$1 M in Medical Research Council Grants Awarded to U of S Faculty

Posted February 11, 2000


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - January 31, 2000
2000-01-18-OTHER

(Please note the description of Wei Xiao's research has been modified)

$1 M in Medical Research Council Grants Awarded to U of S Faculty

Five faculty members from the University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine
will share a total of more than $1 million in research grants over three
years from the Medical Research Council of Canada (MRC), Ralph Goodale,
Minister of Natural Resources Canada, announced today in Saskatoon.

The researchers will tackle projects ranging from the prevention of
pneumonia in acute stroke patients, to developing specific tumor drugs which
can help in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

In making the announcement, Goodale applauded the successful U of S
researchers. "The contribution of Saskatchewan's researchers in increasing
our health science knowledge is a resource we must cultivate and maintain,"
he said. "Through MRC and eventually, the Canadian Institutes of Health
Research, Saskatchewan researchers will continue to provide Canada's health
care system with a sound scientific foundation."

The results announced today are from the September 1999 health research
competition. Across Canada, the MRC has approved approximately $158 million
in funding over five years for operating and equipment grants, clinical
trials, HIV/AIDS and genomics research.

There were 23 applications for operating grants from the U of S. The
university had a success rate of 22 per cent, its best rate in three years.


"This is an example of improving research success at U of S and we really
hope to continue this in the future," Louis Delbaere, MRC regional director
for Saskatchewan and professor of biochemistry, applauded the university's
success.

- Jim Xiang of the Saskatoon Cancer Centre will receive an annual $58,135
grant for three years to develop tumor-specific pharmaceuticals that will
target tumor cells in cancer patients more effectively than current
treatment. This will help in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

- Peter Bretscher of the department of microbiology and immunology will
receive an annual $129,137 grant for three years. He is searching for an
appropriate vaccination strategy that could be used to prevent and treat
human diseases caused by parasitic infectious agents such as the bacteria
that causes tuberculosis. His research has already shown that lowering the
vaccination dose will generate an immune response that will ensure
protection against natural infections such as tuberculosis.

- Jay Biem of the department of medicine will get an annual $43,500 grant
for two years to study the accuracy of a combination of simple, non-invasive
bedside tests to check for the acute stroke patient's ability to swallow and
protect the airway. Stroke frequently causes disorders of swallowing and
airway control that can lead to pneumonia and death. A simple diagnostic
screening tool could help decide which patients can safely eat and drink and
which patients require further diagnostic testing and treatment. This tool
could prevent pneumonia and decrease health care costs by eliminating the
need for barium swallow X-rays.

- Peter Yu from the department of psychiatry will receive an annual $63,989
grant for three years to study the involvement of an enzyme (SSAO) in
initiating damage of blood vessels. This investigation will uncover the
pathological mechanism of diseases such as diabetic complications and
Alzheimer's disease. The study could lead to new strategies in the treatment
of these illnesses.

- Wei Xiao of the department of microbiology and immunology will receive an
annual $75,509 grant for three years and $2,500 for equipment. The aim of
his research is to identify and better understand the pathway involved in
repairing damaged DNA and preventing mutations. All living cells have
mechanisms whereby they can repair their DNA when it becomes damaged. Lack
of such repair systems has been associated with diseases including cancer.
This study could lead to prevention and cure of diseases caused by
mutations.

In addition to the operating grants, the U of S received one maintenance and
equipment grant.

Louis Delbaere will receive an annual $37,869 maintenance grant for five
years to maintain an X-ray area detector that will collect data from protein
crystals to examine protein structures. A long-term goal is to use the
information to design new pharmaceuticals that will help in the treatment of
diseases such as diabetes.

Delbaere's grant was one of 18 maintenance and equipment grant application
that were submitted across Canada. A total of 10 were approved, for a value
of $967,000.

The Medical Research Council of Canada is the major federal agency
responsible for funding biomedical health research in Canada. Its role is to
promote, assist and undertake basic, applied, and clinical research in
Canada in the health sciences.

For more information, contact:

Barry McLennan
Assistant Dean of Research
College of Medicine
(306) 966-4338

Cynthia Holmes
Communications Assistant
Office of the Vice-President (Research)
(306) 966-2427