February 26, 2009
Two U of S researchers awarded Canada Research Chairs valued at $1 million
Posted February 26, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 26, 2009
2009-02-08-OTHER
Two University of Saskatchewan (U of S) researchers have been awarded $1 million over the next five years from the Government of Canada to conduct research on public policy change and treatment and care for individuals with mental illness.
The new Canada Research Chairs (CRC) are among the 134 Chairs announced Monday by the Canada Research Chairs Program which was created to enhance universities as centres of world-class research excellence by attracting and retaining excellent researchers in Canadian universities.
The recipients of the new Chairs are: Daniel Béland, Professor at the Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy, and Erika Dyck, Associate Professor in the Department of History.
Béland’s research examines the politics of policy change in advanced industrial societies, often by comparing the policies of different countries, and by turning an historical lens on these policies to reveal how they have changed over time.
The political sociologist, author of six books, 40 scholarly papers, and previous visiting scholar to Harvard University and the University of Chicago, will first examine changes in social policy under presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. He will also compare Canada’s federal equalization policy to those in Australia, Spain and Switzerland.
“I take a long term historical perspective to see how policies have evolved over time, and how this has affected recent debates regarding their future,” says Daniel Béland. “For example, we explain why the equalization program is the way it is, and what the debates about equalization in the past were about. This provides a better understanding of the challenges we face today.”
Dyck’s work also delves into the past -- but in her case, the 20th century history of Canadian medicine. Having recently authored a book on LSD medical experimentation, the historian now turns to the political and medical attitudes toward mental illness and their influence on state-funded healthcare, the policy of deinstitutionalization and eugenics.
Dyck will explore the relatively unstudied history of eugenics in Western Canada, including Alberta’s Sexual Sterilization Act, and the Saskatchewan government’s turning away from this historic practice of sterilizing “mentally-defective” people deemed unfit for parenthood.
The historical study of deinstitutionalization -- the release of mental patients into the care of the community -- will involve research groups in Vancouver and Nova Scotia. Working alongside fellow principal co-investigator, Megan Davies of York University, Dyck hopes her overall research program will inform current debates about mental health services.
“I hope the research sheds light on our past attitudes and practices and reminds us of some of the perils or challenges that may have been encountered in the past,” says Dyck. “These may ultimately inform future challenges for how we treat and care for individuals with mental illnesses.”
Karen Chad, Acting Vice-President Research at the University of Saskatchewan congratulates the recipients and welcomes the significant advances to science their work will generate. “We are grateful for the CRC Program and the work of our researchers, which is allowing our University to strengthen its position as a major centre for research excellence, an essential element in developing a strong society and economy,” says Chad.
The total investment announced by the Government of Canada on Monday was $120.4 million to fund 134 new or renewed Chairs in 37 universities across the country. This includes $6.6 million from the CFI for research infrastructure to facilitate the work of 42 chairholders who received funding through this investment.
“Our government recognizes the important role that research excellence plays in furthering innovation and competitiveness, two main elements in our science and technology strategy,” noted Minister of State Goodyear. “This is why we announced a $5.1-billion investment in science and technology in Budget 2009 — Canada’s Economic Action Plan. The Canada Research Chairs Program helps universities attract and retain the best researchers in the world, which promotes job creation, enhances the quality of life of Canadians and strengthens the economy for future generations.”
Canada Research Chairs are awarded to exceptional emerging researchers, acknowledged by their peers as having the potential to lead in their field. They are nominated by their university and reviewed by a panel of experts from around the world. The addition of Béland and Dyck brings the total number of Canada Research Chairs working at the U of S to 25.
The new U of S Chairs were also awarded an additional sum of nearly $50,000 in infrastructure support from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) Leaders Opportunity Fund to help acquire state-of-the-art equipment essential to their work. To date, the U of S has received $3,797,751 in Chair support funding from the CFI.
For a complete list of CRC recipients, visit http://www.chairs.gc.ca.
-30-
For more information or to arrange an interview, contact:
Daniel Béland
Professor, Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-1272
Daniel.beland@usask.ca
http://www.danielbeland.org
Erika Dyck
Associate Professor, Department of History
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-5049
Erika.dyck@usask.ca
Leanne Nyirfa
Research Communications
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2427
February 18, 2009
U of S Researcher Takes a Unique Approach to Addictions Treatment
Posted February 18, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – February 18, 2009
2009-02-04-OTHER
A partnership among the University of Saskatchewan (U of S), the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA), and the National Native Addictions Partnership Foundation (NNAPF) is working to increase the substance abuse research capacity, strengthen the training of addiction workers, and increase the effective use of research resources in substance abuse prevention and treatment in a unique way – through song.
On Monday, February 16th at Cedar Lodge at Blackstrap Lake, a unique workshop took place. U of S sociology researcher Colleen Dell and 30 addiction research workers, research participants, and treatment workers collaborated with Woodland Cree singer/songwriter and Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards nominee Violet Naytowhow of Prince Albert to create a song portraying the healing experiences of Aboriginal women who have struggled with drug abuse and addiction.
The song will be recorded and shared with treatment providers for later use in their addiction treatment programs.
“By creating participatory forums to foster addictions research, our capacity to explore solutions to substance abuse and addiction is enhanced,” says Research Chair Dell.
Dell and her team asked addiction treatment providers what skills and traits they find important in assisting Aboriginal women who abuse drugs and alcohol. These providers, the majority of whom are recovered drug abusers themselves, spoke strongly about respect and hope, and the need for women to reclaim their identity as Aboriginal women as they begin the healing process.
“Creating a song that recognizes and celebrates the voices of women’s experiences in healing from illicit drug abuse will help us spread the messages of those experiences in a meaningful way,” says Sharon Clarke, NNAPF Executive Director. “We will then merge those messages with academic literature and share this research with others, in the hope of ultimately achieving a greater impact on policy and practice of addictions treatment in Saskatchewan and across Canada.”
“A key part of how we deliver on our vision of a healthier future for all Canadians is ensuring that practice is informed by evidence and experience,” says Rita Notarandrea, CCSA Deputy Chief Executive Officer. “Capturing the unique experiences of Aboriginal women who have recovered from their addictions in song as a way of informing treatment practice is most inspiring.”
Dell’s project will also include development of a series of fact sheets to describe the research findings of treatment providers, women currently in treatment, and those who have completed treatment. A professional documentary will also be created and will include footage on the creation of the song and first-hand accounts of some of the experiences of the researchers and participants of this project. All the tools will be used to inform women-specific policy and programming for National Native Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program treatment centres.
-30-
Leanne Nyirfa
Research Communications
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2427
February 11, 2009
Partnership to Result in Better Transportation Infrastructure
Posted February 11, 2009
February 9, 2009
The Saskatchewan Centre of Excellence for Transportation and Infrastructure (SCETI) has entered into a strategic alliance to conduct joint research on advanced road building techniques.
Located at the College of Engineering at the University of Saskatchewan, SCETI's mandate is to further leading edge research and train world class transportation engineers. It also provides a "living laboratory" that facilitates field experimentation and validation of the systems developed through real-world evaluation and testing.
For further information:
http://www.gov.sk.ca/news?newsId=f9d16159-2e3b-47b4-b0ea-cd72aaca4cc9
February 06, 2009
Baljit Singh from the U of S awarded 3M National Teaching Fellowship
Posted February 06, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Friday, February 6, 2009
Baljit Singh, professor of veterinary biomedical sciences at the University of Saskatchewan’s Western College of Veterinary Medicine, has been awarded one of 10 prestigious 3M National Teaching Fellowships for 2009.
The fellowships, awarded by 3M Canada and The Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, celebrate exceptional achievements and contributions by teacher-scholars across the county.
For more information, visit
http://www.mcmaster.ca/3Mteachingfellowships/index2.html
Or visit the Western College of Veterinary Medicine site at:
http://blogs.usask.ca/wcvm_news
February 04, 2009
University of Saskatchewan Receives Funding for New Student Residences
Posted February 04, 2009
February 4, 2009
The Government of Saskatchewan today announced an investment of $15 Million for new student residences to be built at the University of Saskatchewan.
For further information:
http://www.gov.sk.ca/news?newsId=f7c6445a-cd62-4769-a0d7-f1dcc76a46df
February 03, 2009
U of S VIDO Scientists Develop Revolutionary New Research Tool
Posted February 03, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Tuesday, February 3, 2009
2009-02-02-VIDO
University of Saskatchewan scientists have developed a new tool that enables scientists to analyze the function of a crucial set of proteins in animals—a finding that could lead to a host of better drugs for human disease and deeper insights into the workings of cancer.
Developed by a team at the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), the tool is described in a Jan. 20 article in the prestigious journal Science Signaling. The technology is expected to be rapidly adopted by scientists in a wide range of disciplines and will likely replace the “mouse model” for some types of research.
“This technology is very simple, relatively inexpensive, and can be adopted in any lab,” said project leader Scott Napper. “Scientists can customize it to look at whatever cell function they want to analyze.”
The new tool—called a species-specific peptide array—involves the use of a glass slide with segments of protein molecules affixed to it. It will help scientists analyze kinases, key regulatory molecules in cells. While only a small percentage of human genes code for protein kinases, mutations in many of these genes are at the root of many human diseases.
Kinases have proven so important as drug targets that pharmaceutical companies have directed 50 per cent of their research and development funding to their study. Targeting kinases can completely alter cell function or turn off cell function that’s out of control.
For the past 30 years, scientists have studied mouse models to understand kinase function. But there are problems with this approach.
“It turns out that mice are different enough from humans that a lot of the results in mice don’t translate to humans,” said Napper. “A number of diseases can be effectively treated in mouse models, but that doesn’t mean we’re making headway with humans.”
The team has found that the new tool helps reveal the “kinome” (the protein kinase complement of the human genome) of other animals, such as cows and pigs. These animals have been shown to more accurately replicate the workings of human disease and immunity than mice—but information about the kinome of these animals has long been minimal.
“This will revolutionize our research,” said co-investigator Philip Griebel. “This technology will allow us to test a hypothesis and very quickly validate the results.”
Scientists will now be able to better understand cell communication pathways in humans and animals, he said.
“We can now do a very rapid screening of the kinases, of which there are hundreds in a cell, and quickly identify which are the key regulatory proteins for any one cell function such as cell division or cell death,” said Napper.
While the traditional method for kinome analysis was to analyze the key regulator proteins one at a time, the new technology allows scientists to look at hundreds of these proteins simultaneously. “This gives us a much more complete view of the regulation of overall cell function,” Napper said.
“Knowing how bacteria or viruses evade the immune defenses of host cells will allow us to develop potential therapeutic interventions such as drugs or vaccines,” he said.
While it may one day help illuminate the cellular actions of cancer, the tool has already shed light on Johne’s—a cattle disease possibly linked to Crohn’s disease in humans but whose mechanism has long stumped scientists.
The team, which includes graduate students Shakiba Jalal and Ryan Arsenault, has already received a flurry of emails from scientists interested in the technique. VIDO hopes to offer the new peptide array as a commercially available kit.
The research is funded by Genome Canada, the Beef Cattle Research Council and Alberta Livestock Industry Development Fund. The Science Signaling article is published at: http://stke.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/sigtrans;2/54/pl1 For more information about VIDO and its research, visit: www.usask.ca/vido
About the University of Saskatchewan (www.usask.ca): 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, animals and plant studies. World-class research facilities, renowned faculty and award-winning students make the U of S a leader in post-secondary education.
-30-
For more information contact:
Scott Napper
VIDO Senior Scientist and Associate Professor of Biochemistry
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-1546
scott.napper@usask.ca
Kathryn Warden
Research Communications
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2506
