Thank you, Madam Chair, and good evening and thank you, all, so much for the invitation.
My colleague, Dr. Gerry Wright, a renowned infectious disease expert and lead of Canada's Global Nexus for Pandemics and Biological Threats, and I are so very pleased to be here and to talk about one of our passions, science and research in Canada.
The pandemic has given us pause, a forced opportunity, if you will, to reassess the science and research ecosystem in Canada. I'm saying this not only as the head of McMaster's research enterprise but as a researcher whose lab has never been busier since March 2020.
Canada is home to some of the brightest researchers in the world and we have the capacity to achieve scientific breakthroughs to positively impact the world. From medicine to nuclear research, from combatting climate change to pioneering the next generation of mobility, Canada has incredible and untapped potential. We need to ensure we seize and maximize this potential for the benefit of Canadians and citizens around the world.
You've heard from previous witnesses about the challenges—and there are many—but we'd like to focus on the solutions and opportunities. In particular, we would like to offer a new model of research and development as a solution to overcome some of the barriers that we face. As one of Canada's most research-intensive universities, McMaster has long been at the forefront of innovation. Problem-based learning was developed at McMaster's medical school before being exported around the world. We are home to Canada's only major nuclear research reactor, opened more than six decades ago by Prime Minister Diefenbaker in 1959. We were ahead of our time then and we continue to be forward thinking.
Now we are leading the way with Canada's Global Nexus for Pandemics and Biological Threats, an ecosystem of its own of pandemic preparedness. We see the nexus model as a path forward for research in Canada that can unlock our potential across the country. Canada's global nexus will be transformative for the advancement of Canada's science and research ecosystem. The research being undertaken goes beyond the science of vaccines and pandemics. It brings together the best minds from across the country, from public health, government departments and relevant industries, and connects them with our research expertise. This ensures business, academia and government are aligned and connected, understand each other's needs, support one another's work, and collectively mobilize the knowledge needed to benefit Canadians.
Our model removes the barriers and boundaries, co-locating experts from all sectors to capitalize on the benefits of collaboration and coordination.
Canada's global nexus is already yielding results for Canadians but there is so much more we can do. Previously, this committee had asked witnesses why Canada was the only G7 country unable to rapidly produce a vaccine. The simple answer is that Canada was not prepared at the beginning of the pandemic. Over the last two years, through partnerships, government support and our vast reservoir of talent, Canadian-based organizations, including Canada's global nexus, have pivoted their research to begin clinical trials for COVID vaccines. Not only has Canada been able to catch up to our allies, but we are poised to surpass them. Indeed, our own inhaled vaccine, effective against COVID and other variants of concern, is currently in clinical trials.
While we may indeed have lost the short game, we're by no means out. It's just the opposite, in fact. We know that with the right combination of funding and our ability to leverage Canada's existing expertise, we can win the long game. Through research, we can keep Canada competitive. As a country, we need to embrace the kinds of research that are the hallmark of McMaster: interdisciplinary, connected and collaborative. We need to be creative to ensure we attract and retain the brightest thinkers. We have already been able to repatriate three top researchers back to Canada from the United States, improve IP development and keep Canadians safe with made-in-Canada solutions. This will require not only federal investment, but new solutions and approaches, such as the nexus model.
Future federal investments need to be made with a view to leveraging expertise and partnerships. With that in mind, we are asking the federal government to partner with us to accelerate this new and unique platform. Advancing Canada's global nexus now will not only advance the rapid development of vaccines and other therapeutics, but will allow us to train the much-needed highly qualified personnel and create numerous jobs and business opportunities for Canadians.
Importantly, it will provide the evidence upon which our government leaders and agencies can develop policies and informed decisions. This is a model that Canadians should champion.