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)

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For more information, contact:

Kathryn Warden
Research Communications
Office of the Vice-President Research
(306) 966-2506
kathryn.warden@usask.ca