Government of Canada provides $5 million to support research at the University of Regina
The University of Regina has received more than $5 million in research funding from the Government of Canada. The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, made the announcement during remarks he gave at the Canadian Science Policy Conference on November 16, 2022.
A wide range of grants were announced – including the University of Regina’s newest Tier 1 Canada Research Chair (CRC), Dr. Sandra Zilles, Canada Research Chair in Computational Learning Theory.
During her tenure as a CRC, Zilles says she and her research team will work to improve and change the way machine learning is deployed.
“Machine learning is concerned with how computers learn patterns or rules from sample data. The results can be used in bioinformatics, health, finance, and marketing, for example,” says Zilles. “But in each of these area there are tasks that can currently not be solved because machine learning methods require more data than is available or because it’s extremely costly.”
Using carefully selected data means less data will be required and machine learning outcomes will be improved. That’s why Zilles’ CRC will focus on conducting fundamental research on how machine learning algorithms can be made more data-efficient when data is sampled in a more helpful way, such as through interactions with a human or between multiple robots.
“This research will advance technologies that assist humans in tasks that are currently beyond our capacity, due to the cost of acquiring data in certain applications. Beyond academic achievements, I will train highly qualified personnel, and expand national and international research collaborations,” says Zilles.
In particular, application areas like health informatics and public health will benefit from the research led by Zilles.
A recent project Zilles and her students were involved in with the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency and Regina’s Pasqua Hospital shows how her work is benefiting the province’s residents.
Patients with prostate cancer are often treated using internal radiation that targets a specific area. During this procedure, doctors must properly place the catheter that will deliver the radiation. They determine this placement by scanning a series of images, where the location of the catheter is marked manually by the doctor. This marking can take up to 45 minutes per patient.
Zilles came on board to see how machine learning could help and, by teaching a computer how to pre-label the images, her research effectively reduced the time for the procedure, leaving the physician with more time for patient care.
The Tier 1 Canada Research Chair receives $1.4 million over seven years. Additionally, as part of her CRC, Zilles also receives support from the Canada Foundation for Innovation for refurbishing her lab. The John R. Evans Leaders Fund will provide $77,378 to provide the specialized equipment needed to pursue background research, to develop and test algorithms, and to collaborate effectively within the research team and with other researchers across the globe.
The University of Regina also received $2,940,956 from the federal Research Support Fund. This money will help to fund the University’s research facilities and resources, the management and administration of the institution's research enterprise, regulatory requirements and accreditation, intellectual property, and knowledge mobilization.
University of Regina researchers also received Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSRHC) Insight Development Grants (IDG) worth $109,107 (see attached Backgrounder), while students received Scholarships and Fellowships through the Canada Graduate Scholarships and Doctoral and awards, totaling $557,500.
Dr. Christopher Yost, Vice-President (Research) at the University of Regina, says this federal support is essential to the University.
“The Government of Canada’s funding is critical to ensuring all of our researchers – students and faculty – have the support they need to conduct impactful research that continually makes a difference to the people of Saskatchewan and Canada, such as the work Dr. Zilles and her team are doing through her CRC,” says Yost.
- 30 -
About the University of Regina
Set in the heart of the Canadian prairies we are a comprehensive, mid-sized university where the opportunities are as limitless as the horizon. Our campuses are on Treaty 4 and 6 - the territories of the nêhiyawak, Anihšināpēk, Dakota, Lakota, and Nakoda peoples, and the homeland of the Michif/Métis nation. It is our responsibility to strengthen relationships with Indigenous communities to build a more inclusive future for all. Our three federated colleges, 10 faculties, 25 academic departments, and 18 research centres foster innovative research with practical and theoretical applications. We are committed to cultivating the potential of our 16,700 students and supporting their health and well-being. We take learning beyond the classroom through work and volunteer experiences to develop career-ready graduates.
Let’s go far, together.