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Contact:
Michael Pilschke, 604.291.3771; scdean@sfu.ca
Daniel Weeks, 604.291.3358; daniel_weeks@sfu.ca (is away until July 9)
Marianne Meadahl, Media & PR, 604.291.4323

Approval in principle for funding for two new research chairs under the Leading Edge Endowment Fund (LEEF) will advance SFU’s role in salmon conservation and management research as well as studies in brain behavior in children with developmental disabilities.

Under the fund, chairs receive a total endowment of up to $4.5 million, to be cost-shared between government and the private sector, each contributing $2.25 million.

"SFU is well-known for its leading research in the fields as diverse as fisheries, and child development," says SFU President Michael Stevenson." These new chairs will allow researchers to significantly gain ground in the bid to protect salmon, and improve the lives of developmentally disabled children."

SFU’s research chair in salmon conservation and management will enable large, collaborative research projects targeted at maintaining and enhancing productive salmon stocks, which are recognized as indicators of the province’s environmental health. It will step up research on ecological interactions as well as the effect of climate change on salmon freshwater and ocean habitats. Dean of science Michael Pilschke, says the chair will "significantly enhance an already strong research program" at SFU and partner institutions.

The aim of the chair in cognitive neuroscience in early childhood health and development is to improve life for children with developmental challenges and their families. Daniel Weeks, chair of psychology, says research shows that intervention for those with cognitive and developmental challenges needs to be tailored to each individual and that a "blanket" approach is not entirely effective. "It is now possible to implement methods of intervention that are specific to individual disabilities in prenatal and early childhood," adds Weeks, who also specializes in Down syndrome research.

The SFU initiatives are among leadership research chairs being established at B.C.’s four universities, while regional innovation chairs are being created at four university-colleges. Final proposals for the projects have been requested by the LEEF. Within the next year, the projects are expected to share $32.25 million in funding and will target new research in everything from prostate cancer to cattle industry sustainability.

The LEEF was established in 2002 to enhance B.C. as a centre of excellence for research and encourage social and economic development in B.C.

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Website:
Leading edge endownment fund: www.aved.gov.bc.ca/leading_edge/welcome.htm