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June 23, 2009

Using nanotechnology to manufacture new high-tech products. Developing biological materials to treat everything from ulcers to arthritic knees.

These two fields of research seem to have little in common. But one thing they now share is some major recognition.

University Professor Michael Sefton (IBBME/ChemE) and Professor Uwe Erb(MSE) of the University of Toronto Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering are recipients of major research funding from the Ontario Research Fund Research Excellence (ORF-RE) program and the Ministry of Research and Innovation.

The value of Dr. Sefton’s ORF-RE award is $6.43 million; Dr. Erb’s project will receive $7.35 million. These funds will be matched by corporate partners. A total of $20.9M out of $42M in ORF-RE funding was provided to U of T researchers. Of this, $13.78 was awarded to U of T Engineering.

“Professors Sefton and Erb are world-renowned researchers in two of the most exciting fields in engineering today,” said Cristina Amon, Dean, Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering. “We are grateful to the Ontario’s Ministry of Research and Innovation and are delighted that our Professors’ work has been recognized with these major research awards.”

Dr. Sefton’s project aims for nothing less than a transformation in regenerative medicine. Its focus is on new kinds of biomaterials, “therapeutic polymers” (Theramers™), which have biological activity in and of themselves and can be used to repair and regenerate diseased tissues without the use of cells, drugs or soluble factors. Such materials, regulated as devices, have potentially a shorter time to market than devices with cells or drugs.

“We are grateful to the province for recognizing the potential impact of our work in creating and exploiting novel therapeutic biomaterials,” said Dr. Sefton. “We are also grateful to our partner, Rimon Therapeutics, for matching the province’s contribution with a view to commercializing the resulting products.”

Dr. Erb’s project is Canada’s first targeted program in the area of applied nanomaterials, one of the leading subfields of nanotechnology, to create new high-tech products for Ontario’s manufacturing industries. It involves 11 research projects in five specific areas: Nanostructured Coatings, Functional Nanomaterials, Structural Nanomaterials, Nanotools and Techniques, and Nanopharmaceuticals.

The program is a collaborative effort involving 11 of Ontario’s most successful University researchers in applied nanomaterials research, supported by substantial funds from nine participating companies.

This program will support the formation of the University of Toronto’s Centre for Nanomaterials in Manufacturing Innovation which will create a unique interface between the research community, Ontario’s manufacturing industries and Ontario’s investment community.

“This generous support by the province of Ontario will allow us to develop several world-leading nanomaterials applications with our industrial partners”, said Dr. Erb. “Ontario’s manufacturing industries will benefit from these innovative materials and the training of highly qualified personnel who will learn how to effectively apply nanomaterials for creating significant technological and commercial advantages”.

 

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