CFI awards two York researchers $241, 677 in research infrastructure

The Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) has awarded York University $241, 677 in infrastructure funding to support the research of two professors. 

suzanne-tankYFILESuzanne Tank (right), professor in the Department of Geography, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, will receive $135,148 in funding to support the development of a laboratory to support research in further understanding how the permafrost thaw currently occurring across the North affects the way that land and freshwater environments are linked to one another.  The project will also examine the implications of this change for the northern carbon cycle, overall water quality, and the accessibility of northern lands for development and societal uses. The new CFI infrastructure will act synergistically with equipment already in place to create a unique facility that will serve as a nucleus for meaningful collaborations within York, across Ontario and Canada, and with international partners. This work will enable significant skills development for numerous Ontarians, and have direct implications for northern infrastructure and the well-being of northern residents.

GEORGEzyFILEGeorg Zoidl (left), professor in the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health, and the Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Canada Research Chair in Molecular & Cellular Neuroscience, will receive $106, 529 in funding to examine the fundamental processes of communication between nerve cells. Zoidl’s lab investigates communication at specialized cell contacts, the Electrical Synapses, with the aim of elucidating how dysfunctional communication at these synapses can lead to significant disorders including, but not limited to epilepsy, stroke, or inflammation.  Collectively, the research infrastructure acquired will allow understanding of key areas affected by malfunctions of electrical communication including learning and memory deficiencies and disruptions of the visual system.

“I am delighted that CFI has decided to invest in the work of Professors Tank and Zoidl,” said Robert Haché, vice-president research & innovation. “CFI’s investments in state-of-the-art infrastructure at York will support the exceptional work of our leading researchers.”

Gary Goodyear, minister of state (science and technology), made the announcement on June 5.  York’s projects were part of a $47.7 million investment, which provides Canadian researchers with the necessary tools to carry out a range of frontier research. The funding supports 234 research projects in Canada.

A complete list of CFI recipients is available on the CFI website.