Welcome Reception for Canada Research Chairs at UPEI
Today, the University of Prince Edward Island hosted a welcome reception for the two Canada Research Chairs (CRC) within the Faculty of Scienceand#151;Drs. Russell Kerr and Michael van den Heuvel.
"UPEI and Prince Edward Island benefit from the intellectual leadership that comes with the appointment of Dr. Kerr and Dr. van den Heuvel," says Wade MacLauchlan, President of UPEI. "Their strong research programs, scientific creativity and extensive collaborations add important dimensions to our very impressive portfolios of environmental and health research."
Dr. van den Heuvel, Department of Biology and Biomedical Sciences, studies the effects of agriculture and chemical use on freshwater and near-shore marine environments. With half its land area used for agricultural, PEI is a fitting place for van den Heuvel to uncover the impact of chemicals on fishes and help the province to better protect its river systems.
Dr. Kerr, Department of Chemistry, explores the ocean for organisms that produce natural products with therapeutic potential. Two general areas of research are the discovery of new medicines from marine organisms, and the development of biotech production methods of marine-derived medicines whose development has suffered due to the lack of a commercial supply.
For more information on their research please check the CRC website at http://www.chairs.gc.ca/
"The Canada Research Chair Program nurtures world-class scientists and cultivates a new generation of research talent. Top-notch researchers like Kerr and van den Heuvel provide strong research training for young scientists at UPEI," says Christian Lacriox, Dean of Science, UPEI.
Established in the year 2000, the Canada Research Chairs Program works to attract and retain the world's top researchers in Canada. These researchers work to address significant medical, scientific and social problems.
