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Home : Media Centre : News Releases : 2006

For Release
October 13, 2006

Canada's New Government helps SFU expand Health Research Program

Vancouver, British Columbia — Research into health and life sciences at Simon Fraser University (SFU) today received a major boost with an investment of $700,000 from Canada’s New Government through Western Economic Diversification Canada to acquire a new Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectrometer.

“Leading-edge technology is vital to making advancements in medical research,” said the Honourable Carol Skelton, Minister of National Revenue and Minister of Western Economic Diversification. “This initiative will strengthen Canada’s research capabilities in finding new treatments and cures while improving the health of all Canadians.”

The Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectrometer will help expand Simon Fraser University’s drug and vaccine discovery and development program. It will also strengthen the commercialization activities of B.C.'s life sciences cluster by developing new therapeutic compounds for treating diseases. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy is an important technology in the chemical and biological sciences. It is the pre-eminent technique for determining the structure and spectrum of organic compounds.

“This investment in a state-of-the-art magnetic resonance facility will make Simon Fraser University competitive in attracting and retaining high-quality faculty and students,” said Dr. Mario Pinto, Vice President of Research, Simon Fraser University. ”In addition, this infrastructure will facilitate research in the regional Centre for Drug Research and Development. The facility will provide essential services to the B.C. biotechnology sector, thereby avoiding unnecessary, individual investments in expensive infrastructure.”

Western Economic Diversification Canada is the federal department mandated to support economic diversification in communities across Western Canada.

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