U of T one step closer to attracting new top scholars
By April Kemick

TORONTO, ON - The University of Toronto has been shortlisted for a new Government of Canada research chairs program that aims to bring some of the world's top minds to Canada.

The Canada Excellence Research Chairs program (CERC), created in 2008, will establish 20 research chairs in universities across the country. The program is part of the federal government's science and technology strategy and aims to attract leading international scholars to Canada to increase global competitiveness.

Five UofT research proposals have been shortlisted for further consideration for the new CERC program:

- CERC in Arctic Climate Change: Implications for Northern Development
- CERC in Artificial Intelligence for Neuro-Rehabilitation
- CERC in Integrative Biology
- CERC in Stem Cell Neogenetics
- CERC in structural Neurobiology

"The CERCs promise to be one of the most prestigious research awards programs in the world," said Professor Paul Young, vice president, research. "We are thrilled that we have been awarded the opportunity to proceed with five proposals."

Decisions on which universities win the 20 research chairs will be made in February, 2010. Each chair will receive $10 million for research over seven years.