SOURCE: RI-MUHC and McGill FMHS A quick peak at the RI-MUHC CL3 platform New funding of $5.1 million from the Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI), announced today by the Honorable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, will help researchers Marcel Behr, MD, PhD, and Silvia Vidal, PhD, to ensure that Canada is better prepared for the next pandemic. This funding is part of the more than $127 million investment being made through CFI to support upgrades to eight biocontainment facilities across the country as part of the new Life Sciences Research Infrastructure Fund (BRIF) program. Investments made under the BRIF program will enable the expansion of the research capacity of the Containment Level 3 (CL3) laboratories at McGill and the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center (RI-MUHC). These laboratories are equipped to study Risk Group 3 (RC3) pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2. The funds will enable the acquisition of new infrastructure and facilitate the training of the next generation of infectious disease research specialists. “Preparing for the next pandemic means building the capacity to safely and securely study the pathogens that cause epidemic and pandemic diseases,” says Dr. Director of the McGill Interdisciplinary Initiative in Infection and Immunity (MI4). “This new funding ensures that our facilities at CL3 will be better equipped to study Risk Group 3 pathogens, which include SARS-CoV-2, tuberculosis (TB) and emerging infections such as H5N1 and H7N9”. In announcing the funding, CFI President and CEO Roseann O’Reilly Runte notes that, “The COVID-19 pandemic has clearly demonstrated the importance of cutting-edge research in infectious diseases. Ensuring that laboratories meet standards and are well equipped to combat new challenges in the life sciences will contribute to a healthy future for Canadians.” “Demand for CL3 facilities increased with the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic and continues to increase,” adds Professor McGill Vidal, who is also a researcher in the IDIGH program at RI-MUHC. “At both of our CL3 sites, McGill and RI-MUHC researchers, affiliated partners and external companies are working on a range of projects to learn more about SARS-CoV-2 and other Risk Group 3 pathogens. This funding will enable our facilities to safely and efficiently support the large number of high-quality studies being proposed.” In presenting their funding proposal, the researchers also stressed the importance of training the next generation of researchers in microbiology, immunology and the expertise needed to work in CL3 laboratories. “We will develop the next generation of highly skilled personnel, including researchers to characterize the next pandemic virus. Technologists for testing new drugs. the specialized staff to evaluate new vaccines; and facility staff to ensure laboratories are safe, pathogens contained, and findings disseminated to public and private agencies,” says Dr. Behr. November 16, 2022 Related stories
