06 February 2015
The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Health, on behalf of her colleague, the Honourable Ed Holder, Minister of State for Science and Technology, announced that GlycoNet, a new national research network, is receiving $27.3 million over five years to develop new drugs and vaccines for conditions such as influenza, genetic diseases and diabetes. Dr. Sachiko Sato of the Infectious Disease Research Centre is one of the researchers participating to GlycoNet. This investment is the result of the most recent competition in the Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE) program. GlycoNet is built around Canada’s international leadership in glycomics over the past 50 years. Researchers associated with GlycoNet will analyze the functions of glycomics (carbohydrates) in the human body and seek ways to take advantage of their biological role in combating disease. GlycoNet will bring together more than 60 researchers from across Canada working in a variety of disciplines including chemistry, biochemistry, biology and immunology to develop new drugs and vaccines to improve the health of all Canadians. For more information, visit http://www.canadianglycomics.ca/.