Grant: CCI Mobilize Grants

Mobilize grants provide Canadian colleges with flexible funding to acquire necessary resources to address applied research priorities within their communities and to provide applied research training opportunities for students. At John Abbott College (JAC) the funds will enable the development of new initiatives across the College and support their CCTT (Collegial center for technical transfer) CERASP, Center of applied research in the pharmaceutical sciences, on 3 key themes, requested by the community: 1. business and partnership development, 2. bioinformatics services and training, and 3. developing biopharmaceutical product innovation. The funding will enable the hiring of 3 key people to lead these initiatives. These 3 experts will be key to the growth of CERASP: providing new services and added outreach to potential partners, expanding the services, and the knowledge pool. Funds will also be used for consumables/materials purchase and small, essential equipment. Having funds allocated for this will allow researchers to pivot quickly when materials or equipment are required. Also, after 5 years in operation, there will be upgrading of some equipment such as new columns or new modules, to be able to make the equipment more transversal, useful, and agile. The participation of 3 faculty members from John Abbott College and the ~30 interns/yr will benefit from the financial support of the Mobilize grant. The Mobilize grant will have a trifold positive effect on students, faculty, and partners. It will increase the number of students who can participate in applied research and further enhance their job readiness; it will augment the technical expertise and research capacity of our faculty and staff; and it will help grow the number and diversity of community partners engaged annually by the College. With 11 letters of support from industrial partners supporting this initiative, the Mobilize grant will provide benefits for the community. 1) Partners will gain access to a Highly Qualified Research Team. 2) Partners will gain access to Unique Infrastructure and State-of-the-Art Equipment. 3) Partners will have an opportunity to hire qualified graduates. 4) Partners will benefit from financial support for Applied Research needs to secure co-funding and undertake short, time-sensitive applied research projects. In summary, the Mobilize grant will empower JAC/CERASP to catalyze innovation and economic growth in its industry and community partners.