WADA agreement with Fonds de recherche du Québec yields $2m for scientific research
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ) this week signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which will yield CAD 2 million to focus on advanced areas of anti-doping scientific research.
Under the terms of the MOU, WADA and the FRQ agree to contribute CAD 200,000 every year for five years (2018-22) in order to fund important research projects related to anti-doping. In addition, the MOU will be reviewed and possibly extended beyond the initial five-year period.
Specifically, the two organizations have agreed to collaborate on a number of projects, particularly in connection with the application of digital technology, the use of artificial intelligence, the development of biomarkers of doping; and, in the social sciences sector.
WADA President Sir Craig Reedie said: “We are grateful to our partners at the FRQ for their vision, their commitment and the faith they have shown in the work we do. We look forward to working with them over the next five years and, perhaps, beyond as we continue to push the boundaries of scientific knowledge for the good of clean sport.”
WADA Senior Executive Director for Sciences and International Partnerships, Dr. Olivier Rabin, added: “The continued progress of anti-doping significantly depends on scientific development and the ability to identify new doping trends, new substances, new means of administration, and new detection methods. The additional funds released by this agreement with the FRQ are a great boost for our work as we continue our fight against doping in sport through innovative, fact-based research.
“Anti-doping research is linked to broader societal challenges that are emerging in an age of digital technology and that require the distinct, yet complementary expertise and research methods already being developed by several Quebec researchers. So it is exciting for WADA to be able to partner with the FRQ on some of this ongoing work and benefit from the experience and knowledge of these experts.”
Chief Scientist of Québec Rémi Quirion said: “Through this new partnership, Quebec researchers from the Fonds’ three areas of expertise, namely nature and technology, health, and society and culture, will be involved in the development of anti-doping knowledge and the identification of solutions at the level of elite sport. It is important that we invest in research into what is a wider societal issue, on several levels: from bio-markers of doping to social factors that contribute to the phenomenon of doping.”
About FRQ: Reporting to the Minister of Economy, Science and Innovation, the Fonds de recherche du Québec strives to ensure the strategic and coherent development as well as the financial support of Québec research, establish the necessary partnerships to carry out their mission, and promote and support knowledge mobilization.
