Popular belief suggests that investing in conservation costs jobs and economic opportunities. This argument continues to be used to steer investment away from conservation and towards industries that exploit natural resources. Part of this argument originates from how we currently evaluate economic return on investment for conservation action. Current methods do not properly account for […]

This collaboration between the Tai Lab at BC Cancer Agency and the biotechnology company STEMCELL will validate a 3D culturing system that supports the growth of normal and malignant pancreatic stem cells. Specifically, we hope to optimize the culturing condition for the growth media to ensure efficient and reproducible outcomes for pancreatic stem cells growing […]

Revegetation of northern Manitoba ecosystems, disturbed by hydroelectric development, is critical to meet the ecological and cultural needs of the First Nation communities located in these areas. To establish a viable self-sustaining ecosystem, it is important to understand the challenges associated with reclamation in these disturbed areas. The main goal of our proposed research is […]

Fluorescence Biomodulation (FB) is a novel technology that employs fluorescence light energy (FLE) to positively impact the three phases of healing. In the clinical setting, FB has been demonstrated to be safe and effective in the management of both acute and chronic wounds, resulting in accelerated wound closure while reducing inflammation, bacterial growth, and pain. […]

From infancy to old age, individuals experience massive changes in both behavior and brain function. The worldwide increase in human life expectancy along with population aging highlight the need to investigate and better understand the dynamic relationship between cognitive health and aging. In order to promote productivity, sustained sense of well-being and social engagement, and […]

Top-down control in ecosystems helps maintain ecosystem stability and resilience; however, anthropogenic stressors, such as commercial fishing, have led to the global decline of apex predators. There is a growing recognition that the indirect effects of predators on prey (eg. fear-mediated behavioural responses) could be just as important as direct consumption. For instance, apex predators […]

The Canadian Food Guide has recommended an increase in fresh produce in the daily diet. Although the nutritional benefits of fresh produce are well established there are continuing food safety issues, high wastage and water consumption. To enhance safety and shelf-life it is common practice to pass produce through a post-harvest wash using chlorine as […]

In 2000 a novel protein, referred to as GnIH, was discovered to inhibited the release of reproductive regulating hormones in the brain of quail. Since then, GnIH has identified in all studied vertebrate including fish, amphibians, and mammals. It has been shown to decrease hormone synthesis, be produced and act in reproductive tissues, as well […]

The goal of this Mitacs research proposal is to develop and apply experimental methodology capable of distinguishing the influence of calcium supplement dosage form upon elemental calcium uptake, plasma concentration and spatial distribution in the bone of laboratory rats. In order to achieve those endpoints, we plan to utilize the compound strontium ranelate, which serves […]

Live animal testing is currently the standard approach for assessing the risk chemicals may pose to wildlife. The costs and ethical concerns associated with live animal testing, however, constitute a significant challenge to regulators and industry in fulfilling their testing mandates to characterize the risks of environmental contaminants. To reduce these challenges, improved exposure assessments […]

The forWater Network, funded by the federal government as well as industry partners and provincial governments, is a national research network looking into the impacts of forest-management strategies on drinking-water source quality and treatability. forWater Network researchers at Dalhousie University (including Duinker, the supervisor in this application) are working with Halifax Water and Westfor Management […]

Poor cognitive and academic outcomes are common consequences for children growing up in economically poor families. Poverty is associated with alterations in brain development, communication and cognitive skills. Children living in poverty are exposed to poverty-related risk factors and stressors, including less language exposure. Little is known about the early development of language and cognitive […]