Genome Alberta's Official Newsletter

Genome Alberta Newsletter GenOmics - July 16, 2010

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Genomics News

Genome Canada Appoints New Chair of its Science and Industry Advisory Committee

Genome Canada is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Jacques Simard (Ph.D.) as Chair of Genome Canada's Science and Industry Advisory Committee. The Science and Industry Advisory Committee (SIAC) is a permanent committee of the Board of Directors and provides strategic advice on approaches and directions that contribute to the achievement of the corporation's goals.

Dr. Simard has been a member of Genome Canada's Board of Directors since 2005 and has served on a number of Board committees. He is taking the helm of the SIAC in this 10^th anniversary year for Genome Canada.

For more on Dr. Simard please visit Genome Canada’s website.

Michael Houghton is the new Canada Excellence Research Chair in Virology

In 2008, the Government of Canada created the Canada Excellence Research Chairs (CERC) Program to establish up to 20 research chairs in universities across the country. Earlier this week the selection committee announced Michael Houghton has been appointed as Canada Excellence Research Chair in Virology at the University of Alberta. Before accepting this new position he was chief scientific officer at Epiphany Biosciences in California. Previously, he spent 25 years in a distinguished career at the blood diagnostics company Chiron, ultimately serving as vice-president of HCV and virology research. In 2000, Houghton received the enormously prestigious Albert Lasker Clinical Research Award for his work at Chiron.

Building on the knowledge he gained while making his breakthrough discovery of the virus that causes HCV, and his identification of the Hepatitis D viral genome, Michael Houghton will work to develop low-cost prophylactic vaccines against HCV, and therapeutic vaccines against HBV. Through experimental trials using chimeric mice with human liver, as well as through woodchuck infection models, Houghton hopes to improve current HBV treatment methods and significantly reduce how long treatment takes.

You can find more on the appointment and in the Canada Excellence Research Chairs by visiting the CERC website.

Genome Prairie Announces Board Appointments

Genome Prairie Board Chair Arnold Naimark has announced the appointment of two new members to the Genome Prairie Board of Directors. John Cross and Kutty Kartha have been appointed for three-year terms. The announcement was made recently at Genome Prairie's Annual Meeting of Members.

For more details we have posted the full story on our GenOmics site.

Lights, Camera, Action for Gene Screen Competition

Gene Screen BC is the first Annual Genetics Video Competition, hosted by the BC Clinical Genomics Network and Genome BC, to explore the world of human genetics on the screen. Winning films should accurately portray the current and near-future clinical science. First prize is $3,500 so visit http://genescreenbc.com/ for more details.

}Deadline for a Letter of Intent is July 31^st and your entry must be submitted by August 15^th so get out the video camera and start rolling.

Pacific Rim Bio Call for Papers, Panels, and Posters Extended

The 2010 Pacific Rim Summit on Industrial Biotechnology & Bioenergy will be held at the Hilton Hawaiian Village from December 11-14, 2010.

Topics still needed Include:

• Renewable chemical platforms
• Biobased Chemistry and biobased polymers
• Algae for biofuels and coproducts
• Microbial specialty chemicals
• Plant and feedstock crop genomics
• Marine biotechnology
• Advanced biofuels
• New Enzyme development
• Synthetic biology
• Metabolic engineering
• Biorefinery evolution

For further information on how to submit an abstract, please visit our website at bio.org/pacrim or contact us at pacrim@bio.org or 202.962.9200.

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GenOmics Top Stories

• Scientists in Genome Atlantic project discover gene linked to brain evolution
• Solid-state systems could sequence a genome for $10
• Exposing the Student Body: Stanford Joins U.C. Berkeley in Controversial Genetic Testing of Students
• Scientists Criticize Study on Genetics of Old Age
• Ethical, scientific issues related to 'post-market' clinical trials
• Why sequencing matters for personal genomics

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Found on Twitter

Twitter is not just for kids or for telling everyone what you had for breakfast. It has become a serious tool for spreading information, breaking news and bringing together people with common interests. We track many people involved in government, biotechnology, life sciences, communications, and public relations.  Here a sample of what we’ve seen on Twitter over the last couple of weeks and for more you can visit this week’s Twitter Snips at  http://tinyurl.com/2ecyld3

 @23andMe   Update on 23andMe and Committee on Energy and Commerce of the United States House of Representatives http://bit.ly/9vGZsS

@Argent23 For any plant DNA geeks out there http://bit.ly/bYu8Lg

@blausengroup Duke studying how iPad can be used by medical researchers http://bit.ly/b8ISan via @imedicalapps #meded #clinicaltrials

@doe_jgi  Many eyes on single cell genomics videos from the Sequencing, Finishing, Analysis in the Future meeting - up at http://bit.ly/aOtKDZ #fb

@GenomeBiology  Due to popular demand the deadline for abstract submissions to Beyond the Genome extended 'til 30 July http://cot.ag/dnrGi1 #BTG2010 #genome

@lindaavey  Pharma and lawyers will continue to make money; meanwhile we're all guinea pigs. Personalized med is still more of a myth than a reality.

@ScienceAlert Stem cell gene linked to cancer: Australian researchers have found a mutation in stem cell… http://goo.gl/fb/0dHC2

@StemCellNetwork Personalized medicine is not only a goal, but a part of the process, too http://bit.ly/djd1TI

And who are these busy tweeters?

@23andMe is the Twitter account for the California based genetics testing company 23andMe www.23andme.com

@Argent23 Alexander Knoll is a molecular biology PhD student and science blogger, who tweets in English and German. http://www.scienceblogs.de/alles-was-lebt/

@blausengroup  Blausen Group provides medical, scientific animation & illustrations via web, iphone, ipad Blausen and Human Atlas. You can find them online at http://blausen.com/

@doe_jgi U.S. Dept. of Energy Joint Genome Institute enables advances in bioenergy and environmental research. http://jgi.doe.gov/

@GenomeBiology Genome Biology publishes articles from the full spectrum of biology. Their first conference, Beyond the Genome is in October 2010. www.beyondthegenome2010.com

@lindaavey is a co-founder of 23andMe and says her work now is all about instigating a healthquake.

@ScienceAlert is a website offering the best of Australasian science and technology news http://www.sciencealert.com.au/

@StemCellNetwork SCN supports cutting-edge projects that translate Canadian stem cell research discoveries into new and better treatments. http://www.stemcellnetwork.ca/

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GE³LS Digest

For more information about GE3LS Digest, please visit http://www.genomealberta.ca/ge3ls/newsletters.aspx

Monsanto GM seed ban is overturned by US Supreme Court – June 21, 2010

The bio-tech company Monsanto can sell genetically modified seeds before safety tests on them are completed, the US Supreme Court has ruled. A lower court had barred the sale of the modified alfalfa seeds until an environmental impact study could be carried out. But seven of the nine Supreme Court Justices decided that ruling was unconstitutional. The seed is modified to be resistant to Monsanto's brand of weed killer. The US is the world's largest producer of alfalfa, a grass-like plant used as animal feed. It is the fourth most valuable crop grown in the country. Environmentalists had argued that there might be a risk of cross-pollination between genetically modified plants and neighbouring crops.

This story has been featured on our GenOmics site with an added video report on the court ruling.

Gene data for all 'within a decade'—June 24, 2010

Genetic information will be available to most people in the developed world within 10 years, allowing better treatment and safer prescription of drugs. Francis Collins, director of the US National Institutes of Health, believes mass genome sequencing of individuals would soon be possible at a cost of less than $1,000 per person (£670). In an interview with The Times to mark the 10th anniversary of the sequencing of the human genome, he said bespoke genetic health care would identify those with a higher inherited risk of conditions such as heart disease, diabetes or cancer and reduce the diseases though drug treatment, early screening or diet and exercise

Study shows some men may be born with a cheating gene – June 17, 2010

Wedding vows are supposed to mean you stay married forever, but a study shows for some men it just may not be possible.  Apparently, the more we learn about DNA the more researchers are finding evidence that some men are born with a so-called cheating heart. "There's a gene that's been shown, that if men have this particular gene or a variant of the gene, they have more trouble in relationships," said Brenda Wade, Ph.D., a marriage and relationship expert. Dr. Brenda wade has written three books on marriage and relationships.  She says a Swedish study followed more than a 1,000 twins finding that there is a bonding chemical in some men, which makes them less likely to stay married and more likely to end up in bad relationships.  However, as a psychologist, she says the good news whether you have that gene variant or not, the brain can be trained to resist temptation.

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Events

International Livestock Congress 2010

The conference will highlight the complex forces at work in today's fast changing beef industry with a focus on what each member of the livestock industry can do to impact the image of beef and the beef industry in a positive manner. The theme for this year's ILC is Beef 2010: Raising Optimism, Global Strategies

Main topics of the 1 day event are:

• International economics
• Global demand and how Canada is perceived in the world market
• The value chain and how to become more competitive in the market place
• How Canadian beef can win in globalization

Speakers scheduled to appear include:

• Jack Hayden, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development for Alberta
• Travis Toews, President of the Canadian Cattlemen's Association
• James Bo Reagan, Senior Vice President Research, Education & Innovation, U.S. National Cattlemen's Beef Association

When: August 11, 2010

Where: Deerfoot Inn and Casino
11500 - 35th St. S.E.
Calgary, Alberta

For more details please visit the main conference website.

Genome Alberta is a sponsor of the Congress and we look forward to seeing you there.

BioProExpo 2010

BioProExpo™ 2010 is a new cross-industry event that explores existing and emerging ways for transitioning a variety of biomass feedstocks into energy and biofuel. At BioPro Expo, suppliers of agricultural, municipal and wood wastes, as well as producers of dedicated energy crops and food processing facilities, will find the practical answers they need for capitalizing on biomass resources.
BioProExpo is organized by TAPPI.

Where: Cobb Galleria Centre
Atlanta, Georgia

When:   August 24^th - 26^th, 2010

BioProExpo Website:  http://www.bioproexpo.org

Contact pages for sponsors, exhibitors, speakers, and media: http://www.bioproexpo.org/contact.asp

Agricultural Biotechnology International Conference

The theme of this year's  Agricultural Biotechnology International Conference (ABIC 2010) is Bridging Biology and Business and features three streams: Energy, Health, and Sustainability.

This is an annual event for industry leaders, policy makers, scientists, researchers and other professionals working in the area of agricultural biotechnology. The conference is a forum where the latest scientific advances in agricultural biotechnology are presented, and where future directions of the technology are highlighted and discussed. Attendees will hear about advances, barriers and action options which may influence science and business endeavours on a global scale.

There will be plenary speakers, a full breakout program, poster session, and a trade show. 

When:    September 12-15, 2010

Where:  TCU Place, 35 - 22nd Street East, 
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

You can view agenda details on the ABIC website.
This video is from BIOTECanada and is a look into the future of agriculture and biotechnology.

The Genomics of Common Diseases 2010

Nature Genetics in association with the Wellcome Trust are sponsoring the fourth Genomics of Common Diseases meeting.

Where: Cullen Building
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, Texas

When: October 6^th - 9^th, 2010

2010 Canadian Science Policy Conference

With the success of the 1^st CSPC last year in Toronto, the Conference is set to become an annual event attracting some of the best scientists, civil servants, elected officials, and academics in a position to influence science policy in Canada. The Canadian Science Policy Conference was initiated by young researchers and has subsequently received a groundswell of support from prominent members of the science community. The main objectives of the CSPC are to identify and discuss current Canadian science policy and to forge stronger links between stakeholders and policymakers.
This year’s event will be held in Montreal October 20^th - 22^nd and the theme will be Building Bridges for the Future of Science Policy.

CSPC 2010 will feature more than 50 speakers, 14 panels and 2 workshops, branded across 5 themes, along with hundreds of delegates representing numerous stakeholders who will discuss critical issues in Science and Technology policy in Canada – many of which have never been discussed at a forum on this scale.

Be sure to visit the CSPC 2010 website at http://sciencepolicy.ca/cspc2010 for more detailed information as it becomes available and to register for the event.

Main conference website: http://sciencepolicy.ca/cspc2010

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