UNews - Roy Golsteyn

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge researchers awarded more than $2.3 million in NSERC, CFI funding support

trevor.kenney — Mon, 28 Aug 2023 22:07:42 +0000

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge researchers across a breadth of disciplines have earned more than $2.3 million in funding support from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), as announced by the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry, and the Honourable Mark Holland, Minister of Health in Edmonton today.

The funding support is part of a $960-million investment by the federal government in research activities across the country.

“This funding is an integral part of the research process and supports our faculty members and their teams in multiple ways, from hiring essential personnel to training graduate and undergraduate students, to acquiring essential equipment and more,” says Dr. Dena McMartin, ULethbridge vice-president (research). “This support allows our researchers to continue to pursue the solutions to a host of issues facing society today and in the future.”

“My best wishes to all the recipients of these grants, awards and scholarships,” adds Minister Holland. “The government is pleased to invest in your diverse array of health, natural sciences and engineering research projects because we know that your ideas, passion and hard work, as well as the evidence you uncover, are instrumental in improving the health and quality of life of people in Canada, and your findings contribute to the international research effort around the world.”

In all, nine ULethbridge researchers were successful in their NSERC grant applications, which included funding for projects in neuroscience, biological sciences, chemistry & biochemistry and mathematics & computer science. As well, Drs. Majid Mohajerani and Stacey Wetmore earned CFI John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF) awards.

Among the projects are Dr. Roy Golsteyn’s (biological sciences) work investigating human cell division and utilizing beneficial chemicals in Canadian prairie plants, which was funded at $300,000 ($60,000 per year over five years). As well, Dr. Bruce McNaughton (neuroscience) receives $420,000 over five years for his study to understand the neural basis of long-term, episodic memory, and Dr. Robert Benkoczi (mathematics & computer science) is receiving a Discovery Development Grant valued at $40,000 over two years as he conducts fundamental research into finding new and more efficient algorithms for planning large scale evacuations.

“The projects our researchers are involved in cover a wide range of topics, all of which are focused on bettering society while providing excellent mentoring and training to undergraduate and graduate students,” adds McMartin. “These funding awards give just a glimpse of the breadth of research activity taking place daily across our campuses.”

Following are details on today’s grant announcements.

NSERC

Discovery Grant (5 years)

Dr. Roy Golsteyn (biological sciences) — Natural products as novel tools to investigate human cell division ($300,000) — Our research uncovers how human cells divide and seeks beneficial chemicals in Canadian prairie plants. From potential cancer treatments to sustainable practices, we are supporting scientific and economic innovation, while fostering cultural exchange with southern Alberta Indigenous communities.

Dr. Igor Kovalchuk (biological sciences) — Transgenerational response to stress in Arabidopsis ($255,000).

Dr. Marc Roussel (chemistry and biochemistry) — Delays in gene expression models: methodological developments ($225,000) — Development of methods for building and analyzing mathematical models of gene expression systems, where transcription, translation and splicing may play a significant role in the timing of events.

Dr. Bruce McNaughton (neuroscience) — Consolidation of cortical memory representations into hippocampus-independent form: neural ensemble dynamics and mechanisms ($420,000) — We are attempting to understand the neural basis of long-term, episodic memory, and its integration into generalized knowledge encoded by brain cells in the cerebral cortex.

Discovery Development Grant (2 years)

Dr. Olga Kovalchuk (biological sciences) — Exosomes - important mediators of direct and bystander radiation effects on the brain ($40,000).

Dr. Robert Benkoczi (mathematics & computer science) — Models and algorithms for facility location ($40,000) — This award supports fundamental research into finding new and more efficient algorithms for planning large scale evacuations.

Dr. Shahadat Hossain (mathematics & computer science) — Efficient computation with sparse and structured matrices – mathematical derivatives and beyond ($40,000).

Research Tools and Instruments (1 year)

Dr. Trushar Patel (chemistry & biochemistry) — Isothermal Titration Calorimetry for Studying Macromolecular Interactions ($150,000) — The installation of ITC (Isothermal Titration Calorimetry) at ULethbridge strengthens the biochemical and biophysical infrastructure as well as the research programs aimed at examining communication events that are at the heart of viral infections and cancer.

Dr. Matthew Tata (neuroscience) — Critical Refit and Upgrade to Electroencephalography Lab at ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge ($149,140) — This upgrade includes state-of-the-art electroencephalography systems to study how brain regions communicate with each other while solving the computational problems of perception and cognition.

CFI

John R. Evans Leaders Fund

Dr. Majid Mohajerani (neuroscience) — Innovative brain imaging techniques for aging-associated diseases ($563,466).

Dr. Stacey Wetmore (chemistry & biochemistry) — Tools for modeling the chemistry of modified nucleic acids ($139,702).

U of L names its first Equity, Diversity and Inclusion scholars

caroline.zentner — Mon, 17 Jan 2022 21:10:30 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is proud to announce the first recipients of its Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Scholars program, Drs. Glenda Bonifacio, Sandra Dixon and Roy Golsteyn (BASc (BSc) '84).

The program was established in 2021 and is designed to acknowledge and support individuals involved in EDI work at the scholarly level. The scholars will be engaging in projects that advance the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s EDI priorities and, when completed, share the information with the broader campus community.

“We are so pleased to recognize these exceptional scholars and assist them in their EDI work,” says Martha Mathurin-Moe, the U of L’s EDI executive director. “The projects they will undertake demonstrate a breadth of EDI work that will benefit the entire campus community.”

Bonifacio (women and gender studies) plans to examine equity in international graduate students’ education and training at the U of L. She will analyze current policies, practices and training to determine the gaps that may exist for international graduate students from different faculties. In addition, her project will explore the outcomes of these gaps in policy and practice and recommend strategies to create a more integrated equity framework for international graduate students.

“Equity in international graduate education and training at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is a critical point of enquiry as a comprehensive university,” says Bonifacio. “I seek to examine equity towards international graduate students as a thrust in governance, administration, support and programming. In addition, I will explore gaps in policy and practice across faculties, perceived outcomes through student consultations and create a pilot EDI training module. I will also offer recommendations for a more integrated equity framework.”

Dixon’s (education) project is designed to support the presence of new voices on campus and beyond and to link the U of L’s commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion within academic work of all kinds.

“As an EDI scholar, the project I am undertaking aims to shed light on the lived experiences of women in the academy who self-identify as Black, Indigenous and Women of Colour (BIWOC),” says Dixon. “Given our current national and international socio-political milieu, I strongly believe this work is warranted and timely. This award will afford me the opportunity to create a culturally safe space for racialized women — who are often silenced, dismissed, excluded, underrepresented, misrepresented, and/or misunderstood in the academic discourse — to share their stories.”

Golsteyn’s (biological sciences) project, called EDI Pharm, will help students connect scientific and

traditional knowledge into their view of nature. His goals include formalizing a research program for Indigenous students that uses Blackfoot plant names and standard scientific approaches in equal measure. He also plans to build awareness of the program by reaching out to youth in southern Alberta.

“Through our research on the chemicals from plants in the Prairie to Pharmacy Program, we have learned that our classical scientific approach provides an incomplete view,” says Golsteyn. “There are other ways to view our natural world that cannot be taken; they must be offered, earned and shared. My research laboratory embraces this approach of investigating nature and I’m working to ensure it’s sustainable and accessible to all U of L students.”

Power Corporation of Canada, Canada Life gift to support scientific discovery at ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge

trevor.kenney — Fri, 10 Jan 2020 16:12:39 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is pleased to announce that Power Corporation of Canada, together with Canada Life, is continuing its longstanding support of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ with a multi-faceted gift supporting scientific discovery and liberal education.

The donation, which totals $400,000 between the two organizations, includes $250,000 from Power Corporation and an additional $150,000 from Canada Life. The Power Corporation gift includes support to the Dr. Jim Coutts Prairie Research Program, a research program headed by U of L biologist Dr. Roy Golsteyn, and towards the development of a flexible lab and makerspace within the new Science Commons building.

The Canada Life gift also supports the Science Commons spaces and the valuable infrastructure that will allow U of L faculty and students to break boundaries with this unique and innovative research.

“At Canada Life, we believe education opens doors to the future. We’ve been a longtime supporter of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, and we’re pleased our funding can help bring the Science Commons to life,” says Paul Mahon, chief executive officer, Canada, at Canada Life. “The space is purposefully built to bring students of all ages together to learn from each other, experts and innovative programs, as well as support important research. We know this flexible lab and makerspace is a valuable addition to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and will be a great asset to the community for years to come.”

Golsteyn’s project is specific to southern Alberta and born of the close relationship the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ has had with the traditional Blackfoot territory on which it is situated, and the Blackfoot people. It’s a relationship that was also important to Dr. Jim Coutts (LLD ’12), whose generous gift of his homestead property led to the establishment of the Coutts Centre for Western Canadian Heritage in June 2011.

Coutts had a passion for the ecosystem of Western Canada and, in particular, the preservation and propagation of Western Canadian native prairie grasses. Golsteyn’s lab has become a space for students from the Blackfoot community who wish to use scientific approaches to study plants they may already know by Traditional knowledge or by knowledge from Blackfoot elders. The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is an excellent place to foster different ways of viewing prairie plants and their impact on human cells, and specifically cancer cells.

“It is astonishing that, even in the 21st century, we are only beginning to realize that plants from the Alberta prairies contain chemicals of medical importance,” says Golsteyn. “This funding will continue to support our students and our research as we investigate these plants, seeking the chemicals that may lead to new and better treatments for eradicating cancer.”

“Power Corporation of Canada believes that leading-edge research and great educators change lives for the better and improve our communities,” mentions Paul Genest, senior vice-president, Power Corporation of Canada. “That is why we are so pleased to support the Dr. Jim Coutts Prairie Research Program, and to partner with Canada Life in support of the Science Commons Flexible Lab Space here at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and Dr. Golsteyn are to be commended for their commitment to scientific innovation, using an approach that is respectful of indigenous knowledge and our Canadian ecological and cultural heritage.”

The investments are part of the U of L’s SHINE campaign and highlight the relationship with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s corporate partners and their support of a knowledge-driven future where faculty and students work to discover new solutions to perplexing problems and enabling positive change.

“We’re extremely grateful to Power Corporation of Canada for recognizing the incredible potential of Dr. Golsteyn’s project and how their support will push this research forward while empowering the next generation of scientific leaders, and to Canada Life for their support of Science Commons, which is changing the way we engage science students and the community at the U of L,” says Dr. Mike Mahon, the U of L’s president and vice-chancellor.

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s SHINE campaign continues to garner unprecedented donor support and has currently raised $88 million toward its $100-million goal.

Alumni Honour Society inductees making valuable contributions to society

trevor.kenney — Fri, 23 Aug 2019 21:45:58 +0000

They guide policy at the government level, protect and promote the rights of a diverse population, lay the groundwork for the fight against cancer and inspire future generations through guidance and education.

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge alumni make valuable and wide-ranging contributions to society locally, provincially, nationally and internationally. The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Alumni Association is pleased to recognize those who have made significant impressions by inducting six new members into the Alumni Honour Society.

“This is a very distinguished group representing the breadth of study we have here at the U of L,” says Matthew McHugh, Chair of the ULAA Recognition Committee. “The liberal arts focus of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ really shines through when you see how many facets of society our alumni influence and how they have taken what they have learned through their studies and applied those lessons in such meaningful ways.”

Introduced in honour of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s 35th Anniversary in 2002, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Alumni Association established the Alumni Honour Society to recognize the achievements of a select group of alumni each year. The individuals honoured serve as role models through success in their vocation, outstanding community service or superior accomplishment in their avocation.

Like those before them, the 2019 inductees are outstanding examples of U of L alumni. Each of the individuals used the knowledge they gained at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ to achieve their personal and professional goals, and through these achievements has left a lasting impact on the people, organizations and communities with which they are involved.

The group will be inducted into the Alumni Honour Society and celebrated at Let There Be Light Night, on Friday, October 18, 2019.

2019 Alumni Honour Society inductees

Justin Ferbey (BASc ’95)

As the Deputy Minister of Economic Development for the Yukon Government, Justin Ferbey brings a vision and drive that makes a lasting impact on the lives of others. His leadership on the Single Track to Success initiative, which aimed to build biking trails while simultaneously returning First Nations youth to the land, elevated the local economy by transforming Carcross, Yukon into a destination spot for avid mountain bikers. Justin also led the ratification process for the Carcross/Tagish First Nation community, ending 32 years of negotiations when a modern treaty and a self-governing agreement was reached.

Kerry Gellrich (BA ’06)

Kerry Gellrich is an exceptional lawyer and partner at North and Company Law Offices LLP, overseeing the firm’s litigation department. She frequently uses her quick wit, work ethic and empathy to provide counsel to various clients and has appeared at all levels of the Courts in the Province of Alberta. A passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion, Kerry served as a board member for the Justica Project, an initiative aimed at breaking barriers and promoting diversity in the private practice of law. Through her commitment to this cause, others are inspired and enabled to pursue rich careers in law.

Roy Golsteyn (BASc (BSc) ’84)

Dr. Roy Golsteyn’s impressive career in molecular biology, natural products and cancer research has generated a lasting impact on the biological sciences worldwide. Golsteyn’s latest work is focused on testing prairie plants for anti-cancer medicines. During his time at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, he has mentored close to 3,000 students, served on various boards and fulfilled multiple volunteer roles. For the last seven years, he has acted as a judge for both regional and Canada-wide science fairs and he frequently visits local high schools to present on the impact of biology as a career choice. Combining a love for science and a passion for inspiring the next generation of biologists, Roy embodies the spirit of leadership.

Russel Orcutt (BSc ’94)

Russel Orcutt is a standout example of how far a strong work ethic and a sense of curiosity can take you. As the Chief Executive Officer of Summit, a company focused on providing organizations and markets with environmental services spanning initial project planning and management to asset retirement, remediation and reclamation, Russel has positioned himself as a leader in the environmental sustainability sector. By pushing boundaries and leading a competent and diverse team, he has grown an exceptional company with a distinct impact. Through consultations with Russel and his team, sectors such as the oil and gas industry are able to plan for the future and incorporate environmental sustainability into their work. The demands of working towards the future health of the planet are complex, but for Russel they are well worth the time and strategic vision to strive towards a more sustainable future.

Jason Schilling (BFA/BEd ’94)

Jason Schilling’s career as a southern Alberta educator is rooted in his commitment to achieving a greater good for students, teachers and communities alike. In his current roles as a teacher at Kate Andrews High School and President of the Alberta Teachers’ Association, he advocates for the value of public education by providing numerous opportunities for people to extend their skillsets. For Schilling, mentorship is a crucial part of his mandate, and he consistently provides professional development opportunities for teachers within his own school as well as others throughout the district. Students are genuinely excited to learn from him, and the example that he sets encourages students to be active in their studies as well as their communities.

Mathew (BA ’97, MA ’00) and Penny Stone (BA/BEd ‘97)

In their respective careers, Mathew and Penny Stone have worked tirelessly to share their talents, expertise and skills to build a better future. As a well-respected educator, Penny instills a sense of civic duty and care in her students. Mathew’s role as a business leader provides him the opportunity to mentor young minds and curate community involvement on a broad scale. Their impact together is perhaps most strongly felt on the U of L campus. Upon learning that many students felt in the dark about career paths for those with humanities degrees, Mathew and Penny, in conjunction with the Department of History, implemented extensive programming highlighting non-conventional opportunities available to students following graduation. The Stones have mentored dozens of students and young professionals, volunteered hundreds of hours and are active donors. From providing feedback on interview skills to helping build strong resumes, their impact on young students has undoubtedly helped build a widespread understanding of the value of a liberal arts education.

Student research highlighted at Undergraduate Research Symposium

trevor.kenney — Thu, 13 Dec 2018 23:13:45 +0000

Undergraduate students Haley Vanderploeg and Chad Beck were the big winners as the Department of Biological Sciences held its Fall 2018 Undergraduate Research Symposium on December 7.

Haley Vanderploeg, left, and Chad Beck earned first and second place respectively.

Despite being tasked with final exams and year-end assignments, students from throughout the department challenged themselves to present their research to their colleagues in the hopes of winning one of two cash prizes up for grabs.

Vanderploeg earned first-place honours and the top cash prize while Beck earned the second prize. Each student is a member of Dr. Roy Golsteyn’s Natural Product Laboratory. Their research presentations focussed on their work studying the effects of chemicals from native plants on cancer cells.

This unique event is organized by Canada Research Chair Dr. Steve Wiseman and highlights the leadership and knowledge that has become a signature of biological sciences undergraduates.

It serves as a showcase for Department of Biological Sciences undergraduate students who research key topics in the life sciences, ranging from biochemistry, natural product science and crop science to traditional knowledge and environmental science.

Prairie view opens new research frontier for Golsteyn

trevor.kenney — Fri, 14 Oct 2016 22:19:37 +0000

Although his work is focused on one of our generation’s biggest diseases, Dr. Roy Golsteyn (BSc ’84) is honed in on the smallest of details to help bring it to its knees.

Golsteyn’s biological sciences lab has had its sights set on cancer for years and with a uniquely southern Alberta approach, is breaking new ground in finding chemicals that may lead to new cancer treatment drugs.

Dr. Roy Golsteyn is confident that the chemical properties of plants growing in the coulees of southern Alberta will lead to new cancer treatments.

“Cancer is a big disease and the way I was trained, was to really find out precisely what is wrong when a disease takes over, simply because if you know what’s wrong, you can find a way to fix it,” says Golsteyn. “I’ve always loved biology and trying to understand how human cells divide. In our work, we’re testing new chemicals to see if they have anti-cancer properties and then trying to understand how cancer cells respond to them.”

On Thursday, Oct. 20, 2016, Golsteyn will present as part of the PUBlic Professor Series, detailing how his lab is utilizing the unique plant species of southern Alberta in its quest to find chemicals with anti-cancer properties. Flower Power: A Scientific Search for New Medicines in Prairie Plants begins at 7 p.m. at Lethbridge City Hall, the second of this year’s PUBlic Professor events.

“It is an astonishing fact that, even in the 21st century, we are only beginning to realize that plants from the Alberta prairies contain chemicals of medical importance,” says Golsteyn.

Born and raised in Lethbridge, he admits he never gave the coulee slopes much thought in terms of them yielding cancer-fighting chemicals. After completing his Bachelor of Science at the U of L, Golsteyn went overseas, completing his PhD studies and taking a job in the French pharmaceutical industry. He married a fellow scientist, Dr. Sophie Kernéis-Golsteyn, and they eventually made their way back to Lethbridge, he setting up shop at the U of L and his wife at Lethbridge College.

Having worked in France and gained an appreciation for the way in which they look at plants and their potential healing properties, Golsteyn began to eye the plants outside his office window in a new light. He also fell into conversation one day with a First Nations guide at Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump, on a random trip to show off the area to foreign students working in his lab.

“We started talking about how First Nations people have used these plants for years and it just seemed to click, we thought this could be interesting,” says Golsteyn, who continues to work with the First Nations community.

He’s had some early successes, namely with the Buffalo Bean, which showed very early in the testing phase that its natural compounds exhibited anti-cancer activity. His lab has now begun a new round of tests on the Brown Eyed Susan, and created a plant library for the area’s native plant species. The pharmaceutical world is taking notice.

“We’ve learned that scientifically this area is very interesting,” he says. “You can look anywhere on the planet but what makes southern Alberta most interesting is that there really is a competition in the coulees. There are very few plants out there and there once were a lot of animals to eat them, so those native plant species have developed a toxicity level that’s allowed them to survive and that’s not common. They were pushed to make chemicals so they would not be eaten and that’s the stuff that’s making this project work.”

It’s a personal quest for Golsteyn, who says he’s of the age where he knows many people who are ill and struggling with cancer. He also understands the frustration that exists in the public sphere as years of research have been devoted to finding cures for the various forms of the disease.

“We are making progress, we really are,” he says passionately. “I’m familiar with the frustration though. I think at times we oversell the research in our labs but at the same time, there’s a huge pressure to oversell it. You have to get out there and say your research is awesome so that you can keep working on it and I think people are getting frustrated with that.”

Golsteyn says great strides have been made in eradicating the disease, specifically in forms of leukemia, but that much more work needs to be done.

“The successes that are out there, they’re from people doing very careful, good science. That’s what we’re doing too,” he says. “We’re not saying just take this miracle plant and it’ll work. We’re saying there are chemicals in this plant that are very interesting, they’re new, we’re running them through some very interesting tests and seeing what happens. But I’m very optimistic.”

Golsteyn speaks with conviction, tinged with hope, that the good science he was trained to perform will yield the results he, and everyone affected by this disease, desire.

U of L researchers benefit from Canada Foundation for Innovation funding

caroline.zentner — Wed, 29 Jul 2015 17:06:33 +0000

Projects that involve the quest for new cancer-fighting drugs, the preservation of floodplain forests, and the creation of a digital library to support thousand-year-old crosses got a boost today with the Canada Foundation for Innovation’s John R. Evans Leaders Fund announcement.

The Honourable Ed Holder, Minister of State (Science and Technology), announced $30 million for research infrastructure in support of projects across the country, which is allowing scientists to expand their knowledge in aquaculture and other areas as diverse as architectural history and chronic pain. At the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, more than $200,000 will go to three research projects.

Drs. Larry Flanagan and Stewart Rood, both biology professors, will receive more than $81,000 to establish an ecosystem-scale flux system to make long-term measurements of water vapour, carbon dioxide and methane fluxes in cottonwood riparian forests. The measurements will help them define how much river water is used by cottonwood trees in the extensive floodplain forests that line southern Alberta rivers. River waters are facing increased demands from a growing population, more economic development and for agricultural irrigation. Flanagan and Rood want to determine how much water needs to be left in southern Alberta rivers to sustain a healthy aquatic and riparian ecosystem.

“Proper management of river water resources is of fundamental importance to our citizens because most of Canada’s municipal areas are located along rivers. Effective management of river flows to allow removal of water for agricultural and industrial activities, while still leaving enough water to sustain our aquatic and riparian ecosystems is a high priority for all citizens,” says Flanagan.

Dr. Roy Golsteyn, a biochemistry professor and cancer researcher, will receive slightly more than $91,000 for laboratory infrastructure for his Prairie to Pharmacy research program dedicated to investigating the cancer-fighting properties of prairie plants such as the buffalo bean. The plant has shown promising signs of medicinal properties and, this summer, Golsteyn and his team identified six other prairie plants to investigate for anti-cancer effects.

“The award includes a new cancer cell imaging system that will watch hundreds of cells around the clock as they are treated with prairie plant extracts,” says Golsteyn. “It will be great for training students as they will have access to leading-edge equipment.”

Combined with gifts-in-kind from suppliers and a commitment from the province for matching funding, the award could total $250,000. Golsteyn says early support from the U of L allowed his lab to reach the level necessary to be selected for a national award. Now, the new equipment will help attract international research companies to work with Golsteyn and his team. Local donors, whether organizations or private individuals, who would like to help advance Golsteyn’s work are always welcome.

Dr. Daniel Paul O’Donnell, an English professor with expertise in Digital Humanities and Old and Middle English language and literature, will continue research on the Visionary Cross Project thanks to an infrastructure support award worth slightly more than $28,000. The award was the only one of its kind in Canada this year under the Canada Foundation for Innovation’s John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF) competition in association with the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). This is the third award the project has earned this year. O’Donnell has also been awarded a four-year, $233,000 Insight award from SSHRC and a one-year $9,000 allotment from the Graphics, Animation and New Media (GRAND) National Centre of Excellence.

Dr. Daniel Paul O'Donnell, right, and James Graham scan a fragment from the Ruthwell Cross in April, 2012. (c)Visionary Cross Project, 2012, CC-BY.

“These funds will be used in the development of a digital library to support the cultural and textual heritage and multidisciplinary research on objects belonging to the Visionary Cross tradition in Anglo-Saxon England,” says O’Donnell.

The Visionary Cross Project focuses on the Ruthwell and Bewcastle stone crosses in Northern England and Scotland, the Brussels reliquary cross in Belgium, and the ‘Dream of the Rood’ and ‘Elene’ poems from the Anglo-Saxon Vercelli Book manuscript in Italy. These objects are all more than a thousand years old and are closely related to each other. The crosses have carved panels that depict scriptural scenes, and are bordered by inscriptions in Latin, Runic and Old English. These inscriptions have similar wording to that found in the Vercelli book.

Combining technology such as 3D modeling and gaming, the Visionary Cross Project will give scholars the chance to study these artifacts in a unique way and advance knowledge in the Digital Humanities and Anglo-Saxon studies. U of L professors Wendy Osborn and James Graham were co-applicants on the grants. Osborn will be responsible for developing the digital library, including metadata, cataloguing and organization of 2D and 3D data for user-centered retrieval. Graham is developing online and interactive virtual environments.The Visionary Cross team has been collecting digital representations of these objects over the last eight years.

“We would like to bring these diverse and informally catalogued collections together to form an organized, multimedia Digital Library accessible to all and able to be expanded in the future,” says O’Donnell.

Cancer-fighting properties of the buffalo bean being investigated by U of L research team

caroline.zentner — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 16:39:23 +0000

Biology professor and cancer researcher Dr. Roy Golsteyn may have found the building blocks to a new cancer-fighting drug — and it was growing in the prairie landscape outside his ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge lab all along.

Golsteyn says the need for new cancer drugs is constant and, as a scientist who’s worked in the pharmaceutical industry, he knows some of the best drugs come from plants.

Alessandra Bosco, a master's student, harvests a buffalo bean plant from the coulee slopes at the U of L.

Dr. Sophie Kernéis-Golsteyn, fellow researcher and married to Roy, was the principal investigator in a study that examined extracts of the buffalo bean (Thermopsis rhombifolia) for anti-cancer effects.

“In the lab, the buffalo bean showed anti-cancer activity right away,” says Golsteyn. “Because it was such a great candidate, we were able to identify how we think the buffalo bean will be able to stop cancer cells. We predict it will limit cell growth by inhibiting an enzyme that’s needed for some types of cancer cells to grow.”

Pharmaceutical companies have identified which types of cancers depend on the enzyme and they’ve developed synthetic compounds to inhibit it. However, the synthetic compounds aren’t performing the way researchers hoped they would.

“Now, here’s a natural plant compound that appears to do what an oncologist would like it to do. So, were we lucky? Absolutely, but you have to look first to be lucky and that’s why Alberta plants are so interesting — no one has really ever looked,” he says.

Golsteyn’s lab is currently working with Pierre Fabre Laboratories, a French pharmaceutical company with expertise in natural products chemistry, to do further analysis to identify the chemical compound that gives the buffalo bean its cancer-fighting properties.

“Together, we hope to know precisely what the chemical is and then a decision can be made whether this is valuable medicine or not. Even if it doesn’t work as we hope, then we’ll learn something and if it does work, we’ll see how far it goes. It would be quite nice if our little area in Alberta can give rise to a much-needed cancer drug,” says Golsteyn.

At the request of Pierre Fabre Laboratories, Golsteyn and his team recently harvested 10 kilograms of buffalo bean plants growing on ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ property under the watchful eye of Dr. John Bain, a biology professor and director of the U of L’s herbarium, to ensure the harvest was done in a sustainable fashion. After the plants have been dried and processed, they’ll be shipped to France for further analysis.

After the French lab purifies compounds from the buffalo bean, Golsteyn’s lab conducts further tests. Depending on the results, both research partners decide whether the compound can be further developed as an anti-cancer drug.

“I want to thank people who donate to charities like the Alberta Cancer Foundation and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge because those funds have helped us undertake this important research,” says Golsteyn. “It has also given us opportunities to train the next generation of cancer scientists here in Lethbridge.”

The U of L’s unique location may yield other cancer-fighting plants as well. Golsteyn’s team is also looking at another flower that is a member of the sunflower family. Animals won’t eat this flower and First Nations recognized it as traditional medicine. Previous research has shown the plant is toxic to cancer cells and Golsteyn and his team of researchers want to know why. The plant has gone through a battery of tests in the lab and the results show promise. A natural product chemist at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of British Columbia is conducting detailed analysis of the plant compounds.

“We’re very excited about it,” says Golsteyn, adding a publication on the results should be forthcoming sometime this year.

He also invites community members, including ranchers, to contact him if they know of other interesting plants.

Synbiologica records another win

trevor.kenney — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 21:48:02 +0000

It's win number two for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge student researcher/entrepreneurs who form the Synbiologica Ltd. team.

Pictured left to right are Mackenzie Coatham, Dr. HJ Wieden (team advisor), Erin Kelly, Harland Brandon and Isaac Ward.

CEO Isaac Ward (third-year neuroscience student), first-year biochemistry student Erin Kelly and chemistry and biochemistry master's students Mackenzie Coatham and Harland Brandon have developed a new method of detecting hormones, and are in the process of patenting their idea.

Their proposed biomedical device technology -- called "Biologically Enhanced Assay in Real-Time" -- is expected to bring next-generation hormone detection to the research, agriculture and medical markets.

In addition to winning $10,000 in the SouthVenture Business Plan Competition in March, the group recently took first place in the Tech Stream side of the Chinook Entrepreneurial Challenge, an annual business planning competition hosted by Community Futures Lethbridge Region.

They received another $10,000 in cash, a one-year lease on space in the tecconnect Centre for New Commerce, a high-tech business incubator operated by Economic Development Lethbridge, plus a host of other in-kind prizes including business consulting from MNP and ActionCOACH, and several thousand dollars worth of media services.

"I am extremely proud of the Synbiologica group for their achievements and wish them continued success," says Dr. Dan Weeks, the U of L's Vice-President (Research). "The U of L is a comprehensive research institution that offers significant research opportunities to undergraduate and graduate students. This approach is important as it equips our graduates with the knowledge and ability to thrive in their research and entrepreneurial careers."

The competition evaluates and awards business plans submitted by entrepreneurs who have taken advantage of the free business training provided by Community Futures across Southern Alberta. Finalists were chosen from 24 groups that submitted business plans for the challenge.

While he has to be a bit cautious about revealing details because of the patent process – an expected six to eight-month timeline -- Ward said their idea will significantly improve the way in which hormones are detected.

"Hormones – and hormone imbalances – play very important roles in understanding behaviour and mental health, pregnancy as well as development and aging of all populations," says Ward. "We are pursuing new technology for the detection of hormones that provides rapid results that are 93 per cent more cost effective than traditional antibody technology."

The team's market analysis showed diverse applications and projections for growth, with a two to three-year timeline to produce a marketable device. The first test runs of this device will occur this summer at the Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience (CCBN) in collaboration with CCBN neuroscience researcher Dr. Gerlinde Metz.

Ward said the team came up with the idea to develop the company and the new biomedical device by using the skills they learned through the iGEM (International Genetically Engineered Machines) program.

"The internationally competitive program allows undergraduate students to gain hands-on experience in science," Ward said. U of L teams have claimed several top international honours at past competitions, and three of the Synbiologica entrepreneurs are off to Boston Massachusetts, toward the end of June as advisors to the U of L's high school iGEM team. The university-level competition takes place in October, 2013 at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston, MA.

"iGEM is run out of a student-operated lab provided by the department of Chemistry and Biochemistry here at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and coordinated by Dr. HJ Wieden. We have been encouraged at every turn by our professors and others to move this idea forward, especially by the people at Alberta Innovates – Technology Futures (AITF) who promote entrepreneurial engagement from scientific innovation."

Ward cited advisors Dr. Gerlinde Metz (Department of Neuroscience), Dr. HJ Wieden (Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry), Dr. Roy Golsteyn (Department of Biological Sciences) and Michael Kelly (Erin Kelly's father and Manager of Real Estate and Land Development, City of Lethbridge) as being particularly helpful as they refined their idea.

U of L researchers see Herschel mission shut down

trevor.kenney — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:51:25 +0000

Just a few days shy of its four-year anniversary, the Herschel Space Observatory has exhausted its supply of liquid helium coolant, and officially 'closed its eyes' on the universe, April 29.

Researchers around the world, and at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, now have a massive data collection, years of future research projects, and remarkable images that show unique star births sand star formations, galaxies and a host of other dramatic developments in the origins of the universe.

The pioneering space imaging mission logged more than 35,000 observations and generated more than 25,000 hours worth of science data from about 600 observing programmes. A further 2,000 hours of calibration observations will also contribute to the rich dataset.

Herschel (which operated more than 1.5 million km away from earth in deep space) included a scientific instrument co-developed by U of L researcher Dr. David Naylor (physics and astronomy) and his team, who led Canada's contribution to the Herschel project on behalf of the Canadian Space Agency.

The instrument, called the Spectral and Photometric Imaging Receiver ("SPIRE"), is one of three devices attached to the Herschel telescope system. SPIRE measures infrared light and picks up heat and chemical signals that are not visible by optical telescopes -- turning that data into images and information researchers will use to learn more about the life and death of stars and galaxies.

Image samples are available here.

Now that the school-bus sized telescope will cease its active duty, astronomers from 14 countries, including Canada, will devote their full attention to analyzing the prolific telescope's legacy of data.

The five-year, post-operation phase will see the data obtained during the mission used to develop improved calibration algorithms to allow the most information to be extracted. Eventually the data will be reprocessed and placed in an archive.

In addition to dramatically enhancing the level of information about the origins of the universe, the U of L contributions to the Herschel mission saw the creation of numerous and unique student experiences at all levels, and a high-tech spin-off company - Blue Sky Spectroscopy - founded by Naylor in 2003, and now privately owned and operated. Blue Sky is one of the three international Data Processing and Science Analysis Software centres for the SPIRE instrument. Data will continue to be downloaded from the spacecraft and stored on the Blue Sky servers. Its highly qualified staff, all with postgraduate degrees, specialize in custom hardware and software spectroscopic solutions. Customers include NASA, ESA, and CSA, and many leading research institutes such as Harvard, Berkeley, Chicago, Max Planck and Cardiff, NIST, Centre d'Etudes Atomique, Paris, Institute National d'Optique, Canada to name a few.

Additional information about future projects ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge researchers are planning that arise from the Herschel mission can be found at this website.

As well, Naylor and colleague Roy Golsteyn (biological sciences) are collaborating on a way to use the highly-sensitive imaging systems developed for deep space to detect rogue cancer cells.

UNews - Roy Golsteyn

��Ѹ�����Դ���߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge researchers awarded more than $2.3 million in NSERC, CFI funding support

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