The University of Prince Edward Island celebrated today the launch of a new contract research company based partly on UPEI technology. Bio-valuation Outsourcing Solution (BioVOS) provides services to the pharmaceutical industry to test new drugs and treatments for neuro-inflammatory, metabolic, and cardiovascular disorders, including stroke and heart disease.

'Pharmaceutical companies face real challenges when bringing a new drug to market,' says Dr. Tarek Saleh, Professor of Biomedical Sciences at UPEI's Atlantic Veterinary College and CEO of BioVOS. 'Drug development takes up to 15 years with a success rate of just one in five thousand at an average cost of more than a billion dollars. Contract research organizations, such as BioVOS, can help streamline that process and make it more affordable.'

BioVOS has exclusive agreements in place to use more than one hundred in vivo and in vitro research models and techniques developed by the Atlantic Centre for Bioactive Valuation (ACBV) and other partners. The research of ACBV was made possible by generous funding from Innovation PEI and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA).

Three Oaks Innovations Inc., the commercialization arm of the University of Prince Edward Island, helped navigate the partners involved in BioVOS toward today's business launch.

'We are excited to have been a part of the process that led to this deal,' said Sophie Theriault, Managing Director of Three Oaks Innovations Inc. 'BioVOS' scientific expertise, mixed with the state-of-the-art, SPF- equipped facilities will provide pharmaceutical clients with efficient and high-quality reporting. This is an exciting venture for Prince Edward Island.'

'BioVOS is the result of the collaboration and excellence built on the UPEI campus between the Atlantic Veterinary College and the NRC-INH,' said Dr. Katherine Schultz, UPEI's Vice-President of Research. 'With the help of Three Oaks Innovations Inc., the expertise of UPEI is making a real contribution to future Island prosperity.'

'I want to congratulate Dr. Saleh for this exciting achievement,' said Dr. Alaa Abd-El-Aziz, President of UPEI. 'This is our fourth spin-off company from UPEI, and our second in the last 18 months. We're turning research into commercial output at a rate twice that of any other post-secondary institution in Atlantic Canada.'

Dr. Fiona Walton, Professor of Education at UPEI, has been awarded a 2012 3M National Teaching Fellowship. Each year, the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education and 3M Canada join together to reward exceptional teaching and learning at Canadian universities. Walton was among the 10 teaching fellows chosen for this year.

She is known as a visionary, a determined and courageous educator who makes a difference, and creates a lasting legacy in aboriginal education. Dr. Shannon Murray, Professor of English at UPEI and also a 2001 3M National Teaching Fellow, agrees.

Murray was the one who nominated Walton for the prestigious award. 'Her work has expanded the notion of what, and where, a university can be in the Canadian context,' said Murray. 'This was exemplified on Canada Day 2009, when 21 Inuit women students in Iqaluit graduated with master of education degrees. Fiona was instrumental in establishing that groundbreaking program.'

Walton describes her teaching philosophy as teaching toward bettering selves, teaching beyond the classrooms, and teaching toward caring and democratic communities. This is exactly what she has demonstrated throughout her work in Inuit education for over 30 years.

UPEI President, Dr. Alaa Abd-El-Aziz expressed the University's pride in Walton. 'On behalf of UPEI and its community, I extend congratulations to Fiona for this great accomplishment. Her passion and caring nature complement her high standards in teaching and learning, and we couldn't be more proud of her.'

Walton is deeply honoured to represent UPEI as a 2012 3M Teaching Fellow, 'Thanks to Shannon Murray and many other colleagues; teaching well is greatly valued at UPEI. I have received encouragement, support, and advice within a culture that helps us all to improve student engagement and learning- something I believe to be very important.'

Dr. Peter Meincke, former UPEI president from 1978-1985, was recently among the first 60 recipients recognized with a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal during the inaugural presentation ceremony on February 6, at Rideau Hall, in Ottawa.

Recipients of this prestigious award are said to have made Canada a better place, and have called on others to also act out of goodwill. The commemorative medal will be presented to 60,000 deserving Canadians throughout the year, to celebrate their significant contributions and success, as well as to recognize them for their dedication and service to our country.

Meincke was recognized specifically for his 'commitment and expertise in promoting the technological innovations necessary for sustainable development worldwide.'

During Meincke's time at UPEI, he took it upon himself to increase awareness and understanding of the crucial role that technology plays in our daily lives, and to discover how society can best encourage these innovations, which are necessary for sustainable development. Specifically, in 1992, Meincke created the Small Islands Information Network for UPEI's Institute of Island Studies, to provide an opportunity for small islands to build a viral infrastructure to support their sustainable development.

The awards presentation marked the 60th anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's accession to the Throne as Queen of Canada.

After recently hearing about the efforts of Volunteer Eco Students Abroad (VESA), two UPEI students, Kirsten Van Der Velden and Kyle Murphy have signed up to volunteer in Fiji in April.

The students will board with a Fijian family during their two-week volunteer journey. While in Fiji, they will aid an important sustainable community development project, where they will partake in daily tasks in conjunction with the villagers and the village chief. Some of the major issues the village faces include a lack of fresh running water, rundown schools and poor infrastructure, little to no education on conservation, sustainability, health and hygiene, and English proficiency.

Van Der Velden, an arts student at UPEI, can't wait to begin the volunteer initiative, 'I'm excited to experience another culture firsthand,' she said. 'I'm looking forward to really making a difference in their lives, and in my own as well.'

The UPEI team will be busy constructing and installing water catchments in villages that have no access to safe drinking water, refurbishing and painting schools and playgrounds, and developing English lesson plans to cater to both young and older Fijian children.

Fundraising efforts have been going well so far, with the group raising close to $5,000 to support their travel costs. Upcoming fundraising events include 'Fight for Fiji! Featuring The Downwalls with special guest Don Younie' at Baba's Lounge on February 11 from 10:00 pm-2:00 am, as well as a Halo tournament taking place on February 19 at 6:00 pm, at Microplay in Charlottetown.

For more information on these events, or to find out how you can help out, contact Kirsten Van Der Velden at (902) 394-6040 or kirsten.velden@gmail.com.

For information on VESA initiatives, http://www.vesabroad.com/.

UPEI's Department of Computer Science and Information Technology (CSIT) and the School of Business are teaming up with Timeless Technologies, a local software and web development company, to present to its students 'The Big Pitch'-Venture Capital Funding.

CSIT and Business students will work together in teams of four to develop a concept and a business plan for the 'next killer mobile app.' Students will have the opportunity to be mentored by Timeless Technologies and UPEI faculty members as they develop their ideas over the next month in preparation for 'The Big Pitch' event in March. A panel of judges, with representatives from Timeless, UPEI, and the Innovation and Technology Association of Prince Edward Island, will select the winners.

Alan Duncan, Dean of UPEI's School of Business, is thrilled that Timeless Technologies is offering students the opportunity to take their ideas to product. 'They are offering to share their experience and expertise to assist in this project,' he said. 'This is an unrivalled opportunity for UPEI faculties to collaborate, and for students to experience a real world situation, which will likely be a highlight of their careers with UPEI.'

The students' pitches must be focused on the worldwide mobile device market, must be Internet-based businesses, and must have a defined revenue stream immediately upon launch.

Timeless Technologies will hire the winning team, provide them with salaries, and a budget of $50,000 to execute their business plan and develop their mobile application with Timeless' Development, and Sales and Marketing teams over the summer. The winning team will also share in the profits once the mobile application gets to market!

For more information, contact thebigpitch@timelesstech.com, or visit http://www.facebook.com/timelesstech.

Robyn Christensen, a fourth-year science student at UPEI, went on a trip to Uganda last year that forever changed her. Since that trip, Robyn created and leads UPEI's International Charity Club, a group dedicated to helping the less fortunate in third world countries.

This May, the club will embark on a three-week journey to Uganda with the Watoto program, a holistic care initiative that helps orphaned children and vulnerable women in Uganda. The club will work on various infrastructural projects in order to better the quality of life for infants living in African baby homes. They will also be responsible for bathing, feeding, and most importantly, loving these children.

Christensen recalls the thin, tiny children, sitting on the sidewalks in the African country, and describes their eyes as 'lifeless' with 'every last vestige of hope and idealism drained from them.' She believes that it is people from her generation, and from Canada, that will make an impact on the world. 'This club is as much about helping the less fortunate as it is about educating UPEI students to appreciate their wealth, and make poverty a concern, so that they too can be a part of the solution.'

February is a time of fundraising for the club. Valentine's Day (February 14) events include a bake sale from 11:00 am-2:30 pm in the Robertson Library as well as a 'Spread the Love' musical event at the Dunk in Breadalbane at 7:30 pm. On February 28, the club will show a film screening in conjunction with Invisible Children (http://www2.invisiblechildren.com/) at 7:00 pm in McDougall Hall, room 242. The club will host a musical event on February 29 from 8:00-11:00 pm in McMillan Hall, at the W.A. Murphy Student Centre, with musical talents, Meaghan Blanchard, Colour Code, and Bad Habits.

The group also has an ongoing 'Loonie for Love' campaign, where they seek one loonie from every Islander. The team's great sense of humour and passion to raise funds is demonstrated as they roam campus and PEI dressed up in loon costumes to secure loonies from locals.

UPEI's International Charity Club consists of approximately 13 student members, seven of whom will travel together to Uganda. Those traveling to Africa include: Robyn Christensen, Jenny Vessey, Christen Vessey, Kristyn MacKenzie, Lucas MacArthur, Sarah-Lynn Boyle, and Ryan Gallant.

The group has raised $7,500 so far and hopes to raise an additional $10,500 before May.

For more information on the events and how you can help out, http://www.indiegogo.com/UPEI-Goes-to-Africa or contact Robyn at (902) 394-5629 or rchristensen@upei.ca.

The UPEI Panthers men's basketball team announced today the addition of 6'6' Three Oaks Senior High star, Lucas Coughlin.

UPEI Head Coach Tim Kendrick is thrilled to add Coughlin to the roster, 'We are very excited to have Lucas play with the Panthers. We believe that he has tons of potential, and that he will be a very solid player for years to come. He is a fine young man that we know will fit in great with our program.'

The excited TOSH basketball player can't wait to join the Panthers, 'I am very excited to play for Coach Kendrick at UPEI. I would like to thank my family and my coaches who have helped me reach my goal!'

As of February 13, the UPEI Panthers, with 32 points, are currently tied for first place with the StFX X-Men in the 2011/2012 AUS rankings. TOSH leads the PEISAA league and recently won the 29th annual Confederation City Classic tournament in January.

Prostate is the most common cancer amongst Canadian men, with one in seven developing the disease in their lifetime. Often undetected until it is too late, prostate cancer is expected to kill more than four-thousand men this year in Canada alone.

Every year, motorcycle enthusiasts from across the country join together to raise funds to fight prostate cancer in the TELUS Motorcycle Ride for Dad. This year, some of the money raised by the PEI chapter will support the research of Dr. Robert Hurta, Associate Professor of Biology at the University of Prince Edward Island.

Dr. Hurta is examining compounds found in blueberries, seeking to understand any potential that could affect the behaviour of certain cells, including prostate cancer cells.

'Prostate cancer cells exist within a network of different matrix proteins,' explained Dr. Hurta. 'In order for them to spread, cancer cells need to activate certain enzymes which allow them to break down this protein network to which they are tethered and which enables the cancer cells to potentially migrate to other parts of the body.'

Blueberries have often been touted as a natural source of beneficial compounds for battling cancer. Dr. Hurta is seeking to further validate this possibility. If and when he finds the compounds responsible, he will seek to understand what mechanism is involved whereby blueberry compounds can inhibit the growth of cancer cells.

'We're extremely proud of Dr. Hurta's research, and grateful for the contribution of each participant in the TELUS Motorcycle Ride for Dad,' said Dr. Katherine Schultz, Vice-President, Research and Development at UPEI. 'This contribution allows Dr. Hurta to hire a student to aid him in his research. To each person who took part in the Ride, and to everyone who donated, UPEI offers our sincere thanks.'

'It's amazing to see that the donations brought in by our local riders and supporters are being used right here in Prince Edward Island for innovative prostate cancer research,' said Steven Peckett, co-chair of the PEI chapter. 'Our ride is fun but it's for a serious cause, and raising awareness and helping to fund this type of research is exactly why we ride each year.'

In the past ten years, more than 250,000 Canadians have participated in the TELUS Motorcycle Ride for Dad and have raised more than $9 million. The event is national in scope, but funds local research and awareness in the communities where the funds were raised. Strong supporters of the PEI Chapter include the 2CAV Canadian Army Veterans, CMA Christian Motorcycle Association, and members of the PEI Sportbikes. For more information, visit RideForDad.ca.

The University of Prince Edward Island men's basketball team has secured former Nova Scotia Canada Games and Citadel High point guard Deontay (D.J.) Smith for this coming fall. Smith will reunite with Panthers head coach Tim Kendrick who helped lead the Nova Scotia Canada Games team on a thrilling run to a silver medal at the 2009 Canada Summer Games held in PEI.

Smith was a standout when he played for Citadel High School in Halifax, the Nova Scotia School Athletic Federation high school runners-up to Horton High-and where Kendrick formerly coached-in the 2010-11 season.

'We are very excited to add D.J. to the Panthers line-up. He is a skilled player who is very tough and competitive. He brings a history of hitting the huge shots, and has the potential to be a lock-down defender. This fine young man will be a great fit with our team,' said Kendrick.

D.J. Smith is equally enthusiastic about joining the UPEI Panthers. 'I can't wait to get there! I am going to be reunited with a great coach and be going to a great university.'

In the past year, Smith has been consistently ranked among the top 30 high school players in the country.

In a dramatic double-overtime finish, the UPEI men's hockey team beat Acadia 6-5 Monday night in Game 3 of the best of three quarterfinal series to advance to the 2012 Subway Atlantic University Sport men's hockey semifinal playoff. Matt Carter scored the game winner before a capacity crowd at MacLauchlan Arena. The win sends the Panthers to the semifinals for the first time since 1996. (Read The Guardian article.)

The best 3-of-5 series will begin Friday, February 24 against the number one-ranked UNB Varsity Reds in Fredericton. Game 2 will also be played at the Aitken Centre, while Game 3 and Game 4, if necessary, will be played on home ice at MacLauchlan Arena.

Semifinal Series #1 (Best 3-of-5): UNB (1) vs. UPEI (4)

Game 1: Friday, February 24th - UPEI at UNB, 7:00pm
Game 2: Saturday, February 25th - UPEI at UNB, 7:00pm
Game 3: Wednesday, February 29th - UNB at UPEI, 7:00pm
Game 4: Thursday, March 1st - UNB at UPEI, 7:00pm*
Game 5: Sunday, March 4th - UPEI at UNB, 4:30pm*
(*if necessary)

The UPEI Box Office will open on Wednesday, February 29, time TBA.