Renowned philanthropists Eric and Vizma Sprott officially opened the Sprott Centre for Stem Cell Research, on November 15th. This 30,000 square foot facility is part of the Ottawa Health Research Institute (OHRI), the research arm of The Ottawa Hospital and an affiliated institute of the University of Ottawa.
“The thought that scientists at this centre could one day discover a cure for some of the many diseases that are afflicting people around the world is very exciting. We are confident that our investment will pay enormous dividends some day,” said Vizma Sprott, who along with her husband Eric donated $7 million to create a permanent endowment to support the new centre.
The Sprott Centre for Stem Cell Research will eventually house more than 120 researchers and staff. It contains state-of-the-art equipment to visualize stem cells and unlock their molecular secrets. It also contains a special laboratory capable of producing highly purified therapeutic materials for clinical trials in patients.
Photo:
From left to right, Michael Rudnicki, director, Sprott Centre for Stem Cell Research; Gilles Patry, president; Eric and Vizma Sprott, donors; Susan Doyle, president and CEO, Ottawa Hospital Foundation; and Ron Worton, CEO and scientific director, OHRI.
