Download PDF - CIFAR

CIFAR makes major investment in
genetics, economics and social sciences
research with new five-year mandates
CIFAR has announced a major new
investment totalling approximately $6
million over five years to support two of the
Institute’s research programs in genetics,
and economics and social sciences.
The Genetic Networks program is creating
new ways of understanding how genes
interact with one another, research that
could identify the root causes of many
complex genetic diseases, and lead to new
treatments and preventive measures.
The Institute’s Social Interactions, Identity
and Well-Being program is focused on
developing richer economic models
by integrating social science concepts
such as the influence of social identity
and relationships on well-being and
economic motivation.
These programs have each been in
existence for nearly five years, the point
at which all CIFAR programs undergo
rigorous peer review. To conduct the review,
CIFAR convenes internationally renowned
scholars to participate on external review
panels. These panels evaluate whether
the program is meeting CIFAR’s high
standards of research excellence and
leadership. Both of these programs
received high praise from the panels.
“This team is changing the face of
science in the area of genetic interactions
and is bringing great distinction to
Canadian science and their international
collaborators,” stated the Genetic Networks
review panel.
This team is changing the face of science
in the area of genetic interactions and is
bringing great distinction to Canadian science
and their international collaborators.
The Social Interactions, Identity and
Well-Being panel noted that, “None
of us had ever seen an academic
collaboration involving as many
people of such high calibre working
so enthusiastically well together.”
At its February board meeting,
CIFAR’s Board of Directors approved
the new five-year investment in both
research programs.
“CIFAR is about identifying globally
important research questions and
creating teams of leading Canadian and
international researchers to study them
over time,” says Martha Piper, Vice-Chair
of CIFAR’s Board of Directors. “Both of
these programs exemplify the excellence,
collaboration and interdisciplinary
thinking that we have come to expect
from CIFAR’s research.”
04
CIFAR is also committed to helping
Canadian research institutions attract
leading talent to Canada. In particular,
the Genetic Networks panel remarked,
“This broadly integrated investigation
of genetic interactions is unique in
the world and has helped to recruit
eminent researchers from the United
Kingdom and the United States to
Canada to conduct their work.”
The Genetic Networks program is led
by Program Director Brenda Andrews
(University of Toronto). The Social
Interactions, Identity and Well-being
program is led by Program Co-Directors
George Akerlof, Nobel Laureate
(University of California, Berkeley)
and John F. Helliwell (University of
British Columbia).