OCRI Honours Outstanding Research and Innovation at the 15th Annual Life Sciences Achievement Awards Dinner

Ottawa, ON, November 18, 2008 - OCRI will host its 15th Annual Life Sciences Achievement Awards Dinner tonight at the Hampton Inn and Conference Centre. The dinner, sponsored by MDS Nordion, celebrates the exceptional achievements of life science researchers, innovators and companies from Ottawa and Eastern Ontario. The Awards ceremony begins at 8 p.m.

The OCRI Life Sciences Achievement Awards Dinner honours research and corporate leaders in the following six categories: Career Achievement, Health Innovation, Promising Scientist, Research, Company of the Year, and for the first time, OCRI is pleased to introduce the Clean Technology Innovation Award. The Clean Technology Innovation Award recognizes individuals or teams that approach clean technology in an innovative manner especially through strategic collaborations or through independent excellence in research and development.

"Tonight, we are very pleased to recognize the dedication and success of innovative researchers and companies who drive the life sciences sector in Ottawa and Eastern Ontario," says Dr. Lynn Buchanan, Vice President, Life Sciences, OCRI. "This year's winners illustrate the quality of talent and research found in Ottawa that continues to advance and enhance the technologies that are the foundation for scientific research in Canada and around the world. Again the scientific community has done Ottawa proud and continues to inspire students to pursue interests in science and technology."

Ottawa boasts the second largest concentration of scientists and engineers in North America and is home to 40 research institutions such as the National Research Council Canada.

"As the knowledge-based sector in Ottawa continues to evolve and diversify it is really inspiring to see that world-class research and innovation in the life sciences sector originates from Ottawa," notes Jeffrey Dale, President and CEO, OCRI. "We need to continue to nurture the life sciences sector as it is a key contributor to Ottawa's economy."

The 2008 OCRI Life Sciences Achievement Awards recipients are:

Career Achievement Award
Dr. Marianna Sikorska, Principal Residence Officer, Group Leader, Neurogenesis and Brain Repair, Institute for Biological Sciences, National Research Council Canada
Dr. Marianna Sikorska of NRC receives the 2008 Career Achievement Award for her work and leadership in both fundamental and applied research. Dr. Sikorska is an internationally-recognized researcher whose work has led to several important discoveries including the identification of signaling events that cause cell death and one of the most important scientific contributions from the Ottawa region - a solubilization technology for hydrophobic bioactive compounds. Dr. Sikorska is a highly sought after public speaker with over 120 published papers, five patents, and eight book chapters.

Clean Technology Innovation Award
Dr. Wing Sung, Principal Research Officer, Institute for Biological Sciences, National Research Council Canada
Dr. Wing Sung of NRC has developed environmentally safer and less costly methods for producing paper and textile products. Through a partnership with Ottawa-based Iogen, Dr. Sung has developed four generations of the technology which reduces the amount of bleach used, and toxic waste produced, when manufacturing bleached pulp. His enzyme-based process can produce over 25 million tons of bleached pulp while saving the pulp and paper industry millions of dollars and cutting the output of toxic waste by over 100,000 tons. His new hemp extraction and cleaning process helps position hemp as an environmentally friendly alternative to cotton. With 24 patents and 18 patents pending, his work contributes to healthier processes which are better for the environment and manufacturer's bottom line.

Company of the Year Award
EcoVu - Ray Novokowsky, President and CEO and Dr. Bryan Hollebone, Chief Science Officer
The demand for reliable monitoring of our water continues to increase as rules and regulations become more stringent. EcoVu's patented, sophisticated product portfolio sets new standards for contaminant detection and water purification, providing dramatically advanced capabilities for ultra-pure water. EcoVu offers unique value to its clients through their ability to both measure and manage water safely, ensuring that EcoVu-produced water is safe and clean. The potential market for this product is substantial and the company will conduct eight field trials over the next two years with several strategic partners as they demonstrate their technology to the world.

OCRI Health Innovation Award
Dr. Ross Davies, President, Medical and Scientific Staff, University of Ottawa Heart Institute
Dr. Ross Davies is recognized as an innovative leader whose comprehensive database has revolutionized the care of cardiac patients beginning with the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. The University of Ottawa Heart Institute's success has saved thousands of lives - and created thousands of charts detailing patient care. In the past, these records were stored offsite making it difficult for physicians to get information when they needed it risking delays in critical treatment for cardiac patients. As a result, Dr. Davies and his team developed an online database which eliminates the bottleneck and provides reliable and timely access to information.

Dr. Michael Smith Promising Scientist Award
Dr. Dean Fergusson, Senior Scientist, Ottawa Health Research Institute, and Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of Ottawa
Dr. Dean Fergusson of the Ottawa Health Research Institute is recognized for his groundbreaking work in transfusion medicine. Dr. Fergusson's BART study, undertaken jointly with fellow OHRI researcher Dr. Paul Hébert, changed the global perception of how clinical trials should be conducted by demonstrating the need for large-scale trials that can identify both the risks and benefits of clinical therapies. His latest project, a large-scale clinical study, will look at the affects of aging on the quality of donated blood, and like his previous work, continues to challenge conventional assumptions.

Research Achievement Award
Dr. Jeremy Grimshaw, Senior Scientist and Director of the Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Health Research Institute and Professor of Medicine, University of Ottawa
Dr. Jeremy Grimshaw is known as a leading scientist in Knowledge Translation. His work helps to ensure that people who need to make a decision about healthcare, are aware of and using information and evidence that enables them to make informed decisions. His work impacts policy makers, managers, healthcare professionals and patients. Ottawa will become a hub in Canada's new $13 million Knowledge Translation Canada Network, thanks in large part to Dr. Grimshaw's research.

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About OCRI:
Leading the way for Ottawa, OCRI is the city's economic development agency. OCRI is the rallying point to bring business, education, research and talent together to create the winning economic conditions that allow Ottawa's knowledge-based companies to thrive locally and compete globally. At OCRI we promote sustainable economic development to maintain our high quality of life. For more information on OCRI visit our website at www.ocri.ca and for more information on the Ottawa Region please visit www.ottawaregion.com.