UNews - breast cancer

U of L announces Dr. Athanasios Zovoilis as its newest Canada Research Chair

caroline.zentner — Tue, 16 May 2017 16:17:16 +0000

The federal government has named Dr. Athanasios Zovoilis, a professor in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, a Tier II Canada Research Chair in RNA Bioinformatics and Genomics.

The Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Canada’s minister of science, recently announced $125.9 million in funding for 142 chairholders. Along with the Canada Research Chairs, Duncan introduced a new Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan to address the lack of diversity among Canada Research Chairs.

“Our government is committed to promoting equity and diversity within the sciences. We need to work harder to ensure that talented researchers have the opportunity to advance. The announcement of the action plan is an important step towards a more inclusive, open and diverse research environment in Canada,” says Duncan.

In addition to $500,000 in funding through the Canada Research Chair program, Zovoilis will receive more than $53,000 from the Canada Foundation for Innovation’s John R. Evans Leaders Fund for laboratory tools and equipment.

Dr. Athan Zovoilis is the U of L's latest Canada Research Chair.

Zovoilis, a bioinformatician and genomicist, came to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge from Boston’s Harvard ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ to establish and pursue a research program aimed at developing personalized treatments for diseases like cancer and dementia. Zovoilis joined the U of L's Alberta RNA Research and Training Institute (ARRTI), a research centre devoted to RNA research. During the last 10 years, the U of L has made a significant investment in the fast-developing field of RNA research by establishing ARRTI and attracting world-class scientists that develop cutting-edge research in understanding how RNA applications can support human health and biotechnology innovation.

“It was not a very difficult decision, I have to say,” says Zovoilis. “Having lived in Canada before, I know there’s support for science, for families and for integrating people to the society. It makes the perfect combination.”

Originally from Greece, Zovoilis began medical studies in his homeland and completed them in Germany. After witnessing the impact of diseases like Alzheimer’s and cancer on members of his community, he knew he wanted a career where he could help people.

“I didn’t like this feeling of helplessness. That was one of the things that motivated me to go to medical school,” he says.

While in medical school, molecular biology captured his interest. The Human Genome Project was underway at the time and the research possibilities it presented were captivating.

“A new era was starting and I decided to specialize in it,” says Zovoilis. “I was convinced that if we want to fight Alzheimer’s and cancer we have to understand what’s happening at the molecular level in our cells. If we understand the basic mechanisms that underlie these diseases then we will be able to fight them more efficiently.”

He pursued a doctorate in molecular genetics and began working with breast cancer patients, looking for mutations in genes known to cause cancer. Studying only two out of tens of thousands of genes, coupled with the limitations of DNA sequencers, meant progress was slow. However, technological advances soon led to much faster DNA sequencing and produced larger amounts of data. Zovoilis determined to get training in bioinformatics, a new discipline that provides the computer programs that can read and analyze the data produced by modern sequencers. He went to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Manchester in England to take further training and then joined the bioinformatics group at the Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre in Vancouver, an organization at the forefront of personalized medicine in Canada. There he joined other scientists who were interested in analyzing noncoding sections of the genome, or what was once known as junk DNA.

Because it was at the forefront of analyzing noncoding sections of a genome, Zovoilis then went to Harvard as a research fellow. His research there, recently published in the journal Cell, the top journal in molecular biosciences, revealed a connection between these noncoding sections of the genome and cancer. Now at the U of L, Zovoilis will continue this work with the eventual goal of bringing testing to everyday clinical practice.

“In this lab, we specialize in reading the book of life and we use this information to provide personalized medicine opportunities for patients in the near future,” says Zovoilis.

Such an approach is not as widely available in Canada as it is in the United States or through the Genome Science Centre in British Columbia but he hopes to launch a similar project in Alberta.

“We intend to find partners in this initiative,” says Zovoilis. “It has to be a pan-provincial initiative but southern Alberta can be part of this.”

Zovoilis adds that a personalized approach doesn’t perform miracles but many studies have shown that targeted therapies can help and genomics is the main tool to find them.

“I wanted to come back to Canada,” he says. “Canadians are very open minded and there has been, in recent years, significant investment in research. It is not advertised a lot but, especially here in Alberta, universities have improved substantially their capabilities. They have expanded their programs. I see a huge potential, especially at the U of L. That’s one of the main reasons why I decided to come here.”

High school students get a jump on research at the U of L

caroline.zentner — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 15:52:40 +0000

Six local high school students have been learning their way around ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge research labs this summer through the Heritage Youth Researcher Summer (HYRS) program.

Sally Xu uses a pipette in Dr. Ute Kothe's lab as part of her work in the HYRS program.

The HYRS program gives high school students who are entering Grade 12 an intensive six-week experience conducting scientific research in a university lab. Along with the U of L, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary participate in the program.

For Sally Xu, who will be entering her senior year at Winston Churchill High School this fall, the HYRS program came highly recommended by her older sister.

“I really like biology and chemistry and I thought it would be a great learning experience,” she says.

Xu has been working on a project that involves an enzyme called TrmA.

“It is seen in breast cancer and in future applications we want to see if there’s any effect of the TrmA enzyme in breast cancer and if we can find any connections,” says Xu.

“The HYRS program is really fabulous because it’s not only a research experience, the program really provides a lot of resources behind the scenes,” says Dr. Ute Kothe, a professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. “They get the research experience from us but they also get overall science experience and see the facilities, talk to researchers and get career advice. From my perspective it’s just wonderful to have these young students in the lab because it really shows you that motivation is everything.”

The students also become ambassadors for the program and help demystify the work that’s being done in research labs.

The HYRS program gave Tiffany Dang, another student entering Grade 12 at Winston Churchill High School, the chance to get back into the lab after being part of the Lethbridge high school iGEM (International Genetically Engineered Machine) team.

“I love the HYRS program because it allows me to get such great lab experience and I’m with a wonderful group of people. It’s just a great environment to be in,” says Dang.

Dang explains her project in this video, Sixty Second Science, by Alberta Innovates Health Solutions.

She’s working in Dr. Hans-Joachim Wieden’s lab in the chemistry and biochemistry department. Her project involves testing a group of enzymes called GTPases. These enzymes regulate many cell processes and Dang wants to see how they affect cell fitness in stress conditions.

“We have participated in HYRS for at least five years. It’s a great opportunity to get lab experience in a real lab setting,” says Wieden. “We have had students significantly contributing to the research activity.”

Another four HYRS students are getting experience in neuroscience labs. Emily Milder (Catholic Central High School) is working in Dr. Ian Whishaw’s lab, Shannon Healy (Lethbridge Collegiate Institute) is working in Dr. Robert Sutherland’s lab, Lindsay Amatto (Catholic Central High School) is working in Dr. Robbin Gibb’s lab and Nathaniel Bly (Lethbridge Collegiate Institute) is getting experience in Dr. Bryan Kolb’s lab.

The students will be illustrating their work over the summer at an open house and poster presentation on Friday, Aug. 15 at 1 p.m. in Markin Hall.

The HYRS program is funded by Alberta Innovates Health Solutions, with additional funding from the Alberta Cancer Foundation. Students must have at least an 85 per cent average in biology 20 and mathematics 20, and 85 per cent in one additional science. Of the 211 students who applied, 50 were selected to participate. In addition to hands-on research in the lab, the students attend guest lectures and professional development sessions as part of the HYRS program.

Horns women's soccer team plays host to UNBC

trevor.kenney — Fri, 20 Sep 2013 18:02:56 +0000

After earning their first point of the Canada West season last weekend, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorns women’s soccer team (0-3-1) remains at home this weekend for one game, hosting the UNBC Timberwolves Saturday afternoon.

Kick-off is scheduled for 12 p.m. at the U of L Community Sports Stadium. The game also marks the ‘Horns' Pink the Pitch program in support of breast cancer fundraising, with donations from a variety of activities going to support the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.

Coming off three consecutive losses, the Pronghorns earned a single point last Sunday with a scoreless draw against the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Manitoba Bisons.

Through the first four games of the season, the ‘Horns have struggled to find the back of the net. Despite being fourth in the conference in shot attempts, U of L strikers have only scored one goal. Defensively, the ‘Horns have been solid thus far, allowing only six goals against.

In only their second season in Canada West play, the UNBC Timberwolves have opened the season with four consecutive losses, including last weekend’s defeats to the Alberta Pandas and Mount Royal Cougars. Through four games, the Timberwolves have scored just two goals, while surrendering 10.

Saturday’s game will be the first ever visit for the Timberwolves to Lethbridge. In their inaugural season, the Timberwolves held the ‘Horns to a 2-2 draw in Prince George.

After Saturday's match, the U of L will not host a home game until the October 12-13 weekend, which marks the club's final home games of the 2013 season.

U of L student top fundraiser

trevor.kenney — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 22:49:21 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge's Devynn Helischauer is the top Alberta student fundraiser in the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure Post Secondary Challenge.

The challenge inspired Canada's college and university students and faculty to raise more than $500,000 for breast cancer research, education, awareness and advocacy.

Helischauer, who raised $4,000 during the challenge as part of team Treasured Chests, won a $2,500 CIBC Education Award to help with her tuition expenses.

Fellow ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge student Anna Kovalchuk and Ken Soong from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta were also named among the top national fundraisers to win a CIBC Education Award in 2012.

"I was honoured and shocked to receive this award as this cause is close to my heart," says Helischauer. "My mom and grandma have breast cancer and I am glad I can make a difference. This is very helpful to me as it can support my education costs."

"CIBC was very proud to present the Post Secondary Challenge," says Mark Galbraith, vice-president, Alberta, CIBC. "Our goal is to raise breast cancer awareness among Canada's students and motivate as many young people as possible to raise funds that will make a difference in the lives of those living with breast cancer. Congratulations to the CIBC Education Award winners and thank you to all of the students who together raised more than half a million dollars."

Kovalchuk has been a consistent participant in the Run for the Cure.

"I've been participating in the CIBC Run for the Cure for the past few years and I had a great experience doing the Post Secondary Challenge last year," she says. "A scholarship was a great motivator for my fundraising! I volunteer and fundraise for the cause with the hopes that I never will have a personal connection to it."

Searching for genetic connections

trevor.kenney — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 23:03:05 +0000

Dr. Olga Kovalchuk, a biological sciences researcher at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, has received a significant award from the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation – Prairies/NWT Region Research Grant program to study how something as simple as sleep disruption could make cells vulnerable to cancer.

"The disruption of circadian rhythms (a sleep-wake cycle) due to shift work or exposure to light at night has recently been suggested as a breast carcinogen, as elevated rates of breast cancer have been reported in groups of shift workers in countries all over the world, including Canada," says Kovalchuk.

Dr. Olga Kovalchuk is one of the country's leading epigenetic researchers.

Circadian rhythms are the equivalent of a person's internal clock, and help govern such things as sleep patterns, alertness and other factors. Circadian rhythms are found in most living things, from bacteria to plants and animals.

They follow a set pattern that, if shifted around, cause a number of biological processes to change, and not always for the better – as any sleep-deprived new parent or shift worker adjusting to a new schedule can attest.

To tease out the minute changes in the genetic markers that make up the road map to solving this challenge, Kovalchuk will employ epigenetics – the study of how an individual gene can go wrong or not work properly over a person's lifetime.

"The precise mechanisms of breast cancer induced by circadian rhythm disruption are elusive," says Kovalchuk, a professor and Board of Governors' Research Chair, CIHR Chair in Gender and Health. "In recent years, the role of epigenetic changes as a cause of breast cancer has been increasingly recognized, so we are going to attack this challenge from that perspective."

Epigenetics is the study of how individual genes and components of individual genes can change in response to environmental conditions or other factors.

In addition to the hard-wired traits in DNA, epigenetic changes can occur in response to a change in lifestyle or other trigger, and can be passed from one generation to another.

With colleague and neuroscientist Dr. Robert Macdonald at the Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, Kovalchuk and their respective lab teams will develop a model to test how changes in genetic structure are brought about by sleep or circadian disruption. They will also look at how those epigenetic changes affect cells, which in turn would make them a target for cancer.

The group will study mammary glands and look at the genetic switches that are turned on or off in response to the circadian pattern changes.

Kovalchuk will receive $125,000 per year for three years. Her award is part of a 19-project, $6.8 million announcement made in early November by the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation – Prairies/NWT Region. The CBCF supports research projects that demonstrate high degrees of innovation or novelty in breast cancer research.

Taking a run at breast cancer

trevor.kenney — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 19:16:59 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorns women's hockey team has set a lofty goal, and it has nothing to do with what happens on the ice.

The Horns are taking on breast cancer with their second annual Pink in the Rink weekend, Oct. 21-22, when they host ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Saskatchewan Huskies at Nicholas Sheran Arena.

"Our goal this year is to make it equivalent to the men's Movember event," says fifth-year forward Megan Bach of Champion, Alta. "We really want to raise as much money as possible to truly make a difference, and to help create a future without breast cancer."

The Horns women's hockey team will be sporting special pink jerseys Oct. 21-22 to help raise awareness of and funds for the fight against breast cancer. Pictured here (L to R) are Breanna Frasca, Megan Bach, Leanne Gerwing and Glenda Edie.

The fundraising initiative involves a series of raffles and auctions, as well as pledge opportunities as three Horns players will cut off their hair in support of the Locks of Love campaign.

"I think most people on our team, through their extended families, have all been affected by cancer in some way," says second-year goaltender Leanne Gerwing of Aborfield, Sask. She, along with third-year defenceman Glenda Edie of Dugald, Man. and rookie forward Breanna Frasca of Kamloops, B.C., will cut her hair for Locks of Love.

"Breast cancer hits especially close to home because we're all women. Both my grandmas had breast cancer and survived it ,and so did my billet in high school. There are so many girls where it's an experience that is close to them, that this weekend means a lot."

The Horns will be wearing special pink jerseys for the two-game series against the Huskies, after which they will be auctioned off to fans. Raffle tables will be set up all weekend, with mini laptops, hockey camp registrations, a breast cancer-themed double quilt (valued at $750) and many more items up for grabs. As well, Florida Panthers forward and Lethbridge minor hockey product Kris Versteeg has donated a signed jersey for auction.

Bach says the community has been generous in its support of the initiative and the team has found open doors as it connects with southern Alberta businesses.

"When we approached some of the local businesses, they often had their own personal stories of cancer in their families," she says. "It's one of the reasons they really wanted to help out and we're so appreciative of their efforts."

Those wishing to support the Horns and the Breast Cancer Foundation can do so by attending the games and taking part in the silent auctions and raffles. People can also donate to the cause through Locks of Love pledges at the Horns Athletics Office, or by calling 403-329-2228.

"We have a history of supporting various Breast Cancer Foundation events through basketball and now with women's hockey, this is just another great way to increase awareness of breast cancer and raise some money for the cause," adds Robb Engen, the manager of business development for Sport and Recreation Services.

Looking out to see in

trevor.kenney — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:40:59 +0000

As the lead Canadian researcher for the Canadian Space Agency's contribution to the Herschel Space Observatory, U of L scholar Dr. David Naylor (Physics and Astronomy) has played a key role in the development of the Spectral and Photometric Imaging Receiver (SPIRE). SPIRE is one of three instruments on the Herschel spacecraft that is orbiting 1.5 million km from the earth. Functioning at a chilly -270C, SPIRE observes the universe at very long wavelengths, those well beyond the limit of human vision. Radiation emitted at these wavelengths is able to travel relatively unimpeded through even the densest regions of space, which allows astronomers to view back in time to the formation of the first galaxies. This technology is similar to, but far more sophisticated than, the full body scanners now being installed at airports.

Naylor's group designs and builds exquisitely sensitive systems to convert the energy in long wavelength photons into meaningful information on the composition and physical conditions of the astronomical objects under study.

As Naylor explains, "That's what physicists do – they think of the question and then build the equipment to answer that question."

Naylor is also a co-founder of the Institute for Space Imaging Science (ISIS) and director of its Space Astronomy Division. ISIS is a collaboration between the Universities of Athabasca, Calgary and Lethbridge. Scientists from the three institutions, and their research partners worldwide, share technology and other resources to tackle leading edge questions in space imaging.

Most recently, Naylor is collaborating with Dr. Jeff Dunn, a Canada Research Chair of radiology and biophysics in the U of C's Faculty of Medicine, to explore the utility of his detection system to the medical field, initially in cancer detection. In a recent paper, a team of Taiwanese scientists have shown that THz imaging is capable of detecting breast cancer without the lengthy time requirement for histological staining of samples and visual inspection by a technician.

Naylor quickly realized that even his run of the mill detectors are 100,000 times more sensitive, which means they have the potential to identify not only the cancerous cells, but also their boundaries, substantially faster. Dunn and Naylor are working to explore if this gain can be realized.

Some people question why anyone would study astronomy. Can research into the world around us help advance us as a species? Naylor emphatically says yes.

The universe is the astronomer's laboratory, and the instrumentation Naylor has developed to look outward may just provide us a better way to see in.

"One only has to look at the impact of the laser and MRI on society, whose roots lie in basic physics research, to answer the relevance question."

Curiosity drives young epigenetics scholar

trevor.kenney — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 20:55:43 +0000

At a time when most kids were glued to TV shows about talking purple dinosaurs, Kristy Kutanzi was exploring the inner workings of the world around her.

"I have always had a curious mind," she explains. "As a child, I loved to experiment. My parents bought me a book with basic science experiments and explanations for general phenomena – a book that I read from front to back countless times."

Kristy Kutanzi is making a difference with her research focus.

They also bought her a microscope to indulge her fascination with "things too small to be seen by the human eye," says the Grassy Lake, Alta., native.

But it wasn't until she began her undergraduate degree at the U of L and had an opportunity to work in the lab of Dr. Olga Kovalchuk for her honours program, that Kutanzi realized her sights were set on becoming a scientist.

"The practical training that I received in labs during my undergrad was a turning point for me," says Kutanzi. "Dr. Kovalchuk fostered my interest in science and encouraged me to pursue a higher level of education in the field. Undoubtedly, she has provided and continues to provide me with invaluable tools and advice to succeed in my research career."

These days, Kutanzi is well on her way to realizing her ambitions. She's now in the MSc/PhD transfer program, which allows students with research potential to enter the PhD program without defending their master's thesis. She continues to work with Kovalchuk on a project to unravel the epigenetic changes that precede the development of cancer.

While traditionally researchers have studied the genetic influences of cancer, Kutanzi is working to understand the epigenetic factors that "turn on" cancer genes. Through funding from the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation (Prairies-NWT chapter) and the Alberta Cancer Research Institute, Kutanzi is looking at how estrogen may trigger genes that cause breast cancer, the leading cause of death for women 30 to 55 years of age.

Kutanzi's work on the topic has not gone unnoticed and her amazing aptitude for science has earned her high praise. In addition to being an Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research scholar, Kutanzi recently earned a prestigious Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship, valued at $50,000 per year for up to three years.

The Vanier program, launched by the Government of Canada in 2008, aims to attract and retain world-class doctoral students who demonstrate a high standard of scholarly achievement in graduate studies.

The prestigious award is a big boost for Kutanzi's burgeoning career. Not only does the funding allow her to focus on the research, but it allows her to present her results at international scientific conferences. There, she'll develop research collaborations and investigate current and future prospects in her field.

But perhaps most importantly, the award brings recognition to a dangerous disease.

"Receiving the Vanier reflects the merit of my field of research," Kutanzi explains graciously. "It brings national attention to the value of researching breast cancer development, particularly during the early stages when there's a greater chance for us to discover a successful treatment."

Kutanzi earns Vanier Canada award

trevor.kenney — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 17:07:28 +0000

Kristy Kutanzi grew up in the Alberta hamlet of Grassy Lake, with a population of less than 1,000 people and more than 7,000 kilometres from Ukraine. Dr. Olga Kovalchuk grew up in the shadow of Chernobyl, site of the worst nuclear power plant disaster in history.

Despite their divergent backgrounds, they are now linked as researchers, delving into the field of epigenetics and its potential role as a basis for a number of health problems, including cancer. Kutanzi (BSc '06), now a PhD student working with Kovalchuk in the Department of Biological Sciences, has been awarded a Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship as a result, a prestigious doctoral scholarship valued at $50,000 per year for up to three years.

"Success in my field of research is something that I have always worked hard to achieve and will continue to do so," says Kutanzi. "Although I was surprised to receive the Vanier, I feel that this recognition is a reflection of the merit of my field of research."

Her proposed research is entitled, "Epigenetic dysregulation in estrogen-induced mammary carcinogenesis" which she describes as, "addressing the role of estrogen in the development of breast cancer."

"The Vanier brings national recognition to the value of researching breast cancer development, particularly during the early stages when there is a greater chance of successfully treating the disease," says Kutanzi. "This award is an important step in raising awareness of the research being conducted to better understand how to prevent and treat cancer."

The Vanier program is in its first year, having been launched by the Government of Canada in 2008 with an initial $25-million investment. The program aims to attract and retain world-class doctoral students by supporting students who demonstrate a high standard of scholarly achievement in graduate studies in the social sciences and humanities, natural sciences and engineering and health.

Kutanzi is one of 55 recipients chosen by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), one of three federal research granting agencies responsible for the administration of the award.

"This scholarship allows me to focus on cutting edge research in the field of epigenetics, and provides me with the funding to present my results at international conferences," says Kutanzi. "Attendance at these scientific conventions is crucial for developing collaborations, potential employment opportunities and gaining insight into the current and future prospects of my field. Moreover, this award serves as recognition of the high quality of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge's graduate program."

Kutanzi's interest in cancer epigenetics was sparked when she was still an undergraduate student. She would carry that interest to her graduate and now doctoral studies and sees a future that has her continuing work to combat the world's health problems.

"I could definitely see myself working in collaboration with governmental institutions, such as Health Canada, to explore the long-term health problems associated with the lifestyle and environmental factors that affect Canadians," she says.

UNews - breast cancer

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