SOME PhD CANDIDATES AT QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY HAVE JOINED AN ELITE GROUP.

THEY'VE BEEN AWARDED THE "VANIER SCHOLARSHIP" -- ONE OF THE RICHEST AND MOST PRESTIGIOUS OFFERED IN THIS COUNTRY.

NEWSWATCH'S ERIN HOWE GIVES US A LOOK.

(("Actually does very striking things in the brain . . . "))

JAY JANTZ EXPLAINS HIS RESEARCH INTO IMPROVING TREATMENTS FOR PARKINSON'S DISEASE.

JAY JANTZ, VANIER SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT:

"Some of the brain areas in Parkinson's are still undefined. So, by learning more about them, we'll be able to pinpoint improvements for Parkinson's treatments."

HIS WORK HAS RECENTLY BEEN GIVEN A FINANCIAL BOOST OF 50-THOUSAND DOLLARS ANNUALLY OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS.

JANTZ -- WHO WORKS WITH A DOCTOR IN JAPAN, AND LABS ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS COUNTRY -- IS AMONG FIVE PhD CANDIDATES AT QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY TO RECEIVE THE VANIER SCHOLARSHIP.

JANTZ:

"So this funding really allows us to get together, and together improve this research."

VICE PROVOST AND DEAN BRENDA BROUWER DESCRIBES THE HONOUR AS THE HOLY GRAIL OF GRADUATE STUDIES.

BRENDA BROUWER, VICE-PROVOST AND DEAN OF GRADUATE STUDIES:

"The Vanier Canada Scholarship, graduate scholarships are the most prestigious award for graduate students, doctoral trainees in Canada. Both in terms of value, and recognition."

THESE DOCTORAL STUDENTS REPRESENT JUST A FEW OF THE 156 ACROSS CANADA TO BE GRANTED A VANIER SCHOLARSHIP THIS YEAR IN AREAS OF SOCIAL, HEALTH AND NATURAL SCIENCES AS WELL AS ENGINEERING AND HUMANITIES.

ERIN HOWE, CKWS NEWSWATCH:

"The Vanier Scholarship was first awarded in 2009. Since then, 12 have been granted to PhD candidates at Queen's University."

DR. KELLIE LEITCH, PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY TO THE MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCES AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT:

"Queen's University, to their credit, has done a fabulous job recruiting the world's best to do research right here in Kingston at Queen's University so that they can contribute to the Canadian economy, contribute to Canada's growth in science and innovation, I think is just great."

SINCE ITS INCEPTION THREE YEARS AGO, 660 PhD CANDIDATES BEEN AWARDED THE SCHOLARSHIP -- INCLUDING MORE THAN 160 INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS.

ERIN HOWE, CKWS NEWSWATCH, KINGSTON.