CANADIAN NEWS
CFI LAUNCHES 2023 MAJOR SCIENCE INITIATIVES FUND COMPETITION
NEW CHAIR ESTABLISHED FOR FOOD SAFETY RESEARCH Nearly half a million dollars will establish a new research chair directed by Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS), funded by the Ministère de l'Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l'Alimentation du Québec and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership. For the past 26 years, Professor Monique Lacroix’s laboratories have been evaluating the antimicrobial and antioxidant potential of natural extracts including essential oils, fruits, spices and, more recently, silver nanoparticles. The financial assistance of $487,590, granted under the Partnership Program for Innovation in Agriculture, will allow these natural solutions to be further developed. To date, the challenge in using natural antimicrobial extracts has been their instability. “Some of the extracts oxidize quickly or are volatile. There is also variability in their composition and their interactions with the different nutrients in foods,” explains Professor Lacroix. “This funding will make it possible to develop different stabilization methods, such as food coating via immobilization in edible polymers. We can also think of nanoemulsion, encapsulation in microbeads, liposomes or biodegradable nanocomposite packaging films developed from natural polymers.” The project also is evaluating the possible interactions between food composition, processing and storage conditions, and the resulting antimicrobial activity. The fermentation of lactic bacteria also will be studied to optimize conditions for the production of antimicrobial bacteriocins. The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, André Lamontagne adds, “Consumers are increasingly concerned about the environmental impact of their food. They are looking for sustainably produced foods and environmentally friendly packaging. The research chair will allow a transfer of knowledge between the research community and industry, as well as attracting and retaining the next generation of bio-food industry professionals.”
OPIOID MORTALITY ON THE RISE Health Canada reported almost 4,000 opioid-related deaths across the country in 2019, of which over 94 percent were accidental. Current evidence shows that during the pandemic lockdowns, opioid-related deaths increased dramatically. This spring, Ontario Public Health reported that death rates more than doubled in 15 of 34 Public Health Units; there was a 79.2 percent increase in the number of opioid-related deaths between February and December 2020. The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), in collaboration with subject matter experts and medical regulatory authorities across Canada, recently released updated national clinical guidelines: Opioid Agonist Therapy: A Synthesis of Canadian Guidelines for Treating Opioid Use Disorder.
B I O L A B M AG.C O M
Professor Monique Lacroix, the new research chair, will continue to evaluate the antimicrobial and antioxidant potential of natural extracts and silver nanoparticles. Photo: Christian Fleury (INRS)
The Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) has issued a call for proposals for the 2023 Major Science Initiatives fund competition, which will award $660 million over six years (2023-29). CFI funding allows pan-Canadian research communities to undertake world-class research and technology development that leads to social, health, economic and environmental benefits; supports facility operations with specialized equipment, services, resources, and technical and scientific personnel; and promotes responsible stewardship through best practices in governance and management. For more information, contact MSI-ISM@innovation.ca.
7
