Snyder Institute For Chronic Diseases

This year, the Snyder Institute participated in Power to Choose, a workshop designed to bring together Indigenous learners from both urban and rural areas throughout Western Canada. Snyder trainees led activities that taught learners about the transfer of germs, why people get sick, and we even engaged some future apprentice scientists. Check out the slide show from the great day at #UCalgary. https://www.ucalgary.ca/…/leaving-home- attending-university…

In Canada, approximately 7,000 people die from pneumonia every year. An even greater number of Canadians require hospitalization, with some so sick they need life support in the intensive care unit to survive the infection. Standard treatment is antimicrobials, but critical care physician and scientist Dr. Bryan Yipp, MD, with University of Calgary's Cumming School of Medicine and Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, is investigating a unique approach to treating what can be a fatal disease. He’s looking at the possibility of treating bacterial pneumonia by targeting medications aimed at the nervous system.
https://www.ucalgary.ca/…/researcher-in vestigates-new-way-f…

For patients diagnosed with a Staphylococcus aureus infection, often referred to as a staph or MRSA infection, every minute counts. The bacteria create havoc in the body. The immune system goes into overdrive. The heightened immune response can lead to sepsis, which kills 30 to 50 per cent of the people who develop it. In Canada, sepsis is the 12th leading cause of death.
Scientists have known for some time that one of the reasons a staph infection is so deadly is that the bacteria send out a toxin, known as alpha toxin (AT), which quickly worsens sepsis. Cumming School of Medicine scientists at the Snyder Institute have now discovered the most important target of the toxin and how to neutralize the danger.
https://www.ucalgary.ca/…/ucalgary-rese archers-discover-why…

Thanks to everyone who participated in our fifth annual professional development day. This year, we had industry representatives at the event to network with all participants, free professional head shots for everyone, resume & interview preparation workshops and a full career panel with experts in a variety of fields. Special thanks to all of our speakers and all of those who attended. We hope to see you next year!

We are thrilled to announce that we have officially launched the website for the International Microbiome Centre.
Learn how the University of Calgary is leading the way in microbiome research by creating new and transformational opportunities for discovery. Check us out: www.imccalgary.ca.

The number of drug-resistant malaria cases is increasing — posing a serious world health threat. Two Snyder scientists believe they have found a way to combat the rise in mosquito-borne illnesses with a new, fast, and efficient way to diagnosis the drug-resistant form of the disease in its earliest stage.
Dr. Dylan Pillai and Abu Naser Mohon, PhD candidate, have developed an inexpensive field test that can be performed anywhere, without the need for electricity or specialized... lab equipment. The kit is portable and battery powered. Results are available in an hour, allowing health-care workers to administer the right treatment to patients sooner.
University of Calgary's Cumming School of Medicine
http://www.ucalgary.ca/…/ucalgary-resea rchers-develop-field…tant%20malaria
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More than 300 guests donned their super hero (and super villain) finest to attend the Summit Foundation for Cystic Fibrosis' gala and we are so thrilled to announce that they have succeeded in raising more than $70,000 for cystic fibrosis research being done at the University of Calgary's Cumming School of Medicine at the Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases. Since inception, the gala has raised nearly $2.5 million for local lung disease research at UCalgary.
We cannot thank the Summit Foundation for Cystic Fibrosis enough for their ongoing support of the Snyder Institute. Special thanks to all that participated in the Super Hero gala this year - cheers to "SMASHING" cystic fibrosis one discovery at a time!
http://calgaryherald.com/…/brooks-super -gala-raises-funds-f…

Our third Mini Med School season sure went out with a bang!
Thanks to all of the engaging speakers and great volunteers who participated in this year’s lectures. We would like to send a special thanks to our community for supporting this program and coming out every month to learn from our researchers.
I leave you with this; Phantom of the Liver by Dr. Sam Lee from last night’s lecture on 50 ways to Love your Liver. See you in October as we explore many more areas of health ...and wellness, and perhaps even get a couple more sing alongs!
University of Calgary's Cumming School of Medicine
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Researchers and graduate students from the Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases at the University of Calgary's Cumming School of Medicine took a road trip to encourage high school students to consider a career in science. Through interactive discussions, hands-on activities and real-life experiments, students had a chance to explore what a career in a lab might look like. Snyder scientists visited Chinook Learning Centre, Centennial High School and Bowness High School.
Check out our slide show to see some of the highlights of our research road show!
https://www.ucalgary.ca/…/road-show-ins pires-high-school-st…

Check out Nicki Zeller Perkins on Global Calgary speaking on the importance of the cystic fibrosis research taking place at the Snyder Institute University of Calgary's Cumming School of Medicine. There are still tickets available for Summit Foundation for Cystic Fibrosis' annual fundraising gala taking place tomorrow at the Hyatt downtown.
Purchase your ticket to the SUPER gala by visiting http://sfcf.ca/events.htm.
We look forward to seeing you there!

Tune in to Global Calgary at 12:40 pm to see Nicki Perkins speaking on the Snyder Institute and her annual upcoming fundraiser for cystic fibrosis research.

Mini Medical School is a free lecture series designed for members of the general public who are interested in learning more about their health and wellness. On May 7, our experts will tell you what you need to know about your liver to help you live a healthy, happy life.

Snyder members, Kathy McCoy, PhD and Marie Claire Arrieta, PhD have been awarded funding through Innovation in Canada to purchase state-of the art research equipment for their microbiome research at the International Microbiome Centre at University of Calgary.
McCoy's research will help provide molecular information for the rationale design of microbial therapies aimed to decrease disease susceptibility, improve therapeutics, and promote health.
Arrieta's ambitious research p...rogram is studying the impact of the early-life gut microbiome and allergic diseases. With the equipment funded through the JELF CFI, she will be able to carry out unique studies using a multidisciplinary approach.
http://www.ucalgary.ca/…/ucalgary-recei ves-federal-funding-…ch%20equipment
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Today we stand with the community of Humboldt wearing our jerseys to honour the Broncos. We are sending our thoughts and prayers out to all of those who have been affected by this terrible tragedy. #HumboldtStrong #JerseysforHumboldt

We were lucky enough to have a visit from our dear friend Nicki Zeller Perkins who stopped by the Nicole Perkins Microbial Communities Core labs to be interviewed. Stay tuned for an in-depth look at a day in the life of a cystic fibrosis patient who also happens to be a community leader, raising funds for vital medical research, while also benefiting from the resulting lifesaving treatments.
The Summit Foundation for Cystic Fibrosis; led by Perkins, will be hosting a fundrai...sing event on April 27, 2018 at the Hyatt Regency Calgary. The SUPER Gala will be a night filled with heroes as we come together to SMASH Cystic Fibrosis. You can purchase your ticket by visiting http://www.sfcf.ca/events.htm. 100% of your support goes to the Nicole Perkins Microbial Communities Core Labs, at the Snyder Institute at the University of Calgary's Cumming School of Medicine. We hope to see you there!
Calgary Health Trust (YYCHealthTrust)
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The Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases has opened a highly specialized lab to house tiny, biting insects responsible for spreading a disease that kills up to 30,000 people every year.
Sandflies, which are smaller than mosquitoes, live only for a month, but infect a million people each year with the parasite Leishmania, which causes a chronic disease called leishmaniasis. This colony of sandflies is being raised to understand more about how the disease is transmitted and the immune system's response. Watch this video to learn more.
The Peters Laboratory for Chronic Infectious Diseases University of Calgary's Cumming School of Medicine

Mini Medical School is a free lecture series designed for members of the general public who are interested in learning more about their health. On April 9, we will explore the connection between diabetes and your microbiome.