Dalhousie-based Life Sciences Research Institute moves forward with CECR funding

Dalhousie Univ is dramatically increasing its capacity to conduct and apply life sciences research with the realization of its Life Sciences Research Centre (LSRI). To be anchored by The Brain Repair Centre (BRC), the new facility was the surprise recipient of federal funding earlier this year under the Centres of Excellence in Commercialization and Research (CECR) program.

LSRI is one of seven research centres across Canada receiving a grant of $15 million to expand facilities and enhance research. The funding recently received Treasury Board approval and is awaiting royal assent, with funding expected to flow early in 2008 (R$, October 27/07).

"LSRI is not just a building. It's an entity to promote life sciences R&D in Nova Scotia. We have to keep focusing on that," says Dr Carl Breckenridge, Dalhousie's VP research. "For anybody going into that building, they've got to have great research and a great track record. Then we'll look at the potential for commercialization."

Like other institutions across Canada, Dalhousie officials were not aware of the CECR funding until it was announced in the federal Budget. However, each was seeking funding to expand their centres and found themselves the target of the federal government's desire to increase the commercial output of academic research.

"The government wanted to do something in research that was tangible and not going through the granting council process," says Gillian Wood, Dalhousie's director of government relations. "They were aware that there were all these needs across the country that couldn't seem to be fulfilled in the way traditional programs had been developed ... The the government decided they wanted to do this and that's where the surprise came from."

The idea for LSRI was hatched several years ago and has attracted a host of partners. In addition to BRC, collaborators include IWK Health Centre, Capital Health, InnovaCorp, BioNova and the National Research Council's Institute of Biodiagnostics.

The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) is also providing $5 million in support. A complete floor of the 10,000-sq-m facility will be devoted to commercialization with incubator space for emerging companies.

"There's been talk about another building for years. There's been no expansion of life sciences research facilities since the Tucker building in 1967," says Breckenridge.

LSRI is in negotiations with InnovCorp on the incubator component but Wood says it's too early to divulge any details.

"There will definitely be incubator space. That's the whole point of this exercise," she says.

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