Gene deletion, also referred to as gene “knockout”, is a classical way to determine the function of the encoded protein. With the advent of CRISPR-Cas9 technology, knocking out genetic elements in cell lines has never been easier or cheaper to do in the laboratory. Characterizing knockout cell lines to see how they differ compared to normal or “wild-type” cell lines…
We spoke to several DMCBH researchers about the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had with respect to our brains, our understanding of sex and gender analysis in science and ethical considerations. This story was part of our 2020/2021 annual report, which can be found here. Dr. Teresa Liu Ambrose on how the pandemic has impacted our brain: The pandemic has affected our…
This quarter we shine a spotlight on BCDRN trainee Dr Emily Wilts. Emily is a Post Doctoral Research Fellow in the Kieffer Laboratory in the Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences in the Life Sciences Institute at the UBC Vancouver campus. Learn more about Emily and what brought her to Canada to pursue her passion for polymers and living abroad in Shanghai. Where…
Being able to visualize and depict scientific results is important as it not only facilitates effective communication of research, but it also allows for the detection of patterns and emerging characteristics within the data itself. Researchers from Dr. Inanç Birol’s Lab at the GSC developed RNA-Scoop, an interactive tool for visualizing differential transcript expression from single-cell transcriptome datasets. According to the…
Dr. Lori Brotto is executive director of the Women’s Health Research Institute, Canada Research Chair in Women’s Sexual Health, director of the UBC Sexual Health Laboratory and a professor in the university’s department of obstetrics & gynaecology. She also maintains a private practice. Dr. Brotto will moderate the Women in Science event on Feb. 10, 2022.
Over half a million Canadians are currently living with Alzheimer’s disease or a related form of dementia, and with a rapidly aging population, that number is projected to double by 2031. Now, a new test will help patients find the answers they are seeking and assist their families in planning in the face of an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. “This is an…
Variational AI, developer of state-of-the-art generative AI technology to redefine the economics of drug development by accelerating the discovery of novel and optimized small molecule therapeutics, today announced the company has generated and ordered compounds for validation in partnership with the University of British Columbia (UBC) and adMare BioInnovations to develop a novel SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease (3CLpro) inhibitor. The therapeutic is intended to be…
Dr. Connie Eaves is investigating two different organ systems. In both cases, they want to understand how the cells within them are normally produced throughout life and the nature of the changes they undergo to become malignant. One is the system that makes blood cells and leukemia. The other is the mammary gland that is located inside the breast and…
GenXys Healthcare Systems Inc. (GenXys) is adding a new value dimension to Precision Genetics and the personalized health marketplace. Precision prescribing has become a leading method to bring pharmacogenetics (PGx) closer to the standard of care for certain conditions that often carry a high cost and a lower rate of medication effectiveness. Precision Genetics will use GenXys’s award-winning suite of…
For difficult-to-treat cancers, like androgen receptor-positive prostate cancer that does not respond to anti-androgen therapy, combination therapy is required. A new study from Drs. Sadar and Tien at the Genome Sciences Centre examined the in vivo response to treatment with both a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor and a drug that binds to the N-terminal domain of androgen receptors. Together, palbociclib and…