CHRIM investigators, Dr. Andrew Halayko and Dr. Neeloffer Mookherjee of the Biology of Breathing Theme (BoB) have been awarded $2.4 million from Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) through the CFI-Innovation Fund. This will support a $4.8 million AirSAFE project, that is also receiving $2.4 million from the Research Manitoba CFI-Innovation Fund Matching Program.

AirSAFE will establish facilities for investigation of the effects of air pollutants on human health. The project involves a team of 10 members and will provide insight into how air pollution affects our health at all stages of life. The research will enable controlled exposures to different types of air pollutants and provide information about air quality in Manitoba with specific insight into how it directly affects our lungs.

This project and funding will enable the establishment of unique facilities to conduct controlled exposures of combinations of traffic pollution, biomass combustion (smoke from forest fires or stubble burning), tobacco and cannabis cigarette some, and e-cigarette vapours. The project will move forward to build labs with equipment for developing novel human lung cultures. The project includes partnership with SAFE Work Manitoba to monitor air quality at industrial sites and promote healthy environments.

“CHRIM has been the springboard for this project, first though launch and support of the Biology of Breathing Theme and past support of the DEVOTION research cluster.” – Dr. Andrew Halayko

The project is being supported by CHRIM, which has provided laboratory space, funding, and training opportunities for young researchers and is home to seven of the 10 applicants of the AirSAFE project.