Innovation Anthology #237:
The Alberta Government recently announced an additional $15 million dollars for prion research.
Leveraged with other funding through academic and industrial partnerships, the total comes to $26 million dollars.
This funding has attracted several new researchers to Alberta. And three new projects will investigate the molecular structure of prions, the transmission of Chronic Wasting Disease, and the implications of Chronic Wasting Disease on Aboriginal communities.
Doug Horner, Alberta’s Minister of Advanced Education and Technology, says the new funding also supports commercialization of applied prion research.
DOUG HORNER: If we can develop a way that we can detect chronic wasting disease easier, just like BSE, if we could find a live test for BSE, what a fabulous opportunity that would be, not only from the perspective of our livestock herds, but then think about the wealth generation that could be created by exporting that technology. It’s all part of diversifying the income stream that creates not only the basic research but then takes that basic research and turns it into the societal good it was designed for.
The Alberta Prion Research Institute and PrioNET Canada will join forces on the commercialization ventures.
Thanks today to Alberta Ingenuity
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I’M CHERYL CROUCHER
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Alberta Ingenuity
Established in 2000, the Alberta Ingenuity Fund supports science and engineering research of the highest calibre, to create a prosperous future for the province of Alberta. It draws funding from a $1 billion endowment established in 2000 and managed by the Government of Alberta to build the capacity for innovation, especially in areas with long lasting social and economic impact.
Among its many programs, Alberta Ingenuity supports graduate students and university researchers, industrial research and commercialization partnerships, and has established several Centres and Institutes.
In January 2010, under the new Alberta Innovation Framework, Alberta Ingenuity was restructured and absorbed in the new agency Alberta Innovates Technology Solutions.
Program Date: 2009-06-30