$1.4 million centre tackles infectious diseases
More than 20 researchers are investigating infectious diseases in the Centre for Functional Microbial Genomics and Host Defense, housed mainly in new research space in the west wing of the MacKenzie Building. They are looking into the molecular origins and transmission pathways of infectious diseases, and mechanisms of host-pathogen interaction and antibiotic resistance. This work has major implications for development of vaccines and anti-microbials, and even cancer treatments.
The Centre for Functional Microbial Genomics and Host Defense received $450,000 from the Atlantic Innovation Fund, with $100,000 in matching funds from Dalhousie Medical Research Foundation and substantial contributions from Capital Health, Dalhousie Department of Medicine, Romark Laboratories and MedInnova. The Canadian Institutes of Health Research has since awarded the Centre with $470,000 in multi-user equipment grants for DNA-sequencing and proteomics research facilities.