June 27, 2003
Horses May Provide "Early Warning System" for West Nile Risk in Humans
Posted June 27, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - June 27, 2003 2003-06-14-WCVM
Horses May Provide "Early Warning System" for West Nile Risk in Humans
The University of Saskatchewan is conducting three studies on West Nile
virus in Saskatchewan horse populations -- work that may provide an early
warning system for human risk by determining virus "hot spots" throughout
the province.
In what is the first comprehensive field study of horse exposure to West
Nile disease in Western Canada, researchers at the U of S Western College of
Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) have teamed up with colleagues at Saskatchewan
Health, the Saskatoon Health Region, and the U of S-based Canadian
Co-operative Wildlife Health Centre to track the provincial distribution of
the virus and develop improved strategies for disease prevention. Results
will be known by late this fall.
"What happens to horse populations is a potential indicator as to what can
happen to human populations," says U of S veterinarian and project leader
Dr. Hugh Townsend. "We expect to find some regions at higher risk than
others, based on the number of dead birds found in the area and the number
of horses displaying evidence of West Nile infection."
Birds, horses and humans are particularly sensitive to the West Nile virus.
Other large animals can be infected, but this rarely occurs. Since horses
are at similar or greater risk of infection than humans, tracking infection
in horses may provide a better way to anticipate human risk than by studying
mosquito and bird data alone.
So far this year, none of the roughly 150,000 horses in the province have
been reported with West Nile, and only two dead birds have tested positive
for the virus. But experts know numbers will grow as the virus spreads.
"The virus is here, and we expect that the number of cases in birds and
horses will increase as the summer progresses," Townsend said. He warns
that horses and humans are most vulnerable to infection when the virus is at
its peak -- in late summer and early fall.
Three different studies will provide a provincial survey of up to 800 horses
potentially exposed to the virus. In addition to providing information on
the distribution of the virus and potential risk of disease in humans, they
will also provide information about various risk factors for disease among
horses.
The team will collect data from July through the end of October. One
component of the study involves taking blood samples from horses within a
50-kilometre radius of where infected birds are found, in hopes of providing
an early indication of human risk.
Like humans, most horses infected with West Nile are successful in fighting
the infection and do not develop symptoms. Horses that do develop clinical
signs may show anything from slight hypersensitivity and an unsteady gait to
severe paralysis and death.
"We think the rate of clinical disease among infected horses will be
relatively low - three to five per cent of infected animals. However, once
an animal shows clinical signs, it has about a 30-to-40 per cent chance of
dying," said Townsend.
Veterinary graduate students Dr. Tasha Epp and Dr. Rebecca Corrigan will
work with Townsend and WCVM colleague Dr. Cheryl Waldner on the studies.
Epidemiologist Judith Wright, and Saskatoon Health Region deputy medical
health officer Dr. Stephen Whitehead will collaborate with the team to
assess human risk. The earliest data may be used to help target mosquito
control and reduce the spread of the virus.
Funding for the studies is provided by the WCVM Equine Health Research Fund,
Saskatchewan Health and Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food and Rural
Revitalization. Epp and Corrigan received research fellowships from WCVM's
Interprovincial Graduate Student Fellowship Fund.
Humans and horses are both "dead-end" hosts for the virus -- they can't pass
it on. "Humans can't catch West Nile from either horses or from other
humans, either through direct contact or indirectly through mosquitoes,"
said Townsend.
Though there is a new, federally approved vaccine for horses, there is
currently no licensed human vaccine. The studies will help determine the
extent to which horses in Saskatchewan are being vaccinated and the
effectiveness of the vaccine.
The first cases of West Nile in Canadian birds and mosquitoes were reported
in August 2001, and the first confirmed human cases were reported in 2002 in
Ontario and Quebec.
In mild cases, symptoms may include flu-like complaints -- fever, headache,
mild rashes or swollen glands. For every five people infected with West
Nile, one has mild illness usually lasting three to six days. Meningitis
(inflammation of the lining of the brain or spinal cord) or encephalitis
(brain inflammation) develops in about one in 150 people infected with West
Nile, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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For more information, contact:
Professor Hugh Townsend
WCVM Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-7097 or
Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO)
(306) 966-7479
Kathryn Warden
U of S Research Communications Officer
(306) 966-2506
kathryn.warden@usask.ca
www.usask.ca/research
June 26, 2003
Surviving US! at the U of S
Posted June 26, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - June 26, 2003 2003-06-13-OTHER
SURVIVING US!
Saskatoon and area students preparing to attend the University of
Saskatchewan for the first time this fall have a chance to get some inside
information about university life at Surviving US!
Advisors and current U of S students will be at the University of
Saskatchewan in Room 143 of the Arts Building on
Thursday, July 3 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Monday, July 7 and Wednesday, July 9 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
"At Surviving US! we provide students with the tools to make the transition
to university easier," says Cora Schneider, Director of Student Recruitment.
"The session covers registration, residence and housing, student loans,
attending Orientation and much more!"
All sessions include an optional tour of campus led by current U of S
students.
"Every grade 12 student should attend Surviving US!," says Heather Bury,
second-year Kinesiology student from Saskatoon. "The information you
receive, and talking to U of S students and staff, really gives you an
advantage before starting classes in the fall."
Students can reserve a spot online at www.usask.ca/students/surviving or
e-mail surviving@usask.ca for more information.
Campus Tours are offered all year long. Students will find out where to buy
textbooks, places to eat and all the "hot spots" on-campus. Tours can be
booked online at: www.usask.ca/students/tours.
All media are invited to attend Surviving US!
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For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
Cora Schneider
Director of Student Recruitment
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-6767
E-mail: cora.schneider@usask.ca
Website: www.usask.ca/students/surviving
OR
Michele Derksen
Student Recruitment Assistant
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-6798
June 25, 2003
U of S Awarded $2.8 M for Three New Research Chairs and Equipment
Posted June 25, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Wednesday, June 25, 2003 2003-06-12-OTHER
U of S Awarded $2.8 M for Three New Research Chairs and Equipment
Today the University of Saskatchewan was awarded $2.4 million over the next
five to seven years to create three new Canada Research Chairs, as well as
$439,402 from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) for related
laboratory equipment.
The new Chairholders will conduct cutting-edge research at two
soon-to-be-completed U of S research facilities -- the Canadian Light Source
(CLS) synchrotron (www.lightsource.ca) which opens next spring and the
Saskatchewan Structural Sciences Centre which opens this fall.
"This is great news for the U of S," said U of S President Peter MacKinnon.
"These outstanding scientists will increase leading-edge, multi-disciplinary
research at two U of S world-class facilities and provide exciting
opportunities for graduate student research and training in health and
environmental science areas."
"Today, we are celebrating the strategic partnership between the U of S, the
Canada Research Chairs Program and the CFI," said Industry Minister Allan
Rock. "The Government of Canada's investment in U of S researchers allows
them to advance their careers among world-class colleagues, mentor and train
top graduate students and gain access to state-of-the-art research
facilities."
The new Chairholders, who will assume their positions this summer, are:
- Canada Research Chair in Molecular Environmental Science
Human activities such as mining and natural events such as erosion and
weathering release toxic elements into the environment which can lead to
freshwater contamination and may increase the amount of toxins entering the
food chain.
Recruited to the U of S geological sciences department from Stanford
University, Ingrid Pickering will use the CLS to study the chemical fate of
toxic elements in the environment and their impact on ecosystem and human
health. Her work will increase understanding of these systems and provide a
foundation for possible remediation strategies for contaminated areas.
- Canada Research Chair in X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy
Humans are exposed daily to a complex mixture of chemical compounds from the
environment, many of which contain metals and other heavy elements that are
either essential to health or can be poisonous. In either case, the
molecular nature of the compound determines whether it has toxic or
beneficial properties.
Recruited to the U of S geological sciences department from Stanford
University, Graham George will use intense X-ray beams from the synchrotron
to study the molecular nature of metals and heavy elements such as mercury
in living systems. His research could lead to new treatments for heavy metal
poisoning and a better understanding of the role of metals and heavy
elements in human health.
- Canada Research Chair in Life Sciences Related to Human Health and Disease
The first step in the progression of diseases such as heart attack, angina,
stroke, and some forms of cancer occurs when cells clump together. Proteins
known as integrins on the surface of cancer cells and platelets (small blood
cells) regulate the stickiness of cells.
Recruited to the U of S department of anatomy and cell biology from the
Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Thomas Haas studies the structure-function
relationship of integrin communication within cells. He will design and test
a new generation of drugs that block the ability of platelet and cancer
cells to bind together, work that will help determine whether these drugs
can be used to treat heart attack, stroke, and cancer.
The new Chairs are among 31 allotted to the U of S under the $900-million
Chairs Program. For profiles of U of S Chairholders, visit:
http://www.chairs.gc.ca/english/profile/index.cfm
Nominations submitted by universities to the Chairs Program are reviewed by
a team of academic peers who choose only the most outstanding. U of S
research priority areas for the Chairs are: biotechnology, environmental
sciences, health sciences, identity and diversity, materials science, and
technology and change.
With the addition of the three new Chairs, the U of S has now been awarded a
total of $13.8 million to support 15 Chairs, as well as almost $1.7 million
in related CFI infrastructure funding.
Today's announcement was made in Ottawa by Minister Rock as part of a
$69.7-million investment to create 80 new Canada Research Chairs at 32
universities, along with $10.3 million million in CFI infrastructure
support.
The Chairs Program was created to enhance universities as centers of
world-class research excellence by attracting and retaining excellent
researchers in Canadian universities. By 2005, Canadian universities will
have 2,000 new Canada Research Chairs. So far, 926 Chairs have been awarded.
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For more information, contact:
Kathryn Warden
U of S Research Communications Officer
(306) 966-2506
kathryn.warden@usask.ca
www.usask.ca/research
June 23, 2003
U of S a world leader in application of technology to teaching
Posted June 23, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 23th June, 2003 2003-06-09-OTHER
U of S a world leader in application of technology to teaching
The University of Saskatchewan has been designated a world leader in its
innovative use of technology for teaching and research.
The designation - New Media Centre - was awarded by the New Media
Consortium (NMC) after a world-wide search for excellence among colleges,
universities, museums and advanced technology companies.
The designation means that the U of S will become part of a vibrant
community of innovators across the world which will help set the agenda for
technology in higher education.
University President Peter MacKinnon said: "The University of Saskatchewan
has an uncompromising commitment to quality and international standards. I
am delighted that our innovative use of technology for teaching and research
has achieved international recognition and respect."
The U of S joins 125 prestigious colleges, universities and museums who have
received the designation in the past. These include MIT, Princeton, Yale and
Harvard universities.
Larry Johnson, president and CEO of the NMC said: "The selection process is
very competitive - we received the largest number of applications in our
history, and the overall quality of those applications was extraordinary.
"Even among a very strong field, it was quite clear that the University of
Saskatchewan is a place where smart creative people are devising innovative
solutions to challenges we all face in teaching and learning. The dedication
to excellence is palpable, and students and faculty are the clear
beneficiaries."
The Division of Media and Technology at the University of Saskatchewan was
notified of the successful appointment and Director Danielle Fortosky said
that: "This designation will mean new international opportunities and
partnerships to help us advance our academic goals at the U of S through the
use of innovative technologies.
I am pleased and proud that our Division played a leadership role in
achieving this designation and was an integral part of this process."
NMC is a not-for-profit organization that connects colleges, universities,
museums and advanced technology companies that are working to define and
explore new ways of teaching, learning, research and creative expression.
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For further information, contact:
Peter Mackinnon
President
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-6612
Danielle Fortosky
Chief Administration Officer/Director
Division of Media and Technology
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-4259
Website: www.dmt.usask.ca
June 20, 2003
VIDO Director Honored with Industry Leadership Award
Posted June 20, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - June 20/2003 2003-06-08-VIDO
VIDO Director Honored with Industry Leadership Award
University of Saskatchewan researcher Lorne Babiuk has received the Industry
Leadership Award from the Canadian Animal Health Institute (CAHI), the trade
association representing companies that develop and manufacture animal
health products in Canada.
The award is presented annually by CAHI to an individual or association that
has demonstrated outstanding leadership, commitment and accomplishments in
the field of animal health in Canada. Candidates must be nominated by a CAHI
member.
Babiuk, director of the U of S Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization
(VIDO), was recognized for his 30-year commitment to animal health. VIDO
developed the world's first genetically engineered vaccine for animal
species.
An international authority in veterinary virology and immunology, Babiuk has
had a profound impact on both the Canadian and international animal health
community. His current focus is on vaccine design and new vaccination
strategies for both animal and human health.
Babiuk, holder of a Canada Research Chair in Vaccinology and Biotechnology,
has played an integral role in transforming VIDO from a small team of
pioneers in veterinary biotechnology to a world-class research centre for
vaccine development. He has recently teamed up with University of British
Columbia and two corporate partners to lead a $27-million national genomics
project -- funded by Genome Canada through Genome Prairie -- that will help
fight infectious diseases.
He has published more than 390 peer-reviewed manuscripts and 70 book
chapters or review articles. He also holds 18 patents and has another 14
pending.
Babiuk stresses the importance of collaboration on animal health issues. "We
can continue to improve the health and welfare of our animals through novel
approaches and, more importantly, by working together to achieve much more
than we can by working in isolation," he says.
Babiuk is the third U of S researcher to receive this award. The two
previous U of S recipients, both from the Western College of Veterinary
Medicine, are Otto Radostits and Reuben Mapletoft.
Further details about the Industry Leadership Award are available at
www.cahi-icsa.ca.
Information about VIDO is available at http://www.vido.org.
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For more information, contact:
Kathryn Warden
U of S Research Communications
Office of the Vice-President Research
(306) 966-2506
kathryn.warden@usask.ca
www.usask.ca/research
June 18, 2003
CFI Invests More Than $660,000 to Support 10 New U of S Researchers
Posted June 18, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 11 a.m., June 18, 2003 2003-06-07-OTHER
CFI Invests More Than $660,000 to Support 10 New U of S Researchers
Today University of Saskatchewan President Peter MacKinnon welcomed an
investment of $663,916 from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) to
provide cutting-edge infrastructure support for 10 newly recruited faculty
members.
"Today's announcement recognizes some of our new faculty members whose
innovative and nationally competitive work will help find new ways to combat
bacteria-caused disease, better methods for assessing nervous system
disorders, and more effective treatment of soil and water contaminants -- to
cite just a few examples of our outstanding projects," said MacKinnon.
"Today's announcement is a good news story for the University of
Saskatchewan which will bring economic and social benefits to the local
community and the region," said Wascana MP Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public
Works and Government Services.
"These awards recognize new researchers whose work will surely be of direct
benefit to Canadians in a wide range of fields," said CFI President David
Strangway. "These projects were selected following a highly competitive
process and will help ensure that researchers and students at the University
of Saskatchewan have access to a world-class research and training
environment."
U of S awards:
- Steven Siciliano (soil sciences) -- $106,500 for a unique-in-Canada
project that uses leading-edge technology to assess the effect and fate of
soil contaminants in arctic ecosystems. This research will contribute to
public policy regarding sustainable development that respects northern
Aboriginal traditions.
- Gordon Binsted (kinesiology) -- $84,000 for state-of-the-art motion and
eye-tracking equipment to examine the progression of neurological disorders
such as MS, which often affects visual-motor skills, and to develop more
sensitive measures for assessing clinical and medical interventions.
- Derek Peak (soil science) -- $81,458 for a unique-in-Western Canada
spectrometer to study the surface chemistry of inorganic molecules in the
soil, work that may result in more effective treatment of arsenic, selenium,
and chromium-contaminated soils and phosphate-contaminated surface waters.
- Ian Fleming (geological engineering) -- $67,075 towards equipment for a
Waste Management and Geo-Environmental Engineering Laboratory to study
environmental processes related to soil contamination, landfill gas and
waste stabilization.
- Judit Smits (veterinary pathology) -- $66,750 to study the immune systems
of wild birds in order to measure the health and sustainability of disturbed
or contaminated environments in which birds live.
- Bill Patterson (geological sciences) -- $64,466 towards a unique-in-Canada
computer-controlled robotic facility that will allow researchers to track
ancient climate changes and predict future climate patterns.
- Yu Luo (biochemistry) -- $51,667 over five years for equipment to study
bacterial proteins using X-ray crystallography at the U of S-owned Canadian
Light Source synchrotron (www.lightsource.ca). This work could result in
new ways to combat disease caused by bacteria.
- David Janz (veterinary biomedical sciences) -- $50,000 for equipment that
will combine advances in biomedical technology and fisheries science to
assess the health of Canadian fish populations impacted by climate change
and aquatic pollutants such as industrial and agricultural waste.
- Kirstin Bett (plant sciences) -- $48,000 to study the molecular genetics
of pulse crop quality, which will lead to improved varieties for Canadian
pulse growers.
- Robert Johanson (electrical engineering) -- $44,000 for equipment to
produce new optical materials for photonic devices used in modern
communication systems.
Today's announcement is part of $33.5 million announced nationally under the
New Opportunities Fund designed to help launch the careers of new and
talented faculty members. As well, $10 million was announced nationally
from the Infrastructure Operating Fund.
Selection criteria included quality of research, need for infrastructure,
and potential benefits of the research to Canada. CFI funds 40 per cent of
the costs, and researchers must come up with the remainder from other
sources.
Total funding to U of S from the CFI New Opportunities Fund has now reached
more than $6 million for 47 projects since the inception of the program.
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:
Kathryn Warden
Research Communications Officer
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2506
kathryn.warden@usask.ca
www.usask.ca/research
Valerie Poulin
Media Relations
Canada Foundation for Innovation
(613) 447-1723
Valerie.poulin@innovation.ca
www.innovation.ca
June 17, 2003
New 2004 Interns Announced for Saskatchewan Legislature
Posted June 17, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - June 17, 2003 2003-06-06-OTHER
New 2004 Interns Announced for Saskatchewan Legislature
Four Saskatchewan university students were recently named as interns to the
Provincial Legislature as part of the annual Legislative Internship Program.
- Joanne Harpauer-Dignean - University of Saskatchewan - Commerce
- Kim McKechney - University of Saskatchewan - Political Studies
- Fabian Contreras - University of Regina - Political Science
- Ryan Griffiths - University of Regina - Political Science
The internship is both an academic and a practical experience. Students work
with private members on both sides of the house, learning about the
legislative and political processes from the inside. In addition to their
assigned duties, students are required to write a 25-page research paper and
undertake an organizational project.
For the first three months, the interns are assigned to an MLA in either
government or opposition who is not in cabinet or the party leader. For the
following three months, they work with an MLA on the opposite side of the
Legislature.
The interns will be politically neutral and will keep information in
confidence as they assist the MLA with research, speechwriting, committee
duties and some constituency work. They are not assigned partisan political
tasks such as campaigning or fundraising.
This group will serve from January - July 2004.
The University of Saskatchewan and the University of Regina, in conjunction
with the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan, developed this program.
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For more information and biographies of the students, please contact:
Gordon Barnhart
Academic Director, Legislative Internship Program and
University Secretary, University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-4632
E-mail: gordon.barnhart@usask.ca
June 09, 2003
College of Agriculture Releases Graduate Employment Outcomes Survey
Posted June 09, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - June 9th, 2003 2003-06-04-AG
College of Agriculture Releases Graduate
Employment Outcomes Survey
An employment survey of University of Saskatchewan College of Agriculture
graduates from 1998-2002 shows that over 90 per cent were employed soon
after graduation and 70 per cent found their first job in Saskatchewan. Over
80 per cent said they were satisfied with the education they received from
the University of Saskatchewan.
The survey, conducted by Insightrix Research Services, also challenges the
conventional wisdom that career opportunities in the Agriculture industry
are on the decline. The majority of Agricultural students found work within
a month of graduating and overall, 75 per cent of graduates were satisfied
with their first job.
Self-employment is more lucrative, with BSA graduates earning an average of
$38,500 compared to Diploma graduates earning an average of $43,000.
Approximately 20 per cent of graduates are self-employed. The majority (68
per cent) of those self-employed are operating a farm enterprise while
others are working in some other agriculture-related enterprise.
Self-employed Diploma graduates are more likely to be operating a farm
enterprise while self-employed BSA grads are more likely to be operating an
agriculture-related operation.
A total of 20 per cent of BSA graduates did not come from a farming
background and a large proportion of them think not having a farming
background has had very little impact on their career. Overall, 48 per cent
of graduates are currently working in rural areas while 52 per cent are
working in urban areas.
Commissioned by the College of Agriculture, the survey was designed to
evaluate employment outcomes of graduates. Information gathered in the
survey will be used to inform decision-making at the college of Agriculture.
Subsequent surveys are planned to ensure that college program outcomes
continue to meet the needs of the agribusiness industry or the agriscience
and technology industry.
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For Further Information Contact:
Dr. Bob Tyler, P Ag
Associate Dean (Academic)
College of Agriculture
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-4056
or
Karen Hughes
Student Services Coordinator
College of Agriculture
University of Saskatchewan
306-966-4062
June 06, 2003
The Transformation of Student & Enrolment Services Division
Posted June 06, 2003
The following news has been provided by the Student & Enrolment Services Division.
The Transformation of Student & Enrolment Services Division
Wondering what we've been up to?
We’ve been building a ship while sailing it! For almost a year,
David
Hannah (Associate Vice-President, Student & Enrolment Services) and
the
senior leadership team of the emerging Student & Enrolment Services
Division
(SESD) have in essence, been building a new ship while sailing
it. Planning
a new structure for our Division has meant keeping all of the existing
functions
running smoothly, while working with the Provost's Office, Financial
Services
Division, Human Resources Division, Facilities Management and the
bargaining
units — just to name a few — to move the Division
forward.
What has changed?
In order to begin to fulfill SESD's commitments to enhance the student
experience,
Student & Enrolment Services will be making significant changes to
its organizational
structure. The Division is currently advertising and will soon be
filling a
considerable number of positions as it moves forward to implement the
new structure.
The new Divisional structure is comprised of seven units reporting to
the Associate
Vice-President, Student & Enrolment Services (see reverse for more
details).
Approximately 25 positions within these seven areas are being posted, most of which have been created by deleting existing positions and reallocating the freed-up resources, converting term, part-time, casual and overtime budget dollars to permanent positions, filling numerous current vacancies, and using specific funding envelopes to support a number of term-certain special projects.
It is important to note that within the new organizational structure, SESD has fulfilled an important commitment of the ROSS Project — to ensure that jobs were provided for all permanent staff from the former Office of the Registrar and Student Affairs & Services.
Who can apply for the SESD job postings?
All eligible members of the campus community are encouraged to consider
participating
in the transformation of this exciting new Division by applying for any
of the
posted positions — these postings are not restricted.
How will students benefit?
The focus of all of the changes that have been in progress over
the
past year has been and continues to be to enhance the student
experience. The
selection of staff to fill these positions is an integral step in
achieving
this goal.
What happens next?
We are now completing the first phase of a process that is expected to
take
approximately four years to complete, and will encompass many major
changes,
including the implementation of a new student information system and the
development
of new physical space for the Division within the College/Administration
Building
project.
Stay tuned for more details as we continue the Transformation of Student
&
Enrolment Services at the U of S…
For more information, contact:
The Office of the Associate Vice-President
(Student & Enrolment Services Division )
Rozanne Tennant
Tel: (306) 966-8710
E-mail: rozanne.tennant@usask.ca
June 05, 2003
CDC Releases High Soluble Fibre Barley Variety
Posted June 05, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - June 5, 2003 2003-06-03-AG
CDC RELEASES HIGH SOLUBLE FIBRE BARLEY VARIETY
As part of on-going efforts to diversify crop and market opportunities for
prairie farmers, the Crop Development Centre (CDC) at the University of
Saskatchewan, has released a barley variety with exceptionally high levels
of beta-glucan, a form of soluble dietary fibre known to reduce cholesterol
and the risk of heart disease.
Brian Rossnagel, leader of the CDC's Feed and Food Barley research program,
has received support for registration for the barley variety CDC Fibar,
2-rowed hulless waxy barley with 100% amylopectin starch and very high
beta-glucan concentration.
Normal barley varieties contain about 4% beta-glucan, but CDC Fibar has
consistently demonstrated more than 10%.
"High levels of soluble fibre are desirable for the food industry," said
Rossnagel. "The raw product undergoes an extraction process to isolate the
beta-glucan from the seed, which can then be used in a wide range of high
fibre commercial food products."
In addition to this type of processing, there is potential for the whole
grain to be used in a ground or cracked form in the food industry or the
beta glucan extract could find its way into the neutraceutical market.
CDC Fibar is unique in that, in addition to its high beta-glucan
concentration, it is a 100% amylopectin waxy barley which means that the
variety contains no amylose in its starch. Commonly, starch from cereal
grains contains 20-30% amylose and 70-80% amylopectin. This pure
amylopectin starch make up has implications for the food industry as it has
unique processing and cooking characteristics.
CDC Fibar has been released to Agricore United for Pedigreed seed production
and commercial marketing. Commercial seed of CDC Fibar could be available
to growers by 2006.
The basic funding support for the CDC's barley and oat program comes from
the University of Saskatchewan, the Saskatchewan Agriculture Development
Fund and the Western Grains Research Foundation. The specialty starch
hulless food barley sub-project is specifically supported by a Research and
Development agreement with Agricore United.
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For more information, please contact:
Brian Rossnagel
Crop Development Centre
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-4976
E-mail: brian.rossnagel@usask.ca
Website: www.usask.ca/agriculture/plantsci
or
John Dean
Manager, Market and Technical Development
Agricore United
Tel: (204) 944-5496
E-mail: jdean@agricoreunited.com
Government Supports College of Medicine Renewal Plan
Posted June 05, 2003
Thursday June 5, 2003
Prepared by the Government of Saskatchewan and the University of
Saskatchewan.
GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS COLLEGE OF MEDICINE RENEWAL PLAN
The Saskatchewan Government announced today it will increase funding to the
University of Saskatchewan's College of Medicine to ensure ongoing
accreditation of the College. The College and the Academic Health Network
have identified that the incremental cost to government will be
approximately $13 million by the sixth year of implementation. The money
will be used to hire additional faculty and make library improvements.
The university and the Network outlined a six-year renewal framework that
will establish the College of Medicine on par with Canada's top quality
medical colleges. The increased funding identified by the Network this year
is close to $1.5 million. The government has also accepted the renewal
framework as the basis for financial and program planning for subsequent
years.
"I congratulate the College of Medicine on its approach to improvement,"
said Learning Minister Judy Junor, "Their new planning process, backed by
the government's commitment to increased funding, will ensure the College
continues to play a vital role in health care education, research, policy
and practice. All partners are confident this plan fulfills the requirements
of the Committee on Accreditation."
"We are committed to a strong College of Medicine in Saskatchewan," said
Health Minister John Nilson. "This plan will allow the college to
strengthen training programs for physicians at the main campus and to expand
and strengthen training in other Saskatchewan communities. In turn, these
measures will help create an environment that supports the retention and
recruitment of health professionals - a key goal of the Action Plan for
Saskatchewan Health Care.''
Saskatchewan Health will provide funding to hire additional clinical staff
this year. Saskatchewan Learning will provide support for improved library
services and other academic staff.
"We are extremely pleased that the government has endorsed our six-year
strategy for the recruitment of faculty, expansion of research, enhancement
of library and related resources and the extension of medical school
programs. The immediate provision of first-year funding for this important
initiative, coupled with a commitment to work cooperatively and
expeditiously to finalize the full six-year funding plan, is precisely the
response we require to address the college of medicine's probationary
status. Even more, it sets the University of Saskatchewan's college of
medicine on a clear path of renewal and revitalization, " said Peter
MacKinnon, President of the University of Saskatchewan.
The Government of Saskatchewan will work with the College on the
year-to-year implementation of the framework for renewal. This work plan
was designed with the help of the Academic Health Sciences Network, which
includes the Saskatoon Health Region, the University of Saskatchewan, Regina
Qu'Appelle Health Region, other provincial health regions, and the Province
of Saskatchewan. Renewal of the College of Medicine will also benefit other
health science colleges, the regional health authorities and health care
providers throughout the province.
The College of Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan is celebrating its
50th anniversary this year.
For more information contact:
John Biss
Saskatchewan Learning
306-787-5900
Vanessa Gooliaff Beaupre
Saskatchewan Health
306-787-4083
Tina Merrifield
University of Saskatchewan
306-966-2213
June 02, 2003
NSERC Awards $6.6 Million to 73 U of S Science Projects
Posted June 02, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - June 2, 2003 2003-06-01-OTHER
NSERC Awards $6.6 Million to 73 U of S Science Projects
Today 73 University of Saskatchewan research projects were awarded a total
of almost $6.6 million in operating grants and equipment by the Natural
Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) over the next five years.
"These innovative and nationally competitive projects will address
challenges in areas as diverse as climate change, movement disorders, waste
management, and arctic ecosystem pollution," said Bryan Harvey, Acting U of
S Vice-President of Research. "These projects will also greatly contribute
to U of S graduate student training and undergraduate teaching."
"NSERC discovery grants are awarded to both new and established
researchers," said Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Works and Government
Services. "The NSERC awards allow university professors to develop the next
generation of scientists and engineers who will be essential to Canada's
success in the knowledge-based global economy."
A complete list of successful U of S projects with a brief description of
each is available at:
http://www.usask.ca/research/NSERCgrants03.shtml
Among them:
- Jane Alcorn (pharmacy and nutrition) -- $108,000 over four years to study
the way babies up to six months old eliminate environmental toxins or
therapeutic drugs from breast milk and how this ability changes as infants
age.
- Ed Krol (pharmacy and nutrition) -- $100,000 over four years to study the
potential health benefits and dangers of natural plant products
- Ted Llewellyn (physics and engineering physics) -- $210,000 over two years
to study ozone depletion with the Saskatchewan-designed OSIRIS instrument
on-board the Odin satellite
- David Klymyshyn, (electrical engineering) -- $131,400 over four years to
develop new wireless telecommunication devices using synchrotron techniques
- Eric Neufeld (computer science) -- $92,000 over four years to develop new
artificial intelligence tools that help anatomists construct
three-dimensional models of the body
- Valerie Thompson (psychology) -- $105,000 over five years to study how
knowledge and beliefs influence logical reasoning.
The professors dedicate a large portion of their grant funds to train
undergraduate, postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers.
In addition to individual grants, geological sciences professor Robert
Kerrich was awarded a $75,000 Major Facilities Access Grant over three years
for an analytical geochemistry facility. Co-applicants are: Brian Pratt,
Alec Aitken, Joseph Culp, Leonard Wassenaar, Dirk De Boer, Karsten Liber,
Jim Hendry, Yuanming Pan and Robin Renaut.
Equipment grants totaled $429,940 including $104,000 to chemistry researcher
Matthew Paige towards a microscope for looking at molecules and $106,670 to
upgrade a microscope for the Saskatchewan Structural Sciences Centre
(http://www.usask.ca/sssc/). The latter award goes to chemistry professor
Ron Steer and co-applicants Akira Hirose, Stephen Urquhart, David Torvi,
Jeremy Lee, Chijin Xiao, Matthew Paige and Ramaswami Sammynaiken.
"Canadian universities are appointing hundreds of new professors to replace
those who are retiring. It is also very good for Canada that most of these
new people are not only eager but also well qualified to do research," said
NSERC President Tom Brzustowski. "NSERC Discovery Grants are very important
because they help them to meet the costs of their research programs."
NSERC (http://www.nserc.ca/), a key federal scientific research granting
agency, today announced a total of 2,752 new grants worth $325 million over
five years to university and college professors in 67 Canadian
post-secondary institutions.
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For more information, contact:
Kathryn Warden
Research Communications
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2506
kathryn.warden@usask.ca
www.usask.ca/research
