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Posted on July 24: Research award raises McMaster biologist’s profile

McMaster's Juliet Daniel is one of the brightest young researchers in Canada. A $150,000 grant will help her shine even brighter. The assistant professor of biology is one of 34 researchers from greater Toronto universities included in round six of the Premier's Research Excellence Award (PREA), announced minister of enterprise, opportunity and innovation Jim Flaherty. The funding -- $100,000 from the Ontario government and $50,000 from the university -- will allow Daniel to continue her investigation into new regulators of cell adhesion and tumour progression. Her findings will increase scientists' understanding of tumour metastasis and significantly contribute to the development of improved therapies for cancer patients. "We're trying to understand what causes a tumor cell to break away from the primary tumor and spread to other organs," Daniel says. "We understand how a tumor arises, but we don't understand how it progresses to that really malignant and devastating state when it spreads to other organs." Daniel's lab is looking at the major epithelial cell adhesion complex, the "E-cadherin-catenin complexs", which is defective in human tumors. "We're studying a protein that I discovered when I was a post-doc, a transcription factor named Kaiso', after the Caribbean calypso music," she says. "The focus of our lab is to elucidate the relevance of the interaction between Kaiso and one of the adhesion catenins, p120ctn," she says. "We're trying to understand Kaiso's mechanism of action and identify the genes that it regulates, to see if any of those genes are directly linked to cancer." Daniel, who joined McMaster in November 1999, will use the funding to pay for personnel, students and technicians.

Posted on July 23: CIHR funds 26 McMaster research projects

McMaster has received $9.1 million from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) to fund the operational costs of 26 research projects. Immune responses in HIV infection and AIDS, monitoring high blood pressure among older adults, and understanding the value, priorities and world views of families who raise children with chronic developmental conditions, are among 26 projects funded through CIHR's new and renewal grants program. "This CIHR funding will provide support, as well as training opportunities, in a wide spectrum of innovative, state-of-the-art medical, biomedical, and health-related research projects at McMaster and our affiliated teaching hospitals," says John Capone, associate dean of research in the Faculty of Health Sciences. "CIHR support will allow our research scientists to remain competitive and at the leading edge at the national and international levels, and potentially lead to the discovery and generation of new knowledge and products that will benefit the health and well-being of all Canadians." McMaster had one of its better showings in CIHR's latest round of funding, says Marie Townsend, research programs administrator on the Committee on Scientific Development. In total, 42.6 per cent of the projects McMaster applied for under its new and renewal grants were funded by CIHR, compared to the national average of 31 per cent, she says.

Posted on July 23: Canadians support adult adoptees getting confidential information about birth parents, study finds

The first in-depth study of Canadian attitudes towards adoption shows that Canadians are strongly in favour of the unconditional release of confidential identifying information to adult adoptees about their birth parents. A majority also support some form of open adoption that allows for contact between birth parents and adoptive parents after adoption takes place. The study, conducted by McMaster University researcher Charlene Miall and Karen March of Carleton University, found that three-quarters of Canadians surveyed felt that birth parents and adoptive parents should not be able to prevent adult adoptees learning their original identities. At present, most adoption reunion registries allow birth parents to veto requests for information by adult adoptees. However, only 45 per cent of Canadians approved of birth parents learning the identities of their adopted adult children without their permission. "Adoption as an institution is in the process of change and this survey provides a unique snapshot of what Canadians think about these changes," said Miall, an associate professor of sociology. "Canadians are very supportive of adoption as a family form while recognizing that confidentiality requirements may place a unique burden on adults seeking to learn about their genetic and medical histories." Other findings from the survey: an overwhelming majority of Canadians approve of international adoptions Canadians are in favour of birth reunions with 46 per cent strongly approving and 45 per cent somewhat approving Canadians also think that confidential adoption, where there is no contact between birth parents and adoptive parents, should continue to be available if both parties want it Canadians are almost evenly split on whether lesbian and gay couples should be able to adopt children. The Institute for Social Research at York University collected the data from a Canada-wide telephone survey between May and July 2000. In addition, 82 comprehensive interviews were conducted to examine what factors were at work when respondents gave the answers they did. That analysis is now complete and the results of both the survey and interviews are in the publication stage. The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada funded this research. For complete information on the survey and the data, see http://socserv2.mcmaster.ca/sociology/Miall-News.pdf and http://www.carleton.ca/socanth/Faculty/KarenMarch.htm.

Posted on July 19: McMaster’s campus residences popular with students

Matching students with residences has been a little more complicated this year as the demand for campus accommodation is higher than normal. Like many other Ontario universities, McMaster is experiencing higher enrolment, particularly in the Level 1 class. Applications for admission are up across the province as some students are fast-tracking to university ahead of the double cohort class of 2003. McMaster and other universities are working with the provincial government to make as many additional spaces available as possible. In turn, the percentage of first-year students who are eligible for McMaster residence space in September 2002 is higher than normal. Phil Wood, associate vice-president student affairs, said McMaster is committed to accommodating all first-year students who were guaranteed a residence space because they had an academic average of 75 per cent or higher and met the application and payment deadlines. "McMaster has been a popular choice for students again this year," said Wood. "We are committed to helping everyone make a successful transition to university life. As part of meeting our commitment, we have decided to increase our bed space capacity by introducing 'bunk and loft' rooms that will accommodate three students." Wood said that a number of other residence rooms will also be converted to accommodate more students. "We are working with the Inter Residence Council and our Residence Life student staff to make sure that every student's residence experience will be positive," said Wood. Students will begin receiving their campus residence space assignments via letter today (July 19). All students who are assigned to a 'bunk and loft' room will receive a phone call from Housing & Conference Services personnel beginning next week so they can have any queries answered. Wood said students are being notified of their residence space assignment earlier than normal because demand has been great.

Posted on July 22: MacShad students solve environmental problems

McMaster Shad Valley students have their minds set on saving the environment. An indoor-waste and recycling bin, a dryer that helps conserve energy, an environmental education curriculum kit and an electronic device that eliminates harmful or irritating workplace sounds are the brainchilds of 52 "MacShad" students. The students will present their devices and business plans on Monday in the Institute of Applied Health Sciences, Room 143 from 2 to 4:30 pm. Students from across Canada are learning more about the fields of science, engineering, and business in the program, which allows senior high school students to expand their minds at the university level. Three weeks ago, students were divided into four teams and presented with the challenge of brainstorming, designing, constructing, marketing, presenting, and writing a full business plan for a product or service that would solve an environmental problem. "The project has been very challenging, but an extremely rewarding experience too," says 15-year-old Michelle Leung, of Vancouver, British Columbia. "It has enabled us to explore current environmental problems from a new perspective."

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Posted on July 24: Research award raises McMaster biologist’s profile

Posted on July 23: CIHR funds 26 McMaster research projects

Posted on July 23: Canadians support adult adoptees getting confidential information about birth parents, study finds

Posted on July 19: McMaster’s campus residences popular with students

Posted on July 22: MacShad students solve environmental problems

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