McMASTER UNIVERSITY TO RECEIVE MAJOR RESEARCH BOOST

Cures for Breast and Prostate Cancer Top Research List

Hamilton, Ontario – A $17.8 million investment by the Ontario Innovation Trust (OIT) will provide a major boost to leading edge research at McMaster University. The announcement was part of a three-way provincial government announcement from the OIT, the Ontario Research and Development Challenge Fund (ORDCF) and the Premier's Research Excellence Awards PREA totalling more than $21 million in provincial research investment at McMaster University.

“McMaster University is consistently at the forefront of Ontario's leading-edge research, scientific breakthroughs and discovery. By supporting the university's researchers with enhanced facilities, equipment and technology, the Trust is confident that McMaster will continue to offer a world-class environment to keep and attract the best researchers,” said the Chair of the OIT, Michael Gourley.

The $17.8 million from the Ontario Innovation Trust will support six research projects, including a $9.6 million investment toward the construction of McMaster University's new Centre for Molecular Medicine. The centre will be the focus of leading research into the development of cures and treatment for breast and prostate gland cancer and respiratory diseases. OIT investments will also support key research initiatives in the fields of health, life sciences, medicine and biochemistry

The announcement today will bring total investments by the Ontario Innovation Trust at McMaster University to more than $39 million since the Trust was established in 1999.

As part of its commitment to supporting Ontario's public-sector research institutions, the Ontario Government launched the Ontario Innovation Trust in March 1999. Since then, the Ontario Government has provided the Trust with $750 million in funding that is being invested to enhance the infrastructure and equipment needed to build world-class centres of research and scientific discovery at Ontario's universities, community colleges and research hospitals.

Since its inception, the Trust has committed investments of more than $345.5 million to Ontario's universities, colleges and research hospitals.

For more information please contact:
David Bogart, Executive Director,
Ontario Innovation Trust
416-592-3600

Editor's note: See related announcement on the Daily News: http://dailynews.mcmaster.ca/story.cfm?id=605