November 29, 2001
$50,000 Awarded for Urban Aboriginal Database
Posted November 29, 2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - November 29, 2001 2001-11-24-OTHER
$50,000 Awarded for Urban Aboriginal Database
University of Saskatchewan social geographer Evelyn Peters has been awarded
$50,000 from the Canada Foundation for Innovation to develop a database on
urban Aboriginal peoples.
Peters, one of Canada's most accomplished social geographers, will use the
database to assist with her research as the Canada Research Chair in
Geography at the U of S. Her five-year project will examine the
socio-economic circumstances of Aboriginal people living in urban areas and
their quest for self-government.
The announcement was made today in Hamilton by Industry Minister Brian Tobin
and Canadian Heritage Minister Sheila Copps as part of a $19.6-million CFI
investment that provides infrastructure support to Canada Research
Chairholders across Canada.
Peters will use data from the 1996 census (and 2001 when available) to
compare poor and prosperous neighborhoods in target Prairie cities and
explore their relationship to concentrations of Aboriginal people. She will
gather a history of the settlement of Aboriginal people within those cities.
She will also obtain her information first-hand, by interviewing members of
local communities. They will be asked to document their urban history and
the coping strategies they employ in day-to-day life. The outcomes from this
survey will then be compared with similar urbanization studies underway in
the United States.
Peters' earlier work explored how Aboriginal people coped with poverty in
Prairie cities. The next phase of her research will gather an historic view
of the Aboriginal experience and examine their aspirations for
self-government within municipalities.
Her research has influenced various policy planners including the Royal
Commission on Aboriginal Peoples. Her latest work is expected to contribute
valuable information to various Native study programs and assist governments
in designing new Aboriginal policies.
Earlier this year, U of S was awarded $666,400 from the CFI in support of
five of U of S Canada Research Chairholders. With matching monies from the
Saskatchewan government, the U of S and external sources, the total amount
received in infrastructure support for those projects was $2 million.
The CFI is an independent, not-for-profit corporation established by the
Government of Canada in 1997 to address an urgent need of Canada's research
community: new, state-of-the-art research infrastructure. The Canada
Research Chairs Program was established in the 2000 federal budget to help
Canadian universities attract and retain the best researchers and achieve
research excellence. Two thousand Chairs will be established by 2005.
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For more information, contact:
Evelyn Peters
Associate Professor, Department of Geography
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-5639
Kathryn Warden
Research Communications Officer
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2506
kathryn.warden@usask.ca
November 28, 2001
New institute for the promotion of rural health launched
Posted November 28, 2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- November 28, 2001 2001-11-19-ME
New institute for the promotion of rural health launched
A world-class Saskatoon research centre that supports the study and
promotion of rural health has recast itself as an even more dynamic new
institute designed to tackle a wider range of health and safety issues
facing rural, agricultural and remote people.
The Centre for Agricultural Medicine (CAM), begun in 1986 as a research body
in the University of Saskatchewan's College of Medicine, was re-launched by
officials today as the new Institute of Agricultural Rural and Environmental
Health (I.ARE.H), at a downtown ceremony that capped three days of
scientific workshops celebrating CAM's 15th anniversary.
A large poster with the new Institute's logo and mission statement was
unveiled by U of S President Peter MacKinnon, I.ARE.H faculty member Dr.
Debra Morgan, and masters student Josh Lawson during a luncheon ceremony.
Dr. Jim Dosman, Director of the former CAM and now Director of I.ARE.H says
the new Institute will carry out a wide-ranging program of research,
education, and delivery of services in agricultural, rural, environmental
and occupational health.
He says the Institute will build on the success of the former Centre in
working with rural, agricultural and remote people on basic and applied
research and leading-edge strategies that address their particular health
and safety issues and needs. It will be able to build on and go beyond
current Centre initiatives like the Agricultural Health and Safety Network
and the Rural Health Extension Program.
"We are a research institute with a difference," Dosman says, noting it has
"one of the world's most active programs," turning its collaborative studies
of rural and agricultural issues into practical health and safety solutions
for farmers and others. The change of name reflects the current realities
of what the Centre has become -- growing from an initial focus just on
agriculture, to now include related issues like agricultural and rural
occupational health, environmental concerns, and healthy lifestyles.
He says the Institute, like the Centre before it, has unique advantages that
can help it to become the world's leading authority on the health of rural,
agricultural and remote people: It is located at the only Canadian
university that has all five health sciences colleges -- medicine,
dentistry, nursing, veterinary medicine, and pharmacy and nutrition -- and
also an agricultural science complex of international stature. Beyond that,
it lies in the heart of
Canada's most rural province, with 37 per cent of people living in rural
areas, with more than 23,000 farm families. And, it has extensive links
with rural and agricultural people, organizations and companies.
"We have tremendous links to our community," Dosman says, adding, "We have a
close relationship with more than 30 businesses, co-operatives and
foundations that have supported our activities financially and in many other
ways."
By building a core knowledge base in its four health competencies of
agricultural, rural, environmental and occupational health, the Institute
will increase its international profile and can attract increased funding
that will enable it to conduct more research and deliver more outreach and
client programs. And, Dosman notes, while the Institute's main focus will
remain on rural health, it will also continue the Centre's broader look at
occupational health and safety issues in related fields like mining,
forestry and manufacturing. These areas have common issues like air quality
for people working near chemicals and air-suspended particles, and the safe
operation of industrial or agricultural equipment. The Centre for
Agricultural Medicine will continue to operate as a competency within the
new Institute, primarily involved in the delivery of services.
The original Centre was established by an agreement between the U of S and
the Saskatchewan Lung Association. It has grown to develop an endowment
fund, funded research, and support from businesses and organizations -- for
a budget in 2002 of $1.96 million to fund projects by researchers. Each
year about seven major research projects are sponsored. The Centre also
publishes a bilingual newsletter that goes to more than 200,000 locations
across Canada. And, from time to time it sponsors major conferences on
current issues in rural and agricultural health.
To celebrate its 15th anniversary, the Centre sponsored a Nov. 27-29 series
of scientific workshops on agricultural, rural, environmental and
occupational health topics, attended by scientists, researchers and farmers.
On Nov. 28 a special day-long 'Saskatchewan Farm Injury Control Summit' was
also held.
- 30 -
For further information, contact:
Dr. Jim Dosman
Director, Institute for Agricultural Rural and Environmental Health
Tel: (306) 966-8286 Fax: (306) 966-8799
E-mail: james.dosman@usask.ca
Website: http://www.usask.ca/medicine/agmedicine/index2.html
U of S Launches High-tech Student Learning Facilities
Posted November 28, 2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - November 28, 2001 2001-11-22-AR
U of S Launches High-tech Student Learning Facilities
The University of Saskatchewan has launched a state-of-the-art library
research and computer facility which will enhance learning opportunities for
students.
Located in the U of S Main Library, the facility - called the Learning
Commons - merges traditional library resources with new technology. It
offers students access to the library's print and electronic reference
materials and professional library help, as well as the computer facilities
and expertise needed to produce a top-quality work assignment.
The Learning Commons is jointly funded and jointly staffed by Information
Technology Services and the Library and is available to all students free of
charge.
Rick Bunt, Associate Vice President for information and Communications
Technology said: "The Learning Commons represents a new model for student
computing - one based on open universal access, not on computer lab fees. As
such it is an important experiment in service delivery."
Frank Winter, Director of U of S Libraries, sees the Learning Commons as
part of the library's commitment to promote student information literacy.
"We believe that the integration of library electronic an print resources
and reference support with computer facility capacities will result in
greater productivity and an enhanced learning environment for students."
'Access to information technology and information resources is essential
today to enrich the student learning experience and to facilitate scholarly
research," added Ed Pokraka, Director of Information Technology Services.
Future plans for the Learning Commons include additional workstations,
expanding the number of software applications available, and broadening the
scope of classroom training sessions to include software skills as well as
instruction in library research and information literacy.
Since opening, the Learning Commons has had a 60% occupancy rate with full
occupancy during peak weekday hours.
-30-
For more information, contact:
Rick Bunt Ed Pokraka
Associate Vice President Director
Information and Communications Technology Information Technology Services
University of Saskatchewan University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-8408 (306) 966-6623
Frank Winter
Director
University of Saskatchewan Libraries
(306) 966-5942
November 27, 2001
Major Advance in Blood Pressure Research
Posted November 27, 2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- November 27, 2001 2001-11-20-ME
Major Advance in Blood Pressure Research
A gas that smells like rotten eggs and can be toxic to humans in the
environment plays a valuable role within the body in regulating healthy
blood pressure, a University of Saskatchewan research team has found.
In a just-published animal study, the U of S team led by physiology
professor Rui Wang has discovered that hydrogen sulfide gas produced in
blood vessel muscle cells acts as a relaxant -- new knowledge that could
help prevent and treat high blood pressure.
Regular blood pressure depends upon the ability of blood vessel muscle cells
to contract or expand appropriately, Wang explains. He has found that
hydrogen sulfide acts as a biological switch for relaxing contracted blood
vessels, thereby reducing blood pressure. It does so by opening a special
class of ion channels in the cells called ATP-sensitive potassium channels.
The findings are published in this month's issue of the prestigious European
Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) Journal (20:6008-6016, 2001).
"Until now, people had always thought that hydrogen sulfide was just a toxic
gas," says Wang. "We now understand the role of hydrogen sulfide in the
cardiovascular system and how it plays this role as a vascular dilator. We
are also the first to measure where in the cardiovascular system hydrogen
sulfide is produced and how much."
He says the next step is to genetically modify the enzyme that generates
hydrogen sulfide in order to control production of the gas. This could pave
the way for improved treatment of hypertension (high blood pressure). But
Wang cautions that new drugs would be at least three to five years away.
Wang says it's known that hydrogen sulfide is also generated in organs such
as the brain, pancreas, kidneys and lungs. Further research could also lead
to better understanding, prevention and treatment for diseases that affect
these organs. Diabetes is one example because insulin secretion is also
controlled by the same class of ion channels.
"Our research could revolutionize scientists' thinking on endogenous
(produced within the body) gases," says Wang. "We have opened a new field of
study and will continue to lead in hydrogen sulfide gas research."
To date, only two other gaseous molecules in the body have been found to
modulate physiological functions. One is nitric oxide, the discovery of
which led to a Nobel Prize. The other is carbon dioxide. Since 1993, Wang's
lab has played a leading role internationally in the study of the
cardiovascular effect of carbon monoxide.
Currently, Wang is working to discover the protein structure and molecular
interaction of the ATP-sensitive potassium channels, work which he hopes
will pave the way for new drugs for treating hypertension and diabetes. The
Canadian Light Source synchrotron (www.cls.usask.ca), now being built on the
U of S campus, will be invaluable for this work, he says.
Wang's work is funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, NSERC
(Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council), and the Heart and
Stroke Foundation of Saskatchewan. The research team involves post-doctoral
fellows Weimin Zhao and Yanjie Lu, as well as NSERC-supported graduate
student Jing Zhang.
- 30 -
For more information contact:
Kathryn Warden,
U of S Research Communications
(306) 966-2506
Professor Rui Wang
U of S Department of Physiology
(306) 966-6592
Native plant may give vaccine research a boost
Posted November 27, 2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - NOVEMBER 27, 2001 2001-11-21-AG
Native plant may give vaccine research a boost
SASKATOON - The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has granted U of S
researchers a patent to explore the therapeutic potential of compounds found
in a native prairie plant.
The plant Polygala senega, commonly known as snakeroot, contains compounds
called saponins. Saponins are components found in some types of plants that
have been linked with a variety of pharmacological properties.
Scientists believe that the saponins contained in the roots of the snakeroot
plant will help vaccines against infectious diseases to be more effective.
Dr. Alberto Estrada, a research scientist at the College of Agriculture,
says the type of saponins present in snakeroot show good potential as
immunological adjuvants.
An adjuvant is a "helper" substance added to a vaccine in order to increase
its potency. Many types of vaccines are not effective without the use of an
adjuvant. Estrada explains that the problem with most adjuvants is that the
more potent they are, the more adverse reactions they seem to trigger in
individuals.
Estrada says, "The specific types of saponins found in snakeroot have never
been investigated as adjuvants before. We are greatly encouraged by the
results obtained with these saponins. Ultimately, the discovery can be used
for the development of vaccines to prevent infections in humans and
animals."
This discovery came about after four years of collaborative research led by
Estrada from the department of Animal and Poultry Science and Dr. Branka
Barl from the department of Plant Sciences. Research done by George
Katselis, a Ph.D. student in the College of Agriculture, also contributed to
the patent award.
Dr. Bernard Laarveld, head of the department of Animal and Poultry Science
says, "If small-scale testing with livestock proves successful, the next
challenge will be to develop wild senega as an agricultural crop."
Saskatchewan Minister of Agriculture and Deputy Premier Clay Serby says,
"This is an example of Saskatchewan government and the U of S partnering in
research to develop a commercializable product which will generate economic
activity for the province. Moreover, it will provide more options to our
producers to choose from the crops available to them to grow at their
farms."
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food's Agriculture Development Fund funded the
two major projects leading up to the patent award.
This patent is entitled "Polygala senega compositions and methods of use."
-30-
For more information, contact:
Dr. Alberto Estrada
University of Saskatchewan
College of Agriculture
Phone: (306) 966-8755
Email: alberto.estrada@usask.ca
Dr. Bernard Laarveld
University of Saskatchewan
College of Agriculture
Phone: (306) 966-4972
E-mail: laarveld@sask.usask.ca
Dr. Abdul Jalil
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
Phone: (306) 787-5960
Email: ajalil@agr.gov.sk.ca
November 23, 2001
U OF S RESEARCHERS RECEIVE $837,000 FROM HEART AND STROKE FOUNDATION
Posted November 23, 2001
Prepared in conjunction with the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Saskatchewan
FOR RELEASE NOVEMBER 23, 2001
U OF S RESEARCHERS RECEIVE $837,000 FROM HEART AND STROKE FOUNDATION
Saskatoon (Nov. 23, 2001) - In an era of challenges in funding for medical
research in our province, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Saskatchewan
announced today that it is providing more than $837,000 to 18 research teams
at the University of Saskatchewan.
According to Mary MacDonald, President of the Foundation, the funding
represents the majority of heart and stroke research in our province, and is
part of an ongoing commitment to research here.
"Heart and Stroke Foundation is a major provider of medical research funding
in our province," says Bruce Waygood, Co-ordinator of Health Research at the
University of Saskatchewan. "The ongoing funding from the Heart and Stroke
Foundation offers opportunities both to attract and retain high-quality
researchers and clinicians at the Universities and in the Province."
MacDonald says these dollars come at a crucial time, as federal medical
research funding sources have just undergone a restructuring. The new body,
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), has broadened the definition
of medical research, so while dollars for research have increased somewhat,
there are far more researchers from various fields right across Canada
competing for those dollars.
MacDonald notes that "the researchers who have been awarded Heart and Stroke
grants are working in diverse areas, such as preventing stroke in babies,
developing techniques to make heart surgery safer and finding new ways to
help seniors stay active. In some cases, because their projects are up and
running thanks to HSFS funding, they have been able to attract additional
grants from CIHR or other bodies."
The benefits reach outside the lab as well. Many of these highly rated
researchers are also teachers at the University or doctors at the hospitals,
so keeping them in Saskatchewan makes good sense from education and patient
care perspectives.
MacDonald, who is Professor and Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs in the
College of Nursing, notes that the quality of research being done here is
excellent. "Many people don't know that some of the best researchers into
heart disease and stroke are right here in Saskatchewan," she says. "As
Canadians, we tend to be humble about our accomplishments, but Canadian
heart and stroke research has made many achievements of which we can be
proud."
In fact, Canada is credited with such breakthroughs as the pacemaker, heart
by-pass surgery and human heart valve replacements, and Canadian
cardiovascular specialists have gained worldwide recognition for their
careful and rigorous evaluation of and participation in clinical trials and
health services research.
"We know that treating people once they are ill from heart disease or stroke
is an immensely expensive process," she notes. "That is why so many of these
research projects are looking at ways of preventing heart disease and
stroke, and at ways of reducing the damage once it happens. The ultimate
goal is better prevention and better treatment."
Currently heart disease and stroke cause more than 79,000 deaths in Canada
each year. It is the most expensive category of diseases to treat and the
leading cause of hospitalizations and adult disability.
A list of recipients follows in the Backgrounder.
For more information, contact:
Rhae Ann Bromley, Director of Communication,
Heart and Stroke Foundation of SK
1-306-693-0350 bromleyra@hsf.sk.ca www.heartandstroke.ca
Kathryn Warden
Research Communications Officer, Office of the Vice-President (Research),
University of Saskatchewan
Telephone: (306) 966-2506 wardenk@duke.usask.ca
www.usask.ca/research
BACKGROUNDER -- November 23, 2001
Research
. . . the power to change lives.
When the Heart and Stroke Foundation began its work in 1956, open heart
surgery was rare and highly dangerous, strokes were considered "acts of God"
that could neither be prevented or treated.
Today, thanks to Heart and Stroke Foundation research, surgeons can quickly
and safely reshape a failing heart, re-route blood flow and cure
life-threatening heart rhythm disorders.
Research has brought us from the raw beginnings of folk medicine to
procedures and tools of stunning sophistication. We can now look inside the
beating heart, the living cell, even the functioning brain and measure what
is happening and why.
This year, 17 Saskatchewan research projects, plus an innovative "Group
Grant" will continue the search that will unlock the mysteries of the human
heart and brain.
PROJECT SUMMARIES
GROUP GRANT: Dr. Tom Wilson (director of project), Dr. Venkat
Gopalakrishnan, Dr. Linda Hiebert and Dr. Robert McNeill
Regulation of Endothelial Factors in Hypertension and Diabetes
In 1892, Sir William Osler wrote, "a man is only as old as his arteries". In
the 1950s, University of Saskatchewan research pioneer Rudolph Altschul
refined that observation: "A man is only as old as his endothelium", and
began a new era of understanding of how this microscopically thin layer of
cells lining our arteries can have such an impact on overall health.
Research discoveries then clearly show that the endothelium, by releasing a
variety of substances, controls how the smooth muscles within the blood
vessels contract and dilate. Some of these substances have been extensively
studied, but others, however, have not received adequate scientific
attention.
This Heart and Stroke Foundation Group Grant project brings together four
highly respected researchers from two different colleges at the University
of Saskatchewan in a joint effort to focus on specific chemical reactions
within the endothelium. The group will look at how dysfunction in the
release of one of these substances, endothelin-1 or ET-1, is linked to
hypertension and diabetes, both primary risk factors for heart disease and
stroke.
RESEARCH GRANTS IN AID 2001-2002
Dr. Thomas Fisher
Ca2+ channel composition and neuroendocrine release
Imagine this: a "gate" on the wall of a cell within the heart. It opens to
let just enough calcium in to ensure that the cell can stay healthy and do
its very specific job of secreting important hormones and neurotransmitters.
The gate - called a Ca2+ channel - makes sure that other substances don't
enter, and that neither too much nor too little calcium passes through. Dr.
Fisher's project aims to clarify just what this gate's structure is and how
it carries out its very complex job.
Dr. Venkat Gopalakrishnan
Vascular Action of Peptides
Just what causes high blood pressure? While there are many underlying
factors, at the root of it all is the ability (or inability) of the blood
vessel walls to contract and relax as the heart beats. Dr. Gopalakrishnan is
studying how one hormone, vasopressin, affects both the blood vessels and
the heart itself. He has already found that high levels of vasopressin
(present in patients with heart failure) can lead to an enlarged heart, and
this project aims to better understand how and why vasopressin contributes
to heart failure.
Dr. Linda Hiebert
Oral Heparins
Ouch! Heart attack survivors are usually given heparins (powerful
clot-preventors) for several days following their attack. Traditionally,
this drug is administered by a painful series of injections, making at-home
treatment difficult and painful. Dr. Hiebert's studies have challenged the
accepted idea that heparins are only effective if injected, and she is
studying how well the body uses heparin when it is given orally. Her project
may lead to new (and much less painful and less costly) way of providing a
known, effective drug treatment.
Dr. Thomas Hurst and David Johnson
NOS and MMP in Extracorporeal Oxygenation
Coronary artery surgery - heart bypass operations - are common surgical
procedures, saving thousands of lives each year. They are not without risk,
however. During this surgery, a patient's heart is stopped and s/he is
placed on a heart-lung machine, which circulates the blood for two or more
hours. Unfortunately, this also triggers the body's defenses, and damage to
the heart may result. This research team is looking to better understand the
body's reaction and how to possibly block this reaction to make heart
surgery safer.
Dr. Robert McNeill
Vasopressin in Rat Models of Hypertension
Two hormones, vasopressin and angiotensin, are known to increase blood
pressure through a direct action on blood vessels. Dr. McNeill recently
discovered that they also increase blood pressure indirectly by release of
another hormone, endothelin (found in the lining of the blood vessels), a
powerful constrictor of those vessels. This study may help in the
development of new drugs to reduce blood pressure, a leading risk factor for
stroke and heart disease.
Drs. Phyllis Paterson, Bernhard Juurlink and Jim Thornhill
Regulation of Brain Glutathione by Nutritional Factors in Stroke
This team is investigating whether nutritional status can influence the
extent of brain damage and disability that occur following a stroke. Some
seniors are at particular risk, as they may have less than adequate
protein-energy status due to diet or to other medical conditions. Also under
study are nutritional and drug therapies aimed at reducing disability when
administered either prior to or in the first few hours following a stroke.
Dr. Kailash Prasad
Oxyradicals in Hypercholesterolemic Toxicity on Vascular System and Effect
of Secoisolariciresinol
It is generally known that high blood cholesterol contributes to
atherosclerosis, a plaque buildup in the lining of the arteries that impairs
or blocks blood flow. Dr. Prasad believes that oxygen free radicals play a
central role in the buildup of this plaque, and is examining if an
antioxidant (SDG, derived from flaxseed) is effective in reducing and
preventing the buildup. If so, this could prove to be a safe and inexpensive
treatment for atherosclerosis caused by high blood cholesterol.
Dr. Bruce Reeder
Saskatchewan Heart Health Program: Dissemination Research
This five-year program, jointly funded by the Heart and Stroke Foundation,
Health Canada and Sask. Health, will help equip health districts with the
knowledge, skills and resources to deliver and evaluate heart health
promotion to the people they serve. The Program offers continuing education,
consultation and networking support to doctors, nurses, educators and other
health practitioners.
Dr. Anurag Saxena
Regulation of Apoptosis in Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis involves the accumulation of cells and their products in the
arterial wall. Apart from an impact on blood pressure, the cells in the
plaque may die at unexpected times contributing to plaque breakdown. This
broken plaque is the major reason of acute complications including heart
attack and stroke. Dr. Saxena's project is aimed at understanding the
mechanisms responsible for the life and death of the cells in the plaque.
This understanding may lead to new treatments to prevent acute
complications.
Dr. Rajendra K. Sharma
Calmodulin Regulated Proteins in the Heart
Living cells rely on an intracellular communications system - a sort of
'human body internet' - to monitor changes in their environment. Dr. Sharma
is looking at two small yet crucial messengers in this complex system, to
see how they relay information between cells within the heart and provide
the information these cells need to make their constant and important
adjustments in response to external changes.
Drs. Kevin Spink, Karen Chad and Bruce Reeder
Examining physician counseling to promote the adoption of physical activity:
a controlled trial
Most people know that physical activity can cut the risk of heart disease,
yet Canadians - particularly older Canadians - just aren't active enough to
benefit their hearts (only slightly more than half of people between 55 and
74 exercise at least once a week for at least 15 minutes). This research
team feels that physicians can encourage their patients to get more
physically active, and has designed a clinical trial that brings together
the doctor, patient and an exercise specialist. The goal is to better
understand what the exercise barriers are for this age group, and to develop
an effective program to help people overcome them and enjoy the many
benefits of physical activity. The aim of this project is to examine whether
this program will enhance the role of doctors in promoting physical activity
in older patients.
Drs. Jim Thornhill and Bernhard Juurlink
Febrile/non-febrile Bacterial Infection and Cerebral Ischemia
Temperature plays an important role in the degree of brain damage caused by
stroke. This project focuses on why stroke, which causes an inflammatory
response in the brain, evokes the central nervous system to raise the body's
temperature - a response that actually hastens the death of brain cells.
Drs. Thornhill and Juurlink are seeking a better understanding of how, by
reducing core body temperature, we may be able to reduce the inflammation
and resultant cell death of stroke. This project holds promise of a
relatively safe non-invasive stroke treatment.
Dr. Wolfgang Walz
Functional Specialization of Glial Cell Populations in Reactive Gliosis
Just like after an injury anywhere else on our body, scar tissue forms in
the brain following a stroke. How does the scar tissue affect the recovery
process? Dr. Walz is looking to better understand two opposing roles that
this scar tissue plays: on one hand, it produces substances that appear to
help neurons survive. On the other hand, however, it physically forms a
barrier that prevents regenerating neurons from "reaching out" to make
contact with each other. A better understanding of the brain's amazing
ability to heal itself with this scar tissue is the goal of this project.
Dr. Hui Wang
Vascular gp91 phox containing NADPH oxidase in angiotensin 11-induced
hypertension
High blood pressure is one of the most prevalent - and potentially dangerous
- diseases in Western societies. One current treatment, angiotensin
converting enzyme inhibitor, has proven to be fairly effective in helping
patients to control their blood pressure but doctors still don't completely
understand why this medication works. Dr. Wang and her team are looking at a
possible explanation. She has postulated that these patients' arteries are
under oxidative stress, and that one specific peptide, Angiotensin II, is
somehow at the root of it. A better understanding of the interaction of
this peptide, oxidative stress and the lining of our arteries could help
doctors to better treat a range of health problems, including diabetes and
atherosclerosis as well as high blood pressure.
Dr. Rui Wang
The Vascular Effect of Carbon Monoxide and the Underlying Mechanism
Dr. Wang and his research team are breaking new ground in looking at the
genetic causes of hypertension. They have identified five genes that control
blood pressure, and have found that an imbalance of Carbon Monoxide (CO) in
those genes may cause high blood pressure and diabetes. This project is now
seeking ways to alter this CO level, first at the cellular level then
hopefully to groups of cells, then tissues. The ultimate goal would be to
find a way to control CO levels in whole organs, possibly through gene
therapy. This could be a major breakthrough in treatment of high blood
pressure and diabetes.
Drs. Jerome Yager and Bernard Juurlink
A Model of Periventricular Leukomalacia
This research team is looking at injury to the white matter of the brain,
the part of the brain that allows it to communicate with itself and the rest
of the organs of the body. Damage to this region occurs almost exclusively
to newborn and prematurely born infants, and is the main cause of cerebral
palsy (occurring in about 2 of every 1000 Saskatchewan children each year).
Major disabilities to the children and tremendous emotional and economic
burden to families make this a pressing concern, yet little research has
been done in this area. Drs. Yager and Juurlink are working to study the
causes and to develop important strategies of overcoming these devastating
effects.
Dr. Peter Yu
Endogenous Toxic Aldehydes and Vascular Disorders
An enzyme called SSAO, normally contained in the vascular tissues and blood,
has been found to be more active in patients with atherosclerosis, and in
diabetic and obese people. Increased SSAO is responsible for the production
of toxic substances that damage the blood vessels and contribute to plaque
buildup in the arteries. Dr. Yu's research project is testing an inhibitor
to block this SSAO activity, and he hopes this could possibly lead to
development of a new way to reduce risk of vascular disorders such as
atherosclerosis.
November 20, 2001
U of S Commerce students receive top honours at national awards ceremony
Posted November 20, 2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - November 20, 2001 2001-11-14-CO
U of S Commerce students receive top honours at national awards ceremony
Two U of S College of Commerce students were awarded first place honours at
the Canadian Marketing Association's (CMA) 31st RSVP Awards Gala in Toronto
on November 16th.
Fourth year Marketing students James DeRoo and Robyn Morelli were awarded
first place in the student category of Marketing. More than twenty entries
were submitted in the Marketing category by teams representing universities
and business schools across Canada.
Management and Marketing U of S professor Ayten Forrest accepted the awards
with the winning students. "It was a wonderful opportunity to have our work
judged by senior members of our industry," said Forrest.
The CMA is the largest marketing association in Canada. It has over 800
corporate members supporting over 480,000 jobs and generating more than $51
billion dollars in annual sales through various marketing channels. John
Gustavson, CMA President and CEO said "The quality and number of entries we
received in the 2001 Canadian Marketing Association RSVP Awards program
clearly reflects the ability of marketers to effectively respond to the
rapidly evolving marketplace."
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For more information please contact:
Ayten Forrest
Management and Marketing, College of Commerce
University of Saskatchewan
306-966-8424
forrest@commerce.usask.ca
November 19, 2001
The Future of Hog Farming - The 2001 Harry Toop Memorial Lecture
Posted November 19, 2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - November 19, 2001 2001-11-13-OTHER
The Future of Hog Farming -- The 2001 Harry Toop Memorial Lecture
Ed Tyrchniewicz, adjunct professor in agricultural economics at the
University of Manitoba, will deliver the 2001 Harry Toop Memorial "Science
for Saskatchewan" lecture entitled: "The Future of Hog Farming: Safe and
Sustainable Panacea or Hype and Hogwash?"
7:30 p.m., Wednesday, November 21, 2001
Saskatoon Public Library, Frances Morrison Branch
Lower Level, 311 23rd St. E.
Chair of the recent Manitoba panel "Livestock Stewardship Initiative,"
Tyrchniewicz held public meetings and made recommendations about the impact
of agricultural expansion on the community and sustainable livestock
development.
In his lecture, he will discuss key issues influencing the expansion and
future of the hog farming industry. Tyrchniewicz will also highlight the
panel's conclusions and the challenges the industry faces.
This public lecture is sponsored by a fund set up by retired computer
scientist Dr. J.H. Toop to highlight current scientific developments of
interest to the Saskatchewan economy. It is organized by the Office of the
Vice-President Research.
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For more information or to arrange an interview, contact:
Kathryn Warden
Research Communications Officer
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-2506
FAX: (306) 966-2411
November 15, 2001
U of S Awarded $1.6 M in CFI Grants
Posted November 15, 2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - November 15, 2001 2001-11-12-OTHER
U of S Awarded $1.6 M in CFI Grants
Today five University of Saskatchewan researchers were awarded Canada
Foundation for Innovation (CFI) grants totaling more than $1.25 million for
labs and equipment to advance leading-edge research that could lead to
improved medical implants, electronic devices and pulse crops.
Four of the projects relate to the Canadian Light Source (CLS)
http://www.cls.usask.ca/ which is now under construction on the U of S
campus.
As well, U of S was awarded $377,484 to help with operating and maintenance
associated with these new infrastructure projects.
"We're delighted that all five of our applicants were approved for this
funding," said Michael Corcoran, U of S Vice-President Research. "With this
CFI support, these five new outstanding researchers will have access to the
equipment and facilities they need to undertake and help build research
capacity across the campus."
The funding, announced in Guelph today, is part of a $17.6-million CFI
investment aimed at creating world-class research facilities for new faculty
at 33 Canadian universities.
"This is a strategic investment in the ability of our universities to
attract and retain the best researchers in Canada, and in the capacity of
our people to compete with the best in the world," said Carmen Charette, CFI
Senior Vice-President. "These 92 new researchers will have access to the
equipment and facilities they need to undertake leading-edge research and to
train young Canadians for the knowledge-based economy."
- Katie Mitchell, assistant professor of physics and engineering physics,
will receive $388,500 to establish an ultra-high vacuum scanning probe
microscopy facility for nanomaterials science. This will be used to study
properties of surfaces patterned on the nanometre (one billionth of a meter)
and sub-nanometre scale. These fundamental studies are relevant to a wide
range of applications in areas such as electronics, catalysis, environmental
and biosensors, and medical implants.
An ultra-high vacuum scanning probe microscope is a unique instrument
capable of "seeing" and modifying the local arrangement of atoms at a
surface. The only one of its kind in Saskatchewan, this instrument will be
used to complement studies at the CLS.
- Alexander Moewes, associate professor of physics and engineering physics,
will receive $387,500 to purchase a spectrometer to perform materials
research using the CLS. The spectrometer is an integral part of the CLS
multi-spectroscopy beamline, which is led by professor Moewes. This beamline
will be a unique research tool for Canada, with many graduate students
participating in the research.
This basic research could ultimately lead to designing materials with new
electronic, optical, and magnetic properties that may be used as sensors and
electronic devices.
- Stephen Urquhart, assistant professor of chemistry, will receive $215,500
for equipment to study the structure and properties of nanostructured
organic materials such as plastics. This research could have implications in
the production of better, cheaper materials using the CLS.
- Rosalind Ball, assistant professor of plant sciences, will receive
$106,500 for laboratory and field instruments to measure and locate improved
nitrogen fixation metabolism in chickpea, lentil, bean and pea crops under
stress conditions. Over the long term, she hopes to come up with pulse crops
that have better yield, stability and quality under stress conditions.
- Kaori Tanaka, assistant professor of physics and engineering physics, will
receive $160,277 for computers required for powerful numerical and parallel
computing. This research may lead to improved computer chips, biosensors
and electronic devices.
Her work will enhance understanding of new electronic and magnetic
properties of small superconductors of sub-micron (one millionth of a meter)
to nanometer size, providing the theoretical framework required to interpret
the nanoscale measurements made at the CLS.
The CFI is an independent, not-for-profit corporation established in 1997 by
the federal government. The CFI has a capital investment budget of $3.15
billion, and its investments are made in partnership with all levels of
government, as well as with the private and voluntary sectors.
-30-
For more information, contact:
Kathryn Warden
U of S Research Communications
Tel: (306) 966-2506
FAX: (306) 966-2411
kathryn.warden@usask.ca
November 13, 2001
U of S Goes Up Four Places In Maclean's Rankings
Posted November 13, 2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - November 12, 2001 2001-11-10-OTHER
U of S Goes Up Four Places In Maclean's Rankings
The University of Saskatchewan has improved its Maclean's ranking by four
places according to the university survey released today.
President, Peter MacKinnon responded to the news by revealing that the U of
S had worked hard in the last year to ensure an improvement in its ranking.
But he also emphasized that the U of S, while responsive to the rankings, is
not governed or led by them.
"As a medical-doctoral university, responsive to national and international
standards, we have adopted, and will continue to adopt, policies and
practices which invest in a quality education for students regardless of our
position in the Maclean's rankings. Right now, we are benefiting from the
considerable groundwork laid down over the past few years," he said.
Successes have involved effort from all levels at the University of
Saskatchewan. They include:
- a systematic review of all academic programs was launched to guarantee
that the quality of programs offered at the U of S met and exceeded national
and international standards;
- the U of S's Canadian Light Source was a major recipient of research
funding ($36.7m) and has attracted, and will continue to attract,
top-quality researchers to the university;
- eight new Canada Research Chairs were established on campus which has
given the U of S a tremendous boost in academic creativity. The U of S is
building on its deployment of Canada Research Chairs to recruit tenure-track
faculty and attract top graduate students and additional research resources;
- substantial progress was made in the use of information technology which
has improved services for students, faculty and staff. Year three of a
five-year project to renew classrooms and lecture theatres with multimedia
technologies was completed.
- significant work was completed on the new chemical engineering wing, the
sixth floor addition to the Agriculture Building. While many other
renovation and maintenance projects still need to be addressed, the U of S
is heading in the right direction;
- completion of a priority determination process which was designed to
identify priorities that will help shape the future direction of the
University;
- initiated the development of an enrolment plan to substantially increase
the number of graduate students. The future of the university as a research
centre depends on attracting these students.
"The U of S has a clear vision for the future. Our goal is to attract even
more leading students, researchers and industrial partners from across the
nation and around the world. It will not happen over night, nor without
continued effort, but it is a worthy goal to strive for. We have made a
great deal of progress so far," concluded President MacKinnon.
-30-
For more information, please contact:
Peter MacKinnon
President
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-6612
U.S. Synchrotron Scientist to Speak Today on Successes in Biotechnology
Posted November 13, 2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - November 13, 2001 2001-11-11-OTHER
U.S. Synchrotron Scientist to Speak Today on Successes in Biotechnology
Today Cele Abad-Zapatero, associate research fellow at Abbott Laboratories
in Illinois, will give a seminar entitled "The Impact of Synchrotron
Radiation on Biotechnology: Successes and Challenges" at 2:30 p.m. in Place
Riel Theatre.
The talk is jointly sponsored by Ag-West Biotech Inc. and the U of S
President's Office.
Abad-Zapatero was the driving force behind a protein crystallography
beamline at the Argonne National Laboratory's Advanced Photon Source. The
beamline is shared by 12 U.S. drug companies.
The Canadian Light Source, which will start operations on the U of S campus
in January of 2004, will build a beamline dedicated to protein
crystallography. The synchrotron is the tool of choice for determining the
structure of protein molecules, research that can lead to the design of new
drugs.
At present, Canadian scientists who do protein crystallography have to
travel to the U.S., Germany and Japan to collect their data and often have
to wait at least six months to obtain access. Canadian researchers have
tended to be left behind in the "hot" areas of research because their
competitors have greater access to synchrotron technology.
Two other synchrotron-related events will be held this month:
- Sat., Nov. 17: More than 150 synchrotron scientists from across Canada are
expected to attend the 4th Annual Canadian Light Source Users' Meeting,
Biology 106. For more information, visit: www.cls.usask.ca
- Tues. Nov. 20: Health Opportunities Conference "A 20:20 Health Vision" at
the Quality Hotel. U of S is a sponsor of this conference.
Synchrotron-related speakers include:
- 10:50 a.m. "What Synchrotron is doing for the World!" -- Rob Lewis, Head
of X-ray Imaging at Daresbury Laboratory in England
- 2:25 p.m. "Leading the World in Medical Imaging and Research at
Saskatoon's Synchrotron" -- Declan Quinn, U of S Associate Professor,
Department of Psychiatry and Associate Member in the Department of
Educational Psychology and Special Education
- 2:25 p.m. "Animal/Human Health Convergence" -- Lorne Babiuk, Director of
the U of S Veterinary Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO)
-30-
For more information, contact:
Kathryn Warden
Research Communications
Office of the Vice-President Research
(306) 966-2506
kathryn.warden@usask.ca
November 09, 2001
Parent-Child Play Fair
Posted November 09, 2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - November 9, 2001 2001-11-09-ME
Parent-Child Play Fair
Students from the Department of Psychology, University of Saskatchewan, will
be presenting a Parent-Child Play Fair on:
Saturday, November 17th from 1 to 4 p.m.
Alvin Buckwold Child Development Program
Kinsmen Children's Centre
1319 Colony Street (Next to Brunskill School on Wiggins Avenue)
Parents and children of all ages are invited to attend, check out and play
with a wide variety of toys, activities and games. These have been created
by students in a second year Child Psychology course based on current child
development research and theory. Projects will be grouped into five age
groups (newborn to age 12) and will be judged partly on the basis of whether
the design is likely to promote 'play' in children and parents.
Besides being a term assignment that gives an opportunity to see research in
action, the impetus for the fair comes from observations that children and
parents today seem to spend more and more time working, playing alone, with
computers, in organized activities and spend less and less time 'playing'.
Age group, 'Best of Fair' and 'People's Choice' awards will be presented.
This event is sponsored by the Department of Psychology and the Alvin
Buckwold Child Development Program of Saskatoon District of Heath.
All parents and children are invited to attend this event.
-30-
For more information please contact:
Dr. Margaret McKim
Department of Psychology
(306) 966-5924
mckim@sask.usask.ca
November 07, 2001
New provincial history to be written by U of S professor
Posted November 07, 2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - November 5, 2001 2001-11-06-AR
New provincial history to be written by U of S professor
Professor Bill Waiser, Department of History, has received provincial and
university funding to produce a new provincial history book to coincide with
the Provincial Centennial in 2005.
Designed to help celebrate the 100th birthday of the province, the book will
offer a new look at traditional topics as well as seek to include much of
the new social and cultural history of past generations. Subjects will
include everything from the legacy of the depression to the impact of mass
consumer culture on rural society.
"This book will be written for a popular audience and will be richly
illustrated with maps, photographs, and other visual material." said Waiser.
"It will cover all regions of the province and examine the stories of men,
women, and children. The Aboriginal experience will be an integral part of
the story."
"Professor Waiser's project will be the University's gift to the people of
the province," said Peter MacKinnon, University of Saskatchewan president.
"It will include all peoples of Saskatchewan and will showcase our rich and
varied history."
The project will also be a way to train future scholars as graduate students
participate in the research and writing of the manuscript. Work on the
project will begin in July of 2002.
"Dr. Waiser's history book will help us acknowledge and appreciate our past,
both very important components in celebrating our identity and heritage
during Saskatchewan's Centennial year in 2005," said Provincial Secretary
Judy Junor.
The book has received funding from the Provincial Anniversaries Secretariat
($100,000) and the University, including the College of Arts and Science,
the College of Graduate Studies and Research, and the President's Office
($100,000).
Dr. Bill Waiser is a specialist in western and northern Canadian history. He
joined the U of S in 1984. He is the author or editor of six books including
Park Prisoners: The Untold Story of Western Canada's National Parks and
Loyal till Death: Indians and the North-West Rebellion with Blair
Stonechild, which was short listed for the 1997 Governor General's literary
award for non-fiction. Since 1999, Waiser has been the host of CBC
Saskatchewan TV's "Looking Back", a weekly history series. He is currently
writing a history of the 1935 Regina Riot
-30-
For more information please contact:
Dr. Bill Waiser
Department of History
(306) 966-5801
November 02, 2001
Mood-Stabilizing Drug Blocks Cannabis Withdrawal Symptoms, U of S Study Finds
Posted November 02, 2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - November 2, 2001 2001-11-04-OTHER
Mood-Stabilizing Drug Blocks Cannabis Withdrawal Symptoms, U of S Study
Finds
A promising new direction for medical treatment developed at the University
of Saskatchewan may help recovering cannabis addicts cope with withdrawal.
In an animal study to be published in the December 15 issue of The Journal
of Neuroscience, Dr. Xia Zhang, an MD and assistant professor in the U of S
neuropsychiatric research unit, has shown that the mood-stabilizing drug
lithium blocks all symptoms of cannabis withdrawal.
"I'm optimistic that lithium will be equally effective in combating cannabis
withdrawal symptoms in humans," Zhang said, adding that the U of S
department of psychiatry is now planning a small-scale study involving
humans.
Because lithium is already approved for human drug use, the move from
laboratory research to medical treatment would occur relatively quickly if
the human trials prove successful, Zhang says.
Commonly in the form of marijuana and hashish, cannabis is the most widely
used drug in developed countries. In the United States, the lifetime
prevalence of marijuana dependence is higher than for any other illicit
drug. Each year, some 100,000 Americans seek treatment for cannabis
dependence.
Withdrawal symptoms include irritability, difficulty sleeping, restlessness,
anxiety, stomach pain, reduced appetite, and depression, and may contribute
to continued use.
To mimic the effects of cannabis in animals, Zhang's team used a drug called
HU-210 which is commonly used in such studies. It is about 100 times as
powerful as the street drug THC (the active ingredient in marijuana), but
was administered in doses that reproduced the intoxicating effects
experienced by recreational drug users.
The researchers chose to study the effect of lithium because some symptoms
of cannabis withdrawal are similar to symptoms of the mood disorders that
lithium is used to treat. The researchers expected lithium to inhibit some
of the withdrawal symptoms, but to their surprise, lithium blocked all
withdrawal symptoms.
The effect of lithium on cannabis withdrawal symptoms seems unrelated to its
effect as a mood stabilizer. For example, lithium has to build up for days
to affect unstable moods, but in this instance there was an immediate
effect. As well, another mood stabilizer was tested and had no effect on
cannabis withdrawal symptoms.
The study, funded by the Saskatchewan Health Services Utilization and
Research Commission, found that lithium increases production of oxytocin, a
hormone that stimulates contractions and milk letdown in pregnant and
breastfeeding women. Zhang has already begun further research to find out
why oxytocin apparently blocks cannabis withdrawal symptoms.
This ground-breaking research has been honored by the Society for
Neuroscience which has selected Zhang's article from 15,000 submissions for
inclusion in the press book for their mid-November annual general meeting in
San Diego, the world's largest gathering of neuroscientists. The book is
distributed to hundreds of international media.
-30-
For more information, contact:
Kathryn Warden
U of S Research Communications
(306) 966-2506
kathryn.warden@usask.ca
Synchrotron Research Assists In Wake of Sept. 11
Posted November 02, 2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - November 2, 2001 2001-11-05-OTHER
U of S NEWS TIP:
Synchrotron Research Assists In Wake of Sept. 11
In the wake of the collapse of the World Trade Center towers, a California
synchrotron will help identify airborne pollutants that could adversely
affect the lungs of recovery workers and residents in the surrounding area.
Synchrotrons in the U.S. and Europe are also helping to provide new leads
for finding drugs to combat anthrax, a significant threat as an agent of
biological warfare and terrorism.
"These recent examples of important and diverse applications of synchrotron
science underscore the exciting research opportunities that will be
available to scientists at the Canadian Light Source (CLS), Canada's first
synchrotron now being constructed on our campus," said University of
Saskatchewan President Peter MacKinnon.
A synchrotron acts like a gigantic microscope that generates intense beams
of brilliant light to view the microstructure of materials. The U of
S-owned CLS national facility will begin operations in January, 2004. (For
information on the CLS, visit www.cls.usask.ca )
Identifying Airborne Pollutants
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has enlisted a University of
California, Davis research group to help monitor the composition and
movement of smoke and dust particles from the World Trade Center excavation
site.
To detect rarely measured, very fine and ultra-fine (to 0.09 microns -- one
micron equals one one-thousandth of a millimetre) particles that can lodge
deeply in the lungs, the Advanced Light Source (ALS) at the University of
California Berkeley Lab will be used to analyze the air samples. The first
set of results is expected by mid-November.
"Details about the composition of these airborne particles should help
authorities determine what safety measures are needed at the site, the
length of work shifts, and whether workers need better measures to control
the dust to protect local residents," states an Oct. 31 ALS users'
newsletter.
Since October 1, a monitoring device on the roof of a building downwind from
ground zero has been collecting air samples. In early November, the first
batch of samples will be shipped back to California for analysis.
At UC Davis, an electron microscope and a mass spectrometer will be used to
scan the
air samples for asbestos, carcinogenic organic compounds and other toxins
produced when plastic burns.
At the ALS, the X-ray microprobe beamline will be used to analyze the
samples for the presence of elements sodium through uranium, but especially
for toxic metals such as mercury, lead, and cadmium. (For more information,
see http://www-als.lbl.gov/als/als_news/#3 )
Battling Bioterrorism
Synchrotron science is also coming to the aid of medical scientists seeking
ways to battle the bacterium responsible for anthrax disease.
Bacillus anthracis secretes a toxin made up of three proteins. Recently,
Nature magazine took the unusual step of publishing on the Internet an
important paper that describes the crystal structure of one of these
proteins -- "lethal factor" or LF, the crucial pathogenic enzyme of anthrax
toxin. (See http://www.nature.com/nature/anthrax )
The work was done with the help of five American and European synchrotrons
(light sources at Stanford, Cal.; Daresbury, U.K.; Grenoble, France;
Chicago, Ill.; and Long Island, N.Y.).
Scientists now have a picture of how the lethal factor enzyme attacks cells.
Now drug companies can search for chemicals that will block this activity,
paving the way for potential new anti-anthrax drugs.
Probing the structure of proteins to come up with drugs against various
toxins and safe, effective vaccines is exactly the kind of work that will be
done on a planned protein crystallography beamline at the CLS. The
synchrotron is the tool of choice for this type of work because it's faster
and more precise than conventional technology.
Scientists from across Canada will use the CLS in the search for new
vaccines and drugs. VIDO (Veterinary Infectious Disease Organization), a U
of S-based global leader in infectious disease research, recently turned the
sod for a $14.3-million expansion next door to the CLS, enabling researchers
to decode proteins manufactured by genes and combat infectious diseases in
both animals and humans.
-30-
For more information, or to arrange interviews with synchrotron scientists,
contact:
Kathryn Warden
Research Communications Officer
Office of the Vice-President (Research)
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2506
http://www.usask.ca/research
"Investing in Ideas" -- U of S Research
Canadian Light Source http://www.cls.usask.ca
November 01, 2001
U of S Health Policy Conference
Posted November 01, 2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - November 1, 2001 2001-11-01-OTHER
Romanow and Nilson Address Major U of S Health Policy Conference
Researchers, policy-makers, and health providers will discuss issues and
options facing Canada's rapidly changing health care system at the
University of Saskatchewan President's Policy Conference "Caring for Health:
Courageous Choices" Nov. 4-6 at the Radisson Hotel.
- Roy Romanow, Commissioner, Commission on the Future of Health Care in
Canada
12 p.m., Monday, November 5
Michelangelo Room, Radisson Hotel, 405-20th St. East
- John Nilson, Minister of Health, Government of Saskatchewan
7 p.m., Monday, November 5
Michelangelo Room, Radisson Hotel, 405- 20th St. East
Other newsworthy talks include:
- 8:30 a.m. Monday, November 5: "Health Care and the New Genetics", Roderick
McInnes, Scientific Director, Institute of Genetics, Canadian Institutes of
Health Research
- 9 a.m. Tuesday, November 6: "Blessing or Curse? Implications of Genetic
Research", U of S researchers Jeremy Lee (biochemistry) and Michael Mehta
(sociology)
The conference also involves Saskatchewan Population Health and Evaluation
Research Unit (SPHERU), Saskatchewan Institute of Public Policy,
Saskatchewan Association of Health Organizations, Health Services
Utilization and Research Commission (HSURC), and HEALNet Regionalization
Research Centre.
For the complete schedule, visit: www.usask.ca/caringforhealth
-30-
Kathryn Warden
U of S Research Communications
(306) 966-2506
College Colloquium
Posted November 01, 2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - November 1, 2001 2001-11-02-AR
COLLEGE COLLOQUIUM
A College Colloquium will explore the dangers we face from the potential use
of chemical or biological agents by terrorists, the steps that national and
international agencies are taking to defend against these threats, and the
sociological impacts of perceived risks.
Time: 12:00-1:30 p.m., Tuesday, November 6
Room: Place Riel Theatre
University of Saskatchewan
Speakers for this colloquium are:
Lorne Babiuk, B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D., D.Sc., Director of VIDO (Veterinary
Infectious Disease Organization) is the holder of a Canada Research Chair in
Vaccinology and possesses broad knowledge of infectious diseases, protection
through vaccines, and economic impact. He has chaired the Medical Research
Council/Health Canada Committee on Biosafety and the Handling of Infectious
Agents.
Ron Sutherland, B.Sc., Ph. D., F.R.S.C., F.C.I.C., Head of the Department of
Chemistry, has studied chemical and biological weapons and environmental
modification as a method of warfare for years and is one of Canada's experts
in this area. He has served extensively with international organizations
devoted to the prohibition of chemical weapons.
Michael Mehta, B.A., M.E.S., Ph.D., Associate Professor of Sociology, runs
the Sociology of Biotechnology program through the Virtual College of
Biotechnology. His research interests include risk perception and
communication on blood transfusion, nuclear reactors, endocrine modulators
and biotechnology.
-30-
For more information please contact:
Keith Taylor
Arts and Science Associate Dean
Tel: 306-966-4241
Fax: 306-966-8839
keith.taylor@usask.ca
