New NSERC Research Chair Will Work on New, Humane Eye-Irritancy Test

London, Ontario, September 20, 2002 – Andrew Telegdi, Member of Parliament for Kitchener-Waterloo, today announced on behalf of Allan Rock, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), the new NSERC-Bausch & Lomb Industrial Research Chair in In-Vitro Ophthalmic Toxicology at the University of Waterloo.

NSERC is providing $585,000 over five years with both Bausch & Lomb Canada and Bausch & Lomb USA jointly contributing $1,267,750.

"The results of this Canadian research program will be applicable around the globe," said Allan Rock. "Once again, Canadian innovation proves it's world-class."

The research program will focus on more humane ways to test products safety that do not use living animals. "We are developing a method that will help to replace the 1944 Draize eye irritancy test where large numbers of rabbits are often subjected to discomfort," explained new chairholder Dr. Jake Sivak. "Draize results are obtained subjectively and require high concentrations of foreign substances to cause reactions and do not always correlate well to the human eye and results between different laboratories vary all too frequently."

"This research is supported by both Bausch & Lomb Canada and its parent US company," said MP Andrew Telegdi. "The University of Waterloo has again demonstrated its power to attract international market leaders as partners in its research programs."

Lynn Myers, Member of Parliament for Waterloo-Wellington, applauded the university's stature as a research centre: "We are very proud of what the University of Waterloo has achieved for the area. Its international reputation brings both kudos and tangible benefits to the community."

NSERC president Dr. Tom Brzustowski stated, "NSERC is delighted to be associated with Bausch & Lomb in a project that brings long-awaited improvements to both the scientific and humane components of a test that is crucial to consumer safety."

NSERC is a key federal agency investing in people, discovery, and innovation. The Council supports both basic university research through discovery grants and project research through partnerships among universities, governments and the private sector, as well as the advanced training of highly qualified people.

On February 12, 2002, the Government of Canada launched Canada's Innovation Strategy, two papers that lay out a plan to address skills and innovation challenges for the next decade. The paper released by Minister Rock was entitled Achieving Excellence: Investing in People, Knowledge and Opportunity. It proposes goals, targets and priorities for Canada over the next decade to: create knowledge and bring ideas to market more quickly; ensure a skilled workforce in the new economy; modernize business and regulatory policies while protecting the public interest; and, strengthen communities by supporting innovation at the local level. Today's announcement supports this strategy.

For more information about Canada's Innovation Strategy or to obtain a copy of either Knowledge Matters: Skills and Learning for Canadians or Achieving Excellence: Investing in People, Knowledge and Opportunity, please call 1-800-0-CANADA (1-800-622-6232) or visit www.innovationstrategy.gc.ca.

For further information, contact:

Francis Lionnet
Communications
NSERC
Tel.: (613) 992-9001
Fax: (613) 943-0742
E-mail: fzl@nserc.ca

Dr. Jake Sivak
University of Waterloo
Tel.: (519) 888-4567, ext.3439
E-mail: jsivak@sciborg.uwaterloo.ca