Summer of neuroscience research fulfills a dream
HYRS student investigates how to boost an injured spine
(Calgary, AB) "My very first day in the lab was exciting," says Natalie Farrell, a high school student selected for the 2010 Heritage Youth Researcher Summer (HYRS) program. "My supervisor showed me a beaker full of what I thought was bubbling water, but it was actually artificially-made cerebrospinal fluid! This fluid encases the spinal cord and provides it with oxygen and food to keep the spinal cord alive. Imagine being able to do that in a lab ... how cool is that?!"
Farrell is working in the laboratory of Patrick Whelan, PhD, an associate professor in the faculties of medicine and veterinary medicine at the University of Calgary whose work is funded by Alberta Innovates – Health Solutions. His research team is investigating how signals travel along the spinal cord with the goal of improving the rehabilitation of people with spinal cord injuries.
Whelan's lab is focused on getting the most out of the spinal cord's communication pathways, even when those pathways are not able to talk to the brain. "We are looking closely at dopamine, a neurotransmitter produced by the brain, because it plays an important role in how cells communicate along the spinal cord," says Whelan, PhD, a member of the Hotchkiss Brain Institute. "Our research has found that dopamine is important to firing up the spinal cells, which spark the muscles that allow us to walk."
Farrell, who is heading into Grade 12 at Canmore Collegiate this fall, loved learning about the central nervous system in Biology 30, and still cannot believe she is doing neuroscience research for the summer. "I am a big question person, and here, they are willing to answer all my questions," she laughs. "This experience has confirmed it. I am definitely going into neuroscience research for my career!"
"Our role is to support excellent people – from students to senior researchers," says CEO of Alberta Innovates – Health Solutions Jacques Magnan, PhD. "By successfully mentoring young people like Natalie we accelerate their understanding of and exposure to research, and we are helping to build the next generation of research excellence in our province."
Media contact: Karen Thomas, Media Specialist, Alberta Innovates – Health Solutions, 1.877.423.5727 x225, 403.651.1112 (cell),
Background
The Rick Hansen Institute reports that there are more than 41,000 Canadians living with a spinal cord injury. Each year in Canada, there are 1,200 new injuries. Most spinal cord injuries, 84 per cent of them, occur in people under the age of 34.
Province-wide, there are 45 students working this summer at the University of Alberta, University of Calgary, and University of Lethbridge.
This year, the HYRS program received 176 applications from Grade 11 students in 73 schools around Alberta. An adjudication committee of high school teachers from St. Albert, Lethbridge, and Calgary, as well as a scientist from the University of Calgary, selected 45 students. Sixteen of the HYRS students are from towns and rural communities across Alberta.
HYRS participants receive a grant to work on research projects supervised by AIHS and university research mentors. The HYRS program hosts guest lecturers, poster sessions, field trips, and an open house where HYRS participants spend a day sharing what they have learned with their high school science teachers. AIHS also offers three-‐day workshops that give high school science teachers research training at the three Alberta universities.
Students who apply are required to have an 85 per cent average, have completed core science subjects, two teacher references and a community reference, and write an essay about health research that interests them and why they want to be part of the HYRS Program.
For more information about HYRS: Nancy Whelan, Education Community Outreach Manager, 1.877.423.5727 x260,
For more information about Patrick Whelan's research, go to:
http://www.ucalgary.ca/whelanlab/
August 11, 2010
Summer of neuroscience research fulfills a dream
HYRS student investigates how to boost an injured spine
(Calgary, Alberta) "My very first day in the lab was exciting," says Natalie Farrell, a high school student selected for the 2010 Heritage Youth Researcher Summer (HYRS) program. "My supervisor showed me a beaker full of what I thought was bubbling water, but it was actually artificially-made cerebrospinal fluid! This fluid encases the spinal cord and provides it with oxygen and food to keep the spinal cord alive. Imagine being able to do that in a lab ... how cool is that?!"
Farrell is working in the laboratory of Patrick Whelan, PhD, an associate professor in the faculties of medicine and veterinary medicine at the University of Calgary whose work is funded by Alberta Innovates – Health Solutions. His research team is investigating how signals travel along the spinal cord with the goal of improving the rehabilitation of people with spinal cord injuries.
Reporters are invited to meet Whelan, PhD, and Farrell for a feature story and photo opportunity at 10 a.m. on Thursday, August 12, 2010 in Health Sciences Lab 2068, 3330 Hospital Drive NW.
| WHO: | HYRS participant Natalie Farrell Patrick Whelan, PhD, UCalgary neuroscientist in the Hotchkiss Brain Institute |
| WHAT: | Summer of neuroscience research fulfills a dream |
| WHERE: | Lab 2068, Health Sciences, 3330 Hospital Drive NW Please park in Lot 6 for reimbursement |
| WHEN: | Thursday, August 12, 2010 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. |
Media contact: Karen Thomas, Media Specialist, Alberta Innovates – Health Solutions, 1.877.423.5727 x225, 403.651.1112 (cell),