UPEI Expertise Attracts Major Investment from Atlantic Innovation Fund
Researchers from the University of Prince Edward Island are playing key roles in three of the six projects that attracted investment from the Atlantic Innovation Fund this week. The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), announced that up to $15 million will be awarded to projects that support the province's growing expertise in bioscience, marine bioproducts, and health research.
"In each of the first three rounds of AIF funding, and again in Round Four, UPEI colleagues have been lead proponents and essential partners in major funding initiatives," says President Wade MacLauchlan. "UPEI has been disproportionately successful in the AIF, by comparison with any other university in Atlantic Canada. This reflects a special combination of research talent, a commitment to translate our expertise into benefits for the community, and support from administrative and research development colleagues."
UPEI's "Project: Discovery and Production of Marine Bioproducts" will receive up to$3 million from the AIF over a five- year period. It is led by the Department of Chemistry's Dr. Russell Kerr, a Canada Research Chair in the Faculty of Science and a world leader in the area of biosynthesis of marine natural products.
"This project will enhance our ability to sustainably advance a rich source of novel natural products with a wide range of biomedical applications," explains Dr. Katherine Schultz, UPEI Vice-President of Research Development. "It builds on the excellence of Dr. Kerr's work, and complements the expertise of other researchers who are exploring the bioactive compounds of our regional plants and crops."
An additional $2.9 million will be invested from the AIF in a collaborative project between the Centre for Aquatic Health Sciences at UPEI's Atlantic Veterinary College and Elanco Animal Health Canada. They will undertake research to develop a safe, effective and profitable therapeutic product to prevent and treat sea lice in salmonids, a family of fishes that includes trout and salmon. Disease outbreaks remain one of the main challenges to the continued sustainability, growth and prosperity of the aquaculture industry. Sea lice, in particular, represent a health threat to salmonid aquaculture. Dr. Larry Hammell will be a major contributor to this project.
The health of the aquaculture industry is also the focus of a project that takes advantage of the expertise of Dr. Franck Berthe, UPEI's Canada Research Chair in Aquatic Health Science: Molusc Health, and Dr. Jeff Davidson from the Atlantic Veterinary College's Department of Health Management. Since 1997, four aquatic invasive species of tunicate, a group of marine animals that spend most of their lives attached to docks, rocks or the undersides of boats, have been identified in Atlantic Canada. These species have a negative effect on shellfish resources, particularly the cultured mussel industry. UPEI researchers will work with the PEI Aquaculture Alliance Inc. (PEIAA) to provide the industry with sustainable and efficient methods of managing tunicate through diagnosis, prevention and treatment. This project will receive an investment of up to $2.8 million from the Atlantic Innovation Fund over a five-year period.
"Here in PEI, and across Atlantic Canada, we have the talent, expertise, ideas and drive to become a world-class centre for research and development," said Minister MacKay. "The innovation work underway in the region drives our economy, increases trade and investment, attracts new talent, and has the potential to help retain our youth."
The University of Prince Edward Island has become an important generator of new knowledge in recent years through its significant growth in research initiatives and capacity. Last year alone, externally-funded research activity at UPEI jumped by $3 million to $12.7 million.
