In September 2016, the Banting Research Foundation welcomed 60 guests to a celebration of Banting’s Legacy, the Art and Science of Discovery. Frederick Banting’s accomplishments as a scientist and an artist inspired the theme for the evening.
Jeanette Boudreau, PhD
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University Directing natural killer cell cytotoxicity to the tumour’s susceptibilities Natural killer (NK) cells are white blood cells that kill tumours. The potential of each NK cell to kill tumours is counterbalanced by its ability to be inhibited by healthy cells through its inhibitory receptors. Dr Boudreau aims to…
Christopher Dennison, PhD
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Alberta Impact severity metric for focal head and diffuse brain injury Whether or not today’s helmets protect the wearer from mild diffuse brain injuries, sometimes referred to as concussions, is the topic of intense debate. One of the primary venues for this debate is in the helmet standards and…
Jeffrey Gagnon, PhD
Department of Biology, Laurentian University Investigating the role of H2S in the regulation of ghrelin secretion Ghrelin, a hormone produced in the endocrine cells of the stomach, regulates several aspects of metabolic health, including appetite and energy storage. Recently, meals high in the amino acid cysteine have been shown to reduce ghrelin secretion. Foods rich…
Kaitlyn McLachlan, PhD
Department of Psychology, University of Guelph Evaluating novel neurobiomarkers in the identification of adults with FASD using portable eye tracking and EEG technology Individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) are overrepresented in the criminal justice system. There is an urgent need to identify neurobiomarkers of FASD and individuals at risk in order to reduce…
Noam Miller, PhD
Department of Psychology, Wilfrid Laurier University Exploring neural mechanisms of social behavior using zebrafish (Danio rerio) This research study uses zebrafish, a small freshwater species of fish commonly used in genetic and developmental research, to explore the mechanisms of social behavior. Zebrafish spend the majority of their time in groups and have complex social interactions,…
Roxane Paulin, PhD
Department of Medicine, Université Laval Targeting ErbB2 by TAK-165 reverses pulmonary hypertension in vitro and in vivo In pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs), cells forming the walls of arteries in the lungs proliferate like cancer cells, narrowing the arteries and making it difficult for blood to pass through. There is also evidence…
Jeffrey Chen, PhD
VIDO-InterVac, University of Saskatchewan Towards a next generation of superior BCG tuberculosis vaccines Tuberculosis is a serious global health problem, with one-third of the world’s population having been infected by the infectious agent, Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The only available tuberculosis vaccine, live M. bovis BCG vaccine, has an excellent record in protecting infants, but works poorly…
Jeremy Hirota, PhD
Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia A 3D-printed human airway model for studying respiratory mucosal immune responses Exposure to allergens and air pollutants in the air we breathe can lead to “lung attacks” in individuals with lung diseases, but it is unclear how this happens and what we can do to stop it. Dr…
Petra Kienesberger, PhD
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University Role of the adipokine autotaxin in obesity-associated insulin resistance Insulin resistance, a major complication of obesity, is a condition where tissues such as skeletal muscle become unresponsive to the blood sugar-lowering hormone insulin. Insulin resistance can lead to type 2 diabetes, which is associated with a shorter…