INMD Connections - June 2012

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Message from Philip Sherman, INMD Scientific Director

From left: Drs. André Buret, Raylene Reimer, Phil Sherman, Stephanie Atkinson and Jon Meddings at U. Calgary

Photo of: From left: Drs. André Buret, Raylene Reimer, Phil Sherman, Stephanie Atkinson and Jon Meddings at U. Calgary

In May, INMD had the pleasure of holding our Institute Advisory Board (IAB) meeting at the University of Calgary. The meeting opened with a dynamic Meet-and-Greet and Poster Session with faculty and students working in the INMD mandate area. Many thanks are extended to all of the students and trainees who presented posters, and to the research community for making INMD staff and IAB members feel so welcome.

As a graduate of the University of Calgary medical school (now quite a few decades ago), this was a special event for me because it provided a wonderful opportunity to see just how the University has evolved and the tremendous growth in the areas of health science research. Our meeting was also a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with respected colleagues, including a former IAB member Dr. Jon Meddings, who will become the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Calgary on July 1st – Congratulations Jon!

IAB members had the opportunity to interact with meeting observers Ms. Catherine Mulvale from the Canadian Digestive Health Foundation and Dr. Pamela Valentine from Alberta Innovates-Health Solutions. Other highlights included a lectureship from IAB member Dr. Keith Sharkey entitled A gut feeling: chronic inflammation and its consequences for digestive health, and a presentation by Dr. Raylene Reimer on The role of diet in modifying gut microbiota associated with obesity. IAB members greatly appreciated the opportunity to meet with Drs. James Cross, Associate Vice President (Research), and Paul Kubes, CIHR Researcher of the Year and newly appointed as a member of CIHR Governing Council.

Dr. Reimer organized a short tour, which provided IAB members with an opportunity to meet with University of Calgary investigators and learn about their research programs. The last stop on the tour was a visit with the Dean of Kinesiology, Dr. Wayne Giles, who provided insights related to the current health research funding landscape in Canada.

Along with opportunities the meeting provided to engage with the University, the IAB discussed the Terms of Reference of IAB's, engaged in a dialogue with Dr. Jane Aubin, CIHR Chief Scientific Officer, regarding proposed reforms to the Open Operating Grants Program, and discussed the implementation and evaluation of INMD Strategic Priorities. If you wish to learn more about INMD IAB meetings, the meeting highlights are posted on the INMD website.

Best Regards,

Philip M. Sherman, MD, FRCPC

Café Scientifique:
Environment, Genes and Gut Diseases: The Paradox of Prosperity

INMD was very pleased to participate in this well attended Café Scientifique, held in Calgary on May 16, 2012. With an introduction by the INMD IAB Chair Dr. Stephanie Atkinson (McMaster U.) and moderated by IAB Member Dr. Keith Sharkey (U. Calgary), the evening included a lively discussion following the engaging presentations by Drs. Gil Kaplan (U. Calgary), Karen Madsen (U. Alberta), and Barry Borman (Centre for Public Health Research, New Zealand) on the links between environment, genes and developing chronic gut diseases. Congratulations to all the organizers and speakers for making this such a successful Café Scientifique!

Researcher Profile

May Faraj

May Faraj
Research Assistant Professor, Department of Nutrition, Université de Montréal
Invited Scientist, Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM)

Dr. Faraj is a Registered Dietitian who became a Research Assistant Professor in 2008. She is a Principal Investigator at the Montreal Diabetes Research Center (MDRC) and a member of L'Ordre Professionnel des Diététistes du Québec. Her clinical and basic research program explores novel mechanisms implicating elevated numbers of atherogenic lipoproteins, measured as plasma apoB, in the development of dysfunctional adipose tissue and type 2 diabetes in humans. Moreover, the research defines the effects of various nutritional interventions in targeting the reduction in atherogenic lipoproteins, and associated cardiometabolic risks, particularly in obese subjects.

Dr. Faraj completed an MSc in Human Nutrition followed by a PhD in Experimental Medicine at McGill University under the supervision of Dr. Katherine Cianflone. Graduate work established a novel role for acylation stimulating protein (ASP) in the regulation of lipoprotein lipase activity and fat metabolism in adipose tissue and skeletal muscle using complementary in vivo, ex vivo, and in vitro models in mice and humans. Dr. Faraj completed post-doctoral training in the Department of Nutrition, University of Montreal funded by a CIHR post-doctoral fellowship.

Dr. Faraj's research activities as an Invited Scientist at the IRCM have been supported with funding awarded through a CIHR INMD operating bridge grant, an INMD priority announcement that focuses on supporting Clinician Scientists, and most recently, a Canadian Diabetes Association Operating Grant. We look forward to hearing about the research findings arising.

Partnerships Supporting Inflammatory Bowel Disease & Gastroenterology Research

Canadian Association of Gastroenterology

INMD is pleased to announce a funding opportunity launch that supports inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and gastroenterology (GI) research in Canada. This relates to a long-standing partnership with the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology (CAG) and its partners: the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada (CCFC), Takeda Canada Inc., and Abbott.

Relevant applicants to the CIHR fall Open Fellowship, New Investigator Salary Award, and Open Operating Grant competitions will have the opportunity to simultaneously apply to the following partnered Priority Announcement funding opportunities:

  1. IBD Fellowship - supported by CCFC, CAG, and INMD
  2. Gastroenterology Fellowship - supported by Takeda , CAG, and INMD
  3. IBD New Investigator Award - supported by CCFC, CAG, and INMD
  4. IBD Operating Grant - supported by Abbott, CAG, and INMD
Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada Takeda Abbot - A promise for life

INMD and CAG Funding Results

INMD would like to congratulate the researchers that were successful in the following Fall 2011 funding opportunities in partnership with the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology, Nycomed Canada, the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada, Janssen, Abbott, Ferring, Takeda Canada Inc., and the CIHR/Rx&D Collaborative Research Program:

Fellowship – Priority Announcement: Gastroenterology
Subhankar Dolai (U. Toronto)
Carmen Dominguez-Brauer (UHN Toronto)
Jocelyn Silvester (U. Manitoba)

Fellowship – Priority Announcement: Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Abdul Elkadri (Sick Kids - Toronto)
David Kevans (Mt. Sinai - Toronto)
Alexandre Morizot (McGill U.)
Menno Oudhoff (UBC)
Scott Patterson (UBC)
David Prescott (U. Toronto)
David Reed (U. London [UK])
Jose Reyes Hernandez (U. Calgary)
Susan Robertson (U. Toronto)
Martin Stahl (UBC)

INMD Grant Writing Workshop at Canadian Nutrition Society Meeting

INMD was pleased to partner with the Canadian Nutrition Society in hosting a grant writing workshop at the annual meeting held May 23-25, 2012 in Vancouver. Thanks to the leadership of Dr. Hope Weiler, and the support of excellent colleagues who kindly agreed to act as Peer Review Panel Chairs (see photo), and to the 40 new investigators and senior research trainees who actively participated in a mock grant review. Participants were also inspired by a successful New Investigator, Dr. Raylene Reimer, who shared her experiences and offered advice. Many thanks to all those who participated!

From left: Drs. André Buret, Raylene Reimer, Phil Sherman, Stephanie Atkinson and Jon Meddings at U. Calgary

Photo of: From Left: Drs. Angela Devlin (U. British Columbia), Phil Sherman, Tim Green (U. British Columbia), Catherine Field (U. Alberta), Raylene Reimer (U. Calgary), Hope Weiler (McGill U.)

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