Expansion of the CNMD–INMG Joint Research Program with Lyon1

The University of Ottawa and Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 continue to strengthen their international research partnership through the CNMD–INMG Joint Research Program, originally launched in 2017 to support collaborative neuromuscular disease research. Between 2018 and 2023, the program funded 20 joint projects, resulting in high-impact publications and additional funding from agencies such as INSERM, CNRS, and CFREF.

In 2022, the collaboration was formalized through the creation of a Joint Institute for Neuromuscular Research, recognized by CNRS and INSERM, further solidifying the institutional commitment to long-term scientific exchange and joint research development.

For the 2025–26 cycle, the joint funding program is being renewed and expanded to include a new call for proposals. This cycle will earmark funding for at least one project that bridges the original neuromuscular focus with emerging institutional priorities, including the brain-heart interconnectome. This expansion reflects the evolving scope of the partnership and supports interdisciplinary research aligned with strategic strengths at both institutions. 

International Research Partnership with the University of Cambridge

In December 2022, the Faculty of Medicine signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Clinical Neurosciences at the University of Cambridge to advance collaborative research in mitochondrial and rare neurological diseases. This initiative was led by the Faculty’s International and Global Health Office (IGHO) in collaboration with the Vice-Dean, Research and Innovation Office (VDRIO), and builds on longstanding collaborations between researchers at both institutions.

The agreement formalizes joint efforts in faculty-level engagement, knowledge mobilization, and international visibility. It aligns with uOttawa’s strategic research priorities and opens pathways to major funding opportunities, including CIHR, MRC, and COEN programs.

In February 2023, Dr. Rita Horvath (Cambridge) visited uOttawa to meet with Brain and Mind researchers and explore collaborative opportunities. Her visit helped identify shared interests and potential projects in mitochondrial disease research. A virtual networking event was held in Spring 2023, with follow-up meetings planned to initiate joint research activities. Graduate student mobility may be added as the partnership evolves. 

Renewal of the Joint Research Centre with SIMM (China)

The University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine and the Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica (SIMM), part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, renewed their Joint Research Centre on Systems and Personalized Pharmacology in 2022, extending the collaboration until 2027. Originally established in 2017, the Centre has supported over 10 joint research projects, combining uOttawa’s translational and basic research strengths with SIMM’s expertise in pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, and high-throughput screening.

The renewed agreement reflects a shared commitment to advancing personalized medicine and drug development through international collaboration. It maintains the original provisions on personnel, material transfer, confidentiality, and compliance.

Funding commitments for the five-year extension total CAD $1.4 million, including: $700,000 CAD from SIMM (including equipment and project support), $500,000 CAD from the Faculty of Medicine, and $200,000 CAD from the Office of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation.

The Centre continues to be co-led by the Faculty of Medicine (uOttawa) and Prof. Yang Ye (SIMM), and supports joint publications, training opportunities, and symposia in both Canada and China.