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Laurentian University celebrates federal NSERC Discovery Grants

Funding in amounts of $820,000 and over $470,000 will support discovery research.

(June 27, 2022) - Researchers with Laurentian University and affiliated researchers with NOSM University and Health Sciences North Research Institute have received $820,000 from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) to fund five research projects. 

The Discovery Grants Program is NSERC’s largest and longest-standing program supporting areas of research including Biology, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Earth Sciences, Engineering, Human Kinetics, Math and Computer Science, and Physics. Grants that derive from this program typically last for five years and provide the core funding for Canada’s top researchers to pursue their most promising ideas and breakthrough discoveries. An additional $470,000 was also received to support affiliated faculty conducting research in subatomic physics. 

“The Discovery Grant program is critically important for researchers in natural sciences and engineering. This investment from the Federal government will ensure researchers at Laurentian University and its affiliated partners at Health Sciences North Research Institute and the NOSM University have the resources needed to advance knowledge in areas critical to Canada, said Dr. Tammy Eger, Laurentian University's Vice-President, Research. “We are extremely proud of the grant recipients and their teams including graduate students who will have an opportunity to advance their learning through these grants.”

NSERC Discovery Grant recipients from Laurentian and its affiliates: 

  • Dr. Brent Lievers: Quantifying the nature and consequences of morphological changes in trabecular bone structural units
  • Dr. Corey Laamanen: Microalgae production of high-value antioxidants in Canada
  • Dr. Guangdong Yang: Deciphering the roles of cystathionine gamma-lyase/H2S system in Fe-S protein biogenesis and iron homeostasis
  • Dr. Sujeenthar Tharmalingam (primary appointment at NOSM University): Elucidating the role of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) in the DNA damage response
  • Dr. Chris Verschoor (primary appointment at Health Sciences North Research Institute): Exploring how age impacts the TNF-mediated activation of monocytes

Three of the above researchers (Drs. Laamanen, Tharmalingam, and Verschoor) also received Discovery Launch Supplements, awarded to early career researchers in the first year of the Discovery Grant. 

“Laurentian University continues to push the boundaries of discovery research,” added President and Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Robert Haché. “We recognize the efforts of our skilled researchers who make significant investments in scientific research. Congratulations to all recipients who merit these grants and will pursue breakthrough discoveries.”