Bridging the gap between research and practice

By Ursula Leonowicz ©2018 Postmedia Network Inc. ​This article was published in the PNI Atlantic News on Feb 24, 2025

How two Halifax universities are turning research and innovation into life-changing discoveries with a global impact

Researchers have long worked to unlock the full potential of the human immune system in the fight against cancer. At Dalhousie University, Dr. Jeanette Boudreau and Dr. Mahmoud Elsawy are advancing this effort through groundbreaking research into immunotherapies. With the launch of GMP BioLabs East, their work could take a critical step forward, accelerating the development of innovative treatments and biomanufacturing solutions. 

GMP BioLabs East is being designed as a specialized research and biomanufacturing facility to support the development of life-saving treatments through partnerships with researchers and life sciences organizations across Atlantic Canada. Initially, it will focus on supporting Dalhousie’s Infection, Immunity, Inflammation and Vaccinology (I3V) team, which is making significant contributions to the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases, chronic inflammation and cancer, including advances in immunotherapy and vaccinology. 

It is going to be transformative for the region and for patients fighting cancer, says Dr. Eileen Denovan-Wright, associate dean, research, faculty of medicine, at the university in Nova Scotia. 

“GMP Biolabs East brings together our region’s leading medical researchers, health-care providers, industry and government to make a critical difference in the health and well-being of Atlantic Canadians,” she says. 

By prioritizing collaboration, industry partnerships, specialized facilities and skilled personnel, Dalhousie is poised to put Atlantic Canada on the map, not just for cancer patients but in a variety of areas and disciplines. 

In January, the university was chosen by the Government of Canada as the headquarters for the national Lab2Market program, which empowers students and researchers to turn research-based innovations into business that benefits Nova Scotia and the national economy.  

The program supports every step of the venture journey, from identifying market need and building prototypes to sourcing investment and securing patents – sparking dozens of new businesses in the province and beyond. These companies are attracting significant investments and creating new jobs in medical technology, bioengineering, clean tech and many other sectors, according to Dr. Jennifer Bain, interim vice-president, research and innovation. 

“Dalhousie is also an international leader in battery science. Much of the lithium-ion battery technology that powers your phone, laptop and countless other devices is built on science developed by Dr. Jeff Dahn, who built our world-renowned battery science program,” she says.  

By working in emerging fields and collaborating with industry in areas like green hydrogen, offshore wind, tidal energy and battery technology, and in traditional industries like mining, forestry and farming, Dalhousie is commercializing new technologies, supporting agricultural production and building a more diverse and resilient economy. 

Like Dalhousie, Saint Mary’s University offers a range of undergraduate, graduate and professional development programs and conducts research with local, regional and global impact.  

The ImpactLab at the Centre for Leadership involves graduate students and aims to understand social innovation approaches, processes and impacts, thereby contributing to community development and social change.   

“Research needs assessment and a solid understanding of the notion of impact. Previously, impact assessments didn’t fully consider systems,” says Chantal Hervieux, director, Centre for Leadership Excellence. 

“Speaking with colleagues in the social innovation sphere, they agreed. A lot of things were being left behind and the reason was because of the complexity of understanding systems.”  

Founded and led by Dr. Hervieux, who’s been conducting research in the field for nearly 20 years, the goal of the ImpactLab is to undertake cutting-edge research, develop measures and tools for the assessment of total impact and apply these measures in assessment of impact in for-profit and non-profit organizations. 

The ImpactLab engages a diverse group of experts, including faculty from areas such as management, science, sociology, environmental science and biology, as well as members of the community, policy makers, students and organizations. 

The Sobeys Inspiration Hub is the latest addition to the Saint Mary’s campus. The 43,000-square-foot building is a catalyst for entrepreneurship and innovation designed to foster collaboration among students, preparing them to tackle future challenges and contribute to economic prosperity. 

“When the facility was built, the goal was to create a place on campus…where business, science and arts students would all cross paths. To be able to action that, we built a facility that has various activities and inspirations to draw people in,” says Michael Sanderson, director, Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre, part of the Sobeys Inspiration Hub.  

A couple of examples of artifacts and activities housed and hosted by the university include the Imagination Station, Meta glasses that give you augmented reality and the Steam Lab, which provides an opportunity for students from all programs to work together to build such things as drones and Smart Mirrors. 

For more information about Dalhousie’s research and innovation, please visit www.dal.ca/research-and-innovation.html.  For more information about Saint Mary’s innovation centres and institutes, please visit www.smu.ca/research/centres-and-institutes.html 

This story was created by Content Works, Postmedia’s commercial content division, on behalf of Universities Canada.