Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced the initiation of a Phase 1 “first-in-human” clinical trial of its proprietary epilepsy product candidate, XEN1101, which is an orally administered Kv7 potassium channel opener that has the potential to treat both adult as well as rare pediatric genetic forms of epilepsy. The Clinical Trial Application (CTA) for XEN1101 was accepted by the Medicines & Healthcare…
From penicillin to the Tesla Model 3, every great modern invention that has solved a problem plaguing the human condition has faced a significant hurdle – scaling up from the lab bench to meet demand efficiently and cost-effectively, with no loss in quality. As breakthroughs in regenerative medicine continue to make headlines worldwide, research communities are redoubling efforts to develop…
The Faculty of Medicine received a total of $31.2 million for eight projects in the latest round of Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) funding, announced today at the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health (DMCBH). These projects represent the majority of the 15 grants, totaling $52.2 million, awarded to UBC. Two of these were awarded to ICORD members. “Hearing about the scientists and…
Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) may be a novel approach to eliminate multidrug-resistant bacteria from the gut and to prevent future infections. Using whole metagenome sequencing data from eight FMT donor-recipient pairs, we identified 37 and 95 antimicrobial resistance genes that were acquired by or removed from FMT recipients, respectively.
“A lot of scientific writing can be … dry,” says Dr. James Kryklywy, a post-doctoral fellow in Dr. Rebecca Todd’s Motivated Cognition Lab. “For most non-scientists, and for a lot of scientists as well, your average research paper isn’t really a fun read.” Inspired by popular web comic XKCD’s Thing Explainer, and motivated by a desire to get complex research ideas…
The first generation of immune checkpoint inhibitors (anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD-1/PD-L1) targeted natural immune homeostasis pathways, co-opted by cancers, to drive anti-tumor immune responses. These agents led to unprecedented results in patients with previously incurable metastatic disease and may become first-line therapies for some advanced cancers. However, these agents are efficacious in only a minority of patients. Newer strategies are becoming…
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA — (October 18th, 2017) – The BC Technology Association announced today that Jill Tipping has been appointed as the new President and CEO, effective November 22nd, 2017. Jill joins BC Tech from Schneider Electric Solar, the Burnaby-based global supplier of solar power conversion solutions and leading player in BC’s thriving CleanTech sector, where she is currently VP Operations…
BC Platforms, a world leader in genomic data management and analysis solutions, today announces that Biogen and the Accelerated Cure Project (ACP) will each be using its technology solutions and research platform, including its recently launched BCRQUEST.COM, to better understand the genetic basis of multiple sclerosis (MS) and accelerate research into its causes and mechanisms. Microsoft will provide the cloud infrastructure…
ICORD PIs Drs. Christ West and Brian Kwon have been awarded US$1.926 million by the US Department of Defense to study how changes to heart function following SCI can impact mobility. Their study, Offsetting cardiac dysfunction in acute spinal cord injury to optimize neurological outcome, will explore how the heart changes immediately at the time of injury and during the first hours-to-days after SCI. They will…
The Faculty of Medicine received a total of $31.2 million in the latest round of CFI funding, announced today at the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health (DMCBH). The eight projects represent the majority of the 15 grants, totaling $52.2 million, awarded to UBC. Three of these were awarded to DMCBH members. “Hearing about the scientists and researchers here at…
