The IMiC Consortium will undertake a comprehensive analysis of human milk components linked to infant growth and resilience, in order to inform maternal and infant nutrition recommendations and interventions.

“The University of Manitoba thanks the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for this commitment to improving the health of children and mothers around the globe,” said Dr. Digvir Jayas, Vice-President (Research and International).

Breastfeeding provides optimal nutrition and immune protection to infants, including a plethora of health-promoting factors that support infant growth and development. However, the nutritional and non-nutritional components are highly variable between and within mothers and little is known about these variations.

“Breast milk is fascinating,” says UM assistant professor Dr. Meghan Azad, Canada Research Chair in Developmental Origins of Chronic Disease and a research scientist at the Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM). “It is so fundamentally important to infant health, and yet we know surprisingly little about breast milk composition and its variation around the world. This project will help us learn about how human milk helps human babies develop and grow up healthy.”

The research will be critical to understanding why some breastfed infants can still develop infections or struggle to achieve optimal growth trajectories, and also for optimizing nutrition for infants who cannot be breastfed.

The IMiC Consortium will bring together five research groups studying maternal nutrition and infant growth in Tanzania, Pakistan, Nepal, Burkina Faso and Canada. It will also include human milk scientists who will analyze a vast array of different milk components, including macronutrients, vitamins and minerals, prebiotic sugars, hormones and growth factors. Initial analyses will involve 1200 mother-infant pairs.

The IMiC Consortium will also include data scientists who will use machine learning to address critical research questions such as:

• What is the variability in breast milk composition in different geographic settings?
• How are various components in breast milk correlated with each other?
• How is breast milk composition influenced by maternal, environmental and sociodemographic factors?
• Which components of breast milk are associated with healthy infant growth patterns?

This funding will expand the University of Manitoba’s Kidney Check program. Previously introduced in five provinces in partnership with Indigenous communities and researchers, the program brings portable, point-of-care equipment to remote locations to provide kidney, diabetes and blood pressure checks. Early screening enables researchers to predict the health risk of individual patients and provide appropriate, immediate care and intervention to prevent or delay kidney failure and the need for dialysis.

“We will be able to substantially increase the number of patients we are able to serve,” says Dr. Paul Komenda, an associate professor in the Max Rady College of Medicine, and research director at the Chronic Disease Innovation Centre. “Our program currently serves 1,300 Indigenous people in four communities in Manitoba. With this funding, the program will now support up to 3,000 additional individuals in six Manitoba First Nations communities.” 

Acting as a springboard for social innovation, TD established the TD Ready Challenge to identify and support scalable solutions to a specific issue identified within the drivers of The Ready Commitment. In total, TD awarded $10 million (CDN) for the 2019 Challenge.

“The University of Manitoba has brought forward a creative and scalable solution to help increase equitable health outcomes for underserved and remote communities,” said Andrea Barrack, Global Head, Sustainability and Corporate Citizenship, TD Bank Group. “Being a winner of the TD Ready Challenge is a testament to the skill, ingenuity, and vision of its creators, as well as their dedication to improving the health of their communities and opening doors to a more inclusive tomorrow.”

Representatives and patient partners from the University of Manitoba are available to discuss the project and how patients will benefit from the service, while a TD spokesperson can speak to why the bank selected preventative health as its focus for the 2019 TD Ready Challenge.

A Winnipeg researcher who is studying a potential treatment for Alzheimer’s disease is looking for more participants for her program —and just got the funding to help more people access it.

Zahra Moussavi, a biomedical engineer and University of Manitoba professor, is analyzing the use of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on subjects with early- to moderate-stage dementia and Alzheimer’s, which affects an estimated 22,500 Manitobans. Dementia has no known cure and is nearing pandemic levels worldwide, as the baby boom generation ages.

For roughly 30 minutes a day, five days a week, for four weeks, a magnetic coil is held over the patient’s head, sending 20 high-frequency pulses per second to the brain.

“When we give them at a high frequency, it excites the neurons,” Moussavi said. “It’s helping neurons that have become inactive.

“We don’t expect the treatment to make a miracle, but we have seen people who are responsive to rTMS,” said the researcher seeking to learn if the process — which has been used for decades to treat a number of neurological and psychiatric conditions — can reduce the effects of Alzheimer’s and fight the progression of the disease.

Read the full Winnipeg Free Press story here.

Sachin Katyal, a biologist at CancerCare Manitoba and assistant professor in the U of M’s department of pharmacology and therapeutics, is the first researcher in Manitoba to receive the $450,000 Terry Fox New Investigator award for his “quick-toclinic” personalized medicine approach to better treat patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).

Sachin Katyal

“Everyone’s so excited Manitoba has won a Terry Fox Research Institute award, especially because this province was Terry’s birthplace,” says Dr. Katyal. “Glioblastoma is a pretty insidious disease and is almost like a death sentence — it’s got fairly grim statistics, and my goal is to change that.”

He will use his award to analyze resistant brain cancer tumour cells to determine what DNA-damaging enzyme repair proteins are allowing cancer cells to survive following chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

The project’s findings will have the potential to help people like Manitoban Lawrence Traa, who was diagnosed with glioblastoma more than five years ago. Having a Terry Fox Research Institute project funded in his province is very exciting, he says, both for himself and for future brain cancer patients.

“One of the toughest things for glioblastoma patients to come to terms with is that you may die from the disease,” says Traa. “When we hear about research like this being done in Manitoba, it brings us hope.”

Dr. Victor Ling, TFRI president and scientific director, is pleased to see the three-year award go to a Manitoba researcher.

“These awards are given to promising new cancer clinicians and scientists who represent the future of cancer research. The Terry Fox Research Institute funds several major projects aiming to improve outcomes for glioblastoma patients, and we are pleased to support Dr. Katyal’s work in DNA repair to help find cures for this disease.”

“This research funding and the partnership among the Terry Fox Research Institute, CancerCare Manitoba and the University of Manitoba, ensures the continuation of transformational research that improves patients lives in Manitoba,” adds Dr. Digvir S. Jayas, vice-president (research) and Distinguished Professor at the University of Manitoba.

“Through this New Investigator award, Dr. Katyal will be able to network with brain cancer researchers across the country with the potential to impact brain cancer patients,” says Dr. Spencer Gibson, Head of Cell Biology at CancerCare Manitoba’s Research Institute and TFRI Prairie Node Lead.

More than 2,500 Canadians are diagnosed with brain cancer each year, and GBM is the most common — and aggressive tumour. In October 2017, Gord Downie, frontman for the Tragically Hip, died of this disease. He was diagnosed in May 2016, around the same time the University of Manitoba reported on a laser developed by its alumni that offers a rare hope and treatment for some GMB patients. Katyal’s work furthers the U of M’s legacy of trailblazing research in this field.

About The Terry Fox Research Institute

Launched in October 2007, The Terry Fox Research Institute is the brainchild of The Terry Fox Foundation and today functions as its research arm. TFRI seeks to improve significantly the outcomes of cancer research for the patient through a highly collaborative, team-oriented, milestone-based approach to research that will enable discoveries to translate quickly into practical solutions for cancer patients worldwide. TFRI collaborates with more than 80 cancer hospitals and research organizations across Canada. TFRI headquarters are in Vancouver, B.C.

About CancerCare Manitoba

CancerCare Manitoba envisions a world free of cancer. It’s mission is to reduce and, where possible, eliminate the burden of cancer on the people of Manitoba through exemplary programs of prevention, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, continuing care, research and education.

Jennifer Hensel, assistant professor of psychiatry at the Max Rady College of Medicine in the U of M’s Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, has been awarded the Gerry McDole Professorship to carry out the study.

She will implement a pilot project using remote communication strategies to connect adult patients with psychiatric and other mental health support, with the goal of scaling up this solution across rural Manitoba.

Manitobans in rural and remote communities have much more limited access to psychiatric consultation and other mental health services than urban dwellers, says Hensel, a practising psychiatrist who recently joined the U of M from the University of Toronto. 

“Virtual care strategies, such as videoconferencing between patient and psychiatrist via the MBTeleHealth secure network, offer great potential to create more equitable access,” says Hensel, who has been appointed medical director of adult telemental health services by the U of M psychiatry department.

“These strategies could improve the quality of care and mental health outcomes for individuals living in rural Manitoba.”

The Gerry McDole Professorship in Improved Healthcare Delivery to Rural, Remote and Underserved Populations of Manitoba, valued at $50,000 per year, is presented to a new faculty member in the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences for research in health service delivery and/or health policy development. The award term is three years.

The professorship is funded through a U of M endowment of $1 million made by AstraZeneca Canada Inc., honouring the 2003 retirement of Gerald (Gerry) McDole as president of the company. McDole, a Manitoban who earned a bachelor of science degree at the U of M, understood the unique challenges of delivering health care to rural and remote populations of Manitoba.

“Each individual’s health-care journey is different, and your care is impacted by where you live. In many regions across the country, health-care issues faced by smaller, more remote communities are acute and require urgent attention,” says Dr. Neil Maresky, vice president, scientific affairs at AstraZeneca Canada.

“That’s why we’re proud to support important projects that help close the gap in care, such as Dr. Hensel’s pilot project using remote communication strategies to provide adult patients with psychiatric support.”

Brian Postl, dean of the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences and vice-provost (health sciences), says one of the Rady Faculty’s priorities is to conduct research that translates into better health-care delivery for all Manitobans. “Dr. Hensel’s project furthers that mandate by studying ways to reduce barriers faced by those in underserved communities,” says Postl.

Virtual care is one of Hensel’s key research interests. She describes herself as an early adopter of e-psychiatry and e-mental health (also known as telepsychiatry and telemental health) and has conducted research on virtual care’s effectiveness in Ontario.

“Studies have shown that it is equally effective to in-person visits for the assessment and treatment of mental disorders, including serious mental illnesses like mood and psychotic disorders,” she says.

The Manitoba pilot project will test virtual care strategies in a small number of rural settings, including remote Indigenous communities. The services will be developed in consultation with local health-care providers and users, Hensel says.

The research team will gather feedback and modify the services during the pilot project. Services will be evaluated based on patients’ experience of care, provider satisfaction, population health outcomes and costs to the health-care system.

As part of the project, Hensel will develop a residency training opportunity to expose future psychiatrists to virtual care delivery.

She hopes to receive further funding to sustain the successful virtual care services and expand them to more communities.

Today, we have reached a new, unprecedented level of generosity in our Front and Centre campaign.

We want you, as members of our U of M community, to be the first to celebrate our collective achievement of reaching $451,288,220 of our $500 million goal.

Though the number is significant, the impact it has created, and will continue to create, is far greater.

• 573 new scholarships, bursaries, and fellowships
• 18 new research chairs and professorships
• 37 new and upgraded buildings

Behind all of these numbers are real people: students, faculty and researchers who are already benefitting from this transformational investment in our future. You can read their stories, and hear their words of thanks, through this link.

Our greatest transformation is happening now. Thank you for being a part of it.

“As we reflected on great Manitoban leaders of the past, many of whom had graduated from the University of Manitoba, we honed in on the importance of leadership in the development of great companies and great communities,” says Paul Desmarais Jr., Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Power Corporation of Canada. “The Institute for Leadership Development holds the promise to transform leadership development in the province and beyond.”

The Institute for Leadership Development will build on the University of Manitoba’s proven capacity to produce leaders in every industry. Students across all disciplines will have the opportunity to develop the skills they need to lead in any field they choose. This is a unique approach when compared with other leadership institutes across the country, which focus on business students, and will have a transformational impact on leadership locally, nationally and globally.

“Leaders of tomorrow will face a much more challenging environment than we do today,” says Jeff Carney, President and CEO, IGM Financial. “That is why we are investing today to create this leadership institute, which will help prepare future leaders to successfully face those challenges.”

The new institute will enhance the U of M’s existing teaching and research by establishing the Chair in Leadership Education, the Chair in Leadership Research, and the President’s Student Leadership Program. The latter is a novel and innovative program open to students from all Manitoban post-secondary institutions. Through deep engagement with its partners the Institute will serve as an accelerator to foster the potential of our province’s brightest young leaders.

“Our companies have benefited incredibly from so many leaders from Manitoba,” says Paul Mahon, President and CEO, Great-West Lifeco. “Today’s contribution is about investing in future leaders, not only for our companies, but also for our communities because we’ll all benefit immensely from the lessons this next generation of leaders take away from this Institute.”

The Institute will address new and emerging areas of leadership in the 21^st century by integrating learning on diversity, including multi-generational workplaces, the use of digital technologies, and trends in innovation.

“This transformative donation is a recognition of the University of Manitoba’s ability to develop leaders, something we have excelled in for 140 years. The exciting news we announce today means we can continue to elevate our strengths and unlock the potential of young leaders across all disciplines and program areas province-wide,” says Dr. David Barnard, President and Vice-Chancellor at the University of Manitoba. “The University of Manitoba thanks Great-West Life, Investors Group and Power Corporation of Canada for this visionary investment in our province’s future. Their support will grow our capacity to develop the next generation of leaders who will drive the province forward economically, socially and culturally.”

The Chair in Leadership Education will oversee the Institute and its student programming, including the integration of leadership programs into curricula across the university. The Chair in Leadership Research will, among other duties, bring together thought leaders from across disciplines in order to conduct and disseminate research that will contribute to the design of more effective leadership development programs.

“This is great news for our students who will benefit from the unique opportunities the Institute will provide, such as developing relationships with mentors through partner organizations and studying meaningful and relevant leadership courses,” says Tanjit Nagra, President of the University of Manitoba Students’ Union. 

This donation from Great-West Life, Investors Group and Power Corporation of Canada supports two strategic pillars of Front and Centre, the campaign for the University of Manitoba: Outstanding Student Experience, and Research Excellence.

An exceptional student experience has always demanded an ambitious combination of strong academic programming, innovative teaching and learning strategies, a learning environment that is responsive to the needs of our society, and supports that reduce barriers and reward achievement.

By supporting an outstanding student experience, Great-West Life, Investors Group and Power Corporation of Canada are unlocking the potential of students so that they can lead our province to new heights of economic and cultural success.

Ahmed Shalaby will hold the new Municipal Infrastructure Chair. He is a professor of civil engineering who specializes in pavement design and highway materials. In this new role he will focus on improving the materials and design of municipal infrastructure elements, ensuring roads are built at optimal life-cycle cost with the most appropriate and innovative materials. You can read more about Shalaby’s role here.

“I’m honoured and excited to begin this research program,” Shalaby says. “This is a great opportunity for my students, my fellow researchers and myself to work closely with our research partners: the Province of Manitoba, the City of Winnipeg, and 14 construction industry contractors and suppliers. Together, we will advance the ways we design, build, and repair municipal infrastructure. This is a truly exciting time.”

The Province is providing $500,000 over five years to support the new chair, and the City is providing $250,000 over five years. Fourteen Construction Industry contractors, suppliers and associations are also partners in this innovative program, contributing $255,000 in funding to the chair.

“Investing in infrastructure and education helps build the foundation of a stronger economy,” says Manitoba Infrastructure Minister Blaine Pedersen. “This initiative will directly contribute to our goal of becoming Canada’s most improved province. We’re pleased to support the University of Manitoba in appointing a new Municipal Infrastructure Chair and would like to congratulate Professor Ahmed Shalaby on his new role.”

The chair and its partners will work together to develop and test innovative solutions that will extend the life and durability of infrastructure, improve and harmonize design and construction practices, and reduce the risk of implementing new innovations to infrastructure owners and contractors.

“My commitment to help establish a Municipal Infrastructure Chair with the University of Manitoba was to support and help further the leading edge research and technology developments that have been undertaken for many years,” says Mayor Brian Bowman [BA(ADV)/96]. “I look forward to building on our many years of research partnerships with the University of Manitoba, in our quest to find more efficient, cost effective solutions to our infrastructure challenges that will benefit our City now and into the future.”

The Municipal Infrastructure Chair will accelerate research and development in the areas of design, construction, maintenance, and management of municipal transportation infrastructure including roads and active transportation facilities.

“We are thankful for the support of our local governments and community partners for the University, and appreciate their confidence in the ability of our researchers to contribute to a prosperous future for us all,” says Dr. David Barnard, president and vice-chancellor at the University of Manitoba.  “Professor Shalaby and his students are now better equipped to ensure we build our cities with the best materials in the best ways to achieve optimal long-term gains.”

The new chair will also offer specialized training opportunities for engineering students and professional engineers, and increase the supply of highly-qualified professionals to the job market.

One by one, the wax moth larvae died quickly. Two of the usual antibiotics didn’t help. The invader that devoured the larvae’s bodies, a tricky bacteria called Pseudomonas aeruginosa, knows how to defend itself against most of our medical weapons.

At the University of Manitoba, scientists watched the wax worms’ fate. In a control group, 73 per cent of infected larvae died within a day. In groups treated with moxifloxacin or tobramycin, two common antibiotics, the death rate was nearly the same.

But in a fourth group, the results were very different. Researchers had unleashed their latest creation: using a “rope” of carbon molecules, they tied moxifloxacin and tobramycin together, creating a new, hybrid antibiotic.

Months later, a top science journalist would call it a “bizarre” molecule. But it worked. Twenty-four hours after they were infected with Pseudomonas, all 15 wax worms treated with the hybrid were still wriggling. All of them had survived.

It wasn’t the first indication the U of M team, led by chemist Dr. Frank Schweizer, had landed a solid punch in the fight against antibiotic resistance. But after years of slow and sometimes frustrating research, it was one of the most obvious.

The hybrid stymied Pseudomonas in a way neither antibiotic could do alone. Schweizer’s team had set out to tackle one of the most daunting public-health threats of our generation, and their approach had proven its promise. The next step is turning the promise into a significant addition to medicine’s arsenal in the increasingly worrisome science-bacteria arms race.

“I hope that this breaks the threshold in a way that says, ‘Guys, this can be done,’” Schweizer says. “We can get this activity even against Pseudomonas, which is generally considered to be one of the most challenging pathogens we are facing.”

Read more.

It was the start of an exciting celebration, which included two major announcements, made in front of approximately 1,850 boisterous fans during halftime of the Bison Homecoming football game against the Saskatchewan Huskies, held under grey skies at Investors Group Field. The Bison defeated the Huskies 38-17 in the game.

UMSU’s investment, which was announced publicly on September 22, will support the revitalization of student spaces, increase childcare options on campus, double undergraduate research opportunities, and increase the number of scholarships and bursaries for Indigenous students. The $15.9 commitment includes $2.4 million for increased childcare options, announced this past June.

David Barnard, president and vice-chancellor at the University of Manitoba, announced that in recognition of UMSU’s commitment, University Centre will henceforth be known as UMSU University Centre.

“This is a proud day for our students, and for our community of alumni – many of whom are celebrating Homecoming this week. Today, we recognize the incredible impact that students themselves have on this community – an impact that continues well after graduation,” Barnard said.

The Front and Centre campaign is already impacting students. To date, 342 new student scholarships and bursaries have been created; 29 buildings have been upgraded to provide the best teaching and learning facilities; and 16 new research chairs and professorships have been created to enlighten students and drive discovery.

“The Front and Centre campaign has an ambitious goal of $500 million, and thanks to UMSU’s support and the 25,895 donors who have already given to the campaign, we are well on our way to reaching that goal,” Paul Soubry, chair of the campaign, told the crowd before making the day’s final announcement.

“Today, I am thrilled to announce that the campaign has reached an astonishing $409,367,522!”

And the transformation continues.

[See image gallery at umtoday-wordpress.ad.umanitoba.ca]