McGill University and Université de Montréal hatch new research centre
Poultry consumption is on the rise and Canadians can dine with easy hearts — they enjoy some of the safest and highest quality products available. To help ensure that this level of excellence is maintained, McGill University and Université de Montréal have embarked on an interuniversity research project. The two institutions today inaugurated the Centre for Poultry Research, a two-site complex dedicated to producing healthy and superior poultry.
"By creating this Centre, McGill University and Université de Montréal are positioning themselves at the forefront of poultry research and will be able to rival the world's best universities," says Université de Montréal tenured professor Dr. Martine Boulianne. "We will see the impact of our research on our dinner plates!"
The Centre for Poultry Research is the result of collaboration between the two universities, specifically Université de Montréal's Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and McGill's Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. McGill professors Dr Roger Buckland and Dr Urs Kuhnlein, as well as Université de Montréal's Dr Boulianne, were instrumental in developing the project. The Centre became reality due to the concerted efforts of an allied university-industry team. The $7.5-million project was possible thanks to contributions from several sources: numerous private sector donors ($3 million), the Canada Foundation for Innovation ($2.11 million), the Ministère de l'Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport ($2.11 million) and the two universities.
"Creating the Centre provides Quebec with two buildings designed for poultry research with equipment on the technological cutting edge and, above all, a team of researchers passionate about every aspect of the poultry sector," says Dr Kuhnlein.
The Centre's creation will support the poultry industry's research and development efforts to develop new tools for the improvement of the quality and safety of poultry products and eggs. Work related to the genetics, nutrition, physiology and animal welfare sciences will be performed at the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences on Macdonald Campus. The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Saint-Hyacinthe will carry out projects on the manipulation of food-borne and poultry pathogens. This will be the only Level 2 disease-containment facility unit entirely dedicated to poultry research in Canada.
About Université de Montréal
Founded in 1878, Université de Montréal today has 13 faculties. Together with its two affiliated schools, HEC Montréal and École Polytechnique, it represents the leading higher education and research hub in Quebec, number two in Canada and one of the biggest in North America. It brings together 2,400 professors and researchers, welcomes over 55,000 students, offers more than 650 programs for every degree and awards some 3,000 master's degrees and doctorates each year.
About McGill University
Canada's leading research-intensive university, McGill University has forged a worldwide reputation for its learned activities and scientific discoveries. Founded in 1821, McGill has 21 faculties and professional schools, which offer over 300 programs, from bachelor's to doctorate. The University attracts renowned professors and researchers from all over the world and students from more than 150 countries, giving it one of the most dynamic and diverse student bodies in North America. About 23,000 undergraduate students and 7,000 master's and doctoral students are enrolled at McGill. It is one of only two Canadian universities to be part of the American Association of Universities. McGill's campuses are located in Montreal, Canada.
