Government of Canada invests $4M in McMaster to fast-track regional drug discovery initiatives

McMaster University has received $4 million in federal funding to upgrade and future-proof its drug discovery infrastructure.

The new funds, which come via the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), will help McMaster’s Global Nexus establish the Centre for Collaborative Chemistry (C3) on campus.

Global Nexus, a health innovation accelerator designed to address the challenges of translating and commercializing health-relevant discoveries, will leverage C3 to not only fast-track university drug discovery and development, but also to support similar research underway at outside small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

“Supporting Canada’s life sciences sector is crucial for driving innovation and improving healthcare outcomes here in Canada and around the world,” says Filomena Tassi, the Minister responsible for FedDev Ontario. “Through this investment, McMaster University and C3 will provide SMEs with the expert support and talent needed to accelerate the development and commercialization of Canadian pharmaceutical products.”

Once operational, C3 will significantly expand and enhance the university’s existing drug discovery infrastructure, based now at the Centre for Microbial Chemical Biology (CMCB).

“McMaster has long been a powerhouse in drug discovery research, and this investment will ensure that we remain one for many years to come,” says Andy Knights, Acting Vice-President, Research at McMaster. “C3 will build on the great legacy of the CMCB and ensure that our drug discovery efforts lead to new, made-in-Canada therapies for a variety of health conditions.”

The new funds will bring to the university upgrades to existing infrastructure, new equipment to expand the scope of research to a broad range of disease areas, new professional chemistry staff, an array of new industry partnerships, and unique experiential learning opportunities for students and trainees.

“This transformational support from FedDev Ontario will fast-track drug discovery and development in Canada,” says Matthew Miller, executive director at Global Nexus. “With new capacity for research, partnerships, and training, McMaster is better positioned than ever to help drive new therapies to market.”

“With this important funding, McMaster not only cements its leadership in academic drug discovery, but also becomes a catalyst for new activity across the local biopharma sector,” adds Paul O’Byrne, dean and vice-president of the Faculty of Health Sciences at McMaster.

Drug discovery is a critical priority for Global Nexus, which is also working to move new vaccines, diagnostics, and other health technologies to market.

Susan Tighe, McMaster’s provost and vice-president (academic) and the university’s incoming president and vice-chancellor, says this work is integral to maximizing the impact of academic discoveries.

“It’s our mission at McMaster to ensure that academic research is having a positive impact on society — both in Canada and around the world,” she says. “Global Nexus is ensuring that we do just that, and this government investment will accelerate this work.”

The new funding was announced by the Government of Canada on Nov. 28, 2024 at a ceremony held at McMaster’s Farncombe Atrium.