Two York University researchers received a total of $284,331 in infrastructure funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) to support their research projects.
Seyed Moghadas, associate professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Faculty of Science, will receive $134,331 for his project: Quantitative Methods and Infrastructure for Rapid, Evidence-Based Decision-Support in Public Health. Moghadas’ proposed research program aims to inform public health policies that can reduce the burden of epidemics/pandemics of infectious diseases and improve population health using simulation models. The funding will support the development of highly secured computer infrastructure to help better develop data-driven models that are important for human health and well-being. This research is critically important in the event of an emerging crisis such as an influenza outbreak, during which policy makers strive to make informed decisions under uncertainty, and mitigate societal impact.
Dale Stevens, assistant professor in the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health, will receive $150,000 for his project on Neurocognitive Aging. His research will facilitate creation of a world-class cognitive aging neuroscience and neurointervention laboratory with the ultimate goal of developing neurointervention protocols that, when coupled with cognitive training, lead to better, faster, longer-lasting, and more generalizable improvements in age-related cognitive decline than would be possible with behavioural interventions alone. This research program will require the development of brain measures that will serve as targets for neurostimulation and assessment of treatment efficacy.
The Minister of State (Science and Technology) Ed Holder, made the announcement on Jan. 20. York University’s projects are part of a $35 million investment in research infrastructure funding for 37 universities across the country. The investment was made through the Canada Foundation for Innovation’s (CFI) John R. Evans Leaders Fund, a fund designed to help universities attract and retain the best and brightest researchers from around the world by equipping them with cutting-edge research infrastructure.
“Professors Moghadas and Stevens are conducting research that is expected to yield important health-related discoveries,” said Robert Haché, vice-president Research & Innovation. “CFI’s investments will help to provide York’s researchers with funding for state-of-the-art infrastructure to support and continue to build their innovative research programs.”
A complete list of CFI recipients is available on the CFI website.