UNews - Ute Kothe

RNA Innovation program creating future scientific leaders

trevor.kenney — Wed, 17 Feb 2021 18:45:55 +0000

The practical applications of RNA research and innovation have never been more prominent than over the last year with the development of the Pfizer and Moderna mRNA-based Covid-19 vaccines. The joint RNA Innovation program at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and Université de Sherbrooke is designed to create scientific leaders in RNA research.

“This program helps prepare the next generation for the complicated world of scientific work,” says Dr. HJ Wieden, Director of RNA Innovation. “We are teaching them not only cutting-edge RNA research but how to be critical and inclusive leaders in their field.”

This unique Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Collaborative Research and Training Experience (CREATE) program enables trainees to gain experience through industry-driven research and development challenges and internship placements. In addition, trainees participate in the RNA Innovation Scientific Leadership course. Developed by U of L Board of Governors’ Teaching Chair, Dr. Ute Kothe, this exclusive course brings together students from around the world.

“During the Fall 2020 semester, we had students participating from Lethbridge and Sherbrooke, as well as India and Egypt,” says Kothe. “We knew this course was going to have students from across Canada due to the unique nature of the RNA Innovation program, and because of the pandemic, we had students stuck outside of Canada still able to participate.”

In addition to the technical aspects of the course, students receive comprehensive training in leadership skills including scientific ethics and integrity, equity, diversity and inclusion as well as professional communication.

“It was shocking and surprised me to learn about the type of bias that exists in the scientific world,” says Bimaldeep Singh, a master’s student currently studying in India.

The class participated in a presentation from Dr. Sarah Viehbeck, associate vice-president, Research Programs – Strategy at the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). Her talk discussed issues involving equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) at granting agencies and what these agencies are doing to address unconscious bias.

“Understanding the presence of bias in ourselves, knowingly or unknowingly, helped me clear up my mind towards implicit bias,” adds Singh.

Trainees also discuss the ethics and integrity needed to make tough decisions. Dr. Michael Stingl (philosophy) and graduate students Michaela Thompson & Jodi Newman lead the discussions.

“Being ethical should be the most dominant trait not only as a scientist but as a human,” says master’s student Riya Roy. “I was introduced to a totally unknown philosophical world. The simplified presentation, along with our comprehensive discussions gave a new dimension to my current thought process.”

Teamwork and collaboration are dominant themes of the course and present students with opportunities to gain different perspectives. Most projects are designed to be completed in groups, and students frequently debate controversial topics.

“The most effective portion of this class is the collaborative aspect of the group meetings,” says Daniel Rocca, a first year master’s student. “Moving into grad studies felt like there were more expectations on me and the class has given me practice in basic professional skills that will help me succeed.”

Interested students can find information on how to apply to the RNA Innovation program at RNAInnovation.ca.

ARRTI researcher earns $642,600 CIHR grant to investigate complex process of ribosome formation

trevor.kenney — Wed, 21 Oct 2020 15:39:15 +0000

Long-term goal is to inhibit interactions between small RNAs and ribosomal RNAs thereby depriving cancer cells of protein factories

Understanding one of the fundamental building blocks of life may also hold the key to unlocking new targets for the treatment of cancer. The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s Dr. Ute Kothe and her team will look to unravel the complex process of forming ribosomes, the body’s protein factories, through RNA research in a new five-year project that has received $642,600 in funding from the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR).

Dr. Ute Kothe is a professor of biochemistry in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry and a Board of Governors Teaching Chair.

Identifying Critical RNA-RNA Interactions during Ribosome Biogenesis is the title of the project that will be based at the U of L and within the Alberta RNA Research and Training Institute (ARRTI), but also include collaborators at the Universities of Sherbrooke and McGill ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in Quebec, as well as three German institutions.

“What excites me about this project is the intersection between it being medically important and also fundamentally important to understanding life. If you don’t understand life, you cannot develop new therapeutic strategies,” says Kothe, a professor of biochemistry in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry and Board of Governors Teaching Chair.

The CIHR grant has been close to a decade in the making. Kothe has revised and resubmitted her application multiple times over the years, indicating the competitive nature of these grants. By earning this funding, she is among the top 10 per cent of biomedical researchers in Canada. The grant also illustrates the growth and impact of biomedical research at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, and in particular ARRTI, as Kothe is the first of the research group to secure a CIHR Project Grant since ARRTI’s inception in 2012.

“This important CIHR grant will support Dr. Kothe in making foundational advances in our understanding of cancer cells and cancer treatment,” says Dr. Robert Wood, vice-president (research). “The U of L was recently named second in the country in our category in the Maclean’s rankings. The groundbreaking research being conducted by stellar colleagues such as Dr. Kothe is a major driver of this strong reputational standing.”

Kothe believes wholeheartedly in how this research can add to the body of knowledge around forming a complex biological machine, which is the prerequisite to better understanding cancer cell division and tumor growth.

“This study is a great example of how the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is contributing to biomedical research in Canada, and also illustrates the important link between fundamental and biomedical research — one doesn’t work without the other,” she says. “RNA research and cancer research go hand-in-hand and this is the strength we can build upon here in Lethbridge with ARRTI.”

All cancer types share a need for increased protein production to enable rapid cell divisions and tumor growth. Accordingly, all cancer cells are characterized by an enhanced production of protein factories called ribosomes and by an enlarged cellular compartment, where ribosomes are assembled.

“Cancer cells need the most proteins because they grow so rapidly. If a tumor wants to grow, it needs proteins, and cancer cells are smart – they have found a way to make more ribosomes, to make more protein machines, and that’s how they can outcompete all the other cells,” says Kothe.

Therefore, inhibiting ribosome formation is a promising future therapeutic strategy in cancer treatment. However, it is currently impossible to target this pathway because there is a fundamental lack of understanding ribosome formation. Kothe’s research aims to close this knowledge gap, thereby opening a new avenue for impairing assembly of protein factories in cancer.

“Ribosomes consist predominantly of RNA, a sister molecule of DNA,” says Kothe. “Critical steps during ribosome formation constitute the chemical modification and three-dimensional folding of ribosomal RNA. Interestingly, these steps are mediated by other small RNAs in the cell. Our long-term goal is to inhibit these interactions between small RNAs and ribosomal RNAs thereby depriving cancer cells of protein factories.”

That the grant stretches over five years affords an excellent opportunity for students to participate in the research work.

“This research grant opens training and employment opportunities for different researchers ranging from post-doctoral researchers who already have their PhD, as well as a couple of PhD and master’s students,” says Kothe, who plans to send students to Quebec and Germany to work with their collaborators as the study progresses. “I also think it’s important we include our undergraduate students in the research. It is one of our particular strengths at the U of L that we train them early and they get experience that really sets them up to go anywhere they want in the world.”

Kothe is enthused to get started and eager to unlock the mysteries of RNA in forming the body’s protein factories as the prerequisite for future RNA-targeted cancer therapeutics.

“RNA is an awesome drug target, so once we understand ribosome formation and the role of RNA in this process, we are one important step closer to targeting and inhibiting it in cancer. This should be a much more feasible treatment method than any other types of drugs.”

Chemistry & biochemistry researcher, Dr. Ute Kothe, named a U of L Board of Governors Teaching Chair

trevor.kenney — Mon, 19 Oct 2020 20:04:28 +0000

With an approach based in the belief that an effective teacher facilitates understanding and the well-being, learning and development of students, Dr. Ute Kothe has been named a ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Board of Governors Teaching Chair.

Kothe eyes every opportunity to enable learning.

An educator who teaches at all levels, from first-year undergraduate through post-doctoral supervision, Kothe eyes every opportunity to enable learning, pioneering community science outreach activities that spur the imagination and passion for new knowledge amongst the young and old alike.

Kothe, a professor in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, is a member of the College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists of the Royal Society of Canada and a founding member of the Alberta RNA Research and Training Institute (ARRTI). Born and raised in Germany, she studied at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Regensburg, the Ruhr-��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Bochum and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Witten/Herdecke where she obtained an MSc equivalent and PhD degree in biochemistry. She has been at the U of L since 2006.

Lauded as innovative and adaptable, Kothe continually seeks methods to enhance her teaching so she may achieve the best outcome for her students. Active learning is at the heart of her approach, introducing new concepts and skills through techniques that engage students. She creates an environment where she is less an active teacher giving information, and more of a facilitator helping students gain a deeper understanding of material they were encouraged to initially explore on their own and in peer settings.

Kothe encourages an open dialogue with her students, providing a classroom framework that encourages participation at every turn. She frequently halts lectures to ensure students are understanding concepts and creates a safe space based on mutual respect.

As a staunch proponent of science outreach, Kothe has led community activities for more than a decade. She initiated the Let’s Talk Science program at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, a group that engages more than 4,000 children and youth annually, including the massively popular Spooky Science Halloween event.

Kothe continues to actively hone her craft and regularly engages with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s Teaching Centre. She has served as a teaching fellow and facilitated and presented at numerous teaching workshops and symposiums. She seeks the advice and support of her colleagues and often has faculty members from other disciplines visit her classroom to offer critical analysis.

Whether teaching a first-year class or supervising a PhD candidate, Kothe nurtures the teacher-student relationship. Her enthusiasm and willingness to make science fun accelerates learning and she is a strong proponent of immersing students in research opportunities as quickly as possible. As a Board of Governors Teaching Chair, she will look to enhance graduate student supervision, thereby strengthening mentorship quality and capacity on campus and enabling further student success.

Grant to enable purchase of state-of-the-art biophysical research equipment

caroline.zentner — Thu, 09 Jul 2020 17:14:36 +0000

Thanks to funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Research Tools and Instruments (RTI) and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, researchers will soon have access to a suite of equipment that will help them unravel the key communication events in biomolecules.

“The Biomolecular Characterization Suite or BCS will provide us with cutting-edge infrastructure needed for the quality control analysis of a variety of biomolecules and their complexes,” says Dr. Trushar Patel, a professor in the U of L’s Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry. “This is essential for the structural biophysical studies we conduct at the U of L.”

The BCS is comprised of four pieces of equipment that work together to give researchers information about the biomolecule’s size, shape, concentration and how they are bound together.

“As researchers, we need to make sure our molecules are really of good quality,” says Patel. “This cluster of instruments will give us the needed quality assurance of biomolecules and their complexes.”

The BCS will be useful to the U of L team of applicants from the Alberta RNA Research and Training Institute (ARRTI), including Dr. Hans-Joachim Wieden, who works with bacterial proteins for use in his research into antibiotic resistance; Dr. Ute Kothe, who works with yeast proteins; Dr. Tony Russell, who conducts research on the giardia parasite, and Dr. Borries Demeler, who works with biopolymers and nanoparticles.

“This equipment array could be used to make sure we have the right materials for research into drug use and understanding conformations when proteins are bound with nucleic acids,” says Patel. “For example, we need to determine high-resolution structures of proteins for target drug discovery and we can only determine the structures if we have the right quality of protein and this machine will tell us that.”

The addition of these instruments to the U of L’s existing infrastructure will not only attract scientists, but will provide students with valuable hands-on training opportunities.

“Students at the U of L can now get experience with the same biophysical infrastructure that’s available at other highly ranked universities,” Patel says. “Students will receive interdisciplinary training and access to sophisticated equipment that can help them secure high-value jobs in the future.”

The NSERC RTI program has provided $150,000 in support of the acquisition of BCS components.

Pandemic underlines need to revamp academic system that disadvantages parenting researchers and women

caroline.zentner — Tue, 07 Jul 2020 15:10:26 +0000

The COVID-19 pandemic pressure tests our societies in many ways and reveals often overlooked, long-existing and festering systemic challenges and disadvantages. One of the most universal experiences associated with the current pandemic has been the struggle of working parents forced to balance full-time, stay-at-home jobs with the challenge of parenting and home-schooling.

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge researchers Drs. H.J. Wieden and Ute Kothe, along with graduate student Luc Roberts (BSc '12), detailed in a recent article published in EMBO Reports, that the struggle is just as acute in the academic world — widening an already existing gulf between researchers who are active parents and those who are not, thereby presenting a threat to the diversity, inclusivity and quality of research communities. The authors identify the pandemic as an opportunity to rethink and overhaul the academic career and reward system that consistently disadvantages parenting researchers and women.

Parenting researchers — an invisible divide, examines the pressure active parents face while trying to juggle pushing scientific boundaries and child strollers all at once. In the article, Kothe, Wieden and Roberts argue an already broken system is being exacerbated by the pandemic, which only weakens the system in the end.

“The current structure of the academic system — funding, publishing incentives and career options — disadvantages parents and women in particular,” says Wieden. “The present pandemic deepens the already existing divide between parenting researchers and their peers without such obligations. In the long run, this will negatively affect recruiting and retaining junior researchers and maintaining a diverse talent pool.”

Roberts is a PhD candidate now at home with a toddler. His wife, a front-line medical worker, must continue to work out of the home, leaving him as the primary parent. A recent email he received reminded him that, “It is work from home and not a vacation.” Struggling to work on his thesis given his new responsibilities, he blistered at suggestions he should be even more productive at home with so much free time to devote to writing and publishing.

“Let’s be honest, unless my thesis is going to be about the sounds farmyard animals make — coauthored by my son of course — it is not getting written,” says Roberts in the article. “It feels as though I have to choose between my child and a scientific career, and as much as I love science, I am always going to pick my family.”

An age-old struggle, there seems to be an overriding perception that dedicated researchers are devoted to their craft because it is more important. Wieden, Kothe and Roberts would beg to differ, especially now.

“Without any doubt, the well-being of our children and family is most important,” says Kothe. “But it is not only for selfish reasons that our children must be the highest priority. They will be a generation who has experienced and been shaped by the pandemic — the greatest global crisis since the Second World War. It is essential that they are not traumatized by this experience, that they become strong and smart individuals who can build a resilient and intelligent society that is better prepared to handle future threats and pandemics. All parents have an essential and system-relevant job.”

Therein lies the conundrum and what the authors would like to see corrected when the pandemic ends. Good scientific minds have been put in this situation for years, pushed along by a publish or perish culture where rewards are based solely on productivity. As a result, the scientific community may be losing valuable scientific contributors who place familial priorities high.

“How we will deal with this situation will define the character of our research community. Do we reward only the most productive ones, or do we embrace anyone who genuinely conducts high-quality research?” asks Wieden.

They call for a complete overhaul of the academic system as it is currently constructed, recognizing at long last that true equity, diversity and inclusion is not a compromise, but a prerequisite to fostering strong and creative research communities that generate high-quality knowledge. Inclusion means fair recognition of the contributions of parent researchers, women and other underrepresented groups — including their additional obligations.

“Now is the time to completely re-think the academic system,” they argue. “It is critical that we analyze the effects of the pandemic on parenting researchers and trainees and seize the opportunity to thoroughly revamp the academic system and not simply go back to the old routine once it is over.”

For a look at the full article, visit EMBO Reports.

Opening of Science Commons ushers in new era for ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge

trevor.kenney — Fri, 13 Sep 2019 15:30:42 +0000

A new era in scientific research and education has dawned with today’s official opening of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s $280-million Science Commons.

The spectacular facility, which brings together the departments of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Biological Sciences, Neuroscience, Physics & Astronomy and Psychology, is designed to foster transdisciplinary research by providing exceptional opportunities for collaboration and discovery.

At 38,500 sq. metres, it is the largest development on the U of L campus since the original construction of ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Hall began in 1969.

“The history of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is steeped in a tradition of community visionaries coming together to make the improbable possible, just as they did in establishing the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ over 50 years ago,” says Dr. Mike Mahon, U of L president and vice-chancellor. “It took a great community effort to bring the dream of Science Commons together as well. From our incredible faculty and staff, to alumni and donors, our Board of Directors and Senate and all our partners throughout southern Alberta, Science Commons will stand as a testament to visionary thought and perseverance and represent the very best our ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ has to offer.”

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney says the addition of Science Commons at the U of L is a boon for the province.

“On behalf of the Government of Alberta, I congratulate the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge on the opening of Science Commons,” says Kenney “This facility will help thousands of students to learn, innovate and collaborate for decades to come. This project will receive $260 million from Alberta taxpayers, underscoring our province’s commitment to scientific progress, which is critical to our long-term prosperity.”

Demetrios Nicolaides, Alberta’s Minister of Advanced Education, adds that the province’s investment will bolster intellectual capital and strengthen the economy.

“The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge has an outstanding reputation for discovery research. The addition of this state-of-the-art facility will further attract international students and inspire more innovation, creativity and growth,” says Nicolaides. “A modern university research centre brings top talent and business to Alberta which builds the workforce and supports a stronger economy.”

Setting the stage for the next 50 years of scientific discovery and education at the U of L, Science Commons is a facility where science transcends disciplines. Large, flexible lab spaces designed with a shared-space ideology encourage collisions among researchers with diverse backgrounds and approaches. Researchers at all stages of their careers, from postdocs to doctoral, masters and undergraduate students and from kindergarten to Grade 12 will come together, sparking conversations and igniting discovery.

Setting the stage for the next 50 years of scientific discovery and education at the U of L, Science Commons is a facility where science transcends disciplines.

“From the outset, the vision of our faculty members was to stay true to our liberal education roots. The key to the success of this facility is to foster a culture of discovery and innovation that is outward-facing, responsive to societal needs and inspires the next generation,” says Dr. Matthew Letts, interim dean for the Faculty of Arts & Science. “Science Commons will build upon our collaborative approach to research and our experiential approach to learning.”

The facility also creates greater opportunity for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ to build on its relationships with southern Alberta industry partners.

“The U of L has long been an economic driver in our community and Science Commons will expand our ability to foster partnerships as we translate knowledge from the lab to industry,” adds Mahon.

Dr. Ute Kothe, a researcher in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, says the world-class research already being conducted at the U of L will be further enhanced by the amenities within Science Commons.

“This building will draw scientists to Lethbridge, and that will really ensure we are bringing the best minds to Lethbridge to conduct world-class research here,” says Kothe. “They will work in state-of-the-art facilities and they will learn to work collaboratively because this is really the philosophy of the U of L — to bring people together and cross disciplinary boundaries and generate the best ideas.”

With glass the defining design feature of Science Commons, it embodies the concept of science on display, serving as an open invitation to the public to see the world’s brightest minds as they work to solve today’s greatest challenges. Further, the facility offers dedicated spaces that will double the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s capacity for science outreach activities — a true science centre for southern Alberta.

“What makes Science Commons so extraordinary is by the manner in which the architecture and the facility have been structured to foster research, teaching, collaborative space, public space, all in a domain that actually brings together multidisciplinary researchers and the public at large,” says Dr. Fred Wrona, chief scientist, Alberta Environment and Parks, Government of Alberta.

Students are taking notice. New Fall 2019 registrants to Bachelor of Science (BSc) programs offered by the Faculty of Arts & Science are up over 23 per cent from last year, while total BSc registrants are up nearly 10 per cent.

“The open concept allows for a lot of collaboration between different labs, so I’m excited to learn with new tools and new techniques that I might not have had access to before,” says Catrione Lee, a fourth-year biochemistry student.

Already one of the country’s leading research universities, Science Commons positions the U of L at the forefront of science research and education, inspiring the next generation of research scientists and setting the stage for an unprecedented era of discovery.

Dr. Hans-Joachim Wieden, Alberta Innovates Strategic Chair in RNA Bioengineering, Tier I Board of Governors Research Chair in Biomolecular Design and Function and the founding director of the Alberta RNA Research and Training Institute (ARRTI), is succinct in his appraisal of Science Commons.

“I’m convinced that this facility is the best facility for research and science education in Canada.”

UPDATE

Just prior to the offical opening ceremony, Science Commons was blessed and elder Francis First Charger bestowed the Blackfoot name Isttaniokaksini on the facility. Its meaning refers to deep knowledge and awareness rising out of the unknown into the known.

Leading cancer researcher, Dr. Gregg Morin, to speak as part of ARRTI Speaker Series

trevor.kenney — Mon, 03 Dec 2018 22:21:34 +0000

One of Canada’s leading cancer researchers will speak at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge this week as part of the Alberta RNA Research and Training Institute (ARRTI) Speaker Series.

Dr. Gregg Morin, the Head of Proteomics at Canada's Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre in Vancouver, B.C., will present Chemo-proteogenomic analyses of CDK12’s role in mRNA processing on Wednesday, December 5 at 2:30 p.m. in room C610 in ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Hall at the U of L. The talk is open to the public.

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in Canada. However, since 1988, cancer death rates have decreased by 32 per cent in men and 17 per cent in women (Canadian Cancer Statistics 2018). This is due, in part, to the endless research being done worldwide into understanding how cancers form and spread, and how they can be treated.

Canada’s Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre in Vancouver uses genomic and bioinformatics approaches to advance knowledge about cancer. Morin has a long-standing connection to ARRTI, having attended the national RiboWest Conferences hosted by ARRTI and the U of L on numerous occasions.

“Dr. Morin’s research directly links our understanding of RNAs and proteins to the dysregulation of gene expression in cancer,” says the U of L’s Dr. Ute Kothe. “We are looking forward to not only discussing our joint research interests with Dr. Morin, but also how we can address the pressing questions in cancer research together.”

Since the early 1990s, cancer researchers have focused on the source of most cancers, mutations in the DNA that makes up our genome. These genetic mutations can be carried forward through cellular processes to mutations in ribonucleic acid (RNA) that can then cause aberrations in regulatory processes or the production of mutated proteins. Morin’s research program focuses on understanding the functional mechanisms of proteins and RNAs that are either mutated or differently expressed in cancer cells.

Morin has been the Head of Proteomics at the Genome Sciences Centre since 2004, as well as an associate professor in the Department of Medical Genetics at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of British Columbia. He is also an adjunct professor in the Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry at Simon Fraser ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.

ARRTI has been holding the ARRTI Speaker Series since 2014, in which researchers, both local and external, are invited to speak about their current research in RNA and related topics. This year, in recognition of its influence, the ARRTI Speaker Series is sponsored by the International RNA Society as part of its RNA Salon initiative to promote RNA-related research.

For more information about Morin and the Genome Sciences Centre, the hosting Kothe lab or ARRTI, visit these websites:

http://www.bcgsc.ca/faculty/gmorin
http://scholar.ulethbridge.ca/kothe/home
www.uleth.ca/research/ARRTI

ARRTI Speaker Series welcomes Dr. Nils Walter to campus

trevor.kenney — Fri, 23 Nov 2018 17:23:41 +0000

One of the pioneers in creating an understanding of how RNA is a major regulator in our cells, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Michigan’s Dr. Nils Walter, is the featured guest for the Alberta RNA Research and Training Institute (ARRTI) Speaker Series.

Walter comes to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge upon invitation by Dr. Ute Kothe, with whom he shares many research interests.

Dr. Nils Walter Walter comes to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge upon invitation by Dr. Ute Kothe, with whom he shares many research interests.

“I am excited to welcome Dr. Walter to the U of L and to exchange ideas about RNA research, student training and the importance of RNA research for our society,” says Kothe. “Through his visit, we can strengthen our connection between ARRTI and the Center for RNA Biomedicine at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Michigan.”

Walter will present Single Molecules Come into Focus: Understanding RNA-Driven Regulation from First Principles on Monday, November 26 at 3 p.m. in room L1060 at the U of L library. The talk is open to the public.

Walter’s lab uses tools from chemical biology, analytical chemistry, biophysics, biochemistry, molecular biology, cell biology, and bioinformatics to define and unleash the powers of RNA biology and DNA nanotechnology. This interdisciplinary approach is very similar to that taken by ARRTI.

Compared to proteins, a much larger proportion of our genome encodes RNAs, which play a much more important function in health and disease than previously thought. Walter has been a leader in understanding non-coding RNAs, investigating the functions of RNAs from the molecular to the cellular level. In particular, he has been a leader in understanding bacterial RNAs that constitute promising targets for new antimicrobial drugs. Given the quickly increasing problem of multidrug-resistant bacterial infections causing millions of deaths around the world, Walter’s research is thus tackling a hugely important problem.

Walter has been at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Michigan since 1999, and is now a Francis S. Collins Collegiate Professor of Chemistry, Biophysics and Biological Chemistry. He is also the Founding Director of the Single Molecule Analysis in Real-Time (SMART) Center and the Founding Co-director of the Center for RNA Biomedicine, both at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Michigan.

For more information about Walter, the Center for RNA Biomedicine, ARRTI or the hosting Kothe lab, visit these websites:

https://sites.lsa.umich.edu/walter-lab/
https://www.umichrna.org/
www.uleth.ca/research/ARRTI
http://scholar.ulethbridge.ca/kothe/home

Leading undergraduate researchers coming to campus for URCSA conference, Apr. 29-30

trevor.kenney — Fri, 27 Apr 2018 17:49:48 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge will host many of the finest undergraduate student researchers in the province at the 4th Annual Undergraduate Research in Science Conference of Alberta (URSCA), Apr. 29-30, 2018.

A celebration of Alberta discovery and innovation at the earliest stage of post-secondary education, URSCA will feature over 90 undergraduate student demonstrations showcasing young Alberta researchers and their work through oral presentations and poster displays.

“Gone are the days when most researchers begin their original research at the graduate level,” says Dr. Matthew Letts, associate dean of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s Faculty of Arts & Science. “Increasingly, student-focused, research-intensive institutions are not only encouraging hands-on research in the laboratory and in the field at the undergraduate level but are also providing a wide range of experiential education opportunities.”

Dr. Ute Kothe (Alberta RNA Research and Training Institute, Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry) will kick off the conference by presenting The Citizenship of Being a Researcher on Sunday, Apr. 29, 7 p.m. in Markin Hall Atrium. Based on Kothe’s experience in undergraduate research and having supervised more than 50 undergraduate researchers in biochemistry, she will share how undergraduate research equips students with transferable skills to the benefit of both their careers and society as a whole.

Dr. David Naylor (Department of Physics and Astronomy) will give the keynote address, Developing the Technology for the Next Generation of Space Exploration Missions (11:30 a.m., Urban Lounge), at which he will describe the technology development activities being conducted at the U of L, the lead Canadian institution in the ESA/JAXA SPICA mission.

Poster displays will be set up in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Centre for the Arts Atrium with oral presentations taking place throughout the day. For a full schedule of events, visit the URSCA website.

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.

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