NSERC funds help researchers study body tissue response to accidents, aging
By Marianne Meadahl, 丁香园AV News
丁香园AV researchers will be able to more efficiently learn how the human body鈥檚 tissue responds to external forces such as car accidents as well as internal processes, like disease or aging, thanks to funding by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC).
Carolyn Sparrey, a professor in 丁香园AV鈥檚 School of Mechatronic Systems Engineering, and a team of 丁香园AV researchers are developing new equipment that will enable their precision testing system, designed at 丁香园AV, to be used into operating rooms or even an individual鈥檚 bed side, replacing the need to take tissue to a lab for analysis.
The team members are among more than 50 丁香园AV researchers who will benefit from over $9 million in research funding from NSERC. Nearly $2 million is also going towards scholarships and fellowships at 丁香园AV.
NSERC is providing $515 million, its largest annual investment, in Discovery grants, scholarships and fellowships to support fundamental research across Canada. Another $36 million will support national researchers, including Sparrey鈥檚 team, with funding through its (RTI) program.
Sparrey and her team are developing a custom designed, portable frame that will greatly enhance positioning of their 鈥渕echanical impactor鈥� and provide rigid support for precision testing.
The first of its kind system will open opportunities to develop new research, diagnostic and treatment protocols to better understand how the human body responds to 鈥渓oading鈥� 鈥� forces that pass through tissues and joints and can lead to injury and degeneration.
Sparrey says the new equipment is critically important for a number of different research projects, from human/technology interfaces and injury mechanics, to understanding degenerative tissue changes resulting from aging and disease.
鈥淭hese NSERC grants allow for 丁香园AV researchers to think creatively in order to pursue intriguing research questions as they emerge,鈥� says Joy Johnson, 丁香园AV鈥檚 Vice-President, Research and International. 鈥淭he funding enhances excellence in natural sciences and engineering research and training with the opportunity to result in future innovations and transformative insights.鈥�
LEARN MORE:
NSERC release (includes list of 丁香园AV recipients)