Local high school student delves into neonatal research

(Edmonton, AB) When Mary Bachynsky applied to work as a student scientist at the University of Alberta, she had no idea that she would spend her summer investigating how to protect the lungs of premature babies. The Grade 11 student from St. Albert is participating in the 2008 Heritage Youth Researcher Summer (HYRS) Program, and is studying in the lab of Dr. Bernard Thébaud, a neonatal physician-scientist in the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at U of A.

"It was really cool that first day, sitting on the bus as it arrived at the University of Alberta," says Bachynsky, who is funded by the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR) to work in Dr. Thébaud's lab.

An AHFMR Clinical Investigator, Dr. Thébaud is also a neonatal specialist at the Royal Alexandra hospital. "When babies are born early, one of the challenges we face is that their lungs are small and fragile," says Dr. Thébaud. "These babies need to be on a ventilator and given oxygen to help them survive - but pushing that much oxygen causes lung injuries."

Bachynsky's role in the lab is focused on a series of basic science experiments investigating whether resveratrol (found in red wine) can protect human lung cells from being damaged.

"I am working with lung cells, growing the cells in a flask, and giving them different treatments to see whether we have helped or hurt them," says Bachynsky. "This is an incredible way to spend my summer - on the cutting edge of science."

The six-week HYRS Program gives 20 top Grade 11 students hands-on research experiences in laboratories and clinics at the University of Alberta.

"I see the future of science in these eager young faces," says Jacques Magnan, PhD, Interim President and CEO, AHFMR. "Our role as a foundation is to support excellent people - from students to senior researchers. The HYRS program gives students first-hand exposure to health research with some of the finest scientists in the world."

"In my first week, Dr. Thébaud took me to visit the neonatal unit, and I saw babies who are really sick with heart and lung problems," says Bachynsky. "That visit helped me to visualize why the work we do in the lab is so important."

"Every day I see babies who are struggling with severe breathing problems," says Dr. Thébaud, Canada Research Chair in Translational Lung and Vascular Development Biology. "That is why I have focused my clinical and basic research on developing new treatments and medications for neonatal lung diseases."

For more information, or interviews please contact Karen Thomas, AHFMR Media Specialist, 780.423.5727 x225, 403.651.1112 (cell),