Article

Government of Canada investing in Canadian researchers to make world-class discoveries

Historic investments in labs and facilities will help attract the best and the brightest talent

 

Various executives posing for a photo.

LONDON, ONTARIO — Discoveries made in research labs across Canada are leading to cleaner, greener, healthier and more prosperous lives for all Canadians. Whether they are looking for effective cancer treatments or developing clean technologies, researchers need the right tools to turn their bold ideas into reality.

That’s why today, at Western University, the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science and Sport, announced a big boost in funding for the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) of $763 million over the next five years and $462 million per year starting in 2023-24. This investment provides the CFI with long-term, stable funding, one of the key recommendations from the Fundamental Science Review, completed last year by an expert panel.

Watch the funding announcement on Twitter

This investment will allow the CFI to continue to support researchers by investing in state-of-the-art labs and research equipment in our universities, colleges and research hospitals. Investing in research infrastructure creates the spaces to train the new generation of researchers and bring together researchers and entrepreneurs who can jumpstart innovation.

The Minister also announced more than $39 million for state-of-the-art research labs and equipment through the John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF). This investment will support 251 researchers leading 186 projects at 43 universities across Canada. JELF aims to help universities attract and retain top talent from around the globe by providing researchers with the highly specialized infrastructure they require to be leaders in their field.

 

Various people in front of an MRI scanner.

As part of the JELF funding, Western University is receiving more than $1 million in support of five projects, ranging from health to climate science. Ryan Stevenson will use his grant to advance our understanding of how the brain develops its ability to process sensory information in people with autism. Robert Sica will strengthen our ability to measure clouds, aerosols, forest fire smoke and volcanic ash that impact the local and global climate.

Quotes

“The Canada Foundation for Innovation has ensured Canadian researchers have the tools they need to push the frontiers of knowledge in all disciplines since 1997. Today’s announcement of stable, long-term funding will help Canada continue to be an international destination for research and innovation.”

 – The Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science and Sport

 

“The Canada Foundation for Innovation lays the cornerstone for the future by providing equipment that ensures the success of researchers from the very start of their careers. The John R. Evans Leaders Fund creates the conditions necessary for the extraordinary talents in Canada’s universities and hospitals to excel. With ongoing, permanent funding, the CFI will be able to continue to support their ambitions.”

 –​ Roseann O’Reilly Runte, President and CEO

 

“Infrastructure supported by this funding will allow us to probe the early neural signatures of developmental disabilities, such as autism spectrum disorder, to improve early intervention strategies. It will also allow us to train the next generation of scientists, helping promote Canada's ability to remain at the forefront of scientific progress.”

 – Ryan Stevenson, Assistant Professor, Psychology, Western University

 

“We applaud the Government of Canada for its continued investments in the CFI and leading research. We also congratulate our Western colleagues whose research will directly benefit from this new investment.”

 – Amit Chakma, President and Vice-Chancellor, Western University

Quick Facts

  • Budget 2018 is making a historic investment of nearly $4 billion over five years in research and in the next generation of scientists. This includes the single largest investment in fundamental research in Canadian history.
  • Budget 2018 set aside $763 million over five years for the CFI, and ongoing funding of up to $462 million per year starting in 2023-24. This permanent funding will put cutting-edge tools in the hands of our researchers and students to ensure they can make discoveries and innovate.
  • The John R. Evans Leaders Fund helps exceptional researchers at universities across the country to conduct leading-edge research by giving them the tools and equipment they need to become leaders in their field.
  • Total funding for JELF is $39,125,771: this includes capital funding for infrastructure of $30,096,747, and an additional $9,029,024 for incremental operating and maintenance costs awarded under the CFI’s Infrastructure Operating Fund.

 

Quick links

Canada Foundation for Innovation

John R. Evans Leaders Fund

The CFI Research Facilities Navigator: An online database of labs and facilities that are open to working with business

 

Related products

A full list of the funded projects and stories about the facilities are available online at Innovation.ca. For updates, follow us on Twitter @InnovationCA and subscribe to our YouTube channel for videos about the CFI and its many transformative research projects.

 

Contacts

Olivia Carey
Media Relations and
Social Media Officer
Canada Foundation for Innovation
O: 613-943-2580
C: 613-447-1723
olivia.carey [at] innovation.ca (olivia[dot]carey[at]innovation[dot]ca)
 

Media Relations
Innovation, Science, and Economic
Development Canada
343-291-1777
ic.mediarelations-mediasrelations.ic [at] canada.ca (ic[dot]mediarelations-mediasrelations[dot]ic[at]canada[dot]ca)

Daniele Medlej
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Science and Sport
343-291-4204
daniele.medlej [at] canada.ca (daniele[dot]medlej[at]canada[dot]ca)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 - Alberta

 

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 - British Columbia

 

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 - Manitoba

 

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 - New Brunswick

 

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 - Newfoundland & Labrador

 

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 - Nova Scotia

 

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 - Ontario

 

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 - Quebec

 

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 - Saskatchewan

Institution

Projects Approved

Brock University

2

Cape Breton University

1

Carleton University

4

Concordia University

1

Dalhousie University

1

École Polytechnique de Montréal

5

Lakehead University

1

McGill University

15

McMaster University

9

Memorial University of Newfoundland

2

Mount Saint Vincent University

1

Queen’s University

9

Saint Mary’s University

1

Simon Fraser University

3

Thompson Rivers University

1

Trent University

2

Université de Moncton

1

Université de Montréal

13

Université de Sherbrooke

1

Université du Québec - Institut national de la recherche scientifique

3

Université du Québec à Chicoutimit

1

Université du Québec à Montréal

2

Université du Québec à Rimouski

3

Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières

1

Université du Québec en Outaouais

1

Université Laval

8

University of Alberta

16

University of British Columbia (The)

12

University of Calgary

8

University of Guelph

4

University of Manitoba

7

University of New Brunswick

1

University of Ottawa / Université d’Ottawa

7

University of Prince Edward Island

1

University of Regina

3

University of Saskatchewan

2

University of Toronto

11

University of Victoria

4

University of Waterloo

5

University of Western Ontario (The)

5

University of Windsor

4

Wilfrid Laurier University

2

York University

2

Total Institutions                                                         43

186

 

Project Title

Maximum CFI Contribution

Brock University

Eye Movements and Electrophysiological Activity as Markers of Age-related Cognitive Change

$76,241

Metabolic Phenotyping Using In Vivo Indirect Calorimetry Infrastructure

$165,467

2 projects

$241,708

Cape Breton University

Microbiology Research Laboratory for Antibacterial study and Biomass Conversion

$151,200

1 project

$151,200

Carleton University

Multimodal Assessment of Human Cognition in Laboratory and Naturalistic Settings (MACLaN)

$124,385

Laboratory for Epithelial Ecophysiology and Molecular Biology

$80,000

Investigating Mineralizing Processes in Layered Mafic Intrusions using SEM-based Microtextural and Chemical Analysis

$60,000

Investigating the Molecular Mechanisms Between Emerging Environmental Contaminants and the Lipid Metabolome

$60,000

4 projects

$324,385

Concordia University

Polymer Nanomaterials Research Infrastructure

$125,000

1 project

$125,000

Dalhousie University

Bioprocess Optimization of Recombinant Expression Through the Manipulation of Cellular Oxidative State

$64,247

1 project

$64,247

École Polytechnique de Montréal

Mutli-Scale Modelling of Shot Peening and Peen Forming for the Aerospace Industry

125 000 $

Numerical and Experimental Modelling of Highly-Dynamic Hydro-Environmental Systems

93 509 $

Micorgrid Laboratory

125 000 $

Exploration de nouvelles générations d'alliages métalliques de haute performance assistée par ordinateur

125 000 $

3D Ultrafast Ultrasound Imaging

250 000 $

5 projects

718 509 $

Lakehead University

NMR project

$515,535

1 project

$515,535

McGill University

Biologically-Derived Materials and Devices Laboratory

120 000 $

Infrastructure for the Development of Soft Biomaterials for Tissue Repair

100 000 $

Understanding the Molecular Pathogenesis and Improving Diagnosis and Management of Skin Cancers in Patients

60 000 $

Nano/Micro Device Innovation Lab

140 000 $

Synthesis and Characterization of Advanced Functional Materials

240 000 $

Low-turbulence Water Tunnel

164 000 $

Control of Transcription in Placental and Epiblast Development

116 824 $

Infrastructure for Uncertainty Quantification in Power System Stability Analysis

40 000 $

State Estimation Enabling Autonomous Operation of Robotic Vehicles

49 600 $

Patient-derived Organoids to Deconvolute the Impact of Tumor Microenvironment on Cancer Initiation and Progression

115 397 $

Functional Genomics of Immune Responses

146 000 $

Controls on Microbial Carbon Cycling in Marine Environments: Linking Micro-scale Processes to Global Carbon Dynamics

239 875 $

Functional Genomics of Acute Myeloid Leukemia

60 000 $

Center for Culturally Responsive Research in Kinesiology and Physical Education

113 954 $

Cerebellum-dependent Learning: From Synapses to Behavior

179 500 $

15 projects

1 885 150 $

McMaster University

Establishment of the Memory, Action, & Cognition Laboratory for the Study of Human Sensorimotor Neuroscience

$127,514

Catalyst Nanomaterial Synthesis, Characterization and Device Integration Suite for Sustainable Energy Technologies

$150,000

Bacteriophages and the Gut Microbiome

$160,000

Synthetic Medicinal Chemistry Platform for Antimicrobial Drug Discovery

$200,000

Chemical Strategies to Modulate Ternary Complex Protein Assembly

$180,000

Platform for Smart Biomaterials

$200,000

Investigating the Genetic and Biochemical Pathways that Regulate Hemostasis

$400,000

Human Energy Balance and Metabolic Phenotyping Laboratory

$395,000

Fault Management Power Electronics Laboratory

$80,000

9 projects

$1,892,514

Memorial University of Newfoundland

The Metal Detector Facility: An Atlantic Canada Ultra-Trace Element Geochemistry Centre

$297,110

MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometer

$300,000

2 projects

$597,110

Mount Saint Vincent University

400 MHz NMR to Support the Development of Imaging Agents

$281,897

1 project

$281,897

Queen’s University

Using Systems Biology to Investigate Leukemic and Normal Stem Cells

$162,500

Predictive Immune Monitoring Approaches for Precision Cancer Chemo-Immunotherapy

$150,000

Nanophotonic Neuromorphic Computing

$132,500

Astroparticle Theory Laboratory

$49,970

Driving Innovation: Establishing a Mobile Inclusive Music Theatre Makerspace

$40,800

Development of a Scintillating Bubble Chamber

$189,951

Selective Laser Melting of Reactive/Sensitive Metals for Aerospace, Automotive and Medical Applications

$125,000

Unpacking the Transition from Suicide Ideation to Attempts in Adolescents

$100,000

Dark Stars and New Physics from Neutrinos

$50,000

9 projects

$1,000,721

Saint Mary’s University

Nonlinear Optical Crystallographic Imaging of Biopolymers

$153,026

1 project

$153,026

Simon Fraser University

High Resolution Measurements of River Dynamics

$300,000

A Unique Experimental Suite for Examining Plasticity and Variability in Brains at Multiple Levels of Organization

$100,000

New-generation Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorter for Infectious Diseases and Immunology Research

$346,300

3 projects

$746,300

Thompson Rivers University

Micro and Macrovascular Structure and Function in Health and Disease: Role of Exercise Derived Extracellular Vesicles

$186,269

1 project

$186,269

Trent University

Maritime Archaeology Research Laboratory Infrastructure

$158,414

Agricultural Soil Health Laboratory

$163,779

2 projects

$322,193

Université de Moncton

Live Imaging of Mitochondrial Signaling

170 993 $

1 project

170 993 $

Université de Montréal

Deciphering the Regulation and Role of PGC-1 Transcriptional Coactivators in Human Skin Conditions

138 146 $

Laboratory of Quantitative Plant Development

253 886 $

Functional Genomics of Long Noncoding RNAs in Human Diseases

159 991 $

The Brain-Circuit Analysis Platform: From Brain Circuits to Behavior

120 249 $

Laser Microdissection and Optogenetics Systems for Discovery of Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Memory Decline in Aging

110 020 $

Mechanism of Bacterial Peptidoglycan Synthesis and Surface Adhesion

519 965 $

Multiphasic-plasma Research Infrastructure

233 586 $

Functional Imaging of Neuron-glia Interactions at the Network Level in Cortical and Brainstem Circuits

249 999 $

Field and Laboratory Platform for Aquatic Biogeochemistry

146 021 $

Uncovering Stem Cell States, their Transitions and Regulatory Mechanisms

144 669 $

Infrastructure for Structural Characterization by Scanning Electron Microscopy

397 671 $

Towards an Archaeology of the Anthropocene

50 850 $

Plateforme photonique de neuroscience de la vision

119 424 $

13 projects

2 644 477 $

Université de Sherbrooke

Infrastructure de terrain pour l’étude de la spatialisation de variables hydrologiques

162 500 $

1 project

162 500 $

Université du Québec - Institut national de la recherche scientifique

Megahertz through Millimeter-wave Material and Component Characterization Laboratory (MMMCC-M3C2)

209 502 $

Studying and Manipulating the Plant Holobiont Across All Scales

148 595 $

Laboratoire en statistiques spatiales et développement urbain (LADU)

121 482 $

3 projects

479 579 $

Université du Québec à Chicoutimi

Laboratoire de sclérochronologie des poissons

63 977 $

1 project

63 977 $

Université du Québec à Montréal

Infrastructure for the Dynamic and Quantitative Analysis of Biological Processes

141 811 $

TGCTextes

47 793 $

2 projects

189 604 $

Université du Québec à Rimouski

Laboratoire d’essais mécaniques destinés aux matériaux, aux produits et aux procédés

299 897 $

Laboratoire de physiologie comparée et évolutive du vieillissement cellulaire

70 000 $

Laboratoire d’étude des impacts des sons anthropiques sur le développement des organismes benthiques

44 095 $

3 projects

413 992 $

Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières

Matériaux innovants pour la conversion et le stockage de l'énergie

100 000 $

1 project

100 000 $

Université du Québec en Outaouais

Laboratoire de Neuropsychophysique Cognitive et Sociale

99 740 $

1 project

99 740 $

Université Laval

Infrastructure for Lipoprotein Metabolism Research Unit

109 116 $

Role of the Gut Microbiome-Endocannabinoidome Axis in Metabolic Health and its Therapeutic Explotation - Phase 2

704 067 $

High-Throughput Microbial Interaction Mapping Platform

86 000 $

Caractérisation de systèmes de finition et de systèmes de densification pour le bois

98 492 $

The Encounter Research Lab

107 522 $

Laboratory on Quality by Design in Bio-Products Engineering (BIO-QbD)

100 031 $

Immunophenotyping Infrastructure for Functional pharmacoEPIgenomics of Childhood Leukemia

123 403 $

Silicon Photonics for High-capacity Optical Communications

100 000 $

8 projects

1 428 631 $

University of Alberta

Environmental Bioprocess Development Laboratory for Waste and Wastewater

$108,000

Molecular Injury and Repair Assessment in Ex Vivo Perfused Solid Organ Transplants

$60,000

Characterization of the Role of Microparticles in Regulating Immune Responses against Colorectal Cancer

$164,181

Targeted Analyses Using Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometry to Assess the Performance of Land/Water Reclamation Systems

$232,000

An in Vivo Two-photon (2P) Imaging Platform to Study Cell Types, Neural Networks, and Mechanisms of Memory

$220,001

Quantitative Proteomics Infrastructure for both Fundamental and Applied Agricultural and Health Science Research

$686,000

High-throughput Discovery of Cellular Targets and Research Tools for Neurodegenerative Diseases

$120,000

Ultra-low Radioactivity Gases for New Rare Event Searches and New Detector Technology

$200,000

Properties of Geologic Fluids: Linking Physical and Atomic-scale Properties at Elevated Temperatures and Pressures

$211,70%

Identification of Novel Therapeutic Targets in Chemotherapy-Induced Cardiotoxicity

$160,000

Pain and Addiction Laboratory

$155,983

Dissecting Molecular Mechanisms Regulating Brain Development and Regeneration

$147,094

Metal Resource Recovery during Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage in Waste Minerals and Waste Water

$180,455

Development and Characterization of an Innovative Hybrid Photosensor

$200,000

Examination of HVAC Systems on Indoor Gaseous Pollutant Transmission and Development of Effective Control Strategies

$97,223

Digital PCR Analysis for Neuroscience Discovery

$79,869

16 projects

$3,022,246

University of British Columbia (The)

Building Infrastructure for Deep Learning of Natural Language

$91,305

Plant Behaviour and Insect Interaction Lab

$125,000

Laboratory for Micromechanical Characterization of Multiphase Fluids

$125,000

Next Generation of Gas Turbines: Technology Development for Fuel Burning Rate Enhancement and Thermoacoustics Mitigation

$125,000

Advanced Non-Thermal Food Processing (ANT-FP) Research Facility

$125,000

A Cross-systems Investigation of Swallowing Following Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation

$101,500

Development of a Novel Geothermal Mine Ventilation System

$125,000

The Okanagan Anti-Icing Research Laboratory

$125,000

Plankton Food-webs Laboratory (PFL)

$125,000

The Nutritional Hematology (NUTRI-HEME) Laboratory

$125,000

UPLIFT Health Lab

$124,864

A Flexible Wireless Sensor-actuator Network for Real Time Hydrological Experimental Design

$125,000

12 projects

$1,442,669

University of Calgary

System-Wide Investigation of Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Using Mass Spectrometry

$400,000

Clean Energy Research Micro-Grid

$150,000

Sustainable Technologies for Rare Earth Elements Extraction and CO2 Utilization

$137,870

Disinfection Byproducts in Reclaimed Wastewaters: Formation, Occurrence, and Toxicity Indicators

$285,000

Developing Innovative Functional Materials and Technologies for Environmental Remediation Based on Interaction Studies

$150,000

Colloids: Building Blocks towards New Materials

$147,102

Innovative Characterization of Water-rock Interaction for a New Generation of Models of Sustainable Energy Utilization

$250,000

Translational Control of Mammalian Brain Development

$200,000

8 projects

$1,719,972

University of Guelph

Laboratory for the Study of Neuronal Development and Plasticity in Health and Disease

$72,245

TI-STAR: A Tracking Detector for Experiments with Exotic Nuclei at TRIUMF

$186,000

Infrastructure for a Neuroscience Laboratory Studying Co-occurring Addiction and Mental Illness

$97,087

New Genomic Technologies to Tackle Fungal Pathogens

$71,819

4 projects

$427,151

University of Manitoba

Single-cell Transcriptomics Analysis of the Immune System During Infection and Chronic Inflammation

$156,834

Manitoba Interdisciplinary Lactation Center (MILC): A Provincial Infant Feeding Database and Human Milk Biorepository

$165,464

Tailoring Quality During Processing of Protein Rich Plant-based Foods and Food Ingredients

$160,000

Enhancing Capacity for Cellular Phenotyping for HIV Prevention and Cure Research

$155,942

High-yield Protein Production Suite for Structural Biology

$159,028

Desktop Supercomputers for the Design of Advanced Functional Materials

$114,462

Social Determinants of Health Digital Library

$240,000

7 projects

$1,151,730

University of New Brunswick

High Pressure Cold Spray for Cermet Nanostructured Coatings/Functionally Graded 3D Architecture Development

$150,000

1 project

$150,000

University of Ottawa / Université d’Ottawa

Legal Text Mining

$74,901

Single-cell Characterization of Drug Response in Human Cancer Stem Cell Populations

$208,675

Deciphering Metabolic Plasticity and Remodelling in the Normal and Diseased Heart

$101,368

Elucidating the Role of Effector Proteins in Promoting Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis

$157,653

Visualizing Epigenomics in Real Time

$231,091

Elucidating Ion Channel Function for Improved Drug Discovery

$147,873

Mechanobiology-inspired Regenerative Medicine

$107,927

7 projects

$1,029,488

University of Prince Edward Island

Atlantic Biofabrication Laboratory

$100,000

1 project

$100,000

University of Regina

The VOICE Lab: Vocally Oriented Exploration in Creative Expression

$25,725

Importance of Terrestrial-aquatic Linkages to Carbon Cycling in the Prairie Ecozone

$36,167

Development of a Low Cost and Stable Catalyzed Heterogeneous System for Biofuels Production from Agricultural Residues

$61,600

3 projects

$123,492

University of Saskatchewan

A Laboratory for Understanding Microbial Interactions through Chemical Ecology

$109,619

Research-scale Extruder for Value-added Processing of Carbohydrates

$164,500

2 projects

$274,119

University of Toronto

The Role and Fate of Inorganics in the Industrial Processing of Woody Biomass

$160,000

Interdisciplinary Research Centre for Sexual and Gender Minority Health

$247,329

Towards Personalizing Arthritis Medicine

$281,018

Super-resolution Live-cell Imaging System for Membrane Contact Site Dynamics

$442,349

Centre for the Study of Brain, Performance, & Music Creation (Centre BPMC)

$400,000

Mitigating Endocrine Metabolic Disease Risk after Spinal Cord Injury

$173,894

Decoding the Heterogeneity of Reactive Astrocytes

$150,000

Genomic Portal for Polygenic Molecular Maps of the Brain

$178,076

Infrastructure to Elucidate the Roles of Mitochondria in Germline and Stem Cell Biology

$250,000

Sub-diffraction Limit Imaging of Matrix Degradation Machines

$198,500

Multiscale Mechanics and Additive Manufacturing of New Metallic Materials for Aerospace and Biomedical Applications

$250,000

11 projects

$2,731,166

University of Victoria

Green and Sustainable Geotechnical Engineering

$90,098

Facilities for Timber and Steel Structures Research Laboratory

$250,000

The Coastal Dynamics Lab – A New Technological Research Facility to Investigate Coastal Morphodynamics

$135,000

Marine Historical Ecology & Zooarchaeology Laboratory

$72,000

4 projects

$547,098

University of Waterloo

Infrastructure to Characterize Capillarity and Wetting for Under-liquid Systems

$150,000

Spectroelectrochemical Analysis of Heterogeneous Electrocatalysts

$130,000

Histological and Functional Photoacoustic Remote Sensing (HF-PARS) Microscopy

$91,830

Nanocatalyst Characterization and Performance Studies Platform

$130,000

Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer

$100,000

5 projects

$601,830

University of Western Ontario (The)

Impact Earth Laboratory

$200,000

G-Protein Coupled Receptor Signalling in Health and Disease

$200,000

Neurocognitive Development of Sensory Processing in Autism

$200,000

Lung Imaging to Transform Patient Outcomes

$271,974

Measurements of Clouds, Aerosols, Forest Fire Smoke, and Volcanic Ash from a Network of Ceilometers

$200,000

5 projects

$1,071,974

University of Windsor

Advanced Flow Management System for Development of Smart Sensor Systems and E-n se Mapping

$48,000

Bioarchaeology and Forensics Portable 3D Osteology Lab

$45,000

Transport Phenomena in Multiphase Reacting Flows for Performance Improvement of Sustainable Energy Systems

$68,615

INCUBATOR Lab: Advanced Bioart Laboratory and Multimedia Theatre

$100,000

4 projects

$261,615

Wilfrid Laurier University

Mass Spectrometry for Dissecting Phosphonate Tailoring of Bacterial Cell Surfaces

$97,651

Functional Near-infrared Spectroscopy System for the Study of the Neural Mechanisms that Support Speech

$76,020

2 projects

$173,671

York University

Behavioral Endocrinology of Primate Life Histories

$142,000

Experimental Facility for Advanced Robotics and Mechatronics Research

$167,269

2 projects

$309,269

 

NOTE:
As part of this announcement, an additional $9,029,024 was awarded under the Infrastructure Operating Fund (IOF), a mechanism that assists institutions with the incremental operating and maintenance costs associated with the new infrastructure.