Alberta Researcher Profile Who: Dr. Nadir Erbilgin Professor and Chair, Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, past Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Department of Renewable Resources. Dr. Nadir Erbilgin is a Professor and Chair for the Department of Renewable Resources at the University of Alberta. His research group specializes in Forest Entomology and Chemical...

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A difference in hours can be lifesaving when it comes to diagnosis and treatment of bloodstream infections (BSI). Currently, it takes approximately two to four days from when a BSI is suspected to time of treatment with the correct antibiotics.    There are over 500,000 bloodstream infections diagnosed per year in North America with over...

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COVID-19’s impact on the world and how we live is undeniable. For all the challenges that arose, COVID-19 presented an opportunity to revolutionize the way scientists and health providers connect and collaborate to address critical, global issues. One successful collaboration that played a vital role in Canada’s pandemic response was the Canadian COVID-19 Genomics Network (CanCOGeN)....

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APL sequences Monkeypox Virus - Part 2 Here we present the second of our two-part podcast ​on sequencing the monkeypox virus in Alberta. Freelance broadcaster Don Hill speaks with APL Monkeypox virus Program Lead Dr. Jamil Kanji to discuss the significance of sequencing the monkeypox virus and enhanced capabilities APL now has to detect other...

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If you thought morning sickness was an ordeal, try dealing with PRRS infection during pregnancy. Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is one of the most important diseases of pig production. Infection in pregnancy results in abortion and reduced litter size and viability, which has a major impact on production, welfare and the pork industry’s environmental footprint. In light of those implications, understanding reproductive PRRS and creating data to validate genomic results from previous studies…

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If you thought morning sickness was an ordeal, try dealing with PRRS infection during pregnancy. Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is one of the most important diseases of pig production. Infection in pregnancy results in abortion and reduced litter size and viability, which has a major impact on production, welfare and the pork industry’s environmental footprint. In light of those implications, understanding reproductive PRRS and creating data to validate genomic results from previous studies…

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Bioinformatics has helped saved millions of human lives, from new medicines to treat old ailments to new vaccines to stop a novel virus. Those are huge accomplishments, but they are not the last of modern miracles that this technology can help produce.  Today, bioinformatics is spreading beyond medicine and venturing into other industries too. Take for example, the baking industry where bakers are stirring up new eggless cake recipes using a kitchen full of free…

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Genetic sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 samples is on the rise in response to the rapid spread of variants around the world. We know how viruses change and we have the genomics tools to monitor the origin, transmission, and evolution of the virus which causes COVID-19. Since it was created in April of last year, the Canadian COVID Genomics Network (CanCOGeN) has been leading the effort to sequence the unique genetic signature of the virus. There are…

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Friday, February 12, 2021 Ottawa, ON Reducing the impact of novel SARS-CoV-2 variants is a critical focus of the global COVID-19 response. Genome Canada, through its leadership of the Canadian COVID Genomics Network (CanCOGeN), is part of an integrated national effort to rapidly identify, understand, and track the distribution of these variants in Canada. Through a new Government of Canada Variants of Concern Strategy, CanCOGeN is working with the Public Health Agency of Canada’s (PHAC)…

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The current pandemic is not the first the world has seen, it will most certainly not be the last, and this one is far from over. With improved treatments and vaccines on the way, the next item on the to-do list is to be ready for the next big outbreak. The Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) at the University of Saskatchewan currently operates Canada’s largest high-containment facility and was one of the first organizations…

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