Graduate students and post-doctoral researchers win Island Prosperity awards
Eleven UPEI graduate students and post-doctoral researchers have been awarded funding through the Graduate and Post-Doctoral Fellowship Program. The provincial program promotes partnerships between the private sector and research institutions by sponsoring students and researchers whose studies are aligned with the Island Prosperity Strategy.
The PEI Department of Innovation and Advanced Learning created the program to support research projects that have commercial potential with funding of up to $20,000 for graduate students and $40,000 for post-doctoral fellows.
'We are pleased to support the research work of these students and their projects which complement the work government is doing to diversify the PEI economy,' said Allan Campbell, Minister of Innovation and Advanced Learning. 'Investing in people who are working to strengthen our innovative sectors is essential if we are to develop new products and services from our resource industries and other sectors of the economy.'
The award-winners, identified below, were honoured by the provincial government on June 29 for their contributions to Island research and innovation.
Donald Cameron: Erythritol-based Cores for Biodegradable Materials
For further work in developing new polymeric materials based upon the polymer star architecture based on non-toxic dipentaerythritol cores. The enhanced polymer stars will have important applications in materials science and as drug delivery systems.
Dr. Marguerite Cameron: Evaluation of Selective Dry Cow Treatment Following On-Farm Culture Using Petrifilm on Low Somatic Cell Count Cows at Dry-Off
The study will compare new infection rates at freshening between control group cows.
Jennifer Cuillier: Development of a Bacterial Terpene Production Method
The research will create a bacteria-based isoprenoid production platform capable of high-level production of targeted isoprenoids, employing a reliable fermentation process.
Dr. Okechukwu Igboeli: Developments of Models to Study Drug resistance in Sea Lice
This study investigates the development of efficient models for monitoring/ studying drug resistance by sea lice using bioassays and molecular techniques.
Dr. Kimberly MacDonald: Evaluation of an On-Farm Culture System and Treatment Decision Algorithm for Clinical Mastitis in Canada
Currently, most dairy farmers treat all cases of mastitis without knowing the causative organism. Antibiotic treatment results in financial losses to the farm due to lost revenue from discarded milk and the cost of antibiotic treatment. On-farm culture determines cases requiring treatment within 24 hours.
Jessica Livingston-Thomas: Novel Strategies for Enhancing Functional Recovery Following Focal Ischemic Stroke
Using micro-injections of the vasoconstrictor endothelia-1, researchers are able to produce specific deficits in forelimb motor function simulating a stroke. This project will investigate the benefits of a unique form of rehabilitation on recovery of motor function in this model.
Rebecca Pike: Fungal and Bacterial Diversity and Natural Products Drug Discovery from Marine Gorgonian Corals and Sponges
The first component of the project will taxonomically enumerate fungal and bacterial communities of selected gorgonian corals and sponges using culture-independent methods. This will develop an understanding of the ecological niches of gorgonians and sponges in selected tropical habitats.
Dr. Malcolm McCulloch: Isolation and Characterization of Novel PTP1B
This project will focus on the top 10 hits with selective activity against the protein tyrosine phosphate PTP1B, a major negative regulator of both insulin and leptin signalling.
Dr. Jennifer Slemmer: Validation of potential human health benefits of functional foods produced on Prince Edward Island
Testing of individual compounds, groups of compounds, or whole foods in functional foods will take place to identify their potential human health benefit, including their effects on inflammation, atherosclerosis, oxidative stress and various metabolic disorders, such as diabetes.
Sarah Stewart-Clark: Development of Molecular Markers to Evaluate the Impact of Tunicate Mitigation Treatments on Mussel Gene Expression and Health
This project will use an innovative mussel microarray to evaluate the impact of tunicate treatment methods on mussel health by measuring changes in gene expression in treated vs. non-treated mussels.
Dr. Hua Wang: Development of Noval Fatty Acid-based Nutaceuticals for Brain Health
This project aims to develop novel FA-based nutraceutical formulations that target preventable aging-, stress- and inflammation-related cognitive decline.
Photo: Back, l-r: Rebecca Pike, Dr. Malcolm McCulloch, Premier Robert Ghiz, Donald Cameron, Dr. Okechukwu Igboeli. Front: Marguerite Cameron, Jennifer Cuillerier, Sarah Stewart-Clark, Dr. Kimberly MacDonald, Dr. Jessica Livingston-Thomas, Jennifer Slemmer. Missing: Dr. Hua Wang.
