Salmon conservation, cell research net new funding
Marianne Meadahl, PAMR, 604.291.4323.
Biologist John Reynolds and chemist David Vocadlo, who both hold research chairs at SFU, are being singled out as recipients of NSERC’s new discovery accelerator supplements, awarded to outstanding researchers based on their success and accomplishments to date.
The grants are designed to help boost research productivity at critical junctures in researchers’ careers. There are 50 inaugural recipients from across Canada.
The additional $120,000 ($40,000 in each of three years) is on top of discovery grants they have secured.
“This recognition by NSERC highlights the calibre of the recent faculty hired at SFU,” notes Mario Pinto, vice-president, research.
Reynolds and Vocadlo are among 86 SFU researchers who will share $10.6 million in 2007 discovery grants. Another $3.1 million is being allocated as grants and scholarships for 143 SFU graduate and undergraduate researchers.
Reynolds will receive $216,000 over five years towards his research on the conservation and ecology of fish species. His goal is to improve scientific understanding of the dynamics of wild salmon and their ecosystems.
A large field project is based in the Great Bear Rainforest on the remote Central coast of B.C., where his team is doing in-depth studies of the ecology of salmon in more than 50 watersheds.
Long term research into the population ecology of salmon in this area includes studies of the importance of nutrients from salmon carcasses for supporting biodiversity in estuaries, streams and adjacent forests.
Vocadlo will receive $165,000 over three years. He is investigating how certain sugars can disrupt the proper functioning of cells, contributing to the onset of diabetes and neurodegeneration.
Vocadlo has isolated some of these behaviours showing how their mutation may be linked to the development of diabetes, cystic fibrosis and Alzheimers disease.
NSERC is providing a total of $583 million in research funding and scholarships to be disbursed amoung 10,000 professors and students across Canada.