute is focused on contributing to sustainable solutions for health challenges faced by Ontario’s Northern and Indigenous communities. Its research priority areas, which include infection and immunity, cancer solutions, personalized medicine and healthy aging, are wrapped around a population health focus to achieve health equity for Ontario’s Northern and Indigenous communities.

Associated Links

• To find out more about our programs and services, please visit: fednor.gc.ca.
• Follow us on Twitter @FedNor.
• Follow Innovation, Science and Economic Development on Twitter: @ISED_CA.

Contacts

Barclay Babcock
Communications Officer
FedNor
705-690-0957
barclay.babcock@canada.ca