The Government of Quebec has awarded a total of $500,000 in funding to McGill and the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC) to support the completion of two international research and innovation projects. These projects were selected at the end of the call for projects launched in April 2017 as part of the Research Support Program, Component 4 – Support to International Research and Innovation Initiatives (PSR-SIIRI) (Programme de soutien à la recherche, volet 4 – Soutien à des initiatives internationales de recherche et d’innovation (PSR-SIIRI)). These initiatives will generate research investments valued at $1,710,000 in Quebec.
The first collaborative project, led by Dr. Gabriella Gobbi, a researcher in the Mental Health and Addictions Axis at the RI-MUHC and an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Medicine, consists of clinical and preclinical studies of the pharmacological properties of cannabidiol, an ingredient of cannabis, and its ability to reduce the anxiety and depression associated with neuropathic pain.
The second project, led by Dr. Pnina Brodt, cancer researcher at the RI-MUHC and Professor in the Departments of Surgery, Medicine and Oncology, aims to develop a new treatment for glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer, as well as the preclinical study of two new technologies allowing the delivery of an inhibitor across the blood-brain barrier.
Dr. David Birnbaum, the MP for D’Arcy McGee, Chair of the Montreal Caucus, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports (Elementary and Secondary Education) and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister Responsible for Advanced Education (College and University Education), made the announcement today, on behalf of the Deputy Premier, Minister of the Economy, Science and Innovation and Minister responsible for the Digital Agenda, Mrs. Dominique Anglade.
These research projects will be carried out thanks to collaboration between organizations in Quebec and partners from various universities along with some of the largest research laboratories in Canada, France, Israel and Italy.
“McGill University has grasped the importance of leveraging international collaborations to strengthen research and innovation in key sectors of our economy, such as life sciences,” said the Deputy Premier in a statement. “We are proud to support the University in the achievement of these collaborative projects, which are also closely aligned with the Quebec Research and Innovation Strategy’s objective of bringing Quebec to the top of the list of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development for Research and Innovation.”