“There won’t be anything like this in terms of synchrotron-based health research training in North America, maybe even the world,” said Ingrid Pickering, Canada Research Chair in Molecular Environmental Science, who will lead a $1.78-million cross-disciplinary project over six years. The project will train more than 50 students in health research using the Canadian Light Source (CLS).

“The combination of CLS beamlines—in particular the BioMedical Imaging and Therapy (BMIT) and BioXAS—and the extraordinary people at the university put us in a unique position to offer this type of health research training and hopefully answer some pressing health questions,” said Pickering.

The project will conduct research into cancer metastasis, neurodegenerative diseases, and toxic metals, and translate synchrotron-based techniques into health care applications. Students will have the unique opportunity to learn from synchrotron experts, scientists and biomedical and clinical researchers.

This project involves three other U of S Canada Research Chairs: Graham George, Dean Chapman, and Louis Delbaere.

“When you combine the health sciences, life sciences and synchrotron facilities with the expertise at the U of S, all found on one campus, it’s an outstanding place to be as a health researcher,” said George, Canada Research Chair in X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy.

Other researchers involved from the U of S and CLS are: Bill Thomlinson, Helen Nichol, Gregg Adams, Alan Casson, David Cooper, John Decoteau, Ron Geyer, Michael Kelly, Alan Rosenberg, Sylvia van den Hurk, Valerie Verge, Sheldon Wiebe, Pawel Grochulski, Ian Coulthard, Luca Quaroni, and Tomasz Wysokinski.

In a $1.95-million training project over six years, John Gordon, director of the Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture at the U of S, will bring together experts from many disciplines to train young scientists in health promotion of rural-agriculture workers and families.

“The agriculture industry has the worst injury and fatality record of any industry in Canada and elsewhere in the world, and this is unacceptable,” said Gordon. “Addressing these health issues, as well as those in other rural industries, like mining and forestry, requires the integration of many professional skills.”

Initiated in 2002, the Public Health and the Agricultural Rural Ecosystem (PHARE) training program has provided training to 55 graduate and post-doctoral students. This new funding will train an additional 65 students in basic, applied and policy health and safety research and knowledge translation in the rural/agricultural sector.

“This program will draw skills from across the country to respond to changing demographics and technology,” said Gordon.

Also involved in the PHARE project from the U of S are: Shelley Kirychuk, James Dosman, Debra Morgan, Andrew Potter, Bruce Reeder, Lalita Bharadwaj, Tasha Epp, Punam Pahwa, Donna Rennie, and Baljit Singh.

“These projects help advance U of S capacity in key areas of health research and provide critical training to the next generation of researchers,” said Karen Chad, U of S Acting Vice-President of Research. “They will ensure that we have scientists trained to make maximum use of the CLS and will strengthen rural industries, a backbone of our economy.”

U of S researchers are also involved in four other new CIHR-funded student training programs led by other institutions. Complete details are at: http://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/cfdd/db_search?p_language=E&p_competition=200811TGF

The CIHR is the federal agency for health research. Consisting of 13 Institutes, CIHR provides leadership and support to nearly 12,000 health researchers and trainees across Canada.

The University of Saskatchewan, located in the heart of Saskatoon, 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:

Kris Foster
Research Communications Specialist
Research Communications
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2427
kris.foster@usask.ca