Envision is a nano-sized anti-cancer drug capable of destroying a breast tumor without damaging the surrounding tissue. Or imagine a self-healing skin graft developed from nanomaterials that treat the wounds of those with diabetes. These two biomedical technologies alone could be capable of greatly improving the quality of life for patients and saving millions in healthcare costs for Canadians.

This is the reason why the Government of Canada is investing research infrastructure funds through the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) for the new Biomaterials and Nanomedicine Laboratory at the University of Manitoba.

Announcement about the funding was made at the University on October 12th, 2017, by the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science, as part of a CFI investment of more than $554 million in 117 new infrastructure projects to be carried out at 61 Colleges, Universities and Research Hospitals all over Canada. With this announcement, the CFI also marks a vital milestone, having funded more than 10,000 projects since it commenced in 1997.

Malcolm Xing, an Emerging Leader in Biomedical Engineering and Nanomedicine at the University of Manitoba, will be using modern equipment to develop drug-loaded nanoparticles that target tumor cells. Additionally, he and his team will engineer 3D printed nanocomposites for skin grafts employed in treating foot ulcers in diabetics. This project is considered to be one of four at the University to receive CFI funding, for a total cost of $1.2 million.

The funding announced recently, awarded via the CFI’s Innovation Fund, will extend its support for research dealing with rehabilitating people with traumatic brain injuries to harnessing the renewable power of tidal currents and building the first quantum computer in the world.

This fund focuses to put the correct tools in the hands of the country’s Scientists so they can discover, revolutionize and train their students for futuristic jobs. Scientists are thus contributing to developing a bolder, brighter future for all Canadians, a future that one that includes a healthy and strong middle class.

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