Canadian Arthritis Network - Today's Arthritis Research

Government of Canada Announces Recipients of Newly Launched NCE Young Innovators Award

OTTAWA, December 2, 2004 – The Honourable Jerry Pickard, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry, on behalf of the Honourable David L. Emerson, Minister of Industry, today announced three recipients of the first-ever Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE) Young Innovators Award, recognizing outstanding achievements in research, knowledge transfer and commercialization among young Canadians.

“The Government of Canada is pleased to see the results of its investments in research and development in Canadian universities and the Networks of Centres of Excellence,” said Minister Emerson. “These young innovators are Canada’s best and brightest, and what we need to succeed in the global race to accelerate commercialization and achieve economic wealth and the social well-being of all Canadians.”

"The NCE have been fostering a culture of collaboration among university researchers and their partners that has had a profound influence in training tomorrow's research leaders," said Dr. Tom Brzustowski, Chair of the Networks of Centres of Excellence Steering Committee, and President of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. "We are delighted to see the impact of this new generation of researchers. They are putting their scientific innovations at work for Canadians and creating successful companies to commercialize their innovations."

Today's recipients represent the first group to receive the NCE Young Innovators Award, which was developed to showcase the best Canadian research transfer accomplishments during the NCE's 15-year existence, and to demonstrate the successful transition of funded research projects out of the lab and into everyday life. Over the past 15 years, 111 companies have been spun off as a result of NCE research.

The recipients of the inaugural NCE Young Innovators Awards are: Monisha Scott, Director, Target Discovery and Validation, Inimex Pharmaceuticals Inc. of Vancouver, has been nominated by the Canadian Bacterial Diseases NCE. Dr. Scott's groundbreaking research in the areas of microbiology and immunology is expected to help 2 combat the increasing healthcare problems caused by drug-resistant bacteria, and control the spread of infectious diseases. Dr. Scott's work has led to five series of patent applications and the foundation of three biotechnology companies, including Inimex Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Jolanda Cibere, a research scientist at the Arthritis Research Centre of Canada in Vancouver, has been nominated by the Canadian Arthritis NCE. Her research focus on the early diagnosis and prevention of osteoarthritis led to the development of a standardized knee exam that has since become part of a clinical standard for early detection. Dr. Cibere also pioneered a study on the current use of glucosamine sulfate by osteoarthritis sufferers that showed no evidence of benefit, the results of which have been widely disseminated to consumers across North America. Her current research at the Arthritis Research Centre of Canada has a direct impact on helping people who suffer from arthritis.

Mohamed Hafed, senior member of the technical staff, DFT Microsystems Inc. of Montréal, has been nominated by the Micronet NCE. Dr. Hafed's unique approach to embedded testing of integrated microelectronic circuits - the tiny computer chips used in cell phones, hearing aids, and automotive parts, for example - is helping to decrease the number of defective devices reaching the market, as well as reduce overall manufacturing costs.

The recipients were selected by a panel of judges using the following review criteria: excellence and leadership of the nominee; excellence of the nomination, including research carried out and quality of results being transferred; the socioeconomic impact of the transfer of knowledge; and challenges encountered in transferring the knowledge.