Lakehead Celebrates Decade of Partnership with CFI: University, City, and Region Benefit from Research Success

(February 25, 2008 --Thunder Bay, ON) Lakehead University holds the Opening Ceremonies of its Research and Innovation Week 2008 today. The event celebrates the Institution's partnership with the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) over the past 10 years, and kicks off the week-long schedule of activities that will provide community members the opportunity to learn about Lakehead's ongoing research projects and successes.

"Collaboration with CFI improves Lakehead University's capacity and capability as a research-based University, and will contribute to building a knowledge-based economy in Thunder Bay and northwestern Ontario," says Dr. Rui Wang, Vice-President of Research at Lakehead University. Lakehead University President Dr. Fred Gilbert also acknowledges the ongoing investments that CFI has made to Lakehead, and the important role those investments play in moving its research growth forward. "Partnership with CFI has enabled many of our researchers to work with the latest equipment, generate information that has global relevance, and ultimately add to Lakehead University's reputation as a research-intensive institution."

"Canada is on the map as a country in which world-class researchers want to be," says CFI President and CEO Dr. Eliot Phillipson. "Lakehead's research successes have added to this world-class reputation, and the CFI is pleased to have had such collaborative partnerships with Lakehead over the past decade. We look forward to continued collaboration and helping Lakehead further develop its global reputation as a place where outstanding research and training is conducted."

Bill Mauro, M.P.P. Thunder Bay-Atikokan comments, "This entire week highlights the exceptional research projects that have and continue to come out of Lakehead University. It also highlights the achievements that local researchers have made. The continued development of research opportunities in our community is vital to the growth of the knowledge-based economy."

Lakehead University's 2008 Research and Innovation Week takes place at its Thunder Bay campus from February 25 - 29. This event celebrates and showcases research excellence at Lakehead; raises community awareness about Lakehead's research and how it benefits society; provides information about research funding opportunities; and provides networking opportunities for faculty, students, and funding bodies. Among other exciting and informative activities, the week-long event line-up includes guest speakers, panel discussions, a Graduate Student Conference, poster presentations, funding opportunity displays and information sessions, a showcase of Lakehead's published book authors, and a celebration of the University's 2007 Distinguished Researchers. Visit www.lakeheadu.ca and click on the Research and Innovation Week 2008 icon for additional event information.

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Media: Please contact Communications Officer Heather Scott at 807-343-8177 to arrange for interviews with Drs. Gilbert and Wang. If you have any questions regarding this media release, please contact Heather Scott, Communications Officer, 807-343-8177, commun@lakeheadu.ca; or Eleanor Abaya, Director of Communications, 807-343-8372, eabaya@lakeheadu.ca.

About Lakehead
Lakehead is a comprehensive university with a reputation for innovative programs and cutting-edge research. With a main campus located in Thunder Bay, Ontario and a campus in Orillia, Ontario, Lakehead has over 8,000 students and 2,250 faculty and staff, and is home to the west campus of the NorthernOntarioSchool of Medicine. In 2006, Research Infosource Inc. named Lakehead UniversityCanada's ResearchUniversity of the Year in the undergraduate category. For more information on LakeheadUniversity, visit www.lakeheadu.ca