Canada Excellence Research Chair
The Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) is Canada’s highest research chair appointment. Established in 2008, the CERC program helps Canadian universities strengthen Canada's reputation as a global leader in research and innovation. It provides funding – either $8 million or $4 million over eight years – to distinguished researchers and their teams so they can create ambitious research programs at Canadian universities.
The CERC program is a tri-agency initiative of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). It is administered by the Tri-agency Institutional Programs Secretariat (TIPS), housed within SSHRC.
University of Guelph Chairholder - Dr. David McCarthy
In 2023, the Federal government appointed Dr. David McCarthy as the CERC in Waterborne Pathogens: Surveillance, Prediction and Mitigation at the University of Guelph, providing $8 million in funding to support his research.
His research focuses on developing innovative devices and technologies to improve water safety in Canada and globally. His appointment also strengthens U of G’s One Health research and enhances the One Health Institute’s role in advancing biomonitoring, biosurveillance and biosecurity worldwide.
McCarthy is a renowned environmental engineer specializing in pathogen biosurveillance in urban water systems. His work centers on developing cutting-edge methods to monitor and manage waterborne pathogens, ensuring public health safety. He has made significant contributions to health-related water microbiology, risk assessment and the study of pathogen movement in water systems.
His expertise spans urban hydrology, stormwater management and green water treatment technologies. He is also a leader in developing novel IoT-based devices for real-time water quality monitoring and sampling. His work has significantly influenced industry practices, driving the creation of innovative stormwater treatment systems and advanced monitoring and control technologies for urban water management.
As the University’s CERC, McCarthy is leading a transdisciplinary research team from the Ontario Agricultural College (OAC), College of Engineering (COE) and College of Computational, Mathematical, and Physical Sciences (CCMPS). Their research will explore how pathogens move through urban water systems, interact with humans and contribute to waterborne disease risks – challenges that are intensifying with climate change, urbanization and population growth.
