Avian Reovirus (ARV) is an economically important virus that is affecting poultry flocks in Alberta. Birds infected with pathogenic ARV may develop a disease named viral arthritis/tenosynovitis which is characterised by lameness, swollen joints, rupture of tendons and increase mortality. The disease is controlled by parent stock vaccination with live and/or inactivated antigen to provide […]

This research will explore how the annual migration of small insects known as water boatmen affect fish in rivers. It will first use natural fingerprints called stable isotope ratios that differ between wetlands and rivers, to trace how much of fish diet is made up of water boatmen after they arrive in rivers from wetlands […]

How non-invasive brain stimulation works is poorly understood. Advanced neurotechnologies are providing new opportunities to explore transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) mechanisms. Ironically, the developing brain is more “plastic” and highly capable of change, yet tDCS mechanisms are almost exclusive to adults. Though treatment options are limited, we recently demonstrated for the first time that […]

Nuclear transfer is a technique to clone animals of the same trait and it is industrially very valuable to clone animals of excellent traits. However, there is no standardized technology to secure, store and supply enough quantities of superior genetics to clone elite farm animals so it has limitation to use in industry field. Although […]

Fibrosis comprises different connective tissue disorders that ultimately result in deposition of detrimental scar tissue in injured or inflamed organs. The culprit cells for organ scarring are called myofibroblasts because they secrete fibrous collagen matrix (“fibro”) that is contracted (“myo”) into scar tissue. Excessive myofibroblast activities are responsible for loss of function of vital organs […]

SMA is a neurodegenerative disease characterised by the loss of lower motor neurons and is an incurable disease. SMA is the leading genetic cause of early childhood lethality, with an incidence of 1 in 6,000 to 10,000 live births and a carrier frequency of 1 in 35-40. Current therapeutic strategies under development are almost exclusively […]

Over 60% of overweight or obese individuals attempt weight loss diets each year. Although many different dietary approaches can lead to weight loss, increasing evidence suggests that a very low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet may have superior metabolic and weight loss effects. However, any diet is only as effective as adherence to it and adherence requires effective […]

Stocking remains an important component of managing and conserving Atlantic Salmon populations, but it also has the potential to cause negative effects to wild populations. To understand the cause of these effects and the potential consequences of using a smolt-to-adult supplementation approach we will use cutting edge technology to investigate epigenetic changes in captive reared […]

Cavity-nesting ducks, including the wood duck, common goldeneye, and hooded merganser, are of interest in wildlife management programs due to their value to hunters and conservation groups. The lower Saint John River floodplain (New Brunswick, Canada) is a major breeding region for these species in Atlantic Canada that has experienced significant changes in recent decades. […]

The decline in many populations of wild Pacific salmon is of great concern given their critical importance to First Nations, the ecosystems of the Pacific Northwest, and wild and farmed fisheries. The conservation efforts of the Pacific Salmon Foundation (PSF) have provided opportunity for research into infectious diseases like Heart and Skeletal Muscle Inflammation (HSMI) […]

Cancer metastasis is responsible for 90% of cancer deaths. In metastasis, a group of cancer cells detach from the tumor, entre the blood stream and ultimately make new colonies in other organs. In this study we aim to develop a new technology to target these cancerous cells in the blood circulation with laser irradiation. We […]

Canola growers recognize that the beneficial arthropods that live in natural habitats and non-crop areas may play an important role in augmenting and stabilizing crop yields. These bees, flies, beetles, spiders and other arthropods may spill over into the crop, and through pollination or pest control, help to improve yields, decrease inputs, and increase profitability. […]