May 30, 2008
University of Saskatchewan Appoints New Dean of Agriculture and Bioresources
Posted May 30, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 30, 2008
2008-05-14-AG
The University of Saskatchewan (U of S) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Mary M. Buhr as Dean, College of Agriculture and Bioresources, for a five-year term effective July 1, 2009.
Currently the interim dean of the Ontario Agriculture College at the University of Guelph, Buhr earned a B.Sc. in Biology from the University of Waterloo in 1976. She went on to receive an M.Sc. and PhD, also in Biology and also from Waterloo, in 1978 and 1982 respectively.
"We are pleased Dr. Buhr will be joining the College of Agriculture and Bioresources at the University of Saskatchewan," said Peter MacKinnon, U of S President. "She is an accomplished teacher, administrator and researcher whose background and community connections are well suited to leading this dynamic college."
Buhr will take over from interim dean Dr. Graham Scoles, who will continue in the position until June 30, 2009. "Dr. Scoles has provided excellent leadership in the College and I am grateful to him for his continuing service in this capacity," said MacKinnon.
On finishing her PhD, Buhr worked as a visiting scientist with Agriculture Canada in Brandon, Manitoba before taking a position in 1983 in the Dept. of Animal Science at the University of Manitoba. In 1988, she moved to the Dept. of Animal and Poultry Science at the Ontario Agricultural College of the University of Guelph as an assistant professor, reaching full professor status in 2000. Buhr started administrative work in the Dean's office of the Ontario Agricultural College as Associate Dean (Academic) in 2002.
"I am looking forward to joining the University of Saskatchewan, where the College of Agriculture and Bioresources has a unique, interdisciplinary approach to study and research," said Dr. Buhr. "The vibrant and optimistic attitude of the University and the province in support of agriculture's future contributions to a more sustainable world is hugely attractive to me."
Located in the heart of Saskatoon, the University of Saskatchewan is one of the leading medical doctoral universities in Canada. With 58 degrees, diplomas and certificates in over 100 areas of study, the University is uniquely positioned in the areas of human, animal and plant studies. World-class research facilities, renowned faculty and award winning students make the U of S a leader in post-secondary education.
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For more information, including a bio and photo of Dr. Buhr, contact:
Patty Martin, Community and Media Relations Specialist
University Communications
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-6919
Email: patty.martin@usask.ca
May 26, 2008
New U of S-StatsCan Centre Boosts Social Science and Health Research
Posted May 26, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 26, 2008
2008-05-13-OTHER
Social sciences and health researchers have just received a powerful new tool in the Saskatchewan Research Data Centre (SKY-RDC), a new facility that offers access to Statistics Canada surveys and census data in a secure environment at the University of Saskatchewan.
"This facility gives researchers access to highly exclusive information-it's not the kind of data you could find online," said Carl D'Arcy, the Centre's acting academic director. "Now researchers won't have to travel to Calgary, Winnipeg, Edmonton, or Vancouver to access this kind of data."
SKY-RDC is part of the federal agency's Research Data Centres Program, becoming the first of its kind in Saskatchewan and the 15th in Canada. The Centre will be a tool for examining a broad range of social sciences and health issues, including community health, Aboriginal Peoples, and youth. Research at the facility will help strengthen Canada's social and policy research community by creating partnerships among universities, Statistics Canada, and researchers.
"Our mission is to promote social statistics and to prepare the next generation of researchers and policy makers," said Amélie Gagnon, SKY-RDC's analyst. "We want to make sure the rich Statistics Canada data are accessible to use."
To be allowed access to confidential data, researchers must be approved by a joint Statistics Canada-Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) data access committee. Those granted access will be deemed Statistics Canada employees and monitored by their representative while accessing the data.
SKY-RDC is housed in the Murray Library on the U of S campus and has 11 workstations for researchers. Data access takes place in a controlled area to ensure confidentiality is maintained.
The Health Quality Council contributed $25,000 to the Centre's initial set-up costs, while the U of S contributed the remainder of the $370,500 start-up budget.
The U of S is providing $57,000 per year in operating funding over the next three years through its Strategic Research Funding initiative. The Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation is adding $40,000 a year for operating funding over the same three-year period.
The new facility is open to researchers throughout the province. The University of Regina has already set aside $10,000 to help their faculty members and graduate students use this research resource.
The Centre will hold its first public event - a panel on data from Statistics Canada's Social and Aboriginal Statistics Division - on Wednesday, May 28th.
Located in the heart of Saskatoon, the U of S is one of the leading medical doctoral universities in Canada. With 58 degrees, diplomas and certificates in over 100 areas of study, the University is uniquely positioned in the areas of human, animal and plant studies. World-class research facilities, renowned faculty and award winning students make the U of S a leader in post-secondary education.
For more information or to arrange an interview, contact:
Dr. Carl D'Arcy
Academic Director
SKY-RDC
University of Saskatchewan
Carl.darcy@usask.ca
(306) 966-8769
Fax: (306) 966-9774
Amélie A. Gagnon
SKY-RDC Analyst
University of Saskatchewan
Am.gagnon@usask.ca
(306) 966-8216
Fax: (306) 966-8278
Cameron Zimmer
Research Communications
University of Saskatchewan
cam.zimmer@usask.ca
(306) 966-2427
May 21, 2008
NSERC Awards $14M to U of S Research Projects and Scholarships
Posted May 21, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 21, 2008
2008-05-11-OTHER
Over the next five years, 96 University of Saskatchewan scientists will receive more than $12.6 million in Discovery and equipment grants from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), while 104 U of S graduate students will receive $1.8 million in NSERC scholarships.
The new grant projects will investigate an array of research areas, including fuel made using leftover straw, protection from livestock odours, and computer systems that adapt to a user's emotional state.
"Discovery grants allow our researchers to cultivate knowledge in areas that impact people's lives," said Steven Franklin, U of S Vice-President of Research. "These research projects and scholarships are giving our graduate students the training and experience they need to contribute to Canada's future."
The projects are part of $535 million in NSERC funding and scholarships announced today by federal Minister of Industry Jim Prentice.
"There are three challenges at the heart of science, technology and innovation today: attracting the best minds, funding the most cutting-edge research and commercializing the best ideas. By unveiling Canada's new Science and Technology Strategy last year, our government is addressing each of these issues," Prentice said. "I'm proud to announce this research funding today, which builds on our strategy. We're directly addressing the first of these two challenges and laying the groundwork for the third."
U of S projects include:
* Huiqing Guo (engineering) - $54,000 to determine the distance farms need to be from their neighbours to ensure protection from gas and odours produced by livestock. The results will provide livestock producers with standards to help them develop better relationships with neighbours and avoid potential legal action.
* Janusz Kozinski (engineering) - $202,100 to probe how waste biomass, such as leftover straw and wood slash from logging operations, can be converted into carbon-free fuel using supercritical water that is heated to over 374 degrees Celsius.
* Regan Mandryk (computer science) - $97,500 to develop computer interfaces that adapt to users' unique contexts, including their location, expertise, and emotional state. The research is intended to create smarter computers that do not interrupt users when they are busy, offer help based on users' expertise, and allow users to express emotions through instant messaging, email, or natural cues such as typing harder.
A list of successful U of S projects is available at http://www.nserc.gc.ca/news/news_rel_e.htm.
NSERC is a federal agency whose vision is to help make Canada a country of discoverers and innovators for the benefit of all Canadians. The agency supports some 25,000 university students and postdoctoral fellows in their advanced studies. NSERC promotes discovery by funding more than 11,000 university professors every year and fosters innovation by encouraging more than 1,400 Canadian companies to participate and invest in university research projects.
Located in the heart of Saskatoon, the U of S is one of the leading medical doctoral universities in Canada. With 58 degrees, diplomas and certificates in over 100 areas of study, the University is uniquely positioned in the areas of human, animal and plant studies. World-class research facilities, renowned faculty and award winning students make the U of S a leader in post-secondary education.
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For more information or to arrange interviews, contact:
Cameron Zimmer
Research Communications
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2427
cam.zimmer@usask.ca
www.usask.ca/research
May 20, 2008
New Executive Director for Canadian Light Source at the University of Saskatchewan
Posted May 20, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 20, 2008
2008-05-10-OTHER
The Board of Directors of Canadian Light Source, Inc. and University of Saskatchewan President Peter MacKinnon are pleased to announce the appointment of Josef Hormes as the next executive director of the Canadian Light Source (CLS), effective August 15, 2008.
The appointment comes after an 18-month international search for the successor to CLS Executive Director Bill Thomlinson, who is retiring at the end of June.
"We are extremely pleased that Dr. Hormes has accepted the position of Executive Director of the CLS," says Rafik Loutfy, Acting Chair of the CLS Board of Directors. "Dr. Hormes is internationally recognized, both as a synchrotron light researcher and as a science leader who builds bridges between academic and industrial research."
Hormes, currently a professor of physics at the University of Bonn, was director of the Center for Advanced Microstructures and Devices (CAMD), a synchrotron at the Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge from 1999 to 2005, where he remains a full professor of research. Prior to that, he was director of the Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory at the University of Bonn, where he was also responsible for technology transfer and university/industry collaborations.
"Professor Hormes' combination of research expertise and management experience is second to none," notes University of Saskatchewan president Peter MacKinnon. "He is ideally suited to guide Canada's national synchrotron as it embarks on the next phase of its life as a global leader in innovation and discovery."
Hormes will also be appointed as a professor in the Department of Physics and Engineering Physics at the University of Saskatchewan. He has co-authored over 200 scientific publications and is named on seven patents. Much of his recent research has focused on the study, synthesis and characterization of magnetic particles for applications in cancer treatment and nanotechnology.
"The Canadian Light Source has already developed a reputation for excellence in the synchrotron world, both for the science it is generating and its outstanding service to users from academic institutions and industry," says Hormes. "I am looking forward to working with the outstanding staff and users from across Canada and around the globe. I am particularly excited about continuing to build strong ties and fruitful collaborations among the CLS, academic scientists and researchers from a variety of industrial sectors."
The Canadian Light Source is Canada's national centre for synchrotron research. Located at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, the CLS is a powerful tool for academic and industrial research in a wide variety of areas including environmental science, natural resources and energy, health and life sciences, and information and communications technology. CLS operations are funded by the Government of Canada, NSERC, NRC, CIHR, the Government of Saskatchewan and the University of Saskatchewan. For more information: www.lightsource.ca/media/quickfacts.php.
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Note to editors: Professor Hormes will be in Saskatoon to attend the CLS Annual Users' Meeting and the MEDSI-SRI conference June 9 to 13. Please contact Matthew Dalzell to arrange interviews.
For more information contact:
Matthew Dalzell
Communications Coordinator
Canadian Light Source Inc
University of Saskatchewan
Ph: (306) 657-3739 Cell: (306) 227-0978
matthew.dalzell@lightsource.ca
May 15, 2008
U of S Distinguished Researcher Finds an SOS Response to Cancer-Causing Agents
Posted May 15, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 15, 2008
2008-05-09-ME
University of Saskatchewan microbiologist Wei Xiao has found a way to trigger a protein combination called 9-1-1 that sends an SOS signal for cells to fight cancer-causing agents such as industrial toxins, ultraviolet radiation, and X-rays.
The finding—published this week in the prestigious journal Cell—is seen as a breakthrough in cancer research that could lead to better cancer diagnosis through targeting defective genes. It may also pave the way for a drug that activates the SOS response in cells.
“With no exaggeration, this is a result that many in the field have awaited with anticipation for some 20 years,” said Michael Ellison, director of the Institute for Biomolecular Design and Project CyberCell at the University of Alberta.
The study demonstrated that a process known as ubiquitination, sometimes called the “kiss of death” for proteins, can serve a completely different function. Xiao and a team of graduate students found that ubiquitination can actually be used to activate the 9-1-1 protein complex, warning cells to stop dividing with damaged DNA that leads to cancer.
“It has been known for many years that 9-1-1 was important, but scientists did not know how it was turned on,” said Xiao, department head and professor of microbiology and immunology at the U of S. “We figured out how 9-1-1 is actually activated when cells face carcinogens.”
The next step toward developing diagnostic tools and drug treatments is to test whether this model, which used genes from baker’s yeast that have counterparts in people, can apply to human cells as well.
Xiao will present his team’s findings and future research directions at the prominent Gordon Research Conference on Mutagenesis at Oxford University this summer.
His study was funded by both the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council.
Being published in Cell caps a rewarding week for Professor Xiao, who was also named the 2008 U of S Distinguished Researcher. The award, to be presented May 28th at convocation, recognizes a faculty member’s contribution to scholarship through creation, expansion, and critique of knowledge.
“Professor Xiao has clearly established himself as an internationally recognized leader in DNA repair and cancer research,” said U of S Vice-President Research Steven Franklin. “Remarkably, he has simultaneously nurtured a new generation of scientists who are already building on the significant contributions he has made to his field.”
Xiao has made many significant findings in both DNA repair and cancer research that have been published in more than 100 peer-reviewed journal articles. He is known for finding a pair of genes called “Beauty and Beast” that may direct cancer development in cells, an achievement that was selected as a Milestone in Canadian Health Research. He was also part of a team that discovered how a tiny protein called NEMO acts as a link in the body’s defense against viral and bacterial infections.
Xiao’s research already garnered the National Cancer Institute of Canada’s Research Scientist Award and a spot on the Canadian Who’s Who list since 1996. He was also one of 12 Chinese immigrants highlighted in the book Canada at the Millennium: A Trans-Cultural Society.
The microbiologist has worked hard to help young scholars find similar success by supervising more than two dozen summer students and 19 graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, including Yu Fu and Yu Zhu who worked on the study published in Cell. Zhu has since become a medical resident in pathology at the U of S while Fu has taken a postdoctoral fellow position at Harvard Medical School.
Xiao’s expert guidance was recognized by students when the U of S College of Medicine Graduate Student Society gave him the Supervisor of the Year Award in 2007.
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For more information or to arrange an interview, contact:
Wei Xiao
Department of Microbiology and Immunology
College of Medicine
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-4308
wei.xiao@usask.ca
Cameron Zimmer
Research Communications
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2427
cam.zimmer@usask.ca
May 14, 2008
University of Saskatchewan Appoints Athletic Director
Posted May 14, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – May 14, 2008
2008-05-08-KIN
The University of Saskatchewan is pleased to announce the appointment of Basil Hughton as Athletic Director, College of Kinesiology effective August 1, 2008.
Basil Hughton received his Bachelor of Science in Physical Education in 1977, Bachelor of Education in 1978 and his Masters of Education in 1992, all from the University of Saskatchewan. During his years of undergraduate study, Hughton played with the Huskies football team. Originally from Moose Jaw, Hughton has worked in Saskatchewan as an educator since 1978, as a teacher, assistant principal and principal. In 2005, Hughton was acknowledged as one of Canada’s 28 outstanding principals by the Learning Partnership and in 2006 he received the Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary International for work with the Mount Royal Collegiate Restorative Action Program. Active in the community, Hughton sits on the board of directors for TCU place, has worked for the high school athletics association and served on the board of directors for the 1989 Jeux Canada Games.
“We are very pleased to have someone of Basil Hughton’s caliber as our new Athletic Director. His outstanding community leadership, his experience as an educational administrator and as a former Huskies football player, are sure to lead to great things for the Huskie Athletics program,” said Carol Rodgers, Dean of the College of Kinesiology. “The tremendous foundation laid by Bill Seymour, who served as our Acting Athletics Director for two years, has certainly positioned us for even more success in the future.”
Among his duties, Basil Hughton will lead completion of the final component of the Huskie Athletics Review action plan, namely redefining the vision and mission of Huskie Athletics in the context of achieving national prominence. Work related to the other three areas of action, Finance, Marketing and Fundraising, and Human Resources has been completed or has been integrated into the Huskie Athletics program functions.
“I am truly looking forward to returning home to the University of Saskatchewan in this new role,” said Basil Hughton. “In my opinion, the University’s athletics program is second to none, and I look forward to working with our athletes and coaches to achieve national success.”
Located in the heart of Saskatoon, the University of Saskatchewan is one of the leading medical doctoral universities in Canada. With 58 degrees, diplomas and certificates in over 100 areas of study, the University is uniquely positioned in the areas of human, animal and plant studies. World-class research facilities, renowned faculty and award winning students make the U of S a leader in post-secondary education.
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For more information, contact:
Nicole Josin
Sports Information Director
Huskie Athletics
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-1024
Email: nicole.josin@usask.ca
May 12, 2008
New Transportation Centre of Excellence Launched at the U of S
Posted May 12, 2008
The Saskatchewan Party government and the University of Saskatchewan (U of S) have embarked on a partnership to position Saskatchewan as a North American leader in the application of new highway and road construction technologies.
For more information: http://gov.sk.ca/news?newsId=20ddaf64-b0b3-4cce-bd64-7ba4a8ada0eb
May 07, 2008
U of S Researchers Take the Wind out of Respiratory Diseases with Health Grants
Posted May 07, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 7, 2008
2008-05-04-OTHER
Saskatoon, SK - University of Saskatchewan health scientists are working on a cure for asthma and a needle-free vaccine for a childhood respiratory virus thanks to major Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) grants announced today.
Immunologist John Gordon's initial research on a new asthma treatment has demonstrated more than a 90-per-cent decrease in asthma symptoms in the animals tested. Gordon will use his $674,000 CIHR grant to test the treatment on human cells.
"Our research shows great promise for asthmatics," says Gordon. "Current asthma drugs only treat symptoms—they don't go after the cause. Our treatment has the potential to get at the root of what causes asthma."
Gordon believes his lab is on track to curing asthma by developing a new therapy that takes dendritic cells, which act as "on/off" switches for the immune system, out of a blood sample and grows them in a test tube with a protein that tells the cells to switch off allergic reactions. When these cells are reintroduced into the bloodstream, they pass on the "off" message to allergic T cells.
Virologist Sylvia van den Hurk is also addressing respiratory health by using her $620,000 grant to develop a needle-free vaccine for a respiratory virus that infects 65 million young children each year.
"Unfortunately, newborn infants, who constitute the major target group, are not only prone to infections, they also develop weak immune responses to most conventional vaccines," says van den Hurk.
The senior Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) scientist is focusing her research on the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which can lead to reoccurring respiratory problems, such as asthma and pneumonia. There is no vaccine for RSV, the most common virus to cause respiratory infections in infants and small children. She is hoping to develop a vaccine specifically for this age group.
These scientists were among eight U of S researchers awarded a total of $2.5 million in CIHR grants today by federal Health Minister Tony Clement.
"The Government of Canada is committed to investing in knowledge, science and innovation," said Minister Clement. "The research being supported with the funding announced today will help us address important health issues affecting Canadians, such as cancer, heart disease and HIV/AIDS."
A complete list of the CIHR projects funded at the U of S is located at: http://www.usask.ca/research/news/read.php?id=792&newsid=1
Located in the heart of Saskatoon, the U of S is one of the leading medical doctoral universities in Canada. With 58 degrees, diplomas and certificates in over 100 areas of study, the University is uniquely positioned in the areas of human, animal and plant studies. World-class research facilities, renowned faculty and award winning students make the U of S a leader in post-secondary education.
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For more information or to arrange interviews, contact:
Cam Zimmer
Research Communications
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2427
cam.zimmer@usask.ca
www.usask.ca/research/
May 02, 2008
University of Saskatchewan Approves Budget, Four-Year Plan and Re-Appointment of President
Posted May 02, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 2, 2008
2008-05-02-OTHER
The University of Saskatchewan Board of Governors today approved the institution's 2008-09 operating budget along with a new integrated plan and multi-year budget framework that set priorities for the University for the next four years.
Art Dumont, Chair of the Board of Governors, also announced the appointment of Peter MacKinnon to a third five-year term as President. MacKinnon is currently in his ninth year as president. "We have completed, as required, an extensive review of the President's leadership," said Dumont, "and are confident he has both the vision and the skills to continue to move the University of Saskatchewan towards its strategic goals."
The balanced 2008-09 budget projects $335.9 million in operating revenue, with just over $230 million of that total coming through the University's operating grant from the provincial government. Tuition makes up about 23 per cent of total operating revenue. Total revenue for the coming year is projected at approximately $675 million, which includes targeted research funding and donations.
The budget contains good news for students, said MacKinnon. "The Board of Governors has also today approved a recommendation from administration that 2008-09 tuition be held at 2004-05 levels," he said. "As for tuition levels into 2009-10 and beyond we will be working very closely with the province on the development of a new tuition management strategy based on a commitment to enhancing the student experience."
Operating budget highlights include:
* $2.8 million for the University's Academic Priorities Fund, which will be used for institutional priorities
* an additional half-million dollars for student recruitment and retention initiatives
* $225,000 directed to improving practices in institutional reporting, internal controls as well as system enhancements
* a projected increase of 4.5 percent in salaries and benefits over 2007-2008 due to normal salary progressions and negotiated union settlements
Acting Provost Ernie Barber provided an overview of the University's four-year integrated plan and multi-year budget framework. "The University's Second Integrated Plan for 2008-09 through 2011-12 focuses on specific commitments for action. Our three priority areas include: improving the student experience both inside and outside the classroom; enhancing the profile of research, scholarly and artistic work; and improving the ways we work together both within the University community and beyond our borders," said Barber.
This second plan follows on the heels of the first, which guided the University's decisions from 2003-07. During 2008, a transition year between plans, incoming Provost Brett Fairbairn will be responsible for a detailed implementation strategy that will outline what can be expected from colleges and units in terms of action, measurement and reporting.
Barber noted deliberate attention will be placed on engaging Aboriginal peoples, linking local issues globally, and being innovative as items imperative to the success of the University.
Highlights of budget framework for the second plan include a balanced budget each year through to 2011-12.
"The University of Saskatchewan's vision is to be an engaged University - a place where faculty, staff, and students engage each other, where research embraces critical issues of importance to society, and where partnerships on campus and beyond are visible and meaningful," concluded Barber.
Located in the heart of Saskatoon, the University of Saskatchewan is one of the leading medical doctoral universities in Canada. With 58 degrees, diplomas and certificates in over 100 areas of study, the University is uniquely positioned in the areas of human, animal and plant studies. World-class research facilities, renowned faculty and award winning students make the U of S a leader in post-secondary education.
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For more information, contact:
Patty Martin
Community and Media Relations Specialist
University Communications
University of Saskatchewan
Telephone (306) 966-6919
May 01, 2008
New Pan-Provincial Vaccine Enterprise announces board members, vaccine targets
Posted May 01, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – May 1, 2008
2008-05-01-VIDO
Scientific leaders from three of Canada’s foremost public health vaccine research agencies will gather on the University of Saskatchewan campus tomorrow to officially launch the $25.5-million Pan-Provincial Vaccine Enterprise (PREVENT), a new national vaccine commercialization consortium.
“PREVENT will accelerate the most promising Canadian vaccine discoveries and overcome hurdles that currently hamper development of new and safer vaccines,” said Andrew Potter, PREVENT’s chief executive officer and head of the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) at the U of S where PREVENT will be housed.
Announced in February with $15 million from the federal Networks of Centres of Excellence through its Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research program, PREVENT has recently been incorporated as a non-profit company that will help bridge the gap between basic science and licensed vaccines.
Potential vaccine targets for fast-track commercialization include influenza, whooping cough, chlamydia, E. coli, and prion diseases such as “mad cow.”
“We expect that the first vaccine candidate approved by our board for the PREVENT development pipeline will enter Phase I clinical trials by 2010,” said Potter.
PREVENT’s funding includes $10.5 million of in-kind support from its three partners – VIDO, the BC Centre for Disease Control in Vancouver, and the Canadian Center for Vaccinology (a partnership among Dalhousie University, the IWK Health Centre and Capital Health) in Halifax.
PREVENT will consult with the national public health community and the vaccine industry to identify promising vaccine candidates most likely to meet Canada’s health needs and its commitment to World Health Organization goals. Vaccine products will be marketed to both industry and the public sector.
Named as directors of the PREVENT board are:
• Lorne Babiuk (Chair) Vice President Research, University of Alberta
• Christian Blouin, Director, Vaccine Division, Merck Frosst Canada
• Robert Brunham, Provincial Executive Director, BC Centre for Disease Control
• Richard Florizone, Vice-President Finance and Resources, University of Saskatchewan
• Scott Halperin, Director, Canadian Center for Vaccinology
• Gregory Hammond, Director, Public Health Branch, Province of Manitoba
• George Khachatourians, Professor, University of Saskatchewan
• David Scheifele, Professor, Pediatrics, Division of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, University of British Columbia
• Andrew Potter, Director, U of S VIDO/InterVac (International Vaccine Centre)
To minimize start-up costs, PREVENT will make use of existing infrastructure at VIDO and its partner facilities in Vancouver and Halifax. The company will hire between 10 and 15 staff, including three director-level positions.
PREVENT’s impact is expected to include creation of new companies and increased investment for public health research and development.
PREVENT will also play a key role in co-ordinating Canadian graduate student training in vaccinology. At the U of S, the recently established School of Public Health and the graduate program in vaccinology and immunotherapeutics will help train highly qualified individuals.
For more information, visit: http://www.vido.org/news/prevent/index.php
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For more information about PREVENT, contact:
Dr. Andrew Potter
Director, VIDO/InterVac and CEO, PREVENT
(306) 966-7484
www.vido.org
Andrew.Potter@usask.ca
For more information about the Networks of Centres of Excellence CECR program, contact:
Natasha Gauthier
Manager, Communications
Networks of Centres of Excellence of Canada
(613) 996-0390
c. (613) 668-2014
www.nce.gc.ca
Natasha.Gauthier@nserc.ca
Background: The PREVENT Partners
PREVENT has been created as a national resource to shoulder the risk of early-stage vaccine development. Nascent vaccines developed by Canadian academic institutions and biotech companies can stall at the stage of preclinical or early clinical development due to insufficient funding, risk or uncertain market potential.
By addressing these challenges, PREVENT will accelerate the development of vaccines for both humans and animals, ensuring that Canadians benefit from innovative vaccines for public health priorities.
• University of Saskatchewan’s VIDO brings preclinical research capacity to PREVENT (Containment Level 2 laboratory and animal facilities) and is leading development of the $140-million International Vaccine Centre (InterVac), Canada’s largest Level 3 laboratory dedicated to vaccine development and capable of testing vaccines for large animals.
• Canadian Center for Vaccinology (a partnership among Dalhousie University, the IWK Health Centre and Capital Health) brings a 30,000 square-foot-vaccine research centre for basic translational science, epidemiology and clinical trials (Phases I-III), and implementation and evaluative policy research.
• BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) delivers prevention services and conducts research on the epidemiology, pathogenesis and control of infectious diseases and environmental hazards. The BCCDC, in partnership with the University of British Columbia, will contribute to PREVENT through vaccine antigen discovery methods (with secured patents) for respiratory viral diseases and sexually transmitted pathogens.
For more information on PREVENT, visit http://www.vido.org/news/prevent/index.php .
Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research (CECRs): The CECRs were established by the federal government in Budget 2007 to pursue major discoveries and bring them to the marketplace. The CECRs are part of the Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE) Program, founded in 1989 to foster research partnerships among universities, industry, government and not-for-profit organizations. The NCE Program is an initiative of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, in partnership with Industry Canada.
