UPEI celebrates twelve Graduate and Post-Doctoral Fellowship Awards from Innovation PEI

All twelve of Innovation PEI's 2010 Graduate and Post-Doctoral Fellowship Program winners come from the University of Prince Edward Island and its Atlantic Veterinary College - including ten active students, and two applications to attract graduate and post-doctoral students. Now in its second year, the program is providing multi-year funding to 23 UPEI students in total.

'In training people into researchers, we create new generations of innovators - people who look at the world and know they can make a contribution to our understanding of the world by creating new knowledge; people who know how to use their creativity and intelligence to discover, to advance, to innovate,' said Dr. Katherine Schultz, UPEI Vice President of Research & Development. 'This program is a real investment in what I believe is the driver of innovation - people.'

'I continue to be impressed with the quality of research being conducted in Prince Edward Island,' said Hon. Allan Campbell, Minister of Innovation and Advanced Learning. 'I look forward to the Province's continued support of graduate students through the Island Prosperity Strategy program.'

The 2010 winners of the program include:

Michael Ciarmella

Michael will strive to identify blood biochemical parameters that correlate with the quality and nutritional status of American lobster. Michael is being supervised by Dr. Andrea Battison and Dr. Barb Horney.

Edward Cross

Edward is working to develop catalysts which will be utilized to form biodegradable and controlled release drug delivery systems. Edward is being supervised by Dr. Michael Shaver.

Jessica Willis

Jessica will develop molecular assays for ensuring that Island oysters remain safe for human consumption. Jessica is being supervised by Dr. Spencer Greenwood and Dr. J.T. McClure.

Dr. Michael Shaver & Dr. Brian Wagner

Dr. Shaver and Dr. Wagner have been granted a funding guarantee to recruit a master's student who will re-locate to Prince Edward Island and develop a drug delivery system that will indicate the end of the treatment cycle through fluorescence.

Michelle Patterson

Michelle is investigating optoacoustic imaging, a new medical technology for monitoring prostate cancer. She is able to image tumours using light and sound waves. Michelle is being supervised by Dr. William Whelan and Dr. Chris Riley.

Dr. Priyanka Pundir

Dr. Pundir is evaluating the anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory properties of oat extracts on human skin cells. Dr. Pundir is being supervised by Dr. Marianna Kulka.

Dr. Catherine Radtke

Dr. Radtke is conducting a comparison of the stem cells harvested from equine muscle, fat, and bone marrow for use in clinical therapy. Dr. Radtke is being supervised by Dr. Laurie McDuffee.

K. Fraser Clark

Fraser will develop molecular tools to assess the health, immunity and quality of lobster exposed to different pathogens. Fraser is being supervised by Dr. Spencer Greenwood.

Dr. Dante Mateo

Dante will attempt to create a tool to detect multiple finfish viruses using fluidic bead based molecular technology. Dr. Mateo is being supervised by Dr. Ahmed Siah, Dr. David Groman and Dr. Carmencita Yason.

Dr. Nakhyung Lee

Dr. Lee will strive to develop a strategy to control Listeria in ready-to-eat lobster products. Dr. Lee is being supervised by Dr. Byeonghwa Jeon.

Dr. J.T. McClure & Dr. Chris Riley

Dr. McClure and Dr. Riley have been granted conditional funding to recruit a post-doctoral fellow who will assess immunity and antibody production using biomedical technology, with a view to developing commercial opportunities for PEI.

Dr. AKM Ashikur Rahman

Dr. Rahman is planning to work with a medical technology company to create a tele-health system based on wireless sensor networks, which automatically monitors patient vital signs and reports to nurses (or doctors) if an issue arises. Dr. Rahman will be supervised by Dr. Qiang Ye.

UPEI congratulates all of the successful applicants, and looks forward to many years of continued research excellence as a result of this program.