The PEI Health Research Institute at UPEI is hosting its annual Health Research Forum at Rodd's Crowbush Resort, Lakeside, May 17-18. The Forum attracts representatives of the PEI health research community: academic researchers, students, community groups, health and education professionals, clinicians, and policy makers.

Keynote Speakers:

Dr. Pierre Chartrand, Vice President, Canadian Institutes of Health Research will speak about health research funding opportunities and the changing landscape of funding for health research in Canada. The audience can engage Dr. Chartrand in discussions about funding issues important to the PEI health research community.

Dr. Renee Lyons, Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Health Promotion, Dalhousie University will highlight some key aspects of mobilizing communities for action across provincial boundaries in Atlantic Canada. She uses Atlantic Canada as her ?lab? to study how low resource areas mobilize their efforts to prevent disease and improve health. Dr. Lyons will share some of the lessons learned from their studies with their Yarmouth Stroke Project to make evidence based community support for stroke patients.

Dr. Mark Nachtigal, Associate Professor Department of Pharmacology and Medicine, Dalhousie University is a Canadian Cancer Society Research Scientist and Co-Chair of the Nova Scotia Cancer Research Training Program. He will talk about his research on understanding better ways to detect and treat ovarian cancer. His team is studying the role of a new enzyme called Pace4 in the development of ovarian cancer. He will also talk about the lessons he has learned in maintaining and sustaining a strong program of research in Atlantic Canada.

Forum Workshop:

A training workshop is being hosted on May 17 with Dr. Dawn Mc Arthur who is well known for successfully mentoring researchers to write high calibre, grants. She has expertise working with Tri-Council funding councils such as the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC). During the workshop she will share her keys to successful grants with highlights from many years of experience. She will share examples from some of her work with grant writing and engage the audience with ideas and questions to consider.

Conference Link: http://www.upei.ca/peihri/html/hri_forum.html

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AGENDA

Thursday, May 17

8:30am: Successful Research Proposals: Start to Finish, Keynote Speaker - Dawn McArthur

2:00pm: Welcome, Donna Murnaghan

2:10pm: Opening Remarks, Rob Haines

2:20pm: Jo-Ann MacDonald (School of Nursing, UPEI) - Topic: Lone Mothers' Experiences in Atlantic Canada

2:40pm: Jennifer Taylor (Department of Family and Nutritional Sciences, UPEI) -Topic: Changes in School Food Environments Associated with Implementation of School Nutrition Policies in Elementary Schools in Prince Edward Island

3:00pm: Donna Murnaghan (PEI Health Research Institute, School of Nursing, UPEI) - Topic: Mapping Youth Smoking in Public Places

3:30pm: Yanwen Wang (Institute for Nutrisciences and Health, NRC) - Topic: Development of Novel Lipid-lowering Natural Products

4:00pm: Janet Bryanton (School of Nursing, UPEI) - Topic: Perception of the Birth Experience and its Relationship to Early Postpartum Parenting and Parenting Self-efficacy

7:00pm: Dinner and Keynote Speaker: Pierre Chartrand, VP Research, CIHR - Topic: CIHR: Turning research into actions that improve health

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Friday, May 18

9:50am: Debbie MacLellan (Department of Family and Nutritional Sciences, UPEI) - Topic: Enabling and Barrier Factors in the Development of Elementary and Consolidated School Nutrition Policies on Prince Edward Island

10:10am:Tim Carroll (School of Business Administration, UPEI) - Topic: From Health Management to Health Leadership: Evolving Concepts in Health Administration

10:40am: Andy Tasker (Department of Biomedical Sciences, AVC) - Topic: Shutting down cell death without shutting down the brain: A new approach to drug therapy following stroke

11:10am: Charlene Supnet (Institute of Nutrisciences and Health, NRC) - Topic: The role of ryanodine receptor-3 in Alzheimer's disease

11:30am:Marva Sweeney-Nixon (Department of Biology, UPEI) - Topic: Blueberry Diets Lower Blood Pressure in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats by Protecting the Kidneys.

1:00pm: Keynote Speaker: Mark Nachtigal, Canadian Cancer Society Research Scientist

1:50pm: Russell Kerr (Department of Chemistry, UPEI) - Topic: Marine natural products as a source of new pharmaceuticals - the promise and the challenges

2:20pm: Philip Smith (Department of Psychology, UPEI) - Topic: Socioeconomic Status and Tobacco

2:40pm: Rob Haines (Department of Chemistry, UPEI) - Topic: Precious metals with precious applications: Palladium-based potential anti-cancer compounds.

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For more information, please contact Erin McGrath-Gaudet at (902) 894-2812 or peihri@upei.ca.

The University of Prince Edward Island held its 38th Convocation exercises on Saturday, May 12, in the Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre. A total of 798 diplomas, certificates, undergraduate, graduate, and doctorate degrees were awarded during two ceremonies.

"Convocation is a proud day, for our graduates, their families and the many members of the UPEI family who have played an integral role in their growth and success," said UPEI President Wade MacLauchlan. "There is a very special sense of community between our graduating students and the many dedicated people who have worked with them as teachers, advisors, mentors, friends and key donors who join in celebrating this great moment in their lives."

The University conferred honorary degrees on four individuals whose exceptional professional and community achievements have made them inspiring role models for new graduates. They were Richard Homburg, Donna Jane Campbell, Paul Giannelia, and Kay MacPhee. The morning convocation address was delivered by Richard Homburg and the afternoon address was given by Kay MacPhee.

Dr. Regis Duffy, past Chair of the UPEI Board of Governors, was recognized for his outstanding service and commitment. He received the distinguished title of Chair Emeritus. The University also honoured Dr. Elizabeth Epperly by conferring on her the title of Professor Emerita and Dr. Thomy Nilsson who received the title of Professor Emeritus.

The Marshal was Dr. Marva Sweeney-Nixon. The Honorary Marshals were Dr. Lawson Drake, PWC'48, Glen Hughes, SDU'67, Shirley Beck, PWC'47, and John Rowe, SDU'67. The Class of 2007 Mace Bearers were Meidrym Jozef Hebda and Ellen Elisabeth Scales Klein. The Governor General's Medals were awarded to Dr. Mathieu Peyrou (graduate) and Brodie Champion (undergraduate). The valedictorians were Dr. Amy Stillwell at the morning ceremony and Derek Bondt in the afternoon.

The number of postgraduate degrees conferred by UPEI continued to expand this year. Nine students received their Doctor of Philosophy degrees, an all-time high. A new physics co-op program in the Faculty of Science celebrated its first group of graduates. As in other UPEI co-op programs, these students have benefitted from work placements with prestigious employers across Canada while studying for their degrees. This year also saw the first graduates from the new Bachelor of Child and Family Studies joint program with Holland College.

Two First Nations students made history in 2007 in very different fields. Jukeepa Hainnu of Clyde River, Baffin Island graduated with her Master of Education in Leadership. She is the first Inuit woman from Baffin Island to obtain an MEd. Soon after convocation, she will fly back to Baffin Island to take up her principal's duties at Quluaq School and to resume her position as a community leader. Jesse Benjamin of Petite Riviere, Nova Scotia was the first Mi'kmaq student to graduate with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the Atlantic Veterinary College at UPEI. She has accepted employment with a small animal practice in Elmsdale, Nova Scotia.

Graduation week provides an opportunity to reflect on the significant commitment that students have made in order to each their goals and#150; students such as biology graduate Matthew Allain who applied his talent as a fiddle player to partially fund the cost of his education by recording a CD and selling it himself; or business graduate Rob Peters who, although seeing-impaired, completed his degree on a part-time basis, while working in a full-time job.

The importance of commitment was the theme of honorary graduate Kay MacPhee's address at the afternoon ceremony. "Commit to the truth and be courageous and relentless in that commitment. It may be a temptation to follow the easy way, the familiar paths, but life may ask you to cut a path through the jungle rather than simply stay on the flat paved road," she said. "Each of you has your own vision to fulfill your own truth. Commit to this truth, explore this truth and then defend this truth. Each of us can work to change a small part of the world."

Dr. Amy Stillwell, the valedictorian for the morning ceremony, expressed it this way: "I urge all of you to set new goals for yourselves, believe in your abilities, work hard to make a difference in the lives of others, and maintain the passion to achieve your future dreams. To the University of Prince Edward Island, my classmates at the Atlantic Veterinary College and to the entire UPEI Class of 2007: thank you and congratulations."

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To see Convocation photos go to http://welcome.upei.ca/

The Honourable Raymond E. Wyant, Chief Judge of the Manitoba Provincial Court, will be the guest lecturer at the Chief Justice Thane A. Campbell Lectureship in Law on Thursday, June 7 at the University of Prince Edward Island. His presentation, which is open to the public, is called "Undergoing a Front End Alignment and#150; The Experience of Manitoba's Provincial Court." It will focus on ways to provide better service delivery and improved response to the needs of those who are caught up in the wheels of the ever-spinning criminal justice system.

Judge Wyant was instrumental in reforming the Manitoba court system and successfully reducing court delay times in cases of domestic violence. Known as the Domestic Violence Front End Project, it received the 2006 United Nations Public Service Award and the 2005 Gold Award for excellence in public sector service delivery from the Institute of Public Administration of Canada.

Before his appointment as Chief Judge, Raymond Wyant was Deputy Director for Prosecutions with the Crown Attorney's Department in Winnipeg and past Senior Crown Attorney in charge of youth prosecutions. He has also practiced as a criminal defense lawyer. He is the current Chair of the Canadian Council of Chief Judges and a member of the National Committee on Justice Efficiencies and Access to the Justice System.

The Chief Justice Thane A. Campbell Lectureship in Law is co-sponsored by UPEI and the Law Foundation of Prince Edward Island. In 1991 the Law Foundation created an endowment at UPEI to provide a stimulating series of lectures in honor of Chief Justice Thane A. Campbell, former Premier of PEI and first Chancellor of UPEI.

The lecture will take place on Thursday, June 7 at 7:30 pm in McMillan Hall, W.A. Murphy Student Centre, UPEI. Following the speech, there will be an opportunity for questions and discussion. Members of the public are invited to attend. There is no charge and refreshments will be served.

Innovative health research at the University of Prince Edward Island is receiving support from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). This includes research on: attitudes towards smoking and quitting smoking among pregnant teens, by Dr. Colleen MacQuarrie; nutrition policies in Prince Edward Island elementary schools, by Dr. Jennifer Taylor; and the natural substance berberine, a combination of several herbs used for thousands of years by people in Europe and Asia which has potential to lower cholesterol, by Dr. Yanwen Wang.

"I take tremendous pleasure in seeing how CIHR's programs are supporting talented and committed Canadian researchers in all areas of health and how their research is leading to important new findings that will benefit all of us," said Dr. Alan Bernstein, President of CIHR.

These UPEI researchers will receive more than $900,000 in total to pursue this comprehensive and unique health research. For example, Dr. MacQuarrie, who is an assistant professor in the psychology department, will take an innovative approach to health research surrounding smoking. "No one has looked at the experience of adolescent girls as they transition from pregnancy to motherhood and how tobacco fits in. We're doing that," she says.

She will work with young women as part of the analysis to help them tell their stories in their words. "A teen perspective will be directly applied to the data which is also unique. In essence, the young women will help to interpret the data."

"This significant support from CIHR is a testament to the high-calibre research taking place at UPEI," says Katherine Schultz, Vice President of Research Development at UPEI. "This investment in research at UPEI is an investment in the health of Canadians."

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) is the Government of Canada's agency for health research. CIHR's mission is to create new scientific knowledge and to catalyze its translation into improved health, more effective health services and products, and a strengthened Canadian health care system. Composed of 13 Institutes, CIHR provides leadership and support to more than 10,000 health researchers and trainees across Canada. www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca

More information each of the CIHR-funded research projects is provided below.

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Backgrounder on Featured Research Projects, Prince Edward Island

How do teen mothers feel about smoking?

Pregnant teens have a particularly high risk of tobacco use, yet there is little research on these girls' attitudes toward smoking. Dr. Colleen MacQuarrie, a researcher at the University of Prince Edward Island, wants to fill this gap in our knowledge and increase a greater understanding of the factors that motivate teen mothers to smoke or quit smoking. Through a series of focus groups and interviews with 20 pregnant teens, Dr. MacQuarrie will gather information that can be used to create effective smoking intervention programs. She hopes to capture the teen girls' attitudes, motivations, and concerns about tobacco use as they transition from pregnancy to motherhood.

Are our nutrition policies working?

Schools across Canada have been adopting nutrition policies in an attempt to improve students' lifestyles and reverse the obesity epidemic. But are these policies working? Dr. Jennifer Taylor, a researcher at the University of Prince Edward Island, and Dr. Paul Veugelers, a researcher at the University of Alberta, will assess nutrition programs currently in place at 34 PEI elementary schools. Dr. Taylor will collect information on the foods available in these schools, foods students are eating, prevalence of overweight or obesity among students and people's perceptions of the nutrition policies. With this information, she hopes to contribute to our knowledge of what works for school nutrition policies and develop a standard method of evaluating policies in schools across the country.

An ancient treatment with exciting potential

People in Europe and Asia have been using a chemical called berberine (BBR) derived from several types of herbs for thousands of years to treat infectious diseases, gastrointestinal disorders and cardiovascular problems without any apparent toxic effects. Now it appears BBR could also decrease blood cholesterol, especially low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-Cand#150;so called "bad" cholesterol), and triacylglyceride (TG), major risk factors for cardiovascular disease. However, more research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness, mechanisms of action and safety of BBR through well-designed experiments. Dr. Yanwen Wang an adjunct professor with the Atlantic Veterinary College at the University of Prince Edward Island will address these questions in a study on how BBR reduces blood cholesterol levels. His work is part of a larger effort by researchers to investigate several dietary approaches to controlling blood cholesterol as alternatives to drug treatments.

Dr. Wang will address these questions in a study on how BBR reduces blood cholesterol levels. His work is part of a larger effort by researchers to investigate several dietary approaches to controlling blood cholesterol as alternatives to drug treatments.

A new report entitled "Two Years On: A Survey of Class of 2003 Maritime University Graduates" released today contained some impressive information about the satisfaction level and employment success of UPEI graduates. The report by the Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission provides detailed information on graduates' university experience, what they do after completing their degree, and the factors that influence their educational and career paths.

The results indicated that 99 per cent of UPEI graduates were satisfied with university services and 91 per cent said that if they could go to university and do it over again they would. In terms of labour market success, the picture for UPEI graduates is very positive. Two years after graduation 89 per cent were employed full-time, compared to 85 per cent of graduates regionally. Their average annual earnings of $39,844 is also above the regional average.

"We are extremely pleased about these outcomes for our graduates. It is a credit to our faculty and staff that 99 per cent of graduates are satisfied with our services," says Dr. Vianne Timmons, Vice President Academic Development at UPEI. "The success of our graduates shows that an investment in university is an investment in our province. A university education is a great equalizer in our society."

This is the second time in recent months that UPEI has been recognized for its high level of student satisfaction. In the 2006 National Survey of Student Engagement, UPEI was named as Canada's top university for student-faculty interaction

Students from the University of Prince Edward Island have won graduate scholarships from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Council of Canada (NSERC) at a success rate of 100 per cent. All ten of the applications that UPEI was permitted to submit were successful, with six students winning the top awardand#9472;the Canada Graduate Scholarship. These NSERC scholarships allow students to pursue graduate degrees anywhere in Canada.

This NSERC scholarship will make all the difference to PhD candidate Cheryl Wartman who has chosen to stay on Prince Edward Island. "I wanted to pursue my PhD right here at UPEI with Dr. Michael van den Heuvel. He is a world leader in watershed ecology and his work fits perfectly with my research interests," says Wartman. She will research the effects that effluent from pulp mills has on female fish, in particular the impact these environmental contaminants have on their behaviour and physiology to cause them to become more male-like. "I'm very grateful to receive this NSERC award as it provides continuing financial support for my research and recognizes the effort that I've put in to this point."

Dr. Michael van den Heuvel is the Canada Research Chair in Watershed Ecological Integrity in the Faculty of Science at UPEI. He studies the effects of agriculture and chemical use on freshwater and coastal environments.

In addition to the ten graduate winners, 15 undergraduate students have received summer scholarships to pursue research projects with NSERC-funded faculty members. All of this success adds up to nearly $337,000 in new funding for UPEI students.

"The landscape for research funding in Canada is increasingly competitive. And our students are a source of pride and inspiration as they demonstrate their ability to achieve recognition at a national level," says Katherine Schultz, Vice President of Research and Development at UPEI. "The funding is a huge support to students, and the prestige of winning an NSERC award will continue to pay dividends throughout their careers."

The Canada Graduate Scholarship winners are Nicholas Abou Risk, Physics; Brodie Champion, Mathematics and Statistics; Michael McIsaac, Mathematics and Statistics; Evan O'Connor, Physics; Allan Stewart, Physics; and Marcus Trenton, Computer Science and Information Technology. Andre Gaudin, Physics; Daphne Gill, Biomedical Sciences; and Stephen Scully, Chemistry are also NSERC scholarship winners.

This Wednesday, June 27, the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) will host a public forum on Water Quality. Starting at 7 pm in the W. A. Murphy Student Centre, the forum will bring together environmental and water quality experts from Ryerson University, UPEI, and the Island community. It will include presentations and discussions from Michael van den Heuvel, UPEI Canada Research Chair in Watershed Ecological Integrity and Ron Pushchak, a member of the Technical Experts Committee on Source Water Protection, Ontario Ministry of the Environment.

The forum is part of a bigger three-day symposium where researchers and students from Ryerson and UPEI are getting together to share different approaches to safeguarding water quality as well as managing and finding solutions to contaminated groundwater.

"I am convinced that water quality issues are the largest single environmental issue facing Islanders and Canadians. Degradation of water quality threatens our health, our economic livelihood and ensures our children will inherit a compromised natural environment," says Michael van den Heuvel. "Reversing the problems will require unrelenting effort on the part of environmental managers, scientists, and the community at large. And this Summer Symposium between UPEI and Ryerson is a start. It focuses on the exchange of knowledge and experience with regards to the deterioration of our water resources."

The Water Quality forum will feature keynote addresses, a panel discussion, and a student poster session, showcasing research by Ryerson and UPEI students.

Keynote Addresses:

Todd Dupuis, Director Regional Programs, Atlantic Salmon Federation who will present a Historical perspective on land and water interactions in PEI

Ron Pushchak, a professor of Urban and Regional Planning at Ryerson will discuss Ontario nutrient management and water quality

Garry Schneider, the Manager at the Macphail Woods Ecological Forestry Project will talk about A holistic perspective on environmental issues

Following these speakers there will be a panel discussion moderated by Irene Novaczek, Director of UPEI's Institute of Island Studies. The panel includes Michael van den Heuvel, Daryl Guignon, a UPEI Biology professor who researches wildlife and their ecosystems on PEI, Rob Sharkie, Executive Director for the Trout River Environmental Committee and Gideon Wolfaardt, Ryerson's Canada Research Chair in Environmental Interfaces and Biofilms.

Six projects that will benefit dogs, cats, horses, and marine wildlife recently received a total of $250,000 in funding through the Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre (SJDAWC) at the Atlantic Veterinary College, UPEI. More than 110 projects representing $2.6 million in funding have been supported by the centre since it was established in 1994.

"We are very grateful to the Friends of the Christofor Foundation for their ongoing support of the Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre," says Dr. Alice Crook, the centre's coordinator. "This year the centre has funded four new research projects. We also renewed funding for two successful service projects, one of which provides humane dog training at the Prince Edward Island Humane Society and the other provides care for injured or orphaned marine wildlife." This year's projects, which were determined to be eligible for funding through the SJDAWC's 2007 funding competition, will be carried out by faculty and students at the Atlantic Veterinary College.

The Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre funds projects that benefit companion animals, horses, and wildlife. Since 1994, approximately 85 faculty, 12 graduate students, and hundreds of veterinary students from the Atlantic Veterinary College have been involved in animal welfare projects funded by the centre which is the only animal welfare centre of its kind in Canada. For information on the Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre, please visit the web site at www.upei.ca/awc.

Information on each of the six projects funded through this year's competition is provided below:

Investigation of a blood-borne parasite in wild red foxes and in dogs with anemia on PEI (Dr. Barb Horney, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, AVC)

This project is designed to study a parasite (Theileria annae) that infects red blood cells and was recently discovered in foxes on PEI. The project will also look at a possible association between infection with this parasite and anemia (decreased red blood cells) in Island dogs. T. antae is similar to another red cell parasite (Babesia gibsoni) which has been identified as a cause of anemia in dogs in many parts of the United States and in the rest of the world. Infection with babesial parasites is somewhat like malaria in people and causes anemia in animals in areas where it is common. T. annae, specifically, is associated with anemia in dogs in Spain.

Although foxes are considered a significant reservoir for T. annae in the wild, it is not known if T. annae causes disease in foxes. This parasite has not been reported as a cause of anemia in dogs in North America. Dr. Horney will investigate how common this parasite is in wild foxes, whether infected foxes show any related red blood cell disease and whether the parasite might be found in Island dogs with anemia. This project will increase knowledge about wild fox health and, if there is found to be a significant association between anemia and infection with this parasite, it will help with better understanding and treatment of anemia in dogs in the future.

Are Clostridium difficile and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus present in horses admitted to the AVC Teaching Hospital? (Dr. J McClure, Department of Health Management, AVC)

Clostridium difficile and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are two bacteria that are major causes of hospital-acquired infections in people in North America and around the world. C. difficile is the major cause of antimicrobial-associated diarrhea in hospitalized patients, while MRSA is the most common cause of hospital-associated infections. In the last decade, both of these organisms have been seen with increasing frequency in horses and other companion animals, and may represent a significant threat to their health and that of the people who handle them. The status of these two important disease-causing bacteria in the Atlantic provinces is unknown. It is essential to know about the occurrence of these bacteria in horses admitted to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital in order to develop sound diagnostic and treatment plans for horses suspected of suffering from infections caused by these two organisms. Furthermore, this information is important in establishing biosecurity protocols to reduce the spread of these pathogens to other horses as well as people in contact with them.

Through this project, horses that are admitted to the AVC Teaching Hospital will be screened for C. difficile and S. aureus (including MRSA) when they are admitted and discharged, through a simple swabbing procedure. Any horses that develop diarrhea or a wound infection during hospitalization will be tested for these organisms so that appropriate treatment can be started. Horses that are found to be carrying MRSA will be treated in an attempt to decolonize them. Additionally, Dr. McClure will look for any common factors in the records of any horse found to be carrying either organism, to see if there are factors that increase the risk that a horse will be a carrier.

Skeletal muscle as a source of bone and cartilage cells to improve healing in the horse (Dr. Laurie McDuffee, Department of Health Management, AVC)

Musculoskeletal injuries (particularly injuries to bone and cartilage) frequently cause the end of a horse's athletic career and possibly even the end of the horse's life. This may happen either because the horse is destroyed when it can not continue as an athlete, or because a fracture is repaired and the repair breaks down or the horse develops laminitis or another serious complication. Both bone and cartilage heal very slowly, which means lengthy recovery time after injury and/or surgery and more time for complications to occur.

A great deal of research has focused on improving bone and cartilage healing in humans. Surgeons are using bone and cartilage cells from a donor site that are grown (expanded) in cell culture and then transplanted to the site of injury. This "cell-based tissue engineering" is showing much promise in the treatment of musculoskeletal problems in people. Dr. McDuffee is looking at bone and cartilage tissue engineering for treatment of musculoskeletal injuries in horses. One critical element of cell-based tissue engineering is to identify an ideal donor source for the cells.

The purpose of this research project is to determine if equine skeletal muscle can be a donor source for skeletal stem cells, which have the ability to become many different types of skeletal tissue (tendon, ligament, bone, cartilage) depending on the environment into which they are transplanted. Dr. McDuffee has much experience with isolation and differentiation of bone stem cells from a variety of equine donor tissues, but each has particular limitations. Dr. McDuffee proposes that equine skeletal muscle will have advantages over other donor tissues, in that it is abundant in horses of all ages and easily obtainable, similar to a muscle biopsy requiring only local anesthetic. Dr. McDuffee has already shown in a pilot study that there is a high yield of stem cells from small amounts of skeletal muscle tissue, and that these can differentiate into early bone and cartilage cells. If this study confirms the ability to use equine skeletal muscle as a donor source of skeletal stem cells, this will be a breakthrough in the ability to promote healing of bone and cartilage injuries.

The effect of dietary selenium supplementation in mares and their foals

(Dr. Jeff Wichtel, Department of Health Management, AVC)

Selenium (Se) is a trace element that is essential in the diet of horses. Se deficiency is a serious problem in many parts of North America, mainly due to soil deficiency, resulting in low Se concentrations in feedstuffs grown in these soils. Foals are especially susceptible to Se deficiency, which can be seen clinically as white muscle disease and also is associated with decreased immune function in many species. In foals, septicemia (blood infection) as a result of inadequate immunity is common and often fatal.

In previous work funded by the SJDAWC, Drs. J Wichtel and T Muirhead have shown that many mares have deficient levels of Se, resulting in Se deficiency in their foals. This project will look at the effect of supplementing with Se the diets of mares, to determine if this will increase Se levels in the mares' blood, colostrum, and milk, and, consequently, in the blood of their foals. The investigators will also evaluate measures of the foals' immune response, and compare the effectiveness of supplementation with organic and inorganic Se. The goal is to correct Se deficiency in mares and foals by the most effective and practical means, and thereby improve preventive health care.

Marine wildlife rehabilitation (Dr. Pierre-Yves Daoust, Department of

Pathology and Microbiology, AVC)

Marine mammals and birds such as harp and harbour seals, blue herons, northern gannets and common loons are often brought to AVC for veterinary care because of injury, disease, or (with newborns) abandonment. The treatment and rehabilitation of these animals presents a challenge because of their special diet and environmental needs. AVC faculty and staff also respond to emergency calls regarding live strandings of seals, white-sided dolphins and pilot whales, some of whom receive medical treatment in an attempt to lesson the stress and shock associated with stranding. Sometimes humane euthanasia is the best option for these animals.

This project has been funded since 1999 to provide proper veterinary care to injured, diseased, or starving marine animals. The objectives of this year's project are to maintain, and improve upon, the level of care provided to marine mammals and birds presented to the AVC Teaching Hospital and to animals stranded on the shores of PEI. This includes provision of adequate holding facilities and diet, medical treatment (including relevant laboratory tests) and euthanasia if necessary. The increased knowledge and experience that faculty, students and staff gain through the ongoing work in rehabilitation and humane care enables improved care of other marine animals.

AVC humane dog training program (Dr. Norma Guy, Department of

Biomedical Sciences, AVC)

Following upon the continued success of the AVC humane dog training program (funded since 2001), this proposal is aimed at building on the established methods developed in previous years. Veterinary students with an interest in shelter issues and dog training, and with additional training in operant conditioning, will be employed to work at the shelter on a full-time basis through the summer months, and on a part-time basis in the fall and winter. Their responsibilities will be primarily for the social enrichment and training, through positive methods, of dogs on the adoption floor. Secondary but highly significant responsibilities will include interacting with and educating potential adopters and other visitors, providing a post-adoption resource for new owners, and assisting the shelter manager in the evaluation and management of specifically identified dogs on the receiving floor. They will also respond to inquiries regarding behaviour problems in pets previously adopted from the shelter. Without the AVC humane dog training program, the PEI Humane Society would be unable to provide these important services due to a lack of adequate funding and personnel. The activities of veterinary student trainers within the shelter will directly benefit the dogs with which they interact, will help prepare potential owners for the adoption process, and will increase the basic hands-on knowledge of shelter issues and animal welfare among the AVC student population.

For further information, please contact:

Dr. Alice Crook, Coordinator, Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre (902)628-4360

Charlotte McCardle, External Relations, AVC (902) 566-0533

Rows and rows of pushpinned insects, collected over the last century, are tucked in drawers or hidden away on shelves at many Maritime museums and universities. These collections hold valuable ecological information that a unique University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) research collaboration is working to get off the shelves and into an accessible online database, supported by a Discovery Grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Council of Canada (NSERC).

Dr. Donna Giberson, from the Department of Biology at UPEI, and Dr. Dave McCorqudale, from Cape Breton University, are coordinatingand curating these massive collections from over 20 research institutions. This study will significantly increase knowledge about Maritime insects and, in particular, about the presence of invasive insects, vulnerability of insects due to human activities, and conservation of insects and their habitats.

"It's exciting to have support from NSERC because it allows us, for the first time, to comprehensively look at over a hundred years of collection work," says Giberson. "Surveying these historic insect collections is like a treasure hunt. You never know what you'll findand#151;a species new to science or that first record of an invasive species. For example, this study could help us identify insects, even our common bumblebees and lady bugs that are being knocked out of our region by aggressive invaders."

As a result of the 2007 NSERC competition, over 3,000 professors from across Canada will receive $458.8 million in Discovery Grants to support the technical and training aspects of their research. "These awards will help ensure that this country's best and brightest professors can continue their work and their contribution to the prosperity and well-being of all Canadians," says Dr. Colin Carrie, Parliamentary Secretary to the Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for NSERC.

Six other UPEI researchers were also awarded Discovery Grants this year. "We are proud of Dr. Giberson and all our recipients of the highly-sought-after NSERC Discovery Grant. Securing research funding is increasingly competitive in Canada and UPEI's researchers continue to demonstrate that they are leaders in their fields," says Katherine Schultz, UPEI Vice President of Research and Development.

Other UPEI researchers to recently receive Discovery Grants are Dr. Rabin Bissessur, Department of Chemistry, Dr. Frederick Kibenge, Department of Pathology/Microbiology, Dr. Sheldon Opps, Department of Physics, Dr. Daniel Ryan, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Dr. Marina Silva, Department of Biology, and Dr. Michael van den Heuvel, Canada Research Chair in Watershed Ecological Integrity, Departments of Biology and Biomedical Sciences. Currently, there are 38 faculty members with Discovery Grants at UPEI. For more information on the 2007 Discovery Grant winners please see the research summaries below.

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Research Summaries

UPEI Researchers to receive NSERC Discovery Grants in 2007

Dr. Rabin Bissessur

Dr. Bissessur's research includes the development of nanocomposites for use in lithium rechargeable batteries like those found in cell phones. He also studies the use of specific types of nanocomposites to help remove sulfur from petroleum products which would lead to lower processing costs and reduce sulfur oxide emissions into the environment. He also plans to prepare hybrid materials that could possess high mechanical strength that may have industrial applications such as in the construction of car parts.

Dr. Donna Giberson

Other benefits from Dr. Giberson's NSERC-supported research highlighted above include the practical cost-saving approach and increased training opportunities. By looking at insects that have already been collected, Giberson is saving money. It is expensive to go out into to the field collect insects. The study will also help to train taxonomists that can continue to recognize new invasions of insects and continue to carry out biodiversity work.

Dr. Giberson is a freshwater ecologist who works in the Maritimes and Canadian Arctic. She conducts research on the life history, diversity, and habitat patterns of aquatic insects; the effects of natural and human-caused disturbance on streams; and works with local community groups on stream projects.

Dr. Frederick Kibenge

A world-leading animal virologist, Dr. Kibenge leads the Centre for Marine and Aquatic Resources at UPEI. He is working to develop a critical mass of expertise required to safeguard the marine resources that make up a major portion of Atlantic Canada's economy. Dr. Kibenge's laboratory is also an OIE Reference Laboratory for Infectious salmon anaemia virus (ISAV) in North America. ISAV is a very important fish virus in the aquaculture industry and there is continued interest in understanding the biology of this virus.

Dr. Sheldon Opps

Dr. Opps investigates the properties of polymeric substances such as liquid crystals and membranes. These systems have widespread applications including in thin-film technology, copier/reproduction technologies, the use of biofilms in soil remediation processes, and can offer biomedical insight into the protein folding process. As part of the NSERC Discovery Grant, he studies how the structure of a solvent affects the stability of a monolayer and the mechanisms behind particular types of polymer collapse. This is may help improve understanding surrounding the function of lung surfactant monolayers and could shed light on the mechanisms responsible for Respiratory Distress Syndrome, a condition where there is insufficient surfactant lining the alveoli in the lungs of premature infants.

Dr. Dan Ryan

Dr. Ryan investigates the application and development of statistical techniques related to the life sciences. Extracting information from data, he has collaborated on the classification and identification of changes in coral habitat on the Great Barrier Reef, size selective mortality in wild Atlantic salmon, and novel monitoring techniques for bees.

Dr. Marina Silva

A terrestrial ecologist with research interests in conservation biology, Dr. Silva investigates ecological patterns and processes on a large spatial scale. She focuses on habitat fragmentation and its effect on the abundance and diversity of mammal and amphibian populations. Fragmentation caused by agriculture, highways, and other types of roads are a key component of her research.

Dr. Michael van den Heuvel

A Canada Research Chair in Watershed Ecological Integrity, Dr. van den Heuvel studies the effects of agriculture and chemical-use on freshwater and coastal environments. His focus is the endocrine responses, immunotoxicology, and population health of fish. His NSERC-funded research will explore the sensitivity of three diverse fish species to compounds that mimic or interfere with male sex hormones. Recent research has indicated that environmental androgens, a group of male sex hormones that stimulate the development of male characteristics, associated with pesticides, veterinary remedies and complex effluents such as those from municipal sewage and pulp and paper mills have been observed in the environment. There are aspects of androgens that are specific to fishes and this may make fishes more or less susceptible to its effects than either birds or mammals. This research is expected to result in new fundamental knowledge about the potential impacts of androgens in the environment.

The recently-elected government in PEI won't bring its budget down until later this summer but the Board of Governors at the University of Prince Edward Island isn't waiting until then to confirm a major decrease in tuition costs. The Board has just approved tuition cuts of 10 per cent for graduate and undergraduate programs, making UPEI one of the most competitive universities in the region.

"The cost of education at UPEI has always been good value. Implementing this 10 per cent cut gives our University even more of a competitive edge. It means our tuition will be substantially lower than the average at Maritime universities," said the Chair of the UPEI Board of Governors, Fred Hyndman. "We are especially pleased to include graduate students who are key to the growth of UPEI and to an innovative economy in the region."

The cuts are backed by a pre-budget financial commitment from the PEI Minister of Education Gerard Greenan and they follow a previous announcement by UPEI that it is offering $50,000 in new scholarships and awards for graduate students this year.

"This acknowledges the important role that graduate students play in the research and campus communities," said Colleen MacDougall, president of the UPEI Graduate Student Association. "As a growing body on campus, our organization is encouraged to know that our distinct needs are being recognized by the Province and by the University."

"This announcement also strengthens UPEI's appeal as a great small university for all incoming students," said fourth-year math student Lucas Squires who is the coordinator of new student orientation at UPEI.

UPEI placed fifth in the 2006 Maclean's rankings of 21 primarily undergraduate universities, and was Canada's top university for student-faculty interaction in the 2006 National Survey of Student Engagement.