Genome Alberta's Official Newsletter
Genome Alberta Newsletter GenOmics - April 1, 2010
- April 1, 2010 -
In this Update:
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Genomics News
Congratulations to Tim Caulfield from everyone in the Genome Alberta Community
One of Genome Alberta’s Principal Investigators Professor Timothy Caulfield has climbed another wrung on the research ladder. Tim has been Research Director of the Health Law Institute at the University of Alberta, since 1993 and in 2001 he received a Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Health Law and Policy.
That made him a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair and acknowledged as an emerging researcher. This week it was announced that Tim is now a Tier 1 CRC which means he is seen by his peers as a world leader in health law and policy.
Visit the U of A Faculty of Law website at http://tinyurl.com/yf2czov for the full release and for more links.
Congratulations to Tim for all the work he has put in over the years !
What is Genomics? Video Series from Genome B.C.
Genome British Columbia's ‘exploring the gene scene’ pages have some good resources for teachers and students and have recently added a series of videos called “What is Genomics?”, developed in collaboration with the Ontario Genomics Institute.
We have posted a blog entry where you can watch the whole series with a click of your mouse.
Manning Awards
On Tuesday, March 15th , the lobby of the Alastair Ross Technology Centre in Calgary hosted a good crowd to salute the 2010 Manning Innovation Award nominees for Southern Alberta.
The 3 nominees this year are:
- Dr. Wael Badawy IntelliView Technologies Inc. for the SmrtBed - A Bed Exit Alarm System
- Mr. Geoff Gosling, DIRTT Environmental Solutions for the DIRTT Modular Wall System
- Dr. Ross Mitchell, University of Calgary for Virtual Biopsies - Non-Invasive Molecular Diagnosis of Cancer
The Awards will be presented to the winners at the Annual National Presentation Ceremonies held in the fall. Visit http://www.manningawards.ca/ for more information.
Genome Alberta Supports Alberta Science Fairs
Since Genome Alberta was formed 5 years ago we have been a supporter of Science Fairs in Alberta. We provide cash support to the various regional fairs, and plaques for winners. We also provide meeting room space for the Calgary Youth Science Fair organizers and we would like to thank them for making us a Silver Level sponsor.
To find out the dates for a science fair near you please visit Genome Alberta’s Calendar of Events for April
Nature Awards for Mentoring in Science – Canada (2010)
For its annual awards for science mentorship in 2010, Nature invites nominations of outstanding scientific mentors in Canada. Two prizes of C$10,000 will be awarded, one for a mid-career mentor and one for life-time achievement in mentoring. Nominations are now open, with a closing date of 30 June 2010. The prizes will be awarded at the Canadian Association for Graduate Studies annual meeting in Toronto on Friday 5 November 2010.
Visit Nature Journal’s website for more information http://www.nature.com/nature/
mentoringawards/canada/
Canadian Bioinformatics Help Desk Newsletter
http://www.gchelpdesk.
ualberta.ca/news/17mar10/cbhd_ news_17mar10.htm
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GenOmics Top Stories
Like the talk on Twitter, the Myriad Patent ruling came to dominate the stories on our GenOmics application and we saw a jump in readers as the number of posted stories increased over several days. We encourage you to visit http://facebook.genomealberta.
ca and follow the news tab and featured links to see the most complete story roundup you will find about the ruling.If you have several Google Alerts coming in for ‘Omics’ subject areas and subscribe to several digests such as GenomeWeb or BIOSmartBrief, then you might want to consider our GenOmics site instead because you’ll find many of the stories all collected in one spot. Headlines and summaries may be all you need but there are links to the full stories. We also add relevant videos and images that you won’t find anywhere else in your usual omics digest, alert, or feed. We update the ‘News’ section several times a day and if you look at the ‘raw feeds’ under the news tab, the information there is generated automatically as soon as the items are posted on the web.
The Biotechnology Industry Organization in Washington D.C. called it their favourite site of the year and BIOTec Canada has given it good reviews. The National Institutes of Health in the U.S. has even used the send-a-gene tab in the application. Try it anytime, no need to register, and we check all the links to make sure they work and don’t send you into a black internet void.
Judge in New York Dismisses Human Gene Patent
Pigs Fly: Federal Court Invalidates Myriad’s Patent Claims
Scientists take animal breeding to the next level
- Canada's New Budget Holds Small Gains for Research
- 'Junk' DNA gets credit for making us who we are
- Nature's new online commenting facility opens up the entire magazine for discussion
- Big Shots Slam Nature
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Found on Twitter
In the Twittering world surrounding Genome Alberta’s followers and many of those we follow, the Myriad Gene Patent ruling became the #1 hot topic.
Check this week’s Twitter Snips on our blog pages for a more complete roundup of postings along with links and information about the people and organizations behind the tweets. All links guaranteed germ free !
@genomicslawyer Conversation re: Myriad decision continuing in the comments over at Genetic Future: http://bit.ly/c1GAa7 @dgmacarthur @lindaavey @eurogene
@dgmacarthur Genetic Future post: "Jaw-dropping" verdict against Myriad in BRCA patent case: One of the major potential stumbli... http://bit.ly/bf1JUK
@genomicslawyer Hank Greely on the coming "Explosion of Prenatal Genetic Testing": http://bit.ly/afzAVF (HT @GenCounsNews) Also: http://bit.ly/1nfDwM
@bmahersciwriter Reuters special report on the first post-genome decade: http://is.gd/b8c4f Stay tuned for Nature to chime in later today.
@NatureNews Our human genome extravaganza now live http://bit.ly/ckMVI7 Pieces from Collins and Venter, and 3 great features.
@UofC_Science Chemist David Cramb looks at the impact nanoparticles have on human health and the environment. http://preview.tinyurl.com/
yjgbd4b @DrBondar Introducing the Beetle Queen herself…Jessica Oreck!: Amazing film, amazing gal! CB: I am so excited to see your film.. http://bit.ly/awWTS8
Check out the full website belonging to this week’s top Twitter types:
- Daniel Macarthur: http://scienceblogs.com/
geneticfuture/ - University of Calgary Faculty of Science http://www.science.ucalgary.
ca/ - Brendan Maher http://nature.com
- Nature News http://nature.com
- Carin Anne Bondar http://carinbondar.com/
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GE3LS Digest
For more information about GE3LS Digest, please visit http://www.genomealberta.ca/Breast Cancer Patients Often Confused by Genomic Testing – March 8, 2010
Doctors need to do a better job of explaining genomic test results to breast cancer patients, say U.S. researchers. Genomic testing -- which analyzes 21 genes in breast tumors removed during surgery in order to predict the risk of cancer recurrence -- can help guide decisions about the use of chemotherapy in patients with early-stage breast cancer. Patients at high risk may decide on more aggressive treatment, while those at low risk may opt to forego chemotherapy and its potential side effects.For this study, researchers surveyed 77 patients with early-stage, estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer who underwent genomic testing between 2004 and 2009. About one-third of the women said they felt they did not fully understand their discussions with doctors about their genomic test results and their risk of cancer recurrence, and about one-quarter suffered distress.
DNA Deception – February 22, 2010
When state health officials were sued last year for storing infant blood samples without parental consent, they said it was for medical research into birth defects, childhood cancer and environmental toxins. They never said they were turning over hundreds of dried blood samples to the federal government to help build a vast DNA database — a forensics tool designed to identify missing persons and crack cold cases.
Scientific breakthrough in genetic studies of animal domestication – March 10, 2010
In 1957, an animal science researcher at Virginia Tech named Paul Siegel began a decades-long study of White Plymouth Rock chickens, a breed favored by backyard farmers. From his original flock, he created two new flocks: one with the heaviest birds, and one with the lightest. Once a year, he bred the heaviest birds in the heavy flock with each other, and the lightest birds in the light flock with each other. Though they began as a single flock of similar-weight chickens, birds in Siegel’s heavy flock now grow to an average of 9 times the size of birds in the light flock.
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Events
We have a new Calendar of Events page on our website at http://www.genomealberta.ca/
--------------------------------------------------------------------Canadian Human Genetics Conference
This conference builds on a tradition of 17 previous annual scientific meetings of the Canadian Genetic Diseases Network, and the success of two Annual Canadian Human Genetics Conferences. The 3rd Annual Canadian Human Genetics Conference is an open meeting that will showcase some of the very best genetics in the country and abroad.
Hosted by Canadian Gene Cure Foundation (CGCF) with the Institute of Genetics (IG), Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
Where: Saint Sauveur, Québec
When: April 18-21, 2010
Conference Website: http://www.genecure.ca/en/programs/canadian-human-genetics-conference/about-the-event/
Public Population Project in Genomics
The theme for this year's P3G Annual Meeting is "Harmonization in Practice: A Platform Based on 50 Studies from 18 Countries".
The meeting will include a report on the first P3G harmonization process drawn on 50 studies from 18 countries. Agenda topics include the challenges facing harmonization strategies, data sharing tools, and updates on projects already underway.Please note the change in venue.
When: April 26 -27, 2010
Where: Montreal, Quebec at the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel.
Conference Website: http://www.p3g.org/secretariat/ueventsMontreal10. shtml
Registration: http://secretariat.p3gobservatory.org/montreal.1
The GEEE! in Genome
Where: Prince George, British Columbia
When: May 1 – September 5, 2010
Website: http://nature.ca/genome/index_e.cfm
"Meet Alberta Opportunities" Reception
Every year during the Annual BIO Convention, Alberta showcases the advantages to doing business in Alberta and this year in Chicago will be no exception. It's a great event to meet new contacts, get to know potential partners, and catch up with colleagues. Don't miss it! To see a slide show of images from last year’s Alberta reception and the Alberta Pavilion please go to our Calendar of Events.
When: Tuesday, May 4th at 7:30p
Where: They are keeping the actual location under wraps for the moment.
For more information: View our Calendar of Events
Website: http://www.bioalberta.com
BIO 2010 International Convention
BIO is the world’s largest biotechnology gathering and features tracks of programming, including sessions on policy, finance, business development, science and regulatory affairs. Apart from the conference session, BIO also includes about 400,000 square feet of exhibit space. It is expected to attract 20,000 industry professionals: executives, investors, scientists, researchers, policy makers and journalists, approximately 2,200 exhibitors and at least 60 international pavilions.
Genome Alberta will not be exhibiting this year but the BIO folks have kindly given Communications Director Mike Spear full media access to the event so we’ll be able to keep you up to date with blogs, pictures, and videos. News and information from BIO Chicago will be available on our site as well as on the BIO site.
When: May 3-6, 2010
Where: Chicago, Il
For more information: http://convention.bio.org/
Canadian Human Proteome Project Workshop
The Human Proteome Organization (HUPO) and CNPN invite you to attend a workshop hosted by Genome Quebec and CNPN to define the next steps in moving Canadian proteomics research forward.
When: Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Where: Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel, Montreal, Quebec
There is no cost to participate at this workshop, however, you must be preregistered to attend. We recommend you attend also the CNPN 2010 Symposium that takes place on May 9-10 in the same venue, just preceding the workshop, in order that you may fully appreciate the context and the goals of the workshop.
Workshop website: http://www.cnpn.ca/page41/page41.html
Canadian National Proteomics Network website: http://www.cnpn.ca/index.html
Alberta Bovine Genomics AGM
This is the 3rd annual meeting of the Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Livestock Genomics Technology (formerly the Alberta Bovine Genomics Program), and it is being organized together with the University of Calgary's Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. The theme will consider how genomics touches many of the quality issues impacting the sector and seek linkages and synergies to keep Canada at the forefront of the field and the industry competitive. Genome Alberta is a Silver sponsor this year and you’ll find more information on our website as we get closer to the event date.
When: May 11-13
Where: Sheraton Suites Calgary Eau Claire, Calgary, Alberta
For more information: Alberta Bovine Genomics AGM website
Visit Genome Alberta’s Calendar of Events for more on this event and view a video on the important role of beef cattle genetics.
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