December 23, 2002
Heart Safe Patrol Car Goes on Duty at the University of Saskatchewan
Posted December 23, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - December 23, 2002 2002-12-11-OTHER
Heart Safe Patrol Car Goes on Duty at the University of Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan's Security Services has become the first
policing agency in Saskatchewan to equip a patrol car with an automated
external defibrillator (AED). The AED will greatly enhance the ability of
trained University Special Constables to deal with cases of Sudden Cardiac
Arrest on campus.
An AED is a device used to administer an electric shock through the chest
wall to the heart. Built-in computers assess the patient's heart rhythm,
judge whether defibrillation is needed, and then administer the shock.
Audible and/or visual prompts guide the user through the process.
With the assistance of the "Making Saskatoon Heart Safe" program the
Department of Security Services has acquired an AED and joined 22 other
Heart Safe sites in Saskatoon.
"The U of S strives to be a proactive campus when dealing with the
community's safety and health," said Bob Ferguson, Director of Security
Services. "Our Special Constables are often first to arrive in cases of
medical emergency and this AED unit will allow them to provide quick and
accurate treatment in cases of cardiac arrest."
Three University Special Constables, certified AED Instructors for both the
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada and the Canadian Red Cross, have
trained their peers in proper operation of the equipment and will also offer
refresher courses on a continual basis.
"About 40,000 people in Canada die annually from Sudden Cardiac Arrest,"
said Tim Hillier, Education Director for MD Ambulance. "Nationwide, only 5
per cent of cardiac arrest victims survive. With the implementation of the
Heart Safe program we hope to raise this number to around 30 per cent. It is
proven that CPR and AEDs can make the difference between life and death."
Acquisition of a second AED unit is planned for sometime in 2003.
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For more information, please contact:
Bob Ferguson
Director Security Services
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-4505
bob.ferguson@usask.ca
Tim Hillier
Director of Education
MD Ambulance
(306) 975-8825
t.hillier@mdambulance.com
December 20, 2002
U of S and IBM to Collaborate on Campus Computer Network
Posted December 20, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - December 20, 2002 2002-12-10-OTHER
U of S and IBM to Collaborate on Campus Computer Network
The University of Saskatchewan has reached an agreement with IBM Canada Ltd.
for IBM's Integrated Technology Services to provide technology
infrastructure and expertise, including Cisco hardware and maintenance
services, for a multi-million-dollar upgrade of the campus computer network.
IBM was selected from among five companies for the USR-net (U of S Research
Network) project that will provide a tremendous boost to research on campus
and benefit teaching, learning and business services as well.
"This agreement provides an excellent opportunity for the U of S to work
with an international leader in the technology sector and we look forward to
exploring future collaborative possibilities in a wide variety of areas,"
said Rick Bunt, U of S Associate Vice-President of Information and
Communications Technology.
"IBM is a leading network integrator in Canada," said Ross Geiger, IBM
Canada's marketing and sales executive for Integrated Technology Services.
"We look forward to delivering the best solution and value in working with
the University of Saskatchewan on this strategic computer network upgrade."
The USR-net project will benefit every user of the campus network - faculty
member, staff member, or student - by improving the capacity, performance,
availability, security and reliability of the network, and by improving
connectivity to other universities and research organizations both in Canada
and abroad.
The project was awarded a $4.8M grant in January of 2002 by the Canada
Foundation for Innovation. Other funding is currently being finalized.
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For more information, contact:
Rick Bunt
Associate Vice-President of Information and Communications Technology
Office of the Provost and Vice-President Academic
University of Saskatchewan
Phone: (306) 966-8408
Kathryn Warden
Research Communications Officer
Office of the Vice-President Research
University of Saskatchewan
Phone: (306) 966-2506
December 17, 2002
President reappointed for second term at U of S
Posted December 17, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - December 17, 2002 2002-12-07-OTHER
President reappointed for second term
The Board of Governors of the University of Saskatchewan has reappointed
President Peter MacKinnon for a second five-year term.
"Peter has been extraordinarily effective in his first term as President,"
said Board Chair, Gordon Thiessen. "He is clearly committed to the
University of Saskatchewan and the board heard overwhelming support for him
from both inside and outside of the University."
"I am grateful for the vote of confidence," said MacKinnon. "The U of S is
a passion of mine, and I welcome the opportunity to continue to serve as its
president."
Since taking on the role of President in 1999, University of Saskatchewan
research revenues have increased by 136%, student applications have risen by
26%, and total enrolment has risen by 6%.
MacKinnon has also driven the "strategic directions" process, which has been
endorsed by all three of the University's governing bodies: Board, Council,
and Senate. The Renewing the Dream document that expressed the agreed upon
strategic directions garnered widespread support as it articulated the three
defining features of the University of Saskatchewan: International
Standards, Areas of Pre-eminence, and Sense of Place.
MacKinnon's tenure will end June 30, 2009.
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For more information, please contact:
Peter MacKinnon
President
University of Saskatchewan
December 16, 2002
Province To Fund Human Health Research Projects At U of S
Posted December 16, 2002
December 16, 2002
The following news release was issued today by Saskatchewan Industry and
Resources
Prepared by Saskatchewan Industry and Resources and University of
Saskatchewan Research Communications
PROVINCE TO FUND HUMAN HEALTH RESEARCH PROJECTS AT U OF S
Three University of Saskatchewan research projects that could pave the way
for human health breakthroughs will receive a major boost thanks to a
provincial investment of more than $280,000.
The province will provide funding to purchase equipment for the chemistry
department and the College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, and to establish a
unique-in-Canada proteomics lab in the biochemistry department. Proteomics
is the study of the structure and function of proteins.
"We know investing in research and development brings new opportunities and
jobs for Saskatchewan people," Industry and Resources Minister Eldon
Lautermilch said. "Equally important, however, is the potential impact that
this sort of strategic investment can have upon the health and well-being of
people everywhere."
Provincial support comes from the Innovation and Science Fund and matches
funding contributions from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI). It
includes:
$40,000 for Dr. Ed Krol of the College of Pharmacy and Nutrition to purchase
equipment to study cancer-preventing properties of natural products such as
lignans found in flaxseed. Lignans are plant-derived compounds that may
have health benefits.
$60,000 for Dr. David Sanders of the chemistry department to purchase
equipment to develop new ways of combating disease-causing micro-organisms
that are multi-drug resistant, such as the bacteria that cause tuberculosis.
$186,000 for Dr. Ronald Geyer of the biochemistry department to help
establish a laboratory for analyzing the function and interaction of
proteins in a wide range of organisms including plants, animals, viruses and
pathogens.
"Providing the University of Saskatchewan with state-of-the-art equipment
will enable new faculty members to perform cutting-edge research," President
and CEO of the CFI Dr. David Strangway said. "This initiative will help
ensure the university's continued role in contributing to innovation in the
region."
"These new lab facilities and equipment will expand our capacity to do life
sciences research at the forefront of the field," University of
Saskatchewan Acting Vice-President of Research Dr. Bryan Harvey
said. "These new research tools will also enhance our graduate and
undergraduate teaching, and help launch the careers of some highly
talented new faculty members."
The Innovation and Science Fund provides support to Saskatchewan
universities, colleges and research institutes on projects receiving
approval and funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the Canada
Research Chairs, the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation and the
Canadian Institutes of Health Research.
The CFI is an independent, not-for-profit corporation established by the
Government of Canada in 1997 to strengthen the capacity for innovation in
Canadian universities and research institutions.
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For more information, contact:
Bob Ellis Suzanne Quinn
Industry and Resources Canada Foundation for Innovation
Regina Ottawa
Phone: (306) 787-8277 Phone: (613) 996-3160
Kathryn Warden
Research Communications
University of Saskatchewan
Saskatoon
Phone: (306) 966-2506
December 11, 2002
$400,623 Awarded for U of S Lung Research
Posted December 11, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - December 11, 2002 2002-12-05-OTHER
$400,623 Awarded for U of S Lung Research
Nine University of Saskatchewan researchers have received a total of
$400,623 from the Lung Association of Saskatchewan (LAS) to study asthma and
other lung diseases.
Asthma kills approximately 20 children and 450 adults every year, according
to the Lung Association.
Donna Rennie, a U of S nursing professor and Institute of Agricultural,
Rural and Environmental Health researcher, and her team will receive $60,000
over two years to study children's asthma rates in Estevan. In a previous
Estevan study, her team found an asthma prevalence of 21 per cent -- twice
the rate found in similar Saskatchewan populations.
"We will be going into homes to study potential asthma-causing factors, such
as dust, endotoxins, and mold," said Rennie, who now hopes to identify the
reason for high asthma rates.
"We are still at the investigative phase, but our goal is to unravel the
relationship between the child's micro-environment and his or her ability to
breathe."
The team includes five researchers from the institute, the Western College
of Veterinary Medicine on campus, the Division of Respiratory Medicine in
the U of S College of Medicine, and the University of Alberta's Department
of Public Health.
Asthma is a chronic lung condition with episodes of difficult breathing.
Narrowing and obstruction of the airways can be triggered by allergens such
as molds, pollens, animal dander, tobacco smoke, or something as simple as a
change in air temperature and humidity.
Other U of S researchers awarded grants:
- Peter Bretscher (Microbiology) -- core funding for the Research Centre for
the Elimination of Tuberculosis
- Darcy Marciniuk with Robert Skromo (both in Respiratory Medicine) -- will
examine the validity of various methods used to evaluate respiratory system
function and capacity during exercise in patients with chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Baljit Singh (Veterinary Biomedical Sciences) -- using rat lung cells,
will assess the cellular and molecular mechanisms of lung dysfunction
associated with humans working in swine barns
- Robert Skromo with Darcy Marciniuk (Respiratory Medicine) -- will
investigate the effect of continuous positive airway pressure on the
exercise performance of patients with obstructive sleep apnea
As part of the same initiative, five research professorships and one
clinical research fellowship have been awarded.
Marciniuk and physical therapist Suzanne Shepard have also jointly received
$36,000 to support pulmonary rehabilitation and research in Saskatoon.
"Research done with this funding creates a tremendous spin-off benefit that
provides both excellent teaching and improved patient care to the province,"
said LAS President and CEO Brian Graham.
Further details are available at: www.sk.lung.ca
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For more information, contact:
Kathryn Warden
Research Communications Officer
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2506
kathryn.warden@usask.ca
Brian Graham
President, Lung Association of Saskatchewan
(306) 343-9511
brian.graham@sk.lung.ca
December 10, 2002
University of Saskatchewan applauds federal government for supporting Canada's veterinary medicine colleges
Posted December 10, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - December 10, 2002 2002-12-04-WCVM
University of Saskatchewan applauds federal government for
supporting Canada's veterinary medicine colleges
.
"The University of Saskatchewan is delighted at today's announcement by the
federal government that they will contribute $113 million towards supporting
the country's four veterinary medical schools," said Peter MacKinnon,
President of the University of Saskatchewan.
The home universities of the four vet med schools have argued that the
infrastructure costs related to these institutions should be a shared by the
federal government since their respective mandates go beyond provincial
boundaries
"These four vet schools play a unique role in Canada's education system and
in the country's food safety infrastructure," MacKinnon said. "It is to the
credit of Mr. Van Clief and his department that they recognize this and are
willing to provide them with the support they need to meet Canadian needs.
The University of Saskatchewan share of the new funding is expected to be
just over $22 million and will go towards upgrading the Western College of
Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) infrastructure.
Veterinary medical schools are accredited by the Council on Education of the
American Veterinary Medical Association, the North American accrediting
body. All four Canadian vet med schools have been at risk of losing their
accreditation with issues related to funding being frequently cited as a
major concern.
"This funding is a major step toward ensuring we maintain accreditation and
fully meet international standards for colleges of veterinary medicine,"
said Dr. Charles Rhodes, acting dean of the WCVM. "Today's announcement
reflects the commitment of the Minister and the federal government to
veterinary medicine and recognizes the critical role the four vet colleges
play in research, training, and innovation related to animal health, food
safety, and human health."
Canada's four veterinary medical schools can be found in Saskatchewan,
Ontario, Quebec, and Prince Edward Island. The U of S Western College of
Veterinary Medicine serves British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and
Manitoba.
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For more information, please contact:
Peter MacKinnon
President
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-6612
peter.mackinnon@usask.ca
Charles Rhodes
Acting Dean
WCVM
(613) 230-3033
charles.rhodes@usask.ca
NOTE: Peter MacKinnon will be available for media interviews on this subject
between 1:45 and 2:15 p.m. today.
Please call 966-6612 to arrange an appointment.
December 09, 2002
U of S Researcher Elected Fellow of the American Heart Association
Posted December 09, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - December 9, 2002 2002-12-03-ME
U of S Researcher Elected Fellow of the American Heart Association
A world-renowned University of Saskatchewan hypertension expert has been
elected to a prestigious fellowship with the American Heart Association
(AHA).
U of S physiologist Dr. Rui Wang was recently made a member of the AHA
Council on High Blood Pressure Research. He is the second U of S researcher
to be elected as a Fellow of this Council, and one of only 18 Canadians so
honored. The fellowship recognizes excellence, innovation, and leadership in
both private practice and academia.
This honor is only given to physicians or medical scientists who have made
outstanding contributions to hypertension research. Wang was nominated for
his work concerning the role of gasotransmitters in controlling hypertension
(high blood pressure).
Regular blood pressure depends on the ability of the blood vessel muscle
cells to contract or expand appropriately. Wang recently discovered that
gasotransmitters, particularly hydrogen sulfide gas molecules created in the
body, help regulate vascular functions such as hypertension.
This research revealed that hydrogen sulfide acts as a biological switch for
relaxing blood vessels by opening a special class of ion channels in the
cells, reducing blood pressure.
The findings were published in the November 2001 issue of the European
Molecular Biology Organization Journal.
Last week, BioNatCom Technologies Inc., founded by Wang and U of S
technology transfer company UST Inc., was chosen as a semi-finalist in the
2002 Innovations Challenge, sponsored by the University of Toronto. The
company is patenting herbal products to treat impotence and hypertension.
Wang leads an extensive research team of graduate students and post-doctoral
fellows who collaborate with researchers in Canadian universities and around
the world.
He is a prolific writer, and has been invited to lecture at universities
across Canada and in the U.S.A., Europe, and Asia.
Among his many awards and honors, Wang has received the Young Investigator
Award from the Canadian Cardiovascular Society and the McDonald Scholar
Award from the Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation.
The first Saskatchewan researcher elected a Fellow of this Council was U of
S clinical pharmacologist Dr. Thomas Wilson.
The American Heart Association is a national voluntary health agency whose
mission is to reduce disability and death from cardiovascular diseases and
stroke.
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For more information, contact:
Dr. Rui Wang
Department of Physiology
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-6592
Kathryn Warden
Research Communications
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2506
kathryn.warden@usask.ca
December 05, 2002
History Prof and Synchrotron Scientist Named National Innovation Pioneers
Posted December 05, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - December 5, 2002 2002-12-02-OTHER
History Prof and Synchrotron Scientist Named National Innovation Pioneers
Two prominent researchers associated with the University of Saskatchewan are
among 33 Canadian innovation pioneers showcased in a new essay collection
launched today by the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI).
- U of S history professor Jim Miller, a nationally recognized historian and
a Canada Research Chair holder in Native-Newcomer Relations, has contributed
an essay about the "revolution" that has occurred in the writing of
Native-newcomer history over the past 30 years.
- Michael Bancroft, U of S adjunct chemistry professor and Associate
Director of Science at the Canadian Light Source (CLS) synchrotron on the U
of S campus, writes in CFI's e-book inno'v@-tion2 about his fascination in
the mid-70s with synchrotron light that led to his becoming a leading
proponent of building a Canadian synchrotron.
Essays by Leading Canadian Researchers applauds the world-class,
cutting-edge research taking place in Canadian institutions. It will
contain 25 essays in a traditional book format and eight essays in the
e-book at: http://www.innovation.ca/whatsnew/index.cfm
Contributors were identified with the help of the federal granting agencies.
Miller says that until the 1970s, few academics showed much interest in the
history of relations between Natives and European newcomers.
In fact, when Miller was a young university student in the early 60s,
Aboriginal people were "almost totally absent from the history curriculum at
the time." In 1970, one analyst of general Canadian history textbooks noted
that the Indian "is not often considered to be deserving of serious
attention."
But then a new generation of historians "began to ask new research
questions, yielding dramatically new interpretations of many aspects of
Canadian history" which has since contributed significantly to public,
legal, and political debate.
"It is hard to describe how exciting it is to work professionally in a field
in which at any time political leaders or the highest courts in the land can
alter your research findings and reorient your research agenda," he writes.
Miller, whose writings include a detailed study of Native residential
schools, a biography of the great Cree chief Mistahimusqua (Big Bear), and a
co-authored history of treaty-making in Saskatchewan, has served as an
expert witness and consultant in cases related to land claims and
residential school abuse. With $1.4 million from the Canada Research Chairs
Program, he will conduct research into the history of treaty-making in
Canada and related issues such as present-day treaty rights and Aboriginal
self-government.
In his essay, Bancroft describes his discovery in the mid-70s of "the
amazing possibilities of synchrotron light for research in many areas." He
found the synchrotron to be the tool of choice for studying the atomic and
electronic structure of chemical compounds, and led an initiative at the
University of Western Ontario that enabled Canadian researchers to purchase
synchrotron beamlines at a facility in Madison, Wisc.
Though he continued to work at international synchrotrons for more than 20
years, his dream was to have a synchrotron in Canada for leading-edge
science and innovation. That dream came true when the CFI announced in 1999
that it would provide 40 per cent ($56.4 million) to build the CLS
(www.lightsource.ca) at the U of S.
The $174-million national facility, wholly owned by the U of S, is one of
the largest scientific projects in the country. By 2004, six beamlines will
be operational, and by 2015, Bancroft expects the mature CLS facility to be
operating between 25 and 30 beamlines. Close to 2,000 users are anticipated
annually, with up to 100 scientists from almost every discipline working on
experiments at any given time.
"Watching all this unfold, it gives me a great satisfaction to know that not
only will the interdisciplinary research on the CLS lead to important basic
and industrial research with significant industrial spin-offs, it will also
demonstrate the value of team work and collaboration to help achieve
extraordinary goals," said Bancroft, who works with companies such as ESSO
and Chevron to help develop better anti-wear coatings for engine oil
additives.
The CFI is an independent, not-for-profit corporation established by the
Government of Canada to strengthen the capacity for innovation in Canadian
universities and research institutions.
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For more information, contact:
Kathryn Warden
Research Communications Officer
Office of the Vice-President Research
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2506
kathryn.warden@usask.ca
Suzanne Quinn
Coordinator, Media Relations
Canada Foundation for Innovation
(613) 996-3160
suzanne.quinn@innovation.ca
December 02, 2002
U of S names Special Advisor on Aboriginal Initiatives
Posted December 02, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - December 2, 2002 2002-12-01-OTHER
U of S names Special Advisor on Aboriginal Initiatives
University of Saskatchewan President Peter MacKinnon announced the
appointment of George E. Lafond as Special Advisor to the President on
Aboriginal Initiatives, effective January 2, 2003. This is a new position
and the appointment is for a five-year renewable term.
Lafond will be responsible for moving the University's Aboriginal
initiatives forward and will advise and support the president,
vice-presidents, deans, and senior staff in their role of representing the
University of Saskatchewan to the Aboriginal community.
"This will be a challenging but exciting job, and there will be incredible
opportunities for him to take part in shaping the University's future," said
MacKinnon. "Lafond has a distinguished history in teaching, as a federal
government advisor on Aboriginal affairs as well as excellent leaderships
skills. He will be a great asset to the University of Saskatchewan."
"The University is a very special place in our society," said Lafond. "It
promotes learning and values which are vital in our society-tolerance,
diversity and equality. For Aboriginal people, and non-Aboriginal people
alike, better academic achievements, solid skills and a broad view of the
world will prepare us to meet the challenges of the future in Saskatchewan.
All of these can be found at the University of Saskatchewan. I am pleased to
be part of the team which will strengthen Aboriginal representation and
participation in all aspects of the University."
Lafond began his career as a History and Native Studies teacher at Bedford
Road Collegiate and earned his Bachelor of Education in 1985 from the
University of Saskatchewan. From 1985 to 1987, he worked for the Federal
Government as Special Assistant to the Minister of Indian and Northern
Affairs on a range of issues including treaty and land entitlements and
constitutional reform.
More recently, he has served as a chief for the Saskatoon Tribal Council
(1995 to 2002) working on behalf of the First Nations community both on
reserves and in the urban context.
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For more information, please contact:
Peter MacKinnon
President, University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-6612
George E. Lafond
(306) 221-9827
