OCE backs first ON-QC life science R&D projects

The Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE) has backed the first two projects to be approved under the Ontario-Quebec Life Sciences Corridor. The first is a partnership between the Quebec City-based National Optics Institute and McMaster Univ, Sunnybrook Research Institute, and optical systems specialist Spectral Applied Research, Richmond Hill ON. It is aimed at developing an instrument add-on device to improve efficiency in drug screening processes. The second project is between Toronto-based InDanio Biosciences and McGill Univ to advance development of a new drug discovery platform for cancer and metabolic disease therapies. The corridor was officially launched last year by several key research institutes in both provinces (R$, June 19/12). The corridor is the largest of its kind in North America after Boston and Southern California....