Canadian researchers to work with international collaborators to find innovative ways to prevent and treat drug-resistant bacterial infections
April 13, 2015 – Vancouver, BC – Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Cathy McLeod, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health, today announced, on behalf of the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Health, funding for research that will help ensure Canadian doctors have the tools they need to treat bacterial infections now and in the future.
The Government of Canada is investing $4 million to support researchers at the University of British Columbia, McMaster University and Université Laval. These Canadian researchers will work with international partners on six projects that focus on identifying new targets for antimicrobial drug development, new approaches to treating drug-resistant bacterial infections, and methods for preserving the effectiveness of existing antibiotics.
For example, Dr. Natalie Strynadka, a researcher at UBC and the Canada Research Chair in Antibiotic Discovery and Medicine, will contribute to two projects, including one that aims to find new molecules to prevent the inactivation of beta-lactam antibiotics such as penicillin.
The Government of Canada’s investment in these research projects is being made through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).The projects were funded as part of the Joint Programming Initiative on Antimicrobial Resistance, an international consortium involving Canada and 18 other member countries.
Michael Bolkenius
Office of the Honourable Rona Ambrose
Minister of Health
613-957-0200
Media Relations
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
613-941-4563
