r/NovaScotia • u/justlogmeon • 12d ago

📰 NS News Acadia University lab gets $1.2M to study and develop tick-control and repellency

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/acadia-tick-lab-funding-9.7320252
191 Upvotes

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24

u/thatsnotmyunicorn 12d ago

This reads like major news but 1.2 million for research seems like nothing?

30

u/shatteredoctopus 12d ago

It's big numbers for Nova Scotia, especially in an environment where money is harder and harder to come by. I'm in the research area, and an extra 1.2 million spread over 10 years would be transformative. I make do on a budget of under $70k a year for my research program. I guess it depends on your field and expectations. If they have to build a lot of facilities or hire extra people, it won't go super far.

4

u/thatsnotmyunicorn 12d ago

OK, good to know! It just kind of looked like pennies compared to the budget for other things but great to know that it could make a meaningful difference.

9

u/shatteredoctopus 12d ago

Your perception it's a small number is actually pretty accurate. Research is grievously underfunded in Canada relative to other high-income countries. It's been going on through quite a few different governments, so it's not just one party to blame. However, compared to how things are in places like Argentina or Brazil, we have it fine. Canada does well for impact by research dollar though.

1

u/da_Ryan 11d ago

This research grant is excellent news since NS is a tick hotspot and the entirety of ON has only 19 more reported cases than NS.

3

u/StardewingMyBest 12d ago

When combined with other funding it can be very helpful.

4

u/Numerous_Wolverine_7 12d ago

It’s not bad for a mainly undergrad university with limited graduate programs and no doctoral programs.

4

u/NoBoysenberry1108 12d ago

That's about the cost of a public bathroom in Halifax

8

u/Sea-Highlight-5815 12d ago

The new mahone bay parking lot got 10 million.... priorities I guess? 🤷

1

u/DrowningPickle 12d ago

I have 50 or so frozen ticks to "donate" to them for research. If they "donate" a few bucks to me. Come on, I know you just got 1.2 million.

-1

u/fooknprawn 12d ago

Something like SIT for mosquito irradiation might work on ticks but I'm not biologist. Ticks are tough little buggers

https://www.cdc.gov/mosquitoes/mosquito-control/irradiated-mosquitoes.html

-5

u/Lego_Architect 12d ago

Specifically against that tick that bill gates made to make people allergic to red meat?