Research stories

Our investments support research that benefits Canadians

In CFI-funded labs and facilities across the country, researchers in all stages of their careers are making discoveries, supporting a robust innovation ecosystem and helping solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges. 

Photo of two women researchers wearing personal protective equipment in a lab

Research at the ready during the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic underlined the important role Canadian labs play in helping researchers tackle global crises as they arise
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Four people crouch on a yellow grass-covered hill looking down toward a specimen
article
Alberta
Searching for new cures with Western and Traditional Knowledge
Traditional Indigenous Knowledge helps guide the Prairie to Pharmacy initiative’s quest to fill Canada’s gap in natural product research and find new cancer drugs in prairie plants
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Portrait of Chukwunonso Nzelu
podcast
Alberta
Tiny fly, deadly bite
Leishmaniasis is a devastating disease that kills tens-of-thousands of people every year. By studying the sandflies that transmit it, the University of Calgary’s Chukwunonso Nzelu is helping to zero in on a vaccine
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video
Revolutionizing construction
A Quebec company has created a construction product that lets builders reach new heights and gives the forestry industry a new way to make money and increase employment
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A collage of syringes, vials and coronavirus particles
article
Nova Scotia
Safe facilities will help deliver effective COVID-19 vaccines in eastern Canada
Upgrading two Halifax-area facilities with higher safety measures means researchers in Halifax can develop and test COVID-19 vaccines
Paper strips printed with CMYK colours
article
Québec
Taking the fear out of touch with antiviral inks
Montreal researchers aim to develop inks with anti-pathogenic nanoparticles to make printed surfaces safer
A person puts a hand to their forehead while sitting on the floor and looking at a laptop
article
British Columbia
Virtual reality offers students mental health support
Researchers at the College of New Caledonia study how virtual reality can help students build resilience and learn coping mechanisms for stress and anxiety
Dark liquid flows through a concrete pipe with a river and cityscape visible through the end of the pipe
article
Ontario
Testing sewage to see community infection levels
Researchers at the University of Windsor’s Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research test wastewater as a way of screening whole communities for SARS-CoV-2 and potentially a gamut of other viruses
Viewed from backstage, a group of people on a tour stand on stage looking toward the empty auditorium
article
Saskatchewan
People with disabilities find connection through art
How a lab at the University of Regina combines fine arts and social sciences research to help people with disabilities to express themselves through art
A graphic of lungs criss-crossed with intersecting lines
article
Alberta
Is COVID-19 a vascular disease?
There is mounting evidence that COVID-19 affects blood vessels. If proven, it could change the way we approach treatment. A University of Calgary research team will use specialized microscopes to test the theory
A jar of yellow liquid arranged with herbs and a bowl of peppercorns
article
Ontario
Booming business in bone broth
A burgeoning new food company all started with a desire to get healthier and a little help from food scientists at Niagara College
An illustration of a woman with white hair sitting up in a hospital bed gazing toward a window
article
Nova Scotia
Understanding the challenges in how we care for our elderly
As COVID-19 magnifies problems in Canada’s long-term care centres, researchers at Mount Saint Vincent University are informing policies to make improvements
Image de Fabien Durif dans le GreenUXlab superposée à une image floue d'une allée de supermarché avec un caddie net au premier plan
article
Québec
Adapting to changing consumer behaviours
Using a mock retail environment to predict the impact of the pandemic on buying behaviour and the future of consumption
Smartphone screen emitting points of light and appearing to float over an sound wave
article
British Columbia
Diagnosing COVID-19 instantly with artificial intelligence
A Vancouver company’s handheld ultrasound devices are becoming an indispensable tool for quick diagnosis of COVID-19 in remote areas
An illustration of a teacher speaking to several monitors set up on school desks to demonstrate the idea of e-learning
article
Ontario
Education’s next act
A researcher in e-learning and expert in digital literacy is on the front lines for a school system struggling to transition to a new way of teaching.
Teaghan Wellman poses in front of a blurred background
article
Manitoba
Repairing the roads
There’s booming demand for a Manitoba company’s product that transforms unpaved roads into smooth, durable surfaces