WOLFVILLE: Research Nova Scotia (RNS) is investing $1.2 million through its Focused Research Investment (FRI) program to support the development and commercialization of technologies to address tick-borne diseases.
The announcement was made Aug. 25 at Acadia University in conjunction with the official opening of the Canadian Tick Research and Innovation Centre (CTRIC).
Advanced Education Minister Brian Wong, the minister responsible for Research Nova Scotia, joined other project partners to announce the investment.
“Through this investment, RNS is supporting research that responds to an important issue for Nova Scotians while creating opportunities for economic growth,” said Wong.
“This will help move promising technologies for tick-borne disease prevention and management toward commercialization, building on Nova Scotia’s expertise in tick repellency and helping local companies, such as the South Shore’s PureGard, compete in new markets.”
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The RNS investment flows from the organization’s Focused Research Investments program and is aimed at strengthening Nova Scotia’s life sciences capacity, especially in the area of “One Health”, an integrated approach to protecting people, animals, plants and the environment.
Led by Drs. Nicoletta Faraone, Laura Ferguson and Neil Kirk Hillier, the project brings researchers and industry partners together to develop and test new tick-control and repellency technologies.
“Tick-borne diseases are an increasingly important challenge for people and animals, and addressing them requires research that can move beyond the lab and into practical use,” said Stefan Leslie, CEO of Research Nova Scotia.
“FRI gives us a way to invest in research where there is a clear opportunity to tackle societal challenges and create economic value.”
Dr. Nicoletta Faraone, an associate professor of chemistry at Acadia and director of the Canadian Tick Research and Innovation Centre, said the $1.2 million investment will “…support the development and evaluation of new tick repellents and control technologies, helping translate scientific discoveries into products while strengthening surveillance and our ability to detect and monitor emerging tick-borne pathogens.”
