Department of Chemistry Archives | Research & Innovation

CFI awards 91��ɫ researchers more than $592,000 in research infrastructure

muellerm — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 08:00:00 +0000

The (CFI) has awarded 91��ɫ $592,631 in infrastructure funding to support the research of four 91��ɫ professors.

Ali Kazimi, professor in Department of Film in the Faculty of Fine Arts, will receive $143,186 in funding for industry standard infrastructure of a Stereoscopic 3D Lab @ 91��ɫ. The funding will allow Kazimi to augment and build upon the core of the stereoscopic research based production and post-production facility that has emerged out of the 3D FLIC (Film Innovation Consortium) project. S3DL @ 91��ɫ will become the first dedicated facility of its type in Canada, enabling the study of stereoscopic 3D story-telling practices, their production and distribution, combined with insights and best practices gleaned from stringent psycho-physical tests and experimentation. S3DL will meld art and science in the best tradition of inter-disciplinary research, enabling one to push the boundaries of the knowledge generated by the other and vice versa in a deliberate, complementary and interactive way. Kazimi will work with researchers Laurie Wilcox and Rob Allison from 91��ɫ’s Centre for Vision Research on this project.

, professor in the Department of Earth & Space Science and Engineering, in the Faculty of Science & Engineering, will receive $135,671 in funding for the creation of a new laboratory to support the development of next-generation space technology. This new technology will be used to measure the composition of the atmosphere from space. The development of this advanced technology for atmospheric remote sounding will enhance Canada’s contribution to the global monitoring capacity for the climate and atmospheric communities. These contributions are necessary for Canada to maintain its access to global data sets and to provide input for the analysis and modeling of climate change and air quality – critical knowledge for a sustainable future.

, professor in the Department of Biology in the Faculty of Science & Engineering, will receive $158,237 in funding to establish a world-class laboratory to study local and large-scale brain circuits that underlie “attentional control” of behavior – processes that determine what individuals attend to and how efficient individuals are in concentrating on the most relevant sensory information in our environment. Womelsdorf’s research examines how alterations in these brain circuits lead to dysfunctions of attentional control in major neuro-psychiatric disorders (including major depression, schizophrenia, and addiction). His research focuses on the key cognitive functions and on areas of the brain that underlie severe dysfunctions of attentional control in order to help improve diagnostic and therapeutic interventions.

Muhammed Yousaf, professor in the Department of Chemistry in the Faculty of Science and Engineering, will receive $155,537 in funding to develop infrastructure and state-of-the-art methodologies to cultivate new surface chemistries, tailor materials for fundamental studies of cell behaviour and develop next-generation biomolecular microarrays. The funds will establish a new advanced biomolecular materials laboratory at 91��ɫ to study how man-made materials interact with biological systems. The generation of these smart and responsive materials will provide a platform for new diagnostic screening assays of human disease and for studies of stem cell differentiation towards regenerative medical applications.

“I am delighted that the Canada Foundation for Innovation has recognized four of 91��ɫ’s leading researchers through these awards,” said Robert Haché, 91��ɫ’s vice-president research & innovation. “CFI’s investment in state-of-the-art infrastructure further enhances 91��ɫ’s vibrant research culture and enables our researchers to continue to build on and expand their innovative research programs.”

91��ɫ’s projects were part of a in CFI’s Leaders Opportunity Fund, which provides Canadian researchers with the necessary tools to carry out a range of frontier research. The funding supports 210 research projects across the country.

Minister of State Gary Goodyear announced the funding on Tuesday.

“Our government recognizes that investing in science and technology leads to a stronger, more innovative economy,” he said. “We understand that Canada’s research enterprise is critical to economic growth and job creation.”

“Given the right infrastructure, this talented group of innovators will create solutions that benefit Canadians and Canadians communities,” said Gilles Patry, president and CEO of the CFI.

A complete list of recipients is available on the website.

Republished courtesy of YFile– 91��ɫ’s daily e-bulletin.

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NSERC awards 91��ɫ research centres $3.3 million

fmaquito — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 08:00:00 +0000

Programs in vision research and atmospheric chemistry and physics will provide enhanced research and training for graduate students and post-doctoral fellows

If you’re working in 3D film or aerospace engineering, what impact do the latest developments in brain and vision research have on your industry’s practices? What if you’re drafting government policy on air quality control and need expertise in how the latest atmospheric chemistry and physics findings translate into plans and policy?

Graduate students and post-doctoral fellows at 91��ɫ have new options to pursue the research and applied dimensions of these and other questions, thanks to $3.3 million in funding from the (NSERC).

httpv://youtu.be/OtRWua59EPU

The funding, provided through NSERC’s $29.6 million investment over six years in the Collaborative Research and Training Experience (CREATE) Grants program, will support two new training programs in the Faculty of Science & Engineering, each valued at $1.65 million over the period.

Professor Hugh Wilson

Students and fellows enrolled in each program will gain experience in basic and applied research, along with the practical and professional skills needed to successfully transition to research careers in the academic, industry or government sectors.

Professor Hugh Wilson in the Faculty of Science & Engineering’s Department of Biology will lead the Vision Science and Applications program. Based in the internationally-recognized (CVR), the program focuses on vision-based information technologies that require optimal information displays to ensure accurate human interpretation of data are playing an increasingly important role in many economic sectors.

Key applications include:

3D digital media (e.g., 3D film, geographical databases, autocad systems)
Aerospace (e.g., cockpit technologies, search-and-rescue)
Face and scene analysis technologies (e.g., facial biometrics)
Visual health and assessment technologies (e.g., functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), electroencephalography (EEG), perimetry)

The Vision Science and Applications team includes 25 researchers at seven international universities and 10 partner organizations, including , the and . At 91��ɫ, a total of 10 professors affiliated with CVR will lend their expertise to the project. The program will enrol four students in its first year and 16 students in each successive year.

Professor Jochen Rudolph

Professors and in the Faculty of Science & Engineering’s Department of Chemistry will lead the Training Program for Integrating Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics from Earth to Space (IACPES) program. Jointly based in 91��ɫ’s (CAC) and the Centre for Research in Earth & Space Science (CRESS), the program’s interdisciplinary focus will give students an integrated understanding of atmospheric chemistry and physics from earth into space.

Key applications include:

measuring and modelling atmospheric change
examining air quality and health issues
monitoring changes in the arctic atmosphere
detecting sources of greenhouse gases
measuring Earth’s changing atmosphere from space
exploring and understanding other planets’ atmospheres
developing the policy implications of atmospheric science

The IACPES team includes 11 applicants at six universities and 23 collaborators at 10 partner organizations, including , the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, the (NOAA) in Boulder, Colo., several industries and two premier research institutes in Germany. The program will create 21 places for undergraduate students, master’s students, PhD students and postdoctoral fellows in its first year, with over 200 places created over the successive five years.

httpv://youtu.be/6YlFv0Xd9no

Professor Robert McLaren

“By securing two of only 18 projects awarded to universities across Canada, 91��ɫ builds on its strong track record in leading large-scale, interdisciplinary collaborative research projects,” said Stan Shapson, vice-president research & innovation. “The programs will provide our innovative research centres – CVR, CRESS and CAC – with a competitive advantage in attracting excellent graduate students and postdoctoral fellows who wish to pursue careers in the applications of vision science or atmospheric chemistry and physics. NSERC’s CREATE program strengthens the role of universities in training the highly-qualified people needed in today’s scientific knowledge economy.”

“NSERC’s CREATE Program helps graduating students become highly sought-after professional researchers in the natural sciences and engineering, both in Canada and abroad,” said Suzanne Fortier, president of NSERC. “The program not only helps improve the skill set of Canada’s next-generation of research talent, but it also helps to support their retention in the workforce.”

By Elizabeth Monier-Williams, research communications officer

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91��ɫ chemistry students in the top 10 at southern Ontario chemistry conference

fmaquito — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 08:00:00 +0000

91��ɫ chemistry students Jason Gregor and Fatima Panju placed among the top 10 at the 39th Southern Ontario Undergraduate Student Chemistry Conference (SOUSCC), the largest undergraduate chemistry conference in the country.

Above, toasting their success, from left, Reihaneh Shankaie, Fatima Panju, Maisam Halabi, Derek Wilson, Jason Gregor, Mark Sever, Luba Bryushkova and Mihiret Kedida. (Dana Aljawhary is taking the picture.)

Gregor, who is supervised by 91��ɫ chemistry Professor and Canada Research Chair , placed first in the biological/medical category for his talk, “Investigating the Binding of Vancomycin Resistance Associated Regulator Protein with mutated DNA using Atomic Force Microscopy”.

Panju placed third in the same division for her presentation “Functional Analysis of a Chromatin Remodeling Protein in Tetrahymena thermophila”. Panju was supervised by 91��ɫ biology Professor .

Gregor and Panju, both in fourth year, based their presentations on their fourth-year chemistry research projects. Accompanying them to SOUSCC on 91��ɫ's eight-member team were Dana Aljawhary (supervised by Prof. ), Luba Bryushkova (supervised by Prof. ), Maisam Halabi (supervised by Prof. ), Mihiret Kedida (supervised by Prof. ), Mark Sever (supervised by Prof. Sylvie Morin) and Reihaneh Shankaie (supervised by Prof. ).

Hosted this year by the University of Waterloo, the conference attracted 117 participants from Ontario universities. The conference provides undergraduate students with an opportunity to present their undergraduate research projects and network with other chemistry students. Nest year's conference will be held at the University of Guelph.

For more information, visit the website.

Republished courtesy of YFile– 91��ɫ’s daily e-bulletin.

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Environment Minister Peter Kent tours Life Sciences Building

fmaquito — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 08:00:00 +0000

New research and teaching facility scheduled to open Fall 2011

Federal Environment Minister Peter Kent paid an informal visit to 91��ɫ's Keele campus yesterday to view first-hand the results of the government's investment in Canada's current and future scientists and researchers.

Above: From left, Environment Minister Peter Kent, senior project superintendent Chris Robinson and 91��ɫ President & Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri review the building blueprints

Kent, who is also MP for nearby Thornhill, was on campus to tour the construction site of the new 160,000-square-foot Life Sciences Building. The facility's construction was made possible by $70 million in federal and provincial funding through the (KIP), part of the federal government's Economic Action Plan and the Ontario government's 2009 Budget.

Right: Kent congratulates Shoukri during a ceremony on the temporary steps leading to the Life Sciences Building

"91��ɫ is pleased to have received funding under the Federal-Provincial Knowledge Infrastructure Program," said 91��ɫ President & Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri. "These investments are enhancing 91��ɫ's solid reputation as Canada's leading interdisciplinary research and teaching university, and strengthening our capacity for quality research and innovation."

The addition of the Life Sciences Building to the Keele campus will increase available learning and research facilities for students and faculty in high-demand science and health-related disciplines, such as biology, chemistry, biochemistry and kinesiology.

"As Canada begins to emerge from global recession, the investment in state-of-the-art research labs is essential to creating and securing valuable skills jobs both now and in the future," said Kent. "By modernizing research and training facilities on Canada's college and university campuses, this will help build the foundation for future growth. Our government is working to ensure the best science and innovation opportunities as well as the world's best researchers are right here on Canadian soil."

Left: Kent addresses the group gathered for the tour

Construction of the Life Sciences Building is entering its final phase. Scheduled to open this fall, it will provide top-notch learning and research facilities for up to 1,700 additional undergraduate students and up to 50 new life science researchers. Leading-edge technologies, such as a radioisotope suite and a nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer for advanced imaging will be among the high-tech equipment contained in the new structure.

"This building will provide an incredible opportunity for 91��ɫ to meet the growing demand by young Canadians who would like to study life sciences and health," said Shoukri. "It will also help our young researchers to build their careers and use their knowledge to advance the frontier of understanding for the world and it will create an opportunity to help economic development through innovation."

Constructed using Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) principles, the building uses strategies aimed at improving energy savings, water efficiency, carbon dioxide emissions reduction, indoor environmental quality and stewardship of resources.

The Government of Canada's Knowledge Infrastructure Program is a $2-billion economic stimulus measure to support infrastructure enhancement at Canadian postsecondary institutions. It is part of nearly $16 billion in new infrastructure investment allocated under the Economic Action Plan since 2009.

Above: From left, 91��ɫ master's candidate Omar El-Ansari; Faculty of Health Dean Harvey Skinner; Vice-President Research & Innovation Stan Shapson; Environment Minister Peter Kent; President & Vice Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri; Vice-President University Relations Jennifer Sloan; Sidra Khan, a second-year life sciences student; Janusz Kozinski, dean of the Faculty of Science & Engineering; and Paul Marcus, president & CEO of the 91��ɫ Foundation

The Government of Ontario also committed to investing in infrastructure by designating $780 million to colleges and universities to modernize faciilties and boost long-term research and skills training capacity.

By Jenny Pitt-Clark, YFile editor.

Republished courtesy of YFile – 91��ɫ’s daily e-bulletin.

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91��ɫ in the World: Researchers begin nine-day mission to India

fmaquito — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 10:00:00 +0000

A delegation of researchers from 91��ɫ's will begin a nine-day mission to India today to establish partnerships and collaborations with the country's researchers.

The group will visit seven top-tier universities and research institutes during their trip. Along the way they will stop at the India Institute of Technology's facilities in Mumbai (Bombay) and Madras, the University of Calcutta, the Indian Space Research Organization, the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research together with visits to other institutes and universities during the nation-wide trip

“Our faculty considers international partnerships as the key cornerstone supporting our strategic priorities. Partnerships like those with India stimulate the spirit of innovation with clear focus on research outcomes that have an international impact,” says Janusz Kozinski (right), dean of the Faculty of Science & Engineering at 91��ɫ and a member of the delegation to India.

The key mandate for the trip is to enable researchers from 91��ɫ and across India to establish joint bilateral research and development projects. Halfway through their trip, the 91��ɫ delegation will pause to participate in a two-day workshop co-sponsored by the International Science & Technology Partnerships Canada, Global Innovation & Technology Alliance, the Society for Applied Microwave Electronics Engineering & Research and India's Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO).

The workshop will bring together more than 100 participants from research institutes and universities from Canada and England, and will include researchers and university vice-chancellors from across India. Rajagopala Chidambaram, the principal scientific adviser to the government of India, and Vijay Kumar Saraswat, director-general of DRDO, the secretary of defence research and development and scientific adviser to Indian Defence Minister Raksha Mantri, are among the diginitaries participating in the workshop.

This workshop will give participants the opportunity to discuss advances and innovations in their respective areas of research, exchange information and ideas and create further opportunities to establish research collaborations. The gathering will be held at the DRDO building in New Dehli.

Travelling in the 91��ɫ Science & Engineering delegation are:

, professor, Department of Chemistry;
, professor, Department of Physics & Astronomy and associate dean of academic affairs in the Faculty of Graduate Studies;
, professor, Department of Earth & Space Science and Engineering;
, professor, Department of Computer Science & Engineering
, professor, Department of Languages, Literatures & Linguistics, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
, professor, Department of Chemistry;
, professor, Department of Mathematics & Statistics;
Paulina Karwowska-Desaulniers, research officer, Faculty of Science & Engineering;
, dean, Faculty of Science & Engineering and professor, Department of Earth & Space Science and Engineering;
, professor, Department of Earth & Space Science and Engineering;
Brian Solheim, adjunct professor, Department of Earth & Space Science and Engineering;
, professor, Department of Biology.

For more information about the trip and the 91��ɫ Science & Engineering delegation, visit the website.

91��ɫ computer science Professor Andrew Eckford is also .

Republished courtesy of YFile – 91��ɫ’s daily e-bulletin.

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Faculty of Science & Engineering's research awards honour three professors

fmaquito — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 10:00:00 +0000

The work of three researchers from the (FSE) was honoured during the FSE Honours & Awards night on Nov. 18.

The evening saw the presentation of the faculty's inaugural internal research awards to chemistry Professor Dasantila Golemi-Kotra, recipient of the ; biology Professor Chun Peng, recipient of the 2010 Established Researcher Award; and physics Professor (Kumar), the recipient of the 2010 Graduate Mentoring Award.

Above: From left, Janusz Kozinski, dean of the Faculty of Science & Engineering; physics Professor Anatharaman Kumarakrishnan, biology Professor Chun Peng; and chemistry Professor Dasantila Golemi-Kotra

“These awards were created in 2010 to honour and celebrate the outstanding dedication of our faculty to research and graduate student mentoring. This year's recipients are examples of the excellent talent we have at FSE and we are proud to support our researchers in their fundamental, groundbreaking and innovative research endeavours,” said Janusz Kozinski, dean of the Faculty of Science & Engineering.

Since 2004, Golemi-Kotra has studied the mechanisms of bacterial resistance. Over the course of her research, she has secured significant funding to create a reputable team of researchers. She has established herself as a rising star in the field of biological chemistry. Her research focuses on an emerging and persistent problem of bacterial resistance.

Right: Dasantila Golemi-Kotra

Specifically, Golemi-Kotra's research focuses on the Staphylococcus aureus bacterium, a leading cause of hospital- and community-acquired infections. Extensive use of antibiotics has invariably been followed by the development and spread of resistance in this organism.

Her research aims to elucidate genes involved with the bacteria’s response to antibiotics that specifically target cell wall biosynthesis. Essential to the survival of the bacterium, the cell wall is the organism’s first line of defense against antimicrobial agents. As a result, the cell wall remains an important target in drug development. Golemi-Kotra’s research seeks to identify new factors involved in antibiotic resistance, which will ultimately lead to the design of new antimicrobial agents.

A world expert in the area of ovarian cancer and the molecular basis of complications in pregnancy, biology Professor Chun Peng is the recipient of the 2010 Established Researcher Award. With an impressive track record of awards and publications, a strong research program and team, Peng has made a significant contribution to the understanding of reproductive biology and the role of hormones in human health.

Right: Chun Peng

She discovered new proteins and their role in the molecular mechanism of receptor signaling that have led to the discoveries of mis-regulation during placental pathologies. These studies are critical in understanding placental development and are important landmarks in the understanding of the molecular mechanisms of hormonal control in reproduction.

Significantly, her research team has identified a novel mechanism by which chemo-resistance, a major problem in cancer therapy, is developed. Currently, as a result of those discoveries, novel serum markers may be used to predict preeclampsia, a major disorder of human pregnancy and a leading cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Peng's studies focus on ovarian cancer as well as diseases that result from complications of pregnancy. Her research has the potential to not only advance current knowledge but may also lead to potential diagnostic tools and treatment for complications arising from pregnancy.

Kumarakrishnan (Kumar), a professor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy, is this year's recipient of the Excellence in Graduate Mentorship award. A large number of both graduate students have successfully completed their research under his mentorship and moved onto becoming valuable members of the scientific community.

Right: Anatharaman Kumarakrishnan (second from the left) with his team of graduate student researchers

Kumar's research utilizes the wave nature of cold atoms and the coherent transient response of a collection of laser-cooled atoms to carry out tabletop studies of light matter interactions and precision measurements in atomic physics. The goals of these efforts are to achieve a better understanding of the theoretical foundations of atomic physics as well as to develop cutting-edge techniques and instruments for industrial applications in photonics and optics.

For more information, visit the website.

Republished courtesy of YFile– 91��ɫ’s daily e-bulletin

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91��ɫ invests $5 million in technology to support life sciences research

fmaquito — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 08:00:00 +0000

91��ɫ has strengthened its commitment to research in the life sciences by investing more than $5 million for the procurement of high-tech research support tools. The equipment will support advanced research in the and the .

"This unique investment demonstrates the bold new vision for life sciences research at 91��ɫ and asserts our role as a world-class research hub through a significant expansion of 91��ɫ's research infrastructure,” said Faculty of Science & Engineering Dean Janusz Kozinski (right).

“Faculty of Health research addresses health and human science at all levels - molecular to global - and builds on disciplinary depth and interdisciplinary breadth,” said Faculty of Health Dean Harvey Skinner (left). “Being part of 91��ɫ's renewed commitment to research in life sciences ably facilitates our goals.”

Kozinski, in partnership with Skinner and the chairs of the Departments of Biology and Chemistry and the School of Kinesiology & Health Science, were part of a committee to coordinate the selection of the new equipment.

In total, nine research tools will be acquired, and will play an integral role in the creation of two new multi-user research hubs – the Biomedical Imaging Facility and the Bioanalytical Facility. Once completed, these facilities will be among the most innovative and unique in Canada, with equipment for advanced biomedical imaging, electrophysiology, cellular imaging and bioanalysis. They will be the nerve centre of the Life Sciences building’s fourth-floor research hub.

The five support tools to be acquired for the Biomedical Imaging Facility are:

The Multiphoton Imaging System will enable researchers to investigate aspects of cell biology in much greater detail than before. It will give them the ability to visualize – in real time – dynamic biological processes in live cells, tissues, organs and organisms.
The dual-beam Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) will be one of two in Canada. It gives researchers access to structural, morphological and chemical information on thin film materials, which are covered hard samples that include metal and oxide films and have applications in magnetic sensors and solar cells. Soft materials which are based on biological building blocks such as proteins and peptides can also be assessed with the SEM. This versatile instrument will benefit researchers in the Faculties of Health and Science & Engineering.
The Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorter (FACS) is also a versatile tool, and its superior capabilities will be useful for research in cellular and molecular biology. The FACS system will help to accelerate the research of 91��ɫ faculty members who focus on cancer, biomarker discovery, diabetes, obesity, stem cell biology, immunology and cardiovascular research.
The Scanning Ion-selective Electrode Technique (SIET) and Scanning Vibrating Electrode Technique (SVET) system will allow researchers to measure absolute concentration of ions and molecules including their flow and direction of movement. These techniques have a wide array of applications including research into how fish cope with environmental changes, and how insect populations react to climate change factors.
The Spinning Disk Confocal System is an optical imaging device that lets researchers reconstruct three-dimensional images of specimens in real time with a very high degree of optical resolution and contrast.

The four support tools to be acquired for the Bioanalytical Facility are:

The High Resolution Mass Spectrometer is a highly sensitive tool that will enable state-of-the-art protein identification and characterization. This holds promise for breakthroughs in the characterization and early detection of many human diseases, including cancer and cardiovascular disease. This instrument will not only facilitate the identification of complex mixtures of proteins and peptides, but will also enable the identification of posttranslational modifications (PTMs) and the mapping of these sites on targeted proteins. Phosphorylation is one of nature's most abundant PTMs, which act as switches to activate and inactivate protein functions. Thus, this instrument will benefit life and health scientists, and all researchers interested in developing diagnostic and prognostic tools and methods.
A current research objective at 91��ɫ is to study how protein-protein and protein-DNA interactions affect basic signalling processes in the cell. In the most general sense, many cancers and other diseases are a product of cell signalling being misregulated. The 700MHz Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectrometer will enable various research groups to study biopolymers, including proteins, DNA and RNA, at a much higher level of detail and sensitivity than is currently possible. The ability to study large molecule/small molecule interactions is also central to the development of molecular probes to study biological pathways – the starting point to the potential development of small-molecule therapeutics (i.e. new drug candidates).
The Peptide Spot Synthesizer is an instrument used to generate peptide arrays (600-1200 peptides) on a single membrane or slide. Peptide arrays are a powerful tool with multiple applications including the detection of protein interaction partners, analysis of gene expression in various organisms and the development of new biomarkers.
The microRaman-AFM-FTIR will allow researchers to perform for the first time, real-time, simultaneous observations and measurements of phase properties, structural growth/decay and chemical interactions. It will also be the only experimental system in Canada capable of simultaneous quantitative mapping in the leading-edge Tip-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (TERS) mode. Currently only four labs worldwide conduct TERS measurements.

Republished courtesy of YFile– 91��ɫ’s daily e-bulletin

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Passings: Chemistry Professor Michael Pollard showed great promise as a researcher

fmaquito — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 10:00:00 +0000

Michael Pollard, a chemistry professor in the Faculty of Science & Engineering, died suddenly of an aneurysm on Saturday, Feb. 27, in Toronto. He was just 36.

Left: Professor Michael M. Pollard

In Prof. Pollard's honour, 91��ɫ's flag will be lowered to half-mast at sunrise on Friday, March 5, until sunset on Saturday, March 6.

Although he was the Department of Chemistry’s most recent addition, joining the faculty in July 2008, Prof. Pollard had quickly become an integral part of the 91��ɫ community with substantial contributions to teaching, research and department life.

He was passionate about all his undertakings, from scientific inquiry to rock climbing, and possessed a natural curiosity that extended well beyond his chosen field.

A native of Ottawa, Ont., Prof. Pollard attended Queen’s University in Kingston, Ont., where he obtained an honours bachelor of science degree. He earned his PhD from the University of Alberta and conducted research at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands as a post-doctoral fellow and research assistant.

In his independent work at 91��ɫ, Prof. Pollard had developed a promising research program in advanced organic materials with a focus on green energy. His ultimate goal was to develop an organic solar cell that could be painted on, effectively allowing us to harness energy from almost any surface.

Visitations for Prof. Pollard will be held on Friday, March 5, from 2 to 4pm and 7 to 9pm, and Saturday, March 6, from 2 to 4pm, at the , 580 Eagleson Rd., Kanata, Ont., telephone 613-591-6580. A funeral service for Prof. Pollard will take place on Saturday at 4pm. A reception will follow the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the or would be appreciated.

Republished courtesy of YFile – 91��ɫ’s daily e-bulletin.

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Biomarkers hold promise of a blood test for endometrial cancer

fmaquito — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 10:00:00 +0000

Researchers at 91��ɫ’s Centre for Research in Mass Spectrometry (CRMS), Mount Sinai Hospital and the University Health Network have identified protein biomarkers that may aid in the diagnosis and prognosis of endometrial cancer, which affects the lining of the uterus. The researchers hope that a partnership with the private sector will expedite clinical testing and eventually move their discovery from the research bench to patients’ bedsides.

Endometrial cancer is the most common form of cancer in the female reproductive tract. In 2009, 4,400 Canadian women were diagnosed with endometrial cancer, making it the fourth-most-common cancer among Canadian women after breast, lung and colorectal cancers.

Although 85 per cent of diagnosed women show a five-year survival rate from endometrial cancer, and the overall survival rate is 79 per cent, those numbers have remained static for the last 20 years. Currently, endometrial cancer is often detected when unusual uterine blood discharges prompt a diagnostic investigation. These discharges can sometimes be the first signal that cancer is present, yet they may appear after the cancer has already progressed to a more advanced stage. Hysterectomies, with or without lymph node dissections, are currently the primary treatment; patients may also receive adjuvant therapy (radiation or chemotherapy), depending on the disease’s type, stage and grade.

Enter protein biomarkers – biological substances associated with a particular disease that can ideally be detected in the blood to aid the disease’s diagnosis and/or prognosis.

“We have identified several proteins that are present in much higher concentrations in endometrial cancer cells compared to normal cells,” says Professor Michael Siu (right), director of the , 91��ɫ’s associate vice-president research, science & technology, and professor in the Department of Chemistry in the Faculty of Science & Engineering. “These differences in protein expression have been verified in the lab on a couple of hundred patient samples; early results for testing in blood are very encouraging. By working with the private sector, we hope to be able to expedite clinical testing of the panel of biomarkers and develop a diagnostic kit for endometrial cancer.”

Siu’s research team includes Dr. Terry Colgan, head of gynecological pathology and cytopathology at , and Alex Romaschin, formerly with the and now a scientist with the Keenan Research Centre of the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael's Hospital.

Over the last five years, the team has published eight papers on endometrial cancer biomarkers in prestigious international journals and a number of additional articles are in various editorial and reviewing stages. Siu’s team has attracted over $1.3 million in external research funding for this endometrial cancer research, as well as an additional $1.8 million in funding for biomarkers of other cancers.

Siracor, a private-sector company founded by biotechnology entrepreneur Joel Cheng, has licensed the intellectual properties of the endometrial cancer biomarkers. Siracor is 100 per cent Canadian-owned, but has a global view and reach. “Endometrial cancer affects women all over the world,” says Cheng. “By developing kits that will expedite the detection of the disease and at an earlier stage, Siracor hopes to be a part of the scientific solution that will lessen this cancer’s impact worldwide.”

91��ɫ’s technology transfer service leads the patenting and licensing of the endometrial cancer biomarkers in collaboration with its counterparts at Mount Sinai Hospital and the University Health Network. It’s part of ongoing efforts to make sure research is not kept on the shelf.

“Technology transfer is a specialized service 91��ɫ offers to all researchers whose findings have commercial potential,” says Stan Shapson, 91��ɫ's vice-president research & innovation. “Strong basic research discoveries can lead to important applications, as we hope will be the case in this instance by improving endometrial cancer detection and treatment options. Through careful collaboration with industry, 91��ɫ is using initiatives such as this to maximize the benefit of our research findings to patients and their families.”

By David Phipps, director, Research Services and Knowledge Exchange, and Elizabeth Monier-Williams, Research Communications Officer

Republished courtesy of YFile – 91��ɫ’s daily e-bulletin.

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