More Canadians suffer from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) than anywhere else in the world, yet current treatments often have debilitating side effects and are not always effective. According to Crohn’s and Colitis Canada, 1 in 140 Canadians lives with Crohn’s or colitis, the two main forms of IBD. The disease inflames the lining of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and disrupt the…
With the release of our 10th magazine issue, the CBR Knowledge Translation (KT) Committee is excited to celebrate over 5 years of ongoing knowledge translation! Founded in January 2015, the CBR KT Committee is a group of undergraduates, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, research associates, and technicians who are passionate about science writing, blogging and mixed media communications. With writers and editors who…
Acuitas Therapeutics announced publication of research results in the prestigious journal Nature, from the company’s work as part of a collaboration with Verve Therapeutics, Inc. to develop non-viral lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery technologies for single course in vivo, liver-targeted gene editing treatments for cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death worldwide. The paper (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-03534-y), entitled “In vivo CRISPR base editing…
2021 is the 20th anniversary of the Stem Cell Network. We are celebrating our history, the milestones and the incredible people that have built this community with a new interview series, 20Q20. We asked 20 of Canada’s leading and up-and-coming stem cell scientists 20 questions – about their life, their work and their views on the stem cell sector. Dr.…
Scientists say they have identified a group of genes that may “significantly increase” the risk of developing COVID-19. New research, presented at the ATS 2021 International Conference on Friday, suggests that having genetic risk variants in the ABO gene, among others, might increase one’s chances of contracting SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. According to a press release, Ana Hernandez Cordero, a…
Genome BC has funded four cutting-edge human health projects in the field of single-cell ‘omics. This field of study includes disciplines across the ‘omics space from genomics to metabolomics, as well as the technologies enabling these single-cell ‘omics approaches. The funded projects include a single erythrocyte HbA1c distribution assay and endo-phenotyping of human alveolar macrophages from bronchoalveolar lavage.
The BC Diabetes Research Network is delighted to launch Season 2 of our official podcast: “Diabetes: From Beta Cells to Bicycles“. Podcast host Krista Lamb is joined by BC Diabetes Research Network researcher Dr Sarah Gray. Dr. Sarah Gray is an Associate Professor in the Northern Medical Program at the University of Northern British Columbia and an Affiliate Associate Professor in the…
A new anti-viral drug could improve COVID-19 outcomes and survival rates — and is highly effective against multiple variants — according to a new study led by researchers at the University of British Columbia and Université de Sherbrooke. The drug, called N-0385, blocks the SARS-CoV-2 virus from entering human cells through its favoured cell gateways. The results of the study…
Endometriosis, a disease found in up to 10 per cent of women, has been enigmatic since it was first described. A new theory developed by researchers at Simon Fraser University suggests a previously overlooked hormone — testosterone — has a critical role in its development. The research could have direct impacts on diagnosis and treatment of the disease, signaling hope…
If you sense a pathogen, can you recruit beneficial bacteria to help protect against those pathogens? It turns out, plants can. The Haney Lab, a research lab in the UBC Department of Microbiology and Immunology, has published a paper in Nature Plants with trainee support from the Michael Smith Laboratories called “FERONIA restricts Pseudomonas in the rhizosphere microbiome via regulation of reactive oxygen species.” Upon sensing…