Integrating Biological, Physical and Engineering Sciences to Benefit Society: Examples of the Univer

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Integrating Biological, Physical
andEngineering Sciences to Benefit Society
Examples of the University of Manitoba
Experience Dr. David T. BarnardPresident
and Vice-ChancellorUniversity of Manitoba
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University of Manitoba Marketing Plan-January
2007
Winnipeg
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Campus Details
Fort Garry Campus

• 247-hectare complex with over 60 major buildings.

• Smartpark Research and Technology park fosters
  collaborative university-industry research and
  development with more than 30 of Canadas most
  innovative companies.

Bannatyne Campus

• Located in downtown Winnipeg, adjacent to the
  Health Sciences Centre.

• 10 building complex focused on health science
  education and research in dentistry, medicine and
  medical rehabilitation.

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World Class research
The University of Manitoba is home to
scientists, scholars, artists and engineers
working to address some of the most significant
challenges facing Canada and the world in the
21st century.

• Global Public Health
• Climate Change
• Civil Societies
• Clean Energy
• Water Quality
• Healthy Aging
• New Materials
• Communications Technologies
• Disease Diagnosis and Treatment
• Aboriginal and Northern Development
• Sustainable Agriculture and Healthy Foods

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Age of Biology
The next century will be the Age of Biology,
just as this one has been the age of physics and
astronomy. Specifically, those countries who best
know how to correlate, analyze, and communicate
biological information will be in the leading
position to achieve economic and scientific
advances. Sir Robert May, Chief Scientist,
UK, July 1998
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Integrated Tissue Imaging
University researchers are studying
neurodegenerative disorders and vascular disease
using an advanced tissue imaging laboratory
capable of 2-photon brain slice imaging.
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Institute of Cardio Vascular Sciences (ICVS)

• A partnership between the University
• and St. Boniface General Hospital, the
• Institute studies
• Cell pathophysiology and muscle cell biology
• Molecular physiology and cardiology
• Cardiac electrophysiology and gene biology
• Molecular mechanisms of ischemic heart disease,
  congestive heart failure, diabetic heart
  dysfunction

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Cancer Research
The Manitoba Institute of Cell Biology (MICB), a
joint institute of the University and CancerCare
Manitoba, studies such challenging problems as
the molecular origins of cancer, the regulation
of gene activity, AIDS, control of cell movement,
inflammation and wound healing, programmed cell
death and the biochemical action of cancer
chemotherapeutics.
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Genomics (models of human diseases)

• In addition, the MICB is co-leading the 22
  million North-American arm of a worldwide effort
  to create knockout mice for every gene in the
  mouse genome
• The team uses state-of-the-art laboratory
  facilities and advanced bioinformatics computing
  systems
• Since mice and humans are genetically very
  similar, the program will provide vital new
  knowledge about thousands of genetically-based
  human diseases

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IKMC International Knockout Mouse Consortium

• Start with Gene Trap Approach, finish with Gene
  Targeting
• Resource will be publicly and freely available

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The Regenerative Medicine Program
Restore
Regenerate
Repair
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Mammalian Functional Genomics Centre

• Strengths in Functional Genomics
• HTP ES cell mutagenesis
• Transgenic technologies
• Bioinformatics
• Large scale genomic applications
• Well integrated international centre
• Stem Cell and Cancer Biology
• Systems Biology Approaches
• Training centre

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Opportunities

• National Gene Targeting Centre
• Mouse Modeling Centre
• Major Disease-Focused Initiatives
• Phenogenomics
• Pre-Clinical Models
• Stem Cell Biology and other models

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Systems Biology
The Manitoba Centre for Proteomics and Systems
Biology, a partnership between the University and
the Health Sciences Centre, brings together
researchers in biology, biomedicine, proteomics,
mass spectroscopy and bioinformatics to develop
models that simulate human, animal and plant
biological systems and how they function with
applications in transplants, autoimmunity, cancer
detection and treatment, and viral infections
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Infectious Diseases

• The University of Manitoba is internationally
  recognized as a leader in infectious disease
  research, particularly for its groundbreaking
  HIV/AIDS programs in Kenya
• Research teams are currently researching the
  genetics and immune systems of a group of women
  in Nairobi who appear to be resistant to HIV
  despite repeated exposure to the virus. This
  program is considered to offer one of the worlds
  best hopes for the development of an HIV vaccine

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Infectious Diseases

• University of Manitoba infectious disease
  researchers work closely with scientists at the
  National Microbiology Laboratory of the Public
  Health Agency of Canada
• Infectious disease researchers employ the latest
  genetic and immunological tools, including a
  bio-safety level 3 laboratory located at the
  University of Manitoba
• A world-class infectious disease research
  facility has been constructed using funding from
  the CFI in Nairobi, which is used by University
  of Manitoba and other HIV/AIDS research teams

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George Fay Yee Centre for Healthcare Innovation
(CHI)
The CHI brings together experts from healthcare
(Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy and the School of
Medical Rehabilitation), quality improvement
(I.H. Asper School of Business), systems and
process design (Engineering), computer and
measurement sciences (Science), and health
informatics (HSC, Science) to provide leadership
in healthcare system design and quality in a
continual drive to improve patient care and
safety in Manitoba and beyond.
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Centre for Global Public Health

• The Centres public health research supports
  projects both in local and global public health. 
  
• Dr. Blanchard is currently leading a team working
  with the West China School of Public Health at
  Sichuan University to develop their institution
  as a centre of excellence in HIV/AIDS research,
  training and education.

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Global Public Health

• Dr. Stephen Moses, Professor, Medical
  Microbiology is a physician and public health
  specialist with over twenty-five years of
  experience in reproductive and sexual health.
• HIV Prevention in Karnataka, India
• US 17 million from the Bill Melinda Gates
  Foundation for Scaling up HIV Prevention in
  Karnataka project
• US 22 million from USAID to develop additional
  HIV prevention programs in Karnataka and Andhra
  Pradesh
• HIV/AIDS research in Kenya

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Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals

• Research is focused on development of natural
  health products from crops grown in the prairie
  region
• Covers identification and enhancement of natural
  compounds, to testing and development of
  marketable natural food products
• Basic research and clinical trials on a wide
  range of natural health products, providing the
  results and related information to both the
  scientific community and the general public
• Includes 40 researchers from Agricultural and
  Food Sciences, Human Ecology, Pharmacy and
  Medicine

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Biofuels

• Dr. David Levins research investigates factors
  influencing metabolic fluxes and biofuel
  synthesis in order to improve yields of ethanol,
  thus lowering production costs and increased
  economic viability for the biofuel industry.
• Dr. Anita Brûlé-Babel performs research creating
  new genetic strains of wheat specifically
  intended for ethanol production.

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Plant Genomics

• Employ a range of functional genomic technologies
  with the goal of developing new canola and
  rapeseed cultivars and diversified products
  thereby increasing the socioeconomic value of
  this crop.
• Designing Oilseeds for Tomorrows Markets
  involving an experienced team representing
  Canadian Universities, innovative companies and
  government institutions