UNews - Gairdner Foundation

Gairdner awardee Dr. Lewis Kay to present public talks at ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, local high school

trevor.kenney — Tue, 17 Oct 2017 20:18:57 +0000

For the fifth consecutive year, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is one of only 15 universities across Canada selected to host a Gairdner Student Outreach & Gairdner Lecture Program event, bringing one of the world’s top scientific researchers to southern Alberta.

From Oct. 19-20, Dr. Lewis Kay, professor, Department of Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry and Chemistry, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Toronto; senior scientist, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto will be hosted by the U of L’s Alberta RNA Research and Training Institute (ARRTI) and the Canadian Centre for Research in Advanced Fluorine Technologies (C-CRAFT).

Kay is one of five 2017 Canada Gairdner International Laureates who, along with his co-workers, has made important contributions to the field of biomolecular nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. They have developed methods used to visualize protein molecules in their natural solution environment, shedding new light on how molecules involved in neurodegeneration can form abnormal structures that ultimately lead to diseased states.

These methods extend our understanding of how cellular machines function and how the communication between different parts of these machines can be targeted for the development of drugs in the fight against certain cancers.

“We’re extremely fortunate to be a part of the Gairdner program and to be able to bring a researcher such as Dr. Kay to campus,” says Dr. Ute Kothe, associate/assistant professor of biochemistry and ARRTI member. “In addition to his on-campus lecture for faculty and students, he will deliver a lecture to high school students, host a brown bag lunch session with students, tour various facilities on the U of L campus, host a graduate student luncheon and take part in our annual Chinook Symposium.”

A major thrust of the Gairdner Foundation program is to ignite scientific discovery in young minds by making science accessible.

“We believe that science is for everyone,” states a Gairdner Foundation release that indicates Gairdner events across Canada reach more than 3,000 students every year. “With our annual student outreach program, we make current scientific developments relatable, digestible and exciting to audiences of all ages. Our speakers share more than just their world class achievements with student audiences; they put a real face and story to scientific careers and unexpected pathways to success.”

Dr. Trushar Patel, an associate/assistant professor of biochemistry and ARRTI member, says that bringing a researcher the calibre of Kay to campus benefits faculty and students, both undergraduate and graduate.

“Interacting with a world-class researcher like Dr. Kay is one of the most inspirational experiences for any scientist, junior or senior,” says Patel. “We can all learn from Dr. Kay how to strive for the most exciting scientific discoveries that will advance our understanding of human health and ultimately provide the basis for innovative approaches in medicine.”

Kay will kick off his visit with the Gairdner High School Lecture on Thursday, Oct. 19 at 9:45 a.m. at Lethbridge Collegiate Institute, followed by a brown bag lunch session with students. At 2 p.m., he’s at the U of L presenting the Gairdner Free Lecture, NMR Why Bother? Studies of the p97 Molecular Machine Provide an Answer, at 2 p.m. in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Recital Hall, W570.

On Friday, Kay will take part in a series of meetings and tour the U of L’s ARRTI, C-CRAFT and Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience facilities before leading a career development discussion at a graduate student luncheon. He will then view the annual Chinook Symposium, which runs from 1 to 5 p.m. in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Hall Atrium.

Foremost cancer researcher to speak at U of L

trevor.kenney — Fri, 24 Oct 2014 20:49:35 +0000

One of the world’s foremost cancer researchers, and the woman largely credited with discovering the role of the human papillomavirus as the central and necessary cause of cervical cancer, will present a pair of talks at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge on Wednesday, October 29, 2014.

Dr. Muñoz's research findings have had important implications in the primary prevention of cervical cancer.

Dr. Nubia Muñoz, former Unit chief at the International Agency for Research on Cancer in Lyon, an Emeritus Scientist of the National Cancer Institute of Colombia, and a member of the Society of Scholars of Johns Hopkins ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in Baltimore, MD, comes to campus as part of the Gairdner Foundation Speaker Series.

“This is an outstanding opportunity to hear a true cancer research pioneer,” says ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Interim Vice-President (Research) Dr. Lesley Brown. “Dr. Muñoz’s groundbreaking work has had worldwide implications and she is universally respected in her field. It is a great honour that we are able to facilitate these speaking engagements for her.”

Muñoz will address U of L faculty, staff and students at 1:15 p.m. in the Students’ Union Ballroom A as she presents Challenges and New Approaches to Cervical Cancer Prevention. She will also give a public presentation, in conjunction with the Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs and moderated by graduate student Jillian King, at 7 p.m. at the U of L’s Dr. Foster James Penny Building. Muñoz will present The Efficacy and Safety of the HPV Vaccine. Throughout the day, she will interact with students from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s Faculty of Health Sciences and speak to a class of Public Health students.

“To be able to expose our students to a researcher such as Dr. Muñoz, whose work has led directly to massive changes in public policy worldwide, is a very valuable learning experience,” says Faculty of Health Sciences Dean, Dr. Chris Hosgood. “Her research stands as an excellent example to our students about how they too can make a real difference in society.”

Her epidemiological research on cancers linked to infectious agents has seen Muñoz implement various research projects in over 30 countries around the world. In addition to demonstrating the role HPV plays in the cause of cervical cancer, her work has shown the causal role of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus in liver cancer.

Her research findings have had important implications in the primary prevention of cervical cancer through the use of prophylactic vaccines and on secondary prevention, through the use of HPV tests in screening programs. She has also played an integral role in the initiation of the first HBV vaccine trials to prevent liver cancer in The Gambia, and later on the initiation and implementation of HPV vaccine trials to demonstrate their efficacy in the prevention of cervical cancer worldwide.

In 2008, Muñoz was nominated jointly with Harald zur Hausen for the Nobel Prize of Medicine and received the first Canada Gairdner Global Health award from the Gairdner Foundation.

The Canada Gairdner Awards were created in 1959 to recognize and reward the achievements of medical researchers whose work contributes significantly to improving the quality of human life. They are Canada’s only globally known and respected international science awards, and Gairdner is the only national organization that consistently brings the world’s best biomedical researchers to Canada to share their ideas and work with scientists across the country. In so doing, it enlarges networks and enhances Canada’s international reputation, while providing a realistic and unbiased benchmark for Canada’s leading scientists.

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 - Gairdner Foundation

Gairdner awardee Dr. Lewis Kay to present public talks at ��Ѹ�����Դ���߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, local high school

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Gairdner awardee Dr. Lewis Kay to present public talks at ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, local high school