The deadline for Animal Care Protocol Submissions (new, renewal, or amendment) is Friday, February 2, for the February meeting.

Please note that as of June 1, 2020, all animal user protocols must be submitted through the UPEI Researcher Portal at https://upei.researchservicesoffice.com/Romeo.Researcher/

For new protocols, select "applications," and for renewal or amendment protocols, select "events."

UPEI ACC SOPs and Codes of Practice can be accessed through myUPEI at https://portal.upei.ca/facultystaff/administrativeservices/AVCAnimalCare/Pages/default.aspx. 

Those protocols received after the deadline will be reviewed the following month. The committee requires at least one month for processing applications.

Happy New Year!

The UPEI Health Research Network is looking for full/part-time undergraduate students for the Connections program, which starts on January 22.

Would you like to meet new friends and be involved in an inclusive and non-judgmental environment to learn about food, health, stress, coping, and physical activity? 

The staff at the Health Research Network is offering a free eight-session program to help connect undergraduate students to provide an environment for learning on a variety of topics around health and well-being and connecting to the student community. Snacks will be provided at each session!

This free program will include a total of eight weekly group education sessions which include 1 hour with a registered dietitian and 1-2 hours of exercise sessions with a kinesiologist (plus open gym times) located in the lower level of the Steel Building. These sessions will be student-centered so we welcome any level of knowledge and ability. 

If you are interested in registering, please email Gemma and Laurie at connections@upei.ca for more information or to register. We look forward to seeing you there!

On Saturday, January 13, at 7:30 pm, the UPEI Department of Music will present a Faculty Recital featuring Magdalena von Eccher on the SDU Stage, Dr. Steel Recital Hall, UPEI.

This solo piano recital will feature a diverse program of works ranging from W. A. Mozart to Kelly-Marie Murphy, centering around a group of works by Clara and Robert Schumann, Fanny Mendelssohn and her brother Felix, and Johannes Brahms. Steeped in lyricism and poetry, the recital will be a vivid portrayal of Magdalena's broad range of musical interests.

Admission is $30 for adults and $10 for students, payable by cash at the door. Accessible parking is available, and the theatre has an accessible entrance via elevator.

UPEI Health, Safety, and Environment will hold a building emergency plan session for chief wardens, floor wardens, and guardians on Friday, January 19, 2024, at 1:30 pm, in Bill and Denise Andrew Hall (AH), Room 142.

Please email hse@upei.ca if you are interested in attending.

The Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC) is now accepting applications for the Dr. Tim Ogilvie AVC Vet Camps, taking place in July/August 2024.

Designed for students entering grades 7-9 or 10-12, each of the four week-long camps will provide campers with a behind-the-scenes look at the world of veterinary medicine. Campers will learn about caring for animals, go on field trips, and take part in fun and educational activities.

For more information, and to apply, visit www.upei.ca/avcsummerprograms/vetcamp

The deadline for applications is March 18, 2024.

The deadline for Animal Care Protocol Submissions (new, renewal, or amendment) is Friday, February 2, for the February meeting.

Please note that as of June 1, 2020, all animal user protocols must be submitted through the UPEI Researcher Portal at https://upei.researchservicesoffice.com/Romeo.Researcher/

For new protocols, select "applications," and for renewal or amendment protocols, select "events."

UPEI ACC SOPs and Codes of Practice can be accessed through myUPEI at https://portal.upei.ca/facultystaff/administrativeservices/AVCAnimalCare/Pages/default.aspx. 

Those protocols received after the deadline will be reviewed the following month. The committee requires at least one month for processing applications.

On Saturday, January 13, at 7:30 pm, the UPEI Department of Music will present a Faculty Recital featuring Magdalena von Eccher on the SDU Stage, Dr. Steel Recital Hall, UPEI.

This solo piano recital will feature a diverse program of works ranging from W. A. Mozart to Kelly-Marie Murphy, centering around a group of works by Clara and Robert Schumann, Fanny Mendelssohn and her brother Felix, and Johannes Brahms. Steeped in lyricism and poetry, the recital will be a vivid portrayal of Magdalena's broad range of musical interests.

Admission is $30 for adults and $10 for students, payable by cash at the door. Accessible parking is available, and the theatre has an accessible entrance via elevator.

Welcome to 2024 and the winter term!  

Writing Centre appointments are now available for anyone looking for some support getting started early on writing assignments or with any other writing-related matters. Appointments provide up to an hour of one-on-one time with a friendly, knowledgeable tutor in the Writing Centre (RL 274).  Online appointments are also available.

To see our schedule and make an appointment, go to https://upei.mywconline.com/

Since the release of the University of Prince Edward Island Review (UPEI Review) in June 2023, UPEI has undertaken a consultation process with members of the campus and broader community. The preliminary draft of the UPEI Action Plan, which is a work in progress, reflects the candid input and feedback gathered through consultations over a six-month period. To contribute to further developing the plan, we encourage you to read the draft and provide feedback until January 17:

Preliminary Draft – UPEI Action Plan

Feedback Consultation Form 

For more information, visit the Action Plan Community Consultation web page on upei.ca.

This is a 45-minute drop-in session where we will look at some basic slide design principles and then spend time redesigning one of your own slide decks.

What to bring: A set of slides and a device to work on

Schedule:  

• 10-minute presentation on slide design 

• 30 minutes to work individually on your own slides; the host is present for questions 

• 5 minutes to reflect on how it went and ask more questions 

Contact Kristy at kmckinney@upei.ca if you have any questions.

Are you running complex computational processes that your computer is struggling to handle? Are you having trouble managing large datasets? Join us for a lunch and learn session on Friday, January 12, from noon to 1:00 pm, UPEI Teaching and Learning Centre, Robertson Library Annex, Room 230, about the free research computing tools, resources, and training that ACENET offers. These services can help you more quickly and efficiently run large-scale simulations and analyses, host web-based applications, and run calculations that regular computers can’t handle.

This session is open to all researchers and their teams, including faculty and students. For more information, contact Kaitlin Newson.

REGISTRATION: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeCWGrAXVSYriClguYLmiFEjncy5dvJvNdaLI9L3mFoLYfYuA/viewform

UPEI Health, Safety, and Environment will hold a building emergency plan session for chief wardens, floor wardens, and guardians on Friday, January 19, 2024, at 1:30 pm, in Bill and Denise Andrew Hall (AH), Room 142.

Please email hse@upei.ca if you are interested in attending.

The Scholarships and Awards Office is accepting applications for the second semester (winter) award cycle. 

Students can now access the Scholarship and Award Application portal by clicking the link provided here or in the UPEI Forms section of their MyUPEI account. Students are encouraged to review the four-step instructions and submit their electronic application through the portal by the February 1, 2024, deadline to be considered. Additional awards with a separate application process are conveniently listed below the portal link on the 2nd Semester (Winter) Award Cycle webpage. Deadlines for the separate application awards vary across January and February. Be sure to click the links, review the criteria, and submit in time for the deadline.

If you have questions about the application processes, award criteria, or deadlines, please contact scholarships@upei.ca or visit us in Dalton Hall, room 202. Best of luck to all who apply!

Happy New Year!

The UPEI Health Research Network is looking for full/part-time undergraduate students for the Connections program, which starts on January 22.

Would you like to meet new friends and be involved in an inclusive and non-judgmental environment to learn about food, health, stress, coping, and physical activity? 

The staff at the Health Research Network is offering a free eight-session program to help connect undergraduate students to provide an environment for learning on a variety of topics around health and well-being and connecting to the student community. Snacks will be provided at each session!

This free program will include a total of eight weekly group education sessions which include 1 hour with a registered dietitian and 1-2 hours of exercise sessions with a kinesiologist (plus open gym times) located in the lower level of the Steel Building. These sessions will be student-centered so we welcome any level of knowledge and ability. 

If you are interested in registering, please email Gemma and Laurie at connections@upei.ca for more information or to register. We look forward to seeing you there!

Have you ever wanted to share a one-off blog post without starting a full-fledged blog? Teaching Matters might be a good platform to publish your ideas. Check it out here. 

This week they are highlighting the 10 most read blog posts and the most listened-to podcast episodes in 2023.  Not surprisingly, there is a lot about ChatGPT, but there are also blogs on kindness and care for our students and each other. Here's the link to Teaching Matters’ Top 10 of 2023.

On Saturday, January 13, at 7:30 pm, the UPEI Department of Music will present a Faculty Recital featuring Magdalena von Eccher on the SDU Stage, Dr. Steel Recital Hall, UPEI.

This solo piano recital will feature a diverse program of works ranging from W. A. Mozart to Kelly-Marie Murphy, centering around a group of works by Clara and Robert Schumann, Fanny Mendelssohn and her brother Felix, and Johannes Brahms. Steeped in lyricism and poetry, the recital will be a vivid portrayal of Magdalena's broad range of musical interests.

Admission is $30 for adults and $10 for students, payable by cash at the door. Accessible parking is available, and the theatre has an accessible entrance via elevator.

Welcome to 2024 and the winter term!  

Writing Centre appointments are now available for anyone looking for some support getting started early on writing assignments or with any other writing-related matters. Appointments provide up to an hour of one-on-one time with a friendly, knowledgeable tutor in the Writing Centre (RL 274).  Online appointments are also available.

To see our schedule and make an appointment, go to https://upei.mywconline.com/

Reaching zero inbox in 2024: Instead of processing all the messages in your email inbox to clear it, make a folder and label it "2023 & older." Select all your inbox messages and move them to that folder. If you don't like the results, move the messages back to your inbox. But at least you get to see what having a clear inbox is like. You might like it.

This is a 45-minute drop-in session where we will look at some basic slide design principles and then spend time redesigning one of your own slide decks.

What to bring: A set of slides and a device to work on

Schedule:  

• 10-minute presentation on slide design 

• 30 minutes to work individually on your own slides; the host is present for questions 

• 5 minutes to reflect on how it went and ask more questions 

Contact Kristy at kmckinney@upei.ca if you have any questions.

Presenter: Olivier Philips

Title: "Exploring the Functions of Metabolites Downstream of the Serine Biosynthesis Pathway"

Abstract:

This study explores the serine biosynthesis pathway's (SBP) significance as a potential therapeutic target in specific breast cancers. While the SBP's importance in these cancers is acknowledged, its full functions remain unclear. Investigating downstream pathways associated with the SBP aims to shed light on its role, potentially uncovering new treatment targets, and addressing a critical research gap. Using the SBP inhibitor NCT-503, we effectively curbed cell proliferation and impeded serine biosynthesis in SBP-dependent breast cancer cell lines. Metabolomics analysis with NCT-503 revealed significant alterations in vital metabolites like creatine, taurine, glutathione, and GABA. Minimal variations in metabolite abundance were observed across different media types, and interventions involving creatine and its precursor, guanidinoacetic acid, rescued cell growth alongside NCT-503 in SBP-dependent lines. Exploring protein interactors of creatine identified potential targets such as TNPO3, TPP1, MGAT4B, HEATR5B, NPAT, and WDR46, advancing our understanding and uncovering potential therapeutic avenues for breast cancer.

Date/Time/Location: Tuesday, January 9, 2024, 2:00 pm, via web conference

If you wish to attend the public presentation, please contact the Graduate Studies Coordinator at gsc@upei.ca to receive the link.

Everyone is welcome.