An Atlantic Canada research project called 'Retention of Aboriginal Students in Atlantic Canada's Post-secondary Institutions: An analysis of the supports available to Aboriginal students' has been initiated by the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) in partnership with the Association of Atlantic Universities (AAU).

The Canadian Council on Learning will provide $55,000 in funding for this one-year investigation.

UPEI's Dr. Vianne Timmons, vice-president of academic development, is leading the project in partnership with Dr. Fred Wien, Dalhousie University; Dr. Trudy Sable, Saint Mary's University; Lindsay Marshall, Associate Dean of Mi'kmaq College Institute at Cape Breton University; Dr. Laurel Lewey, St. Thomas University; and Bernadette Power, Memorial University, to identify Aboriginal students' perceptions of social and academic supports (or lack thereof) that are available to them at post-secondary institutions in Atlantic Canada.

"Research indicates that support services specifically for Aboriginal students aid in student success," says Dr. Timmons. 'It is critical that universities have these Aboriginal student supports available for their students to help in student success, and also encourage further postgraduate studies.'

Julie Bull, an Aboriginal master's student at UPEI, is excited about this research.

'A key component of effective and efficient change is giving a voice to those who have been otherwise muted,' she says. 'Aboriginal students face a multitude of challenges when attending post-secondary institutions, which means their concerns and stories need to be told and heard in order to inform future program and service delivery. Engaging the Aboriginal students in this project will yield results that can be used to influence change and implement culturally appropriate services.'

The results of this research will be made accessible and available to the AAU, which is an association of 17 universities in the Atlantic region. Recommendations will also be identified for the AAU, its member institutions, participating indigenous communities and decision-makers in order to improve the nature of social and academic support for indigenous students in the region.

The University of Prince Edward Island and Dr. Timmons have been working with indigenous communities for the past six years. Dr. Timmons has conducted research in partnership with various communities in the area of children's health, knowledge transfer and family literacy.

For further information, contact Dr. Timmons at vtimmons@upei.ca or (902) 566-0405.

The University of Prince Edward Island’s women’s Panthers volleyball team will feature two new up-and-coming athletes in the 2008–2009 season.

Coach Lynn Boudreau is thrilled that she successfully recruited Lena Pitsanuk, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Olivia Dolphin, of Elmwood, Prince Edward Island, for the team.

Pitsanuk plays volleyball for Dakota Collegiate where she is also a scholar-athlete. In the 2006–2007 school year, the Dakota High team reached the provincial quarterfinals, and in 2007–2008, they made it to the semifinals. She is involved in Youth in Philanthropy and Youth in Action, and is a member of her class’s graduation committee. A well-rounded athlete, she has also played basketball, badminton, baseball and team handball, and coached and refereed grade seven and eight volleyball.

Phil Hudson, a teacher and coach at Dakota Collegiate, had this to say: "Lena has been one of the most improved players in Manitoba over the past couple of years. This is directly related to her work ethic and strong determination to always do her best."

Pitsanuk commented, "I am extremely excited to become part of the volleyball family at UPEI. I am really looking forward to working with Coach Boudreau, and I know I will learn so much from her experiences as a player in the AUS. The school is the right size for me, and the Faculty of Science will challenge me academically. I look forward to my upcoming adventures moving from Winnipeg to Charlottetown. Go, Panthers!"

Dolphin plays volleyball for Bluefield, and won gold with her team at the Prince Edward Island Volleyball Provincials the past three years. She played for East Wiltshire and on the Red Mud Spring league. She is a member of the Canada Games training team, the PEI Elite team and the National Training Team which plays in a national tournament each year. Her awards include senior athlete of the year for Volleyball PEI 2007, Prince Edward Island High School MVP in the 2007 provincial championship, and first-team PEISAA Volleyball All-Star in 2006 and 2007.

“I'm looking forward to attending UPEI in September and am enthusiastic about becoming a Panther,” says Dolphin. “I can't wait to begin playing with the UPEI volleyball team in the fall and am excited by the fact that I will be staying in my home province.”

Coach Boudreau is pleased with both players making UPEI their destination next fall.

“Pitsanuk is a big middle block with loads of experience at a high level. She will step into our program and make an instant impact. This past spring she travelled to the US with her team to compete against the top teams in the mid-west,” said Boudreau.

“The key to being competitive in the AUS is keeping the best players in your province at home, and with Dolphin coming to UPEI next year, it is a step in the right direction,” she said. “Olivia knows what it takes to win after pursuing gold the last three years in the PEI High School League. She has a great vertical and court awareness. Olivia will be a building block in our program.”

With returning key players, including fifth-year power Rebecca Gallant, and the new players, Boudreau is excited about the year to come.

For information, contact Boudreau at (902) 566-0991 or lboudreau@upei.ca. Visit http://upei.ca/athletics for all your updates on Panther Sport.

The University of Prince Edward Island has appointed Dr. Donald L. Reynolds (DVM, PhD, Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Microbiologists) to the position of Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine for the Atlantic Veterinary College. Dr. Reynolds' six-year term will begin in August 2008.

"The UPEI community is very pleased to welcome Dr. Reynolds to our campus and province," says UPEI President Wade MacLauchlan. "As one of only 33 Deans of Veterinary Medicine in North America, Dr. Reynolds is a member of a distinct group whose expertise and vision play a key role in veterinary medicine education, the development of this much-respected profession and its role in relation to public health, food safety, and animal health and welfare."

Reynolds is currently the Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Studies at Iowa StateUniversity's College of Veterinary Medicine. He is also the school's Associate Director of the Veterinary Medical Research Institute, and Assistant Director of Iowa State University's Agricultural Experiment Station. He also holds the position of Professor of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine.

"UPEI has an impressive track record of growth and a remarkable commitment to quality education," says Reynolds. "I look forward to contributing to the ongoing success of the Atlantic Veterinary College and the University as a whole throughout my term as Dean."

Originally from Dayton, Ohio, Reynolds completed his Bachelor of Science (1977), Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree (1981) and PhD (1986) at The Ohio State University. His past research interests have focussed on avian medicine and food safety.

Reynolds will succeed Dr. Timothy H. Ogilvie who will complete two successful terms as Dean of the Atlantic Veterinary College this summer.

"Dr. Tim Ogilvie's leadership and vision have contributed significantly to the development of the Atlantic Veterinary College and our Atlantic region," says MacLauchlan. "Dr. Ogilvie's spirit of collaboration and ability to move forward the priorities of the Atlantic VeterinaryCollege at UPEI have earned him a well-deserved reputation as a well-respected, effective leader."

The Tourism Research Centre (TRC) at UPEI's School of Business today announced the release of a report profiling Quebec visitors to P.E.I. during the summer of 2007.

Results show Quebec providing the third-highest volume of visitors after Ontario and the Maritime provinces. According to the data, visitors from Quebec tend to take shorter holidays than other non-Maritime visitors, but spend an impressive 64.5 per cent of nights on P.E.I. In fact, P.E.I. is the primary destination for 76 per cent of Quebecois visitors.

'This report gives us an excellent profile of our visitors from Quebec and allows us to compare and contrast them with visitors from other markets,' says Dr. Sean Hennessey, Faculty Director of the TRC. 'There are really two types of Quebec visitors: one is the touring visitor, and the other is the camping family. Although camping is occasionally associated with a budget holiday, Quebec visitors have a high per-person per-night expenditure level, second only after our international visitors. These visitors are wonderful for many industries on the Island as they spend money on a variety of things and don't necessarily stick to the traditional ‘touristy' activities.

'Quebec visitors are interesting in that they tend to ‘make their own fun,'' he adds. 'Participation in outdoor sports and activities that are individual or family in nature is far above average. It's important to the tourist industry to have these types of visitors. Like our previously studied Maritime and Ontario visitors, the Quebecois are quite happy with their experiences on Prince Edward Island These visitors are the most likely to visit all regions on the Island. It is refreshing to see that visitors do want to explore the whole Island and feel it is a worthwhile activity.'

Some highlights of the Quebec report include:

• Quebec visitors accounted for 13.5 per cent of the Island's total visitors during the study period in 2007. This was the Island's third-largest market of origin after the Maritimes and Ontario. The Quebec market provides 27.2 per cent of the visitors who came to P.E.I. from outside the Maritimes.

• Similar to the 60 per cent return visitation rate for visitors from other Canadian provinces, 56 per cent of Quebec visitors are return visitors. In terms of party composition, 32 per cent of Quebec visitors were travelling as a family with children, similar to the ratio from the rest of Canada (34 per cent), and 23 per cent visit the Island mainly to visit friends or relatives, identical to the ratio for the rest of Canada.

• Compared to other visitors, Quebec visitors are travelling on relatively short trips (9.3 nights versus 12.2 nights for Canadian visitors from outside the Maritimes). However, P.E.I. is the main destination for 76 per cent of these visitors with stays of 6.0 nights (64.5 per cent of nights away from home). Both figures are the highest from any market, with the exception of the Maritimes.

• In total, 35 per cent of visitors from Quebec spend at least one night in the region known as 'Anne's Land.' In contrast, only 22 per cent of travel parties from Quebec spent a night in Charlottetown, the lowest level recorded of all visitors when analyzed by place of origin. In terms of total nights spent in the regions, 45 per cent of Quebec visitors' total nights are spent in Anne's Land, the highest of any origin market; and 15 per cent are in Charlottetown, the lowest of any origin market.

• Quebec visitors are more likely to spend at least one night in most tourist regions than visitors from any other North American origin market.

• Quebec visitors like to camp; they have, by far, the highest percentage of campers of any of the origin markets. In total, 37 per cent of Quebec visitors spend at least one night at a campground compared to 9 to 22 per cent for other markets. As for total nights, 35 per cent of them are spent staying at a campground. Again, this is by far the highest of the various origin markets.

• Sightseeing and driving tours are the leading activity for Quebec visitors, although the participation rate is much lower when compared to other non-regional visitors.

• Quebecois visited national and provincial parks, shopped for antiques and souvenirs, visited historic and cultural attractions, and visited Anne of Green Gables attractions at average rates.

• Quebec visitors participated in outdoor sports and activities at above average rates (20 per cent). They attended fairs and festivals, played golf, and attended lobster dinners at below average rates. In addition, they attended live theatre (only 23 per cent attended) and visited bars and pubs (10 per cent versus 26 per cent for visitors from outside the Maritimes) at well below average rates.

• In terms of demographics, a leading 36 per cent of Quebec travel parties are headed by someone aged 35 to 54. This is very similar to the average for other Canadian visitors (34 per cent). However, household incomes of Quebec visitors tend to lag; only 19 per cent of Quebec visitors have annual household incomes of $125,000 or more, compared to 30 per cent of visitors from other Canadian provinces outside the Maritimes.

• Quebec visitors appeared to be very satisfied with their vacation on the Island. Their trip ratings were very similar to the ratings provided by other visitors in all categories, but they gave P.E.I. the highest ratings (3.8 out of 5) for the prices of goods and services.

The report is the fourth in a series of in-depth profiles based on comprehensive data previously released in the report 'Overall Results of the 2007 Exit Survey.' The data is for the main tourism season of June 27 to September 30, 2007, and was collected as visitors departed P.E.I. at the Confederation Bridge, Charlottetown Airport, and Wood Islands Ferry (seasonally).

Data is being collected for a full year, and the survey is being managed by the TRC on behalf of Tourism PEI. The Exit Survey gathers information on main purpose of the trip, length of stay, areas visited, accommodation used, size and composition of travel party, holiday activities, visitor spending, customer satisfaction, visitation data, place of origin, and traveller demographics. This report specifically compares the similarities and differences between visitors from Ontario and visitors from other areas. The results are based on 3,173 completed surveys collected from June 27 to September 30, 2007.

Over the next seven weeks a series of reports profiling different segments of P.E.I. visitors based on origin, travel party type, repeat visitation, and other characteristics will be released. All reports are or will be available on the TRC's website at trc.upei.ca/exitsurvey.

Further information about the report can be obtained from the Tourism Research Centre, School of Business, University of PEI, at (902) 566-6096 or trc@upei.ca.

Dr. Vianne Timmons, UPEI's vice-president of academic development, is pleased to announce the appointment of Kathleen Kielly, from the University of Northern British Columbia, to the position of registrar effective July 1, 2008.

'We are thrilled that Ms. Kielly is taking on this very important position,' says Timmons, who is currently acting registrar. 'Our focus is on making sure that our students receive the best possible experience at UPEI. Ms. Kielly's extensive experience as registrar at UNBC, strong leadership skills and passion for students ensure that she is the right person for the job.'

Kielly is very pleased about her new position.

'The opportunity to work with the University of Prince Edward Island is very exciting for me,' she says, 'The student-centred environment nestled within a strong sense of community makes for a very inviting and receptive place to be. I look forward to working with the dedicated team of professionals at the University and supporting the University's vision for access and excellence.'

A native of Newfoundland, Kielly has worked in the support of education throughout her entire working career. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Alberta and attended the University of Manitoba Centre for Higher Education Research and Development University Manager's Course. She has worked at Memorial University, the Alberta Teachers' Association and the provincial Department of Education in Alberta. She is currently the registrar and secretary to the senate at the University of Northern British Columbia.

She is active in provincial, regional, national and international organizations relevant to her work, and has been involved as an organizer or a presenter in a number of educational conferences, most recently the 2006 Pacific Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, the 2007 BC Council on Admissions and Transfer Degree Partnering Symposium, and the 2007 Canadian Banner User's Conference.

Three UPEI faculty members were recently recognized for their outstanding teaching and research achievements at a reception and awards banquet sponsored by the UPEI Faculty Association and the Office of the President.

Dr. June Countryman, Department of Music, won the Hessian Award for Excellence in Teaching, and Dr. Donna Giberson, Faculty of Science, and Dr. Malcolm Murray, Faculty of Arts, received UPEI Merit Awards for Scholarly Achievement for their exceptional accomplishments as researchers.

The Hessian award is given to a faculty member who has shown outstanding competence in teaching, and the merit awards to faculty members who have made significant and continuing contributions to scholarly research.

Countryman has been with the music department for only two years, but she has already made an indelible mark upon the program and her students. Since arriving on campus, she has been responsible for new courses such as elementary music education methods, philosophy of music education and aural skills. Last year, she introduced a new course in global music, which exposed students to ethnic musical traditions beyond western music. This year, she pioneered a musicianship course to help students develop crucial skills in structured and unstructured musical improvisation. Her students describe her as extremely compassionate, and she is a mentor to other faculty members.

A full professor in the biology department, Giberson received her BSc in Environmental Biology from the University of Calgary, and MSc in Aquatic Entomology and PhD in Aquatic Ecology from the University of Manitoba. She researches aquatic entomology, focusing on biodiversity in Canadian ecosystems. Her research is well published in peer-reviewed journals, books and conference proceedings. In 2007 alone she published five peer-reviewed articles. She supervises MSc graduate students and BSc honours undergraduate students, and is active in several professional organizations. She has worked with the P.E.I. Department of Health to identify mosquito species and their breeding areas on the Island. This is her second Merit Award for Scholarly Achievement award; the first was in 1996.

Dr. Malcolm Murray, associate professor of philosophy, received his honours BA in Philosophy and Psychology, MA in Philosophy and PhD in Philosophy from the University of Waterloo. He specializes in social and political philosophy, game theory, contractarianism, and 20th-century ethics. Murray has published four scholarly books within five years, as well as chapters in books and articles in refereed philosophical journals. He currently serves as chair of the UPEI Research Ethics Board and is a member of the Scholarly Publications Programme Committee of the Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences Aid. He is a regular reviewer for the Journal of Value Inquiry and the Ethical Theory and Moral Practice journal.

Photo (left to right): Dr. Malcolm Murray, Dr. Donna Giberson and Dr. June Countryman

Two interns with the Atlantic Council for International Cooperation (ACIC) will talk about their recent experiences in India and Chile on Friday, April 25, from noon to 1:30 p.m., in the UPEI Main Building Faculty Lounge.

Lori Crawford, from P.E.I., worked as an intern with Rescue Mission Canada in Prince Edward Island. She did the international portion of her internship in Bangalore, India, where she worked on projects related to education and health promotion. She developed and presented workshops for students in rural government schools outside of Bangalore, and worked in a facility for rescued street children. She witnessed some of the positive changes occurring in the schools and homes as a result of the work being done by local and international groups.

An intern with the Institute of Island Studies at UPEI, Kim D’Ambrogi, also a resident of P.E.I., completed the overseas portion of her internship on the island of Chiloé, south of Chile. She was involved in ventures that allowed her to experience and learn about Chiloé’s culture. She observed an indigenously-run health centre that uses integrative and traditional approaches to medicine. She also conducted research for the Institute of Island Studies and the Social Economy Research Network on micro-enterprise development, interviewing people who have started their own small enterprises on Chiloé.

All are welcome to attend this free event. Refreshments will be served. For more information, contact Kim D’Ambrogi at dambrogi@gmail.com.

ACIC is a coalition of individuals, organizations, and institutions working in the Atlantic region, which is committed to achieving global sustainability in a peaceful and healthy environment, with social justice, human dignity, and participation for all. It supports its members in international cooperation and education through collective leadership, networking, information, training and coordination, and represents their interests when dealing with government and others.

A team of researchers at the University of Prince Edward Island’s Atlantic Veterinary College has developed the world’s first vaccine that is effective against a destructive microsporidian parasite of salmon.

"Although there are many diseases of fish, animals and humans caused by microsporidian parasites, there have been no successful treatment or prevention methods against these enigmatic disease-causing organisms until now," says Dr. David J. Speare (DVM, DVSc), lead researcher responsible for the discovery. "Now we can say that we actually have one. We have a vaccine."

Speare, an internationally recognized fish pathologist, and fellow researchers Dr. Fred Markham and Dr. Nicole Guselle, have worked on the vaccine for more than a decade. Recently they published their findings in a leading international experimental medical research journal Clinical and Vaccine Immunology.

The team’s novel spore-based vaccine works to prevent microsporidial gill disease (MSGD) in salmon. MSGD is a significant disease to farmed salmon species caused by the microsporidian parasite Loma salmonae. The result of the disease is the death of pre-market size salmon. Mortality rates on some farms affect 30 per cent of the stock. Within repeated experimental trials of the vaccine, vaccinated fish demonstrate a significant decrease in the incidence of infection and disease.

"We are very excited that we have made a breakthrough on a disease for which there are no other effective treatments," says Speare.

Aquaculture is the fastest growing food production sector in the world. The aquaculture industry’s worth worldwide is estimated at $50 billion. In Canada, this estimate is $750 million. With Canada now ranked fourth in world salmon and trout production, the research team’s vaccine discovery holds great promise for safe-guarding the growth of the farmed aquatic sector at home and on a global scale.

"As infectious diseases continue to remain an impediment to the development, productivity and profitability of fish farms, vaccination plays an important role in large-scale commercial fish farming," explains Speare.

Microsporidians are one of the stranger and least understood parasites that can live for long periods within the cells of infected hosts. Unlike other parasites, there is no medication to fight microsporidian parasites. In human health, microsporidians have emerged as major disease problems in AIDS patients and people receiving immunosuppressive drugs after organ transplant.

"The development of a vaccine for a microsporidian parasite of fish - and demonstrating its effectiveness - is likely to spark renewed efforts in developing similar vaccine strategies or immunological approaches that could be effective in limiting several microsporidial diseases affecting humans," says Speare. "Our research team at the Atlantic Veterinary College is very excited to be at the forefront of this field of research."

The Atlantic Veterinary College at UPEI is known around the world as "the fish vet school" because of its expertise in aquatic species health. In addition to being home to the Centre for Aquatic Health Sciences, the Atlantic Veterinary College offers aquatic expertise through North America’s only OIE Reference Laboratory for infectious salmon anaemia, the AVC Lobster Science Centre (the only lobster research centre in the world that is a part of a veterinary college), the Centre for Marine and Aquatic Resources, and the AVC Shellfish Research Group.

The Atlantic Veterinary College at UPEI trains doctors of veterinary medicine as well as animal health, human health, and comparative biomedical researchers. Since opening in 1986, the Atlantic Veterinary College has become known worldwide for its quality educational programs, rapidly growing research agenda and outstanding professional services.

The University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) Student Union recognized and thanked its numerous volunteers and staff for their contributions to the success of the organization during its annual awards ceremony held on March 28.

Approximately 100 UPEI students, faculty and staff gathered at the event to show their appreciation to those chosen by the union to be honoured.

Dr. Ron Collins, of the School of Business, received the Faculty of the Year Award, presented by executive vice-president Janelle Pitre. This award is presented to a faculty member in appreciation for their outstanding contribution to student life.

Student Union President Willy Gauthier presented William MacDonald with the Councillor of the Year Award. Will was also coordinator of the annual Shinerama Event and Festivities, and led UPEI to win the award of the Best Overall Campaign.

The Nexus Yearbook Appreciation Award was presented by Lloyd MacKenzie, Yearbook Editor, to Caitlyn Darrach.

The Cadre Volunteer of the Year was presented by Lucas McInnis, Editor-in-Chief, to Brodie Birt.

The Wave Bartender of the Year was presented by Brodie Craswell, Assistant Manager, to Allyson Leduc.

The Wave Server of the Year was presented by Micheline Briand, Head Bartender, to Shannon Ochsner.

Student Union Security Officer of the Year was presented by Ryan Perry, Student Union Security Chief, to Adam Clow and Christina Buell.

UPEI Student Union Executive 2007-2008 President Willy Gauthier and other Executive members were honoured with an Appreciation Award for their valuable contribution to the UPEI Student Union.

Photo: Janelle Pitre presents Dr. Ron Collins with the Faculty of the Year Award.

The state-of-the-art bioscience and health research centre at the University of Prince Edward Island has been named the Regis and Joan Duffy Research Centre in honour of the well-known Island couple.

The naming took place at a ceremony on April 28 in the Regis and Joan Duffy Research Centre, where researchers from UPEI, the National Research Council Institute for Nutrisciences and Health (NRC-INH), and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) collaborate on health-related research projects and contribute to the Island’s growing bioscience cluster.

Speaking at the event were Dr. Roman Szumski, Vice-president of Life Sciences at the NRC; Wade MacLauchlan, President of UPEI; and Dr. Michael Mayne, Deputy Minister of the Office of Biosciences and Economic Innovation. Margaret MacFarlene, Vice-chair of the UPEI Board of Governors, presented Regis and Joan Duffy with a gift on behalf of UPEI.

“We are all proud that this magnificent research centre will bear the names of two distinguished Prince Edward Islanders who have given so much to their community and to the University of Prince Edward Island,” says MacLauchlan. “Regis and Joan Duffy exemplify community service and leadership.”

The Duffy's association with UPEI, and its predecessor St. Dunstan’s University, goes back almost 60 years. A native of Kinkora, Regis Duffy earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Dunstan’s University in 1953, and his PhD in Chemistry from Fordham University in 1962. He returned to P.E.I. where he taught chemistry at St. Dunstan’s and then at UPEI where he became the new university’s first Dean of Science.

In 1970 Duffy created Diagnostic Chemicals Ltd. (DCL Ltd.), a company that makes fine research chemicals, enzymes and blood analysis systems. With its headquarters on P.E.I., the company eventually expanded into the United States and Mexico to serve hospitals, clinics, and laboratories around the world. In 2001 DCL Ltd. opened a new division called BioVectra dcl.

Duffy’s entrepreneurial success grew from his desire to contribute meaningfully to P.E.I.’s development and economy.

“The University provided a bridge to the bioscience business world,” says Duffy, who recently sold his company Diagnostic Chemicals Ltd. (DCL Ltd.) and shared the proceeds with employees and charities. He and his wife and business partner Joan Duffy have contributed $2-million to UPEI for scholarships and health research.

After serving as chair of the UPEI board of governors from 1996 to 2006, Regis Duffy was named board chair emeritus in 2007 for his contributions as a board member and chair, and for his many years of service to UPEI. His many honours include being named a member of the Order of Canada and of the PEI Business Hall of Fame. He is the founding chair of the PEI BioAlliance, a leadership organization for the bioscience cluster, and he is a member of the NRC Institute for Marine Biosciences-Institute for Nutrisciences and Health (IMB-INH) Advisory Committee.

In addition to contributing to the province’s education and business sectors, Duffy has been active in his community, including as a member of City of Charlottetown’s council from 1989 to 1997, and as a leader in his church.

Joan Duffy is a retired teacher and respected volunteer in community and cultural activities. She has been active in the family’s business enterprises from the beginning. She has been a private tutor; a volunteer for three schools and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, and a canvasser for local charities. She was also involved in Canadian Parents For French and in the American Field Services Program, which gave students from abroad the opportunity to attend school in P.E.I. while residing with Island families.

In the Regis and Joan Duffy Research Centre, researchers from each of the three partner institutions share knowledge, lab space, and specialized equipment and tools as they explore how natural compounds can be used to prevent and treat disease in animals and humans. Their research focuses on identifying, extracting and refining naturally-occurring compounds from renewable plant, animal and marine resources that help to prevent or treat diseases, infections or disorders affecting the brain, immune system or metabolism, such Alzheimer’s, Type-2 diabetes and high cholesterol.

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Photo: President Wade MacLauchlan, Joan and Regis Duffy, and Dr. Roman Szumski, Vice-president of Life Sciences at the NRC, at the naming ceremony for the Regis and Joan Duffy Research Centre on April 28

BACKGROUNDER

An Alliance for a Healthier Future

The same is true of an effective and productive partnership; its whole should be greater than the sum of the organizations involved.

In Charlottetown, that accurately describes the teaming up of two federal government organizations and the local university. Collectively, they are researching ways to improve human and animal health.

The multidisciplinary skills and combined expertise of these researchers, together with the networks and reputations of their respective organizations, form a potent mix.

Beyond the benefits of exchanging knowledge with one another, select researchers from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), the National Research Council Institute for Nutrisciences and Health (NRC-INH) and the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) also share a building, core laboratories, lab benches, and specialized equipment and tools at the Regis and Joan Duffy Research Centre on the UPEI campus.

Here, scientists, technicians and students from all three organizations are collaborating on health-related research projects and contributing to the Island’s growing bioscience cluster.

Their research focuses on identifying, extracting and refining naturally-occurring compounds from renewable plant, animal and marine resources.

Bioactive compounds -- chemicals or molecules believed to positively affect human and animal health -- are of most interest to the researchers. These bioactive compounds may contribute to good health by helping to prevent or treat diseases, infections or disorders affecting the brain, immune system or metabolism. Specific examples of these afflictions include Alzheimer’s, Type-2 diabetes and high cholesterol.

Ultimately, bioactive compounds identified and refined by AAFC, NRC and UPEI researchers may be incorporated into:

• consumer foods and beverages;
• dietary supplements and functional foods;
• personal care products; or
• pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals.

By relying on compounds drawn from land- and marine-based resources native to the region, researchers hope to help create new revenue streams and higher value crops for farmers and fishers in PEI and across Atlantic Canada, thus letting more people become involved in s prosperous bio-economy. The compounds as well as related processes and platforms may also be further developed or marketed by private bioscience companies in the region.

The strength of the partnership between NRC-INH, AAFC and UPEI is also evident outside of the lab. Individuals help one another organize research conferences, industry meetings, seminar presentations and public tours. They are called upon to serve on one another’s interview boards to hire highly-skilled individuals who can further strengthen the research alliance and grow the province’s bioscience cluster.

In collaboration, the three partners help groups--drawn from private sector companies, academia and other research organizations--successfully prepare proposals for R&D project funding. Teams from AAFC, NRC and UPEI have submitted joint proposals through AAFC’s Agricultural Bioproducts Innovation Program (ABIP) for projects involving bioactive potential for Island crops.

One such venture is the Atlantic Centre for Bioactive Valuation (ACBV), led by Dr. Tarek Saleh, a researcher at UPEI’s Atlantic Veterinary College. ACBV, together with collaborators from NRC-INH, is working to fill a critical gap between preclinical laboratory studies and early clinical testing. The Island-based venture’s molecular modeling and screening of compounds are related to neuro-inflammation, neurodegeneration and metabolism, and are likely to be of interest to pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries.

The partners’ business development and technology transfer officers also collaborate to facilitate new advances, tap professional networks and encourage firms to pursue potential funding sources, for example, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency’s Atlantic Innovation Fund. This translates into stronger proposals, gains for local and regional companies as well as further value for PEI’s bioscience cluster.

Beyond industry applications, students reap rewards from the tripartite partnership. They can gain real-world lab experience with AAFC, NRC and UPEI researchers. In addition, federal researchers are appointed adjunct professors at UPEI where they teach, take part in various graduate committees, and benefit from proximity to important campus facilities, including the Atlantic Veterinary College.

The researchers also lead projects and supervise trainees supported by funding institutions like the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR) and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC). Armed with guest worker status, AAFC and UPEI researchers interact with industrial technology advisors from NRC-IRAP and gain access to key NRC resources, such as the national science library, the NRC Canada Institute for Scientific and Technical Information.

For more information about joint research projects or partnership opportunities, please contact:

Agriculture and Agri- Food Canada (AAFC)
Dr. Christiane Deslauriers
Tel.: 902-367-7536
deslauriers@agr.gc.ca

NRC Institute for Nutrisciences and Health (NRC-INH)
Dr. Jeff Zidichouski
Tel.: 902-566-7465
jeff.zidichouski@nrc.gc.ca

University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI)
Dr. Katherine Schultz
Tel: 902-566-0561
kschultz@upei.ca

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