A scientist from the University of Montreal -- considered one of Canada's leading AIDS researchers -- is moving to the United States and bringing a talented team of up to 25 scientists with him.

Rafick-Pierre S�kaly said he and his team are heading south of the border in part because the federal government has made drastic cuts to science funding.

"I hope it will be trigger some kind of movement that will foster a deep soul searching and investment," S�kaly said in an interview with The Globe and Mail.

S�kaly will become scientific director of the Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute in Florida.

He told the Globe his $3.5 million research budget will be more than doubled in his new position.

S�kaly believes the young scientists on his team who are just beginning their research careers will have greater opportunities in the U.S., where the Obama administration has pledged $10-billion for medical research.

Meanwhile, the Harper government's latest budget called for $148-million in cuts to three agencies that fund research in universities.

Ontario pledging cash to research to stem "brain drain"

In a bid to keep top scientists from leaving Ontario, the province is set to announce $100 million in new research funding today.

John Wilkinson, Minister of Research and Innovation, told The Globe and Mail science plays a key role in the economy.

"We value the work that our world-leading scientists do and the wealth and jobs that they help to create," he said.

The province's leading researchers will compete for the new cash, and study primarily in the fields of genomics and stem cells.