U of S Receives Funds from Province

Posted February 21, 2003


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - February 21, 2003 2003-02-09-OTHER

U of S Receives Funds from Province

Provincial funding of $130,000 will help two new University of Saskatchewan
research projects by providing a new laboratory and custom-built equipment.

A plant biochemistry and biotechnology laboratory is being established to
develop technologies for regulating plant growth and structure, and an
ultrasonic biomicroscope will be built for use by the Reproductive Science
and Medicine Program.

"The government is committed to ensuring researchers in Saskatchewan reach
their full potential," Industry and Resources Minister Eric Cline said. "By
doing this, we are also strengthening Saskatchewan's knowledge-based economy
in priority areas for research and training, which will lead to more jobs."

Provincial support comes from the Innovation and Science Fund (ISF) and
matches funding contributions from the Canada Foundation for Innovation
(CFI) under the New Opportunities Fund, a program to assist new faculty
members in their first, full-time academic position.

Funding of $70,000 is going to Jaswant Singh of the veterinary biomedical
sciences department to develop an ultrasound biomicroscope for safe and
repeated medical imaging of living tissues at a microscopic level using
nonsurgical samples. Initially, the results will be used in reproductive
medicine. However, the tool may also be used for cancer research, surgical
healing, cardiology, sport medicine, and during veterinary and human
surgery.

Another $60,000 is going to Hong Wang of the biochemistry department for
equipment to study plant cell cycle regulation. The research will attempt to
understand the differences in cell cycle regulation between plants and
animals and for the potential benefit of healthcare. This project has the
potential to increase crop performance and yield, and improve Saskatchewan's
agriculture industry.

"Besides helping attract new, high-calibre talent to Canada, the New
Opportunities Fund has enabled universities in Saskatchewan and across the
country to help preserve our intellectual capital," said David Strangway,
President and CEO of the CFI. "This would not be possible without the
collaboration of the provincial partners."

"This innovative equipment will advance new U of S research in unlocking the
function of plant and animal genes and allowing researchers to examine the
dynamics of live tissue," said Bryan Harvey, Acting U of S Vice-President of
Research. "Both projects will enhance collaborations and partnerships
across campus and across the country, with researchers working towards
developing new technologies and products that will improve human, animal,
and plant health."

The ISF 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, please contact:

Suzanne Quinn
Canada Foundation for Innovation
Ottawa
(613) 996-3160
www.innovation.ca

Kristina Bergen
Research Communications
University of Saskatchewan
Saskatoon
(306) 966-2427