UNews - Samuel Weiss

Renowned RNA researcher to present Gairdner lecture events

trevor.kenney — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 17:11:18 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s Alberta RNA Research and Training Institute (ARRTI) is thrilled to partner with the Canada Gairdner Foundation in bringing 2015 Canada Gairdner Foundation International Award winner Dr. Lynne Maquat to southern Alberta for a series of public speaker events.

Maquat, whose work has furthered our understanding of the molecular basis of human disease,will be involved in a trio of speaker events, including a presentation to students at Lethbridge Collegiate Institute, as a featured speaker for the Women’s Scholar Speaker Series (A Conversation with Dr. Lynne Maquat on Women and Science, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 12 p.m. in TH241) and as the keynote lecturer for the Canada Gairdner Symposium, New Horizons in RNA Research, Oct. 20-21, 2015. That free lecture takes place on Tuesday, Oct. 20 at 2 p.m. in the Students' Union Ballroom.

Dr. Lynne Maquat earned the 2015 Canada Gairdner Foundation International Award for the discovery of the mechanism that destroys mutant messenger RNAs in human cells, which is critically important in both normal and disease states.

“In the last three years we have had the opportunity to work with the Canada Gairdner Foundation and bring some of the world’s top researchers to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge,” says ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Vice-President (Research) Dr. Erasmus Okine. In 2013, the U of L welcomed Dr. Samuel Weiss at a Gairdner Foundation Speaker Event, and last year Dr. Nubia Muñoz brought her expertise to campus.

“The Canada Gairdner International Award is exceeded in prestige by only a few international science awards, including the Nobel Prize in Medicine,” adds Okine. “We feel very fortunate to be able to bring these researchers to southern Alberta and give them a platform by which they can inspire students of all ages to pursue their passion for science.”

Maquat is the director of the Center for RNA Biology: From Genome to Therapeutics, professor of biochemistry and biophysics at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, and a J. Lowell Orbison Endowed Chair. She earned the 2015 Canada Gairdner Foundation International Award for the discovery of the mechanism that destroys mutant messenger RNAs in human cells, called nonsense-mediated mRNA decay, which is critically important in both normal and disease states.

Messenger RNA (mRNA) takes genetic instructions from DNA and uses these to direct the synthesis of proteins that carry out multiple cellular functions. Maquat discovered nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) in human cells. NMD is a quality control mechanism that removes flawed messenger RNA molecules that, if left intact, would lead to the production of abnormal proteins that could be toxic to cells and initiate disease. Cells also use this pathway to better respond to changing environmental conditions. For example, breast cancer cells inhibit this pathway to augment their response to chemotherapy and hasten cell death.

NMD functions in one-third of inherited disorders, such as cystic fibrosis, and one-third of acquired diseases, including many forms of cancer. Her work provides valuable information to help physicians implement personalized or precision medicine by treating the disease mutation that is specific to each individual patient.

“With our focus on RNA research here in ARRTI, we are very excited about Dr. Maquat’s visit. Her profile will attract researchers from Lethbridge, Calgary and Edmonton to participate in the ARRTI Canada Gairdner Symposium,” says Dr. Ute Kothe, professor of chemistry and biochemistry. “Dr. Maquat has transformed the field of RNA research by using fundamental research to discover cellular mechanisms that lead to future therapies. All students and researchers are looking forward to learn from her and to discuss the latest findings in biomedical RNA research with her. In particular our students will benefit from the personal interaction with such a successful researcher.”

Since 1959, there have been 321 researchers presented with the Canada Gairdner International Award, 82 of which have gone on to win a Nobel Prize in Medicine. The Canada Gairdner International Award has an international reputation for recognizing outstanding medical breakthroughs, and it is now widely considered to be an indicator of future Nobel-Prize winning research.

In addition, the Canada Gairdner Foundation is a national education program supported by the Government of Canada as well as the Government of Alberta. In 2008, the Canadian Government provided the Canada Gairdner Foundation with $20 million to continue the award for future generations. Part of this funding is used to inspire young people to consider medical and scientific careers, and to increase public awareness of the value of scientific research and discovery.

Gairdner speaker event brings Dr. Samuel Weiss to campus

trevor.kenney — Mon, 07 Oct 2013 22:12:28 +0000

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge faculty and students, along with select southern Alberta high school students, will have the unique opportunity to experience a lecture by Gairdner International Award winner Dr. Samuel Weiss, Monday, Oct. 21.

The Gairdner Foundation Speaker Event will include a lecture for the area’s elite high school students, a lecture for U of L faculty and undergraduate students, as well as a host of interactive science activities designed to engage the visiting students as well as showcase the research activities taking place on campus.

Dr. Samuel Weiss won a 2008 Gairdner International Award.

“It is very exciting to be able to bring a Gairdner International Award winner to campus,” says ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge President and Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Mike Mahon. “The fact that many people with our Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience also work closely with Dr. Weiss, makes it even more fitting.

“We’re also pleased to be able to allow high school students from throughout the area access to such a distinguished speaker, hopefully further inspiring their passion for science.”

Dr. Samuel Weiss is a Professor and Alberta Innovates – Health Solutions Scientist in the Department of Cell Biology & Anatomy at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary Faculty of Medicine.

His lecture, The Stem Cells You Have in Your Brain: What Can They Do?, will be presented to high school students at 9:30 a.m., followed by a second lecture, Adult Neural Stem Cells: From Basic Science to Therapeutic Applications, at 11 a.m. for U of L faculty, undergraduate and graduate students. Both talks are in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Theatre. High school students can sign up here.

Weiss is the inaugural Director of the Hotchkiss Brain Institute, whose mission is to translate innovative research and education into advances in neurological and mental health.

“The Gairdner Foundation is very pleased that the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge has become the 22nd institution to participate in our annual National Program of Lectures,” says Dr. John Dirks, President and Scientific Director of the Gairdner Foundation. “During a recent visit to the campus, we were very impressed with the quality of teaching and research, and particularly with the opportunities for undergraduate students. This year, Sam Weiss will speak to high school students about his life in science. We look forward to a long and rewarding relationship with the U of L.”

In 2008, Weiss was named recipient of a Gairdner International Award for “his seminal discovery of adult neural stem cells in the mammalian brain and its importance in nerve cell regeneration,” and in 2009 he was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada.

His current research focuses on human brain tumour stem cells and the development of new therapies for adult brain cancer.

Created in 1959 by James Arthur Gairdner, the Gairdner Foundation recognizes and rewards the achievements of medical researchers whose work contributes significantly to improving the quality of life. Over the past 53 years, a total of 313 Canada Gairdner International Awards have been presented to scientists from 15 countries, with 80 Canada Gairdner Laureates going on to win Nobel Prizes.

The Gairdner Foundation 2013 ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Lectures are sponsored by the Government of Canada, the Government of Alberta, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, BMO Bank of Montreal, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, London Drugs and the Globe and Mail.

To register for the high school portion of the event, follow this link.

UNews - Samuel Weiss

Renowned RNA researcher to present Gairdner lecture events

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