November 16, 2005 Source: University of Manitoba:
http://myuminfo.umanitoba.ca/index.asp?sec=209&too=100&dat=11/24/2005&sta=3&wee=4&eve=8&npa=9510 FIVE CANADA RESEARCH CHAIRS RENEWED WITH $2.5 MILLION Researchers to continue cutting-edge work in anxiety disorders, genomics, heart disease and chemistry. Five Canada Research Chairs at the University of Manitoba have been renewed for five years with an investment of $2.5 million from the Government of Canada. The renewals were announced last week in Montreal by Minister of Transport Jean Lapierre as part of a national announcement of new funding from the Canada Research Chairs Program. Joanne Keselman, Vice-President (Research) at the University of Manitoba said the renewals represent a significant vote of confidence in the research being conducted by the five Chairs. "These researchers are rising stars in their fields, and they have all received national and international recognition for their work," Keselman said. "Having their research funded for another five years is very good news, not just for the University of Manitoba, but for all Canadians." Brian Cox, psychiatry, holds a Canada Research Chair in Mood and Anxiety Disorders. Earlier this year, Cox received national attention for his study that found Manitoba and Saskatchewan to have the highest levels of gambling problems in the country. Hélène Perreault, chemistry, holds a Canada Research Chair in Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry. Perreault is a leader in the emerging field of proteomics, and has refined mass spectrometry techniques to study the structure and function of proteins. Geoff Hicks, biochemistry and medical genetics, holds a Canada Research Chair in Functional Genomics. Hicks is director of the Mammalian Functional Genomics Centre at the Manitoba Institute of Cell Biology, a joint institute of the University and CancerCare Manitoba. He is leading an ambitious international project aimed at characterizing every gene in the mouse genome. This will provide vital information about thousands of genetically-based human diseases. "CancerCare Manitoba is pleased to have a researcher of Geoff’s calibre working here in Manitoba and we are proud of his team’s achievements," said Dhali Dhaliwal, President and CEO of CancerCare Manitoba. "His ‘knockout’ mouse genome project has placed us in the unique position of being able to rapidly develop new and innovative ways of tackling cancer." Larry Hryshko, physiology, holds a Canada Research Chair in Cardiac Electrophysiology. Hryshko is studying a protein, called the sodium-calcium exchanger, which is crucial in allowing the heart to relax after each beat. He has developed new techniques to examine how this protein works and how it relates to specific genes. This information is essential for developing new drugs to target and modulate the activity of this protein. Lorrie Kirshenbaum, physiology, holds a Canada Research Chair in Molecular Cardiology. Kirshenbaum is studying ways to manipulate cell growth at the genetic level, and his work has shown that particular genes are intimately involved in the life and death of cardiac cells. Aided by cutting-edge gene therapy, he is using viruses to deliver genes into cardiac muscle cells to direct how they behave. Potentially, this therapy could be used to direct cells to suppress or kill cancer cells. Both Hyrshko and Kirshenbaum are based at the St. Boniface General Hospital Research Centre. Executive Director of Research John Foerster says the renewals represent a successful partnership between the University of Manitoba and St. Boniface. "We are delighted to have two outstanding researchers here at St Boniface General Hospital Research Centre honored with this prestigious award," Foerster said. "It is tangible evidence of the success that can happen when the Hospital and the University collaborate together to attract two outstanding researchers to Manitoba and support their programs. The boost in their research that this announcement brings will ultimately advance their discoveries on heart disease." For more information, please contact: Frank Nolan Research Promotion University of Manitoba 204-474-7300 For more information, contact:
Chris Rutkowski
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