(Ottawa – April 27, 2020) Last week’s announcement that the federal government will provide more than $1 billion for medical research will help ensure that researchers working across the country have the funding they need to continue their crucial work necessary toward the road to recovery from COVID-19, says the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT).

“It is encouraging to see additional funding for research and science,” said CAUT Executive Director David Robinson. “Across the country, university-based researchers have been stepping up to help understand and fight this virus.”

The new funding includes the creation of an Immunity Task Force and increased data monitoring, as well as an additional $114.9 million for the Canadian Institute of Health Research for projects developing and implementing medical and social countermeasures to help mitigate the health and social impacts of COVID-19. The University of Saskatchewan's Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization-International Vaccine Centre; the National Research Council; the Canadian Immunization Research Network, and Genome Canada also received additional funding.

“This additional funding reinforces how crucial our research community is in Canada, and the important role they play in improving and protecting the lives of all Canadians,” said Robinson.