CFI invests nearly $8 million in research labs and equipment for Canada Research Chairs

Funding will equip top talent across Canada with the research infrastructure needed to advance discoveries in priority sectors

HAMILTON, Ontario, Oct. 23, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today, the Government of Canada announced nearly $8 million through the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) to support Canada Research Chairs (CRCs) whose work ranges from developing innovative surgical solutions to new critical mineral mining techniques.

Karim Bardeesy, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry, made the announcement at McMaster University on behalf of the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions.

These contributions, made through the CFI’s John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF) in collaboration with the CRC Program, support the work of 35 research chairs at 22 universities across the country.

Projects being funded through this joint program include:

• Injectable biomaterials for healing (Quebec): Building on previous CFI investments, researchers are adding and upgrading equipment in their biomaterials lab at the Université du Québec – École de technologie supérieure to allow for advanced work on hydrogels. These injectable biomaterials can deliver healing cells directly to damaged tissues and help them stay in place, support tissue regeneration after injury and improve cancer immunotherapies by helping immune cells more precisely target tumours. The team is also developing gels to safely block blood vessels during medical procedures, with the goal of improving treatments for conditions ranging from cancer to severe internal bleeding.
• Understanding seafloor mineral deposits (Ontario): CFI funding will establish a new marine geology lab at the University of Ottawa to study how seawater circulates through cracks in the ocean floor, carrying dissolved minerals and chemicals between the Earth’s crust and its oceans. This process affects deep-sea ecosystems and creates deposits of minerals and precious metals. Using a CFI-funded oven, rock crusher and advanced microscopes, researchers will analyze rock samples and map seafloor deposits to better understand how they form. The research will provide information to support the responsible management and protection of Canada’s offshore environment while improving knowledge of critical mineral resources that could play an important role in the country’s future economy.
• Safeguarding Canada’s freshwater (British Columbia): Much of Canada’s drinking water originates in forested headwaters, but climate change, drought, wildfires and shifting precipitation patterns are putting this resource at risk. At the University of British Columbia, researchers will use CFI-funded monitoring and water-sampling equipment to track how water moves through forests, soils and streams. By determining where trees get their water and how forests influence water availability, the team will work to understand how climate-related disturbances affect freshwater supplies. Their findings will help guide water and forest management, support climate adaptation efforts and ensure reforestation projects protect both water security and ecosystem resilience.

Quote

“The CFI is pleased to be supporting today’s announcement through our John R. Evans Leaders Fund. These research infrastructure investments will build the capabilities to advance bleeding-edge research, develop state-of-the-art facilities and respond to national priorities across a variety of key sectors. They ensure we are leveraging the ingenuity and talent of our best researchers to build a stronger Canada.”

– Sylvain Charbonneau, President and CEO, Canada Foundation for Innovation

Quick facts

• Projects supported through the John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF) will also receive additional funding through the CFI’s Infrastructure Operating Fund (IOF) to cover the costs of operating the research infrastructure.
• The total investment of $7,741,965 includes:
  • $5,955,358 for the research infrastructure; and,
  • $1,786,607 from the IOF to cover operating costs.
• The CFI collaborates with the CRC Program to create competitive packages for the funding of research infrastructure and research support at institutions.
• The CFI typically contributes up to 40 percent of a project’s research infrastructure costs. Research institutions secure the remaining 60 percent through partnerships with provincial and territorial governments, industry and other public, private and not-for-profit organizations. By attracting co-funding from strategic partners, this unique funding model optimizes the Government of Canada’s investments in research infrastructure.

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About the Canada Foundation for Innovation

With a bold, future-looking mandate, the Canada Foundation for Innovation equips researchers to be global leaders in their field and to respond to emerging challenges. Our investments in state-of-the-art tools, instruments and facilities at universities, colleges, research hospitals and non-profit research institutions underpin both curiosity- and mission-driven research that cuts across disciplines and bridges all sectors. The research infrastructure we fund mobilizes knowledge, spurs innovation and commercialization, and empowers the talented minds of a new generation.

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A full list of our funded projects, as well as stories about the facilities we fund, are available at Innovation.ca. For updates, follow us on Bluesky, LinkedIn and X @InnovationCA and subscribe to our YouTube channel to find videos about the CFI and its transformative research projects.

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