A Submission from Brock University
Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario ushered in a new era of research and community development at the institution today with the official opening ceremony for the Cairns Family Health and Bioscience Research Complex.
The newly opened, $112-million Cairns Family Health and Bioscience Research Complex. Photo courtesy of Brock University
The striking $112-million complex houses 76,000 square feet (more than four acres) of labs, purpose-built teaching and research space and cutting-edge facilities that have the potential to re-chart the future of the University and its surrounding communities.
The Cairns Complex is home to leading Brock researchers in biotechnology, green chemistry, plant pathology and health and wellness. It also houses BioLinc, a business incubator to support start-up businesses and capitalize on the innovative research happening within the walls of the facility.
The visionary project has been embraced by all levels of government as well as by local supporters. Besides receiving $71.5 million from the federal and provincial governments, the facility received $2 million from the Regional Municipality of Niagara, a $10-million impact gift from the Cairns family of St. Catharines and numerous other generous gifts from area citizens, businesses and organizations.
“Local support for this project indicates that Niagara citizens and communities realize how important this complex is to our future prospects,” said Jack Lightstone, President of Brock University.
“The Cairns family and other generous donors have made that clear,” he said. “Likewise, the Niagara Region government made a loud statement when it contributed more than two million dollars to make sure this project was completed.”
“This is a very exciting day,” said Rick Dykstra, MP for St. Catharines. “Not just in terms of Brock University, which is continuing to grow at an astonishing pace, but also for the Niagara region and beyond, as the Cairns Complex provides the opportunity for future economic development and research that will improve our quality of life.”
“This is a great day for Brock and for St. Catharines,” said Jim Bradley, MPP for St. Catharines. “The research complex promises to attract and develop skilled, talented people and to spin-off new business and jobs.”
“They say that you only have one opportunity to make a first impression. And this first impression to visitors and students to Brock is stunning and impressive,” said Jeff Cairns on behalf of the Cairns family. “But it’s not the looks that count, it’s what’s inside that will make the difference for Brock and Niagara. We are humbled to have our name associated with this building and what it represents.”
Features of the Cairns Complex include:
* the Niagara Campus of the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine
* a research greenhouse and plant transformation facilities to study how to use plants to produce safer, faster and cheaper pharmaceuticals in addition to improving their ability to produce natural disease-fighting compounds;
* a research-dedicated Containment Level 3 (CL3) laboratory with an insectary to investigate vectors of disease as well as treatments for deadly infectious diseases like SARS, tuberculosis and West Nile virus; and
* the Centre for Bone and Muscle Health, which brings together researchers from various disciplines to better understand the functioning and adaptability of muscle tissue and how it contributes to health and disease.
The complex will also provide additional meeting, office and common spaces for graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and researchers, including Niagara Health Systems research scientists.
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