The Government of Canada unveiled the results of the New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF) 2020 Transformation stream competition. Administered by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council under the strategic guidance of the Canada Research Coordinating Committee, the NFRF Transformation stream supports large-scale, interdisciplinary research projects focused on addressing major challenges with potentially far-reaching impacts, in terms of scientific breakthroughs and applied economic, environmental or health outcomes.

Following a competitive process (347 letters of intent and 31 full applications were submitted), seven Canadian-led research teams are receiving $144 million over six years to spur major advances in fields as diverse as next-generation organ transplantation, spinal cord repair, repurposing marine by-products, biodiversity tracing, bio-conservation to improve Indigenous health and well-being, protection of metallic surfaces, and inclusive design for employment access.

Following is a list of the projects awarded:

Nominated Principal Investigator: Shaf Keshavjee

Nominated Principal Investigator Affiliation: University Health Network

Application Title: The Next Frontier in Transplantation: Ex Vivo Strategies to Repair and Rebuild Organs

Amount Awarded: $24,000,000.00

Nominated Principal Investigator: John Madden

Nominated Principal Investigator Affiliation: The University of British Columbia

Application Title: Mend the Gap: A Transformative Biomaterials Platform for Spinal Cord Repair

Amount Awarded: $24,000,000.00

Nominated Principal Investigator: Paul Herbert

Nominated Principal Investigator Affiliation: University of Guelph

Application Title: BIOSCAN: Tracing the Patterns of Life on a Changing Planet

Amount Awarded: $24,000,000.00

Nominated Principal Investigator: Brenda Parlee

Nominated Principal Investigator Affiliation: University of Alberta

Application Title: Ărramăt: Strengthening Health and Well-Being through Indigenous-Led Conservation and Sustainable Relationships with Biodiversity

Amount Awarded: $24,000,000.00

Nominated Principal Investigator: Cathleen Crudden

Nominated Principal Investigator Affiliation: Queen’s University

Application Title: Protection of Metallic Surfaces from Bulk to Nano Through Molecular-Level Innovation

Amount Awarded: $24,000,000.00

Nominated Principal Investigator: Raymond Thomas

Nominated Principal Investigator Affiliation: Memorial University of Newfoundland

Application Title: Repurposing Marine By-Products or raw Materials for the Development and Production of Functional Foods and Bioactives to Improve Human Health and Coastal Community Sustainability

Amount Awarded: $14,961,023.00

Nominated Principal Investigator: Emile Tompa

Nominated Principal Investigator Affiliation: McMaster University

Application Title: Inclusive Design for Employment Access (IDEA)

Amount Awarded: $9,038,723.00