Analytical Instrumentation to Support Trace Element Analysis in the Broader Life Sciences Sector

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Ontario's life sciences sector, with annual revenues estimated at $56.8B, contributing approximately $58.1B to Ontario's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and supporting approximately greater than 190,000 jobs, is a significant contributor to Ontario's economy. In Toronto alone, the sector employs more than 36,000 highly skilled workers at more than 2,430 firms, with greater than 25% of them focused on R&D. Over the past three years, Seneca, through its School of Biological Sciences and Applied Chemistry (SBSAC), has been supporting SMEs from the broader life sciences sector through applied research collaborations. In this time, we have collaborated with more than twenty SMEs to address their research and development challenges under the themes of metabolomics, diagnostics and analytical testing. We have developed a unique offering, in the college system and in the region, providing out partners with unparalleled access to talent, infrastructure and funding opportunities to support growth, competitiveness and productivity. Through NSERCs ARTI program, we requesting funds to purchase an Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS). The ICP-MS will enable highly-sensitive analytical determination of trace elements, something that is in high demand in many areas of the broader life sciences, including the food, cosmetics, natural products and cannabis industries. This instrument has been carefully selected to address the needs of our existing and emerging collaborators, and can be applied to multiple projects with new and existing partners. Without the ICP-MS, Seneca will be limited in its ability to address existing and emerging industry demand, and effectively unable to accelerate and scale out growing, industry-driven applied research program in SBSAC, which has the potential for significant positive economic impact on the local and regional economy.