Sure.
I think the capacity building is really one of the most essential things to move this vision forward. We're very good provincially, and I would imagine nationally, in programs that have successfully recruited great scientists and great clinicians such as the Canada research chairs program.
Funding agencies and foundations are very good at providing infrastructure, building things, and buying tools. Where the capacity really needs a lot of support is in maintaining the research operating funding opportunities, allowing flexibility to move forward with some of these developments, both in engineering and GMP manufacturing.
Most importantly--if I'm going to have my say at today's meeting--I think we've heard a lot about how Canadians are the ones who have discovered stem cells. Canadians have led and continue to lead internationally, not just nationally, in the science, the biology, and the research of stem cells. Canadians, as a people, believe in stem cells. Of course, we all believe in the hope of translating this into clinical and health care. What would really bridge the gap is the ability to make that realization.
One of the strongest ways that can move this forward, and it hasn't been mentioned yet, is the ability to take the researchers and put them together with clinical fellows and clinical scientists, so that the two sides are working closer and this translation can happen at a much more efficient process.
There are two examples of ways in which support could directly enable and enhance this program.