May 2006 Issue 41

In this Issue
-Core project update
-ISSCR information
including upcoming
trainee conference
-Interactive video con-
ference a success
-Museum of Science
and Technology Panel
sheds light on stem cell
research for high
school students
-Bioengineering
advances breast cancer
research
-Project spotlight: Tim
Caulfield
-2006 Sanofi-Aventis
Biotech Challenge win-
ners announced
and much more...
SCN TAC Invitation to
New Trainees:
Calling all energetic new
trainees: The SCN TAC would
like to extend a formal invitation
to you to present your research in
a friendly, informal, no questions
asked environment. This is an
opportunity to sharpen and devel-
op your presentation and commu-
nication skills. Please join us in
this practical but relaxed session
held at this years AGM on
Monday November 13, 2006.
Please submit a maximum 200
word abstract, complete with a
research title and contact informa-
tion by J une 16, 2006.
Sign up early, as space is limited at
this event. Only selected candi-
dates will be contacted.
Please email your abstract or
any questions to Heather
Montgomery (hjmontgo@uwa-
terloo.ca) or Poh Tan
(poh@brc.ubc.ca).
Practice your oral presentation skills
at the 2006 AGM in Ottawa
Breast cancer research
advanced by bioengineering
University of Calgary Media Release, May 15, 2006
T
he search for a cure for
breast cancer is about to
take a big step forward
thanks to University of Calgary
biomedical engineers who will
begin supplying scientists with
enough breast cancer stem cells for
large-scale experiments in the very
near future.
In an article published in the cur-
rent issue of the journal
Biotechnology Progress, (Title:
Scale-Up of Breast Cancer Stem
Cell Aggregate Cultures to
Suspension Bioreactors). Dr. Leo
Behie and colleagues in the U of
Cs Pharmaceutical Production
Research Facility report that they
have developed a bioreactor tech-
nology enabling them to grow, in a
controlled environment, a virtually
unlimited supply of the these can-
cer stem cells that are now
believed to be the real cause lead-
ing to breast cancer tumours. The
paper was written by U of C bio-
medical engineers Benjamin Youn,
Arindom Sen and Behie, along
with Adele Girgis-Gabardo and
John Hassell from McMaster
University.
Research on breast cancer stem
cells is currently hampered by a
lack of cells, which are hard to
identify and only exist in sparse
populations in the body. Growing
them in bioreactors can provide a
steady and reproducible supply for
experiments to develop more effec-
tive drugs and treatments for the
disease that kills more than 5,000
Canadian women every year.
Leo Behie
ISSCR trainee conference hopes
to attract new bodies in the labs
P
oh Tan and Nicole Zur
Nieden are hosting a confer-
ence at the upcoming ISSCR
Annual Meeting in J une. The idea
is to attract new bodies in the labs
to speak to trainees. Poh Tan says
she would like to have new PIs
speak to trainees currently finish-
ing up their post doctoral studies
about SCN projects, and perhaps
starting their own labs.
Tan also hopes to showcase
Canadian stem cell research to
international conference partici-
pants, and maybe even have some
potential international recruits.
The informal networking event
will take place on the first day of
the meeting, J une 29, and is open
to anyone who wants to partici-
pate.
Tan and her supervisor, SCN PI
Kelly McNagny, are currently
reviewing the registration details,
which will be available soon. For
questions about the event, please
contact Poh Tan at
poh@brc.ubc.ca
Page 2
Core Project Update
Core project workshops provide interaction with leading Network Scientists
By Will Read
SCN Project Manager
T
he Stem Cells to Treat
Stroke Core Project work-
shop took place at the Banff
Conference Centre, Alberta, 20-21
April 2006.
Sponsored in part by Stem Cell
Therapeutics, the Workshops 12
delegates spent the Thursday
evening reception discussing pro-
ject matters and enjoying a stand-
up meal ably prepared by the Banff
Centre staff.
Fridays agenda featured presen-
tations from each of the labs par-
ticipating in the Stroke project. The
general format was to have a lab
trainee make the presentation, fol-
lowed by questions and discussion
with the rest of the team. The high-
ly interactive structure was well-
received by all attendees.
The Cell Therapy for Muscular
Disease Core Project workshop,
held 4 May 2006 in Vancouver,
British Columbia, was similarly
trainee-driven. The 19 delegates
received research progress updates
from the trainees, as well as high-
er-levelvisioning presentations
from several PIs. The day was
capped off with more discussion
and an excellent dinner at Shiru-
Bay Chopstick Cafe, in
Vancouvers revitalized Yaletown
district.
The thread in common for both
of these Workshops is the opportu-
nity it provided the Core Projects
trainees to interact with leading
Network scientists and one
another, and present their labs
work in a stimulating and interac-
tive forum.
The attendees returned to their
labs refreshed and refocused on
their Core Project in general, and
their tasks within it in particular.
Stem Cells taught via virtual conferencing
By Dauphine Dunlap
SCN Summer Intern
T
his month, the SCNs
Project Engage teamed up
with J ohn Spence of the
Communications Research Centre,
part of the NRC, to create a virtual
classroom program centered
around stem cells.
SCN Executive Director Drew
Lyall and Lynne Cayer, a
Program Officer at CIHR, spoke to
high school students from Ottawa
and St. J ohns about the issues sur-
rounding stem cell research. This
interactive discussion was facilitat-
ed by Spences videoconferencing
tools, which enabled Lyall and
Cayer to speak with the students,
and enable the students to speak to
each other.
Spence has been doing virtual
classroom programs for about
eight years. The idea is to connect
schools with high-speed network-
ing, which, he has learned through
experiment, is useful for a wide
range of things.
We like to work with organiza-
tions that have an outreach man-
date, Spence says, with the hope
that such organizations incorporate
the tools into their networks.
Spence says he likes to work with
high school students on a variety
of global issues, from climate
change, to stem cell research. The
stem cell session went exception-
ally well, says Spence. He was
pleased that the students had the
chance to speak with Lyall and
Cayer, and to get an inside view of
the regulatory framework around
research.
Spence knew the event was a suc-
cess when he received what he
calls the ultimate compliment; stu-
dents said they wished they had
more time.
Spence hopes to increase student
engagement in such programs, and
the research centre plans to devel-
op tools that would enable this.
He also plans to move the software
to an international level.
He believes that one day, every-
one will have access to this kind of
video conferencing software.
Grandparents could one day see
their grandchildren walk, or some-
one could take a cooking class in
Thailand, all via videoconferenc-
ing.
Page 3
Researcher, patient, ethicist lead discussion into the
trials and tribulations of stem cell research
SCN Panel provides insights into
stem cell research, ethics
By Dauphine Dunlap
SCN Summer Intern
M
argo Murchison first
noticed something was
wrong when, after attend-
ing a fitness class, two of her fin-
gers curled up uncontrollably.
After having several tests, it was
determined that at age 27, she had
Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
Murchisons story was part of a
panel discussion, A Patient
Approach to Stem Cell Research:
Trials & Tribulations, held by the
SCN, in the Museum of Science
and Technologys Biotechnology
lecture series aimed at high school
students. Murchison spoke of her
experience with fellow panelists
Harry Atkins, SCNPI, and SCN
Trainee, Rosario Isasi, of the
Centre de recherch en droit public,
who spoke about ethical issues sur-
rounding embryonic stem cell
research.
Murchison has since been
involved in two clinical trials for
MS, a progressive autoimmune
disease that occurs when the
patients body destroys its own
myelin.
Stem cell research is currently
showing promise in therapeutic
potential for MS and other debili-
tating diseases. Clinical trials for
MS therapies involving stem cells
are ongoing, and have so far yield-
ed positive results. For one, vision
was restored; for another, the use
of a cane is no longer necessary.
Murchison says further stem cell
research in the area is really excit-
ing.
Though stem cell research holds
great clinical potential, the debate
surrounding the use of embryonic
stem cells is ongoing.
The debate is the moral status of
the human embryo, explainedIsasi,
who presented some of the ethical,
cultural, social and religious issues
surrounding embryonic stem cell
research.
Isasi underlined the need to
achieve balance between these
opposing ethical principles, but
that its not as easy as choosing A
or B.
Harry Atkins spoke of therapeutic
initiatives involving stem cells and
the importance to continue
research on both adult and embry-
onic stem cells. Further research
on both types of stem cells will
enable researchers to determine
which kind of stem cell has more
clinical potential.
The series also included a presen-
tation by Stem Cell Network
Scientific Director Michael
Rudnicki, The Potential of Stem
Cells, highlighting Canada as a
power in the world of stem cell
research. Both the presentation
and panel discussion presented
stem cells, the controversy sur-
rounding embryonic stem cell
research, and the therapeutic poten-
tial of stem cells.
Atkins, Isasi, and Rudnicki each
expressed the need to continue
research on both adult and embry-
onic stem cells. It seems that
many of the more than two hun-
dred students in the crowded audi-
torium would agree. The panelists
were flooded with questions imme-
diately following their presenta-
tions.
Murchison, a former teacher who
taught until she had to use a wheel-
chair, wants to live a full life, con-
tributing to society. She told the
high school students that she
would like to be able to stand up
and walk to the door, like she used
to, or ride her bike along the canal.
I have great hope for the future,
she says.
Atkins, Murchison and Isasi take time after the panel discussion to talk to interested high school students
about the ongoing research.
Page 4
The Second EuroStemCell
International Conference,
Advances in Stem Cell
Research, is taking place
September 8-10, 2006, in
Lausanne, Switzerland. The
event will feature leading sci-
entists, biotechnologists and
clinicians, discussing the lat-
est developments in stem cell
research.
Hydra II: European Summer
School, Stem Cells &
Regenerative Medicine,
September 15-21, 2006, in
Hydra, Greece.
For more information, please
visit the EuroStemCell
website at:
http://www.eurostemcell.org/
The 4th annual ISSCR meet-
ing will take place J une 29-
J uly 1, 2006 at the Metro
Convention Centre in
Toronto. This is the first
time the ISSCR has held a
conference outside of the US,
and SCNmembers are
encouraged to register for
this event. The annual meet-
ing will feature Nobel
Laureate J ohn Polanyi as a
Keynote speaker and a
Presidential Symposium held
in honour of Drs. Jim Till
and Ernest McCulloch (who
will attend the session and
give some remarks). For
some of the younger scien-
tists and trainees, this will be
a once-in-a-lifetime event.
For more information, and
to register please visit the
ISSCR website at:
http://www.isscr.org/
EuroStemCell
ISSCR This month we look at Towards the
Clinic?: Ethical, Legal and Social Issues
(ELSI) Relevant to Emerging Stem Cell
Therapies, a project led by Tim Caulfield
of the University of Alberta.
By Tia Moffat
SCN Interim Manager of
Scientific Affairs and Training
T
he exploration of ethical,
legal and social issues
(ELSI) associated with stem
cell research is essential for the
maintenance of public trust, the
ethical conduct of research, and the
development of sustainable science
policy that is respectful of the
diverse nature of values relevant to
this area of research.
This project will examine the
emerging ELSI issues associated
with the integration of stem cell
research and technologies into
clinical research through four high-
ly integrated projects: 1)
Emerging Issues Associated with
Translational Research will ana-
lyze issues associated with moving
stem cell research towards clinical
applications and analyze broader
social consideration about how
research can be conducted in a just
and fair manner that serves the
interests of all Canadians;
2) Public Representations of Stem
Cell Research will explore how
the popular press portrays stem
cell research and analyze the
potential impact of these represen-
tations of public perceptions and
policy making; 3)
Commercialization will explore
potential conflicts of interest, pres-
sures, and policy challenges sur-
rounding the development of com-
mercializable therapeutics; 4)
International and National Public
Policy will compare the diversity
of international policies and laws
regarding stem cell research, bank-
ing and patenting.
This project brings together a
unique interdisciplinary team
including experts on researching
ELSI issues and public perceptions
of biotechnology, stem cell
researchers, and internationally
respected scholars.
The project team believes that
this project is in place at an ideal
time to have a significant social
impact on the direction of policies
relevant to research and therapies,
since:
1) the federal government is still
developing the regulations relevant
to the new Assisted Human
Reproduction Act; 2) there is great
diversity in regulatory approaches
throughout the international com-
munity; and 3) Canadian research
ethics policy is in a state of flux.
Project outputs include scholarly
publications, conferences, work-
shops, development of research
resources open to the public, publi-
cations in the popular press, and
public lecture series.
Project Team:
Tim Caulfield, University of
Alberta
Bartha Knoppers, University of
Montreal
Edna Einsiedel, University of
Calgary
Connie Eaves,
BC Cancer
Agency
Abdallah Daar,
University of
Toronto
Peter
Zandstra,
University of
Toronto
Fabio Rossi,
University of British Columbia
Michael Rudnicki, University of
Ottawa
Sam Weiss, University of Calgary
Mick Bhatia, Roberts Research
Institute
Jacques Galipeau, McGill
University
Lawrence Rosenberg, McGill
University
Michael McDonald, University of
British Columbia
Erin Nelson, University of Alberta
Matthew Nisbet, Ohio State
University
Tania Bubela, University of
Alberta
Andrew Laing, Cormex Research,
Ottawa
Barbara von Tigerstrom,
University of Saskatchewan
R. Alto Charo, University of
Wisconsin Law School
Aurora Plomer, School of Law,
Nottingham
Shaun Pattinson, Sheffield
Institute of Biotechnological Law
and Ethics
Upcoming Meetings
SCN Executive Committee Meeting
J une 1, 2-4pm
SCN Board of Directors meeting
J une 19, Ottawa
Tim Caulfield
Page 5
Reminder: Use Your Core Project Web Site
to Organize, Share, and Collaborate
By Will Read
SCN Research Program
Manager
T
he Network has established
and maintains the Core pro-
ject web sites in order to
help your project team achieve its
goals. Consistent use of your pro-
jects web site will enhance your
teams ability to Organize, Share
and Collaborate:
Organize - Key Files and
Messages are centrally accessible
instead of scattered across multiple
desktops and inboxes. To Do lists
can be used to break down and
share tasks amongst the project
team
Share - Team members are able
to access project files and docu-
ments from any location.
Collaborate - Searchable discus-
sion threads in the Messages sec-
tion allow the entire team to view
and participate in the project.
Short- and long-range Milestones
show what project activities need
to take place, when, and who is
responsible for completing them.
Writeboards can be used to capture
and evolve ideas.
Access to your project web site
may be gained through:
https://stemcellnetwork.grouphub.c
om/
If you need a username/password
reminder, or if you have any other
questions regarding access to or
use of Basecamp, please contact
William Read, the Networks
Research Program Manager, at
wread@stemcellnetwork.ca, or
(613) 737-8899 x76627.
Registration on the horizon for the SCN Multidisciplinary Stem
Cell Course (July 17 - 21, 2006)
R
egistration on the horizon
for the SCN
Multidisciplinary Stem Cell
Course (J uly 17-21, 2006)
This 5-day hands-on multidisci-
plinary course is open to all SCN
trainees and will compare the tech-
nologies and concepts between
various stem cell types, including
hematopoietic, muscle, neural, and
embryonic. The format will con-
sist of seminars in the mornings by
SCN PIs and senior trainees, fol-
lowed by hands-on laboratory/tuto-
rial sessions in the afternoons that
will cover all 4 SCNthemes.
The SCN will cover all travel,
registration, food and accommoda-
tion costs for a limited number of
SCN trainees to attend this course
in the Advanced Molecular
Biology Laboratory at the Michael
Smith Foundation for Health
Research (http://www.michael-
smith.ubc.ca/education/overview/).
Registration deadline for the
course will be June 30, 2006.
Further details on specific course
topics and experiments will be
posted on the SCN website
(www.stemcellnetwork.ca/train-
ing/multicourse.php).
For pre-registration information,
please contact Tia Moffat at the
SCN office tia@stemcellnet-
work.ca.
The event will take place in B.C.
Page 6
Trainee in Rancourt lab wins award
Generating Bone from Human Embryonic Stem Cells:
AVery Accessible Therapeutic Target.
Wins Entry to National Student Biotech Contest
For Calgary High School Scientist
TOP WINNER: Emily Cooley
of Queen Elizabeth Jr/Sr High
School will represent
Calgary at national SABC com-
petition in Ottawa on May 10th
R
esearch in biotechnology
has paid off for five teams
of high school students
who received cash prizes from the
Calgary regional 2006 Sanofi-
Aventis Biotech Challenge
held on Monday, May 25th.
The annual competition allows
students to work in labs with men-
tors in the biotechnology field and
carry out research projects of their
own design. The program is
designed to raise awareness
among students, educators and the
public about the emerging science
of biotechnology and its applica-
tions in health care, agriculture,
energy and the environment.
The six winning teams in the
Calgary competition were:
1st Place: Emily Cooley of Queen
Elizabeth J r/Sr High School won
the $2,500 first
place prize with a study about
Generating Osteoblasts from
Murine Embryonic Stem Cells.
Dr. Derrick Rancourt,
Department of Biochemistry and
Molecular Biology, University of
Calgary mentored Emily through-
out her research. Emily will repre-
sent Calgary at the national
competition on May 10th, 2006 via
teleconference and will be judged
by a panel of experts at the
National Research Council,
Ottawa.
2nd Place: Harry Zhou represent-
ing Western Canada High School
won the $1,500 second place prize
for a project that investigated
DNA Damage
Induced Cell Death in Breast
Cancer Cells that Differ in p53
Status. Harrys mentor, Dr. Susan
Lees-Miller wears many hats
including Interim Director at the
Southern Alberta Cancer Research
Institute.
3rd Place: The third place prize of
$1,000 was awarded to J ulianne
Yip, Gavin Chu and Nakul Datta
from Western Canada High School.
These students were
mentored by Dr. Morley
Hollenberg Professor of
Pharmacology and Therapeutics,
and Medicine at the University of
Calgary, who supported this
team throughout their project
titled: Signal Transduction
Pathway and Herbal Remedies
Ginseng Therapeutics and Cold
fX.
4th Place: $750 was awarded to
Cameron Baum of West Island
College for achieving fourth place.
Cameron worked on his project
titled: Determination of Factors
that Maximize Agrobacterium
Virulence Gene Expression with
the help of his mentor Steve
Szarka, of SemBioSys Genetics
Inc.
5th Place: Fifth place prize of
$500 was awarded to J ulia Pon and
Siying Li of Sir Winston Churchill
High School. Dr. Doug Muench,
Associate Professor of Biological
Sciences at the Unversity of
Calgary, mentored this
team throughout their research
titled TransPHormation: the
Effect of Extracellular pH on
Genetic Transformation Frequency
in Escherichia coli.
National Competition May 10th,
2006
Canadas regional student first
place winners will participate via
teleconference in a national com-
petition on Wednesday, May 10th,
and will be judged by senior offi-
cials from the federal public ser-
vice and the private sectors.
Do you have a story idea for CELLlines?
Think your project should be featured in our spotlight? Have a job ad to post?
Want to announce a training event?
We want to hear from you.
Contact Lori Barron at: lori@stemcellnetwork.ca
Emily Cooley, right, being presented her certificate by Jason
Locklin, representing Sanofi-Aventis