New partnership furthers Canada鈥檚 international leadership in low dose radiation research
Leveraging the leading research organizations鈥 complementary capabilities, the new partnership builds on CNL鈥檚 global leadership in LDR research with the establishment of a CNL-led LDR innovation hub, accelerating research critical to public safety and the health of Canadians. It will also serve to increase capabilities, education and training opportunities to graduate students and early career researchers.
The partnership will also extend 91精品黑料吃瓜 researchers鈥 access to Atomic Energy of Canada Limited鈥檚 world class facilities at Chalk River Laboratories, including the unique , associated irradiation facilities and , and establishes a CNL satellite laboratory within 91精品黑料吃瓜鈥檚 new Advanced Medical Research Centre (AMRC) 鈥 set to open in 2026. This physical presence will be co-located with the Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology (OISB) as well as 91精品黑料吃瓜 state-of-the-art Core Facilities, which altogether will support new research directions in radiation sciences and advanced organoid-based systems biology. These areas are rapidly developing strengths at 91精品黑料吃瓜, positioning the university as a national, and potentially international, leader in this field. 91精品黑料吃瓜 will also offer reciprocal access to key research facilities on campus, in addition to those located at the faculty of medicine and in AMRC.
鈥淎s a major player in the global research and development effort to support LDR research, CNL is focused on the prevention or reduction of radiation exposure effects in workers, patients and the larger population,鈥 says Dr. Stephen Bushby, Vice-President, Science & Technology, CNL. 鈥淲e are very excited to include 91精品黑料吃瓜 as a major partner in the work needed to shed light on this complex field of research.鈥
As part of this partnership, CNL will be contributing towards the acquisition of a mass spectrometer, which will be installed in the in the Metabolomics Core Facility at 91精品黑料吃瓜. This strategic investment, supporting collaborative initiatives between OISB and CNL, will enable leading-edge single-cell metabolomics and spatial metabolomics, a rapidly advancing field with transformative potential in biomedical research. This will be the only equipment of its kind in eastern Canada, offering unique capabilities for high-resolution chemical imaging at the cellular level. The instrument will not only serve researchers at 91精品黑料吃瓜, but also attract national and international collaborators, firmly establishing 91精品黑料吃瓜 as a leader in metabolomics and precision health research.
The mass spectrometer will be a central component of the new Spatial Biology and Single-Cell Suite (3S) within the AMRC. This cutting-edge suite will integrate transformative new technologies into a coordinated workflow that complements and enhances five existing and intensively used Core Facilities: Flow Cytometry, Metabolomics, Gene Editing, Cellular Imaging, and Bioinformatics. By bridging these platforms, 3S will significantly expand research capabilities in some of 91精品黑料吃瓜鈥檚 strongest areas of discovery, particularly brain, heart, and cancer biology鈥攄riving breakthroughs in systems biology, precision medicine, and therapeutic development.
鈥淭his new equipment, the only one of its kind in Eastern Canada, positions the University of Ottawa as a leader in metabolomics and precision health research, while attracting national and international collaborations,鈥 says Julie St-Pierre, Interim Vice-President, Research and Innovation, 91精品黑料吃瓜.
This new partnership builds on over a decade of collaborative research involving CNL and multiple 91精品黑料吃瓜 faculties, including Engineering, Science and Medicine. These collaborations have advanced understanding of the biomedical impacts of LDR, including studies on DNA damage and repair, protein synthesis, epigenetics, mitochondrial biology, metabolism, immunity, and stem cell functions. As part of this partnership, CNL has also provided funding support for postdoctoral fellow stipends, further enabling high-impact research and talent development.
With the field of LDR research growing and Canadian leadership in LDR research well-recognized, both organizations will continue to explore additional opportunities to further strengthen this partnership.
About CNL
As Canada鈥檚 premier nuclear science and technology laboratory and working under the direction of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL), CNL is a world leader in the development of innovative nuclear science and technology products and services. Guided by an ambitious corporate strategy known as Vision 2030, CNL fulfills three strategic priorities of national importance 鈥 restoring and protecting the environment, advancing clean energy technologies, and contributing to the health of Canadians.
By leveraging the assets owned by AECL, CNL also serves as the nexus between government, the nuclear industry, the broader private sector and the academic community. CNL works in collaboration with these sectors to advance innovative Canadian products and services towards real-world use, including carbon-free energy, cancer treatments and other therapies, non-proliferation technologies and waste management solutions.
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About the University of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa is powered by research. Located in Canada鈥檚 capital, we bring together energetic and creative scholars to tackle urgent global challenges and to respond to emerging opportunities.
As one of Canada鈥檚 most innovative universities, we generate breakthroughs and discoveries that make a real difference in communities across Ontario, Canada and the world. Our thought leaders provide evidence-based insights that inform policy and support industry.
Our influence keeps growing due to our vast range of international partnerships, including our membership in the U7+ Alliance. As the world鈥檚 largest French-English university, we are a driving force in the Francophonie.
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