Really saddened to learn of Kirsty Duncan's passing. She was a tireless champion for Canadian science whose commitment was only surpassed by her kindness. She will be deeply missed - may she rest in peace.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Vaccines, Trust and Misinformation: Join me Wednesday January 28 from 17:30-20:00 at the University of Ottawa for this timely discussion. Register here: preview.mailerlite.io/emails/webvi... via @tivabaral.bsky.social @deonandan.bsky.social
Always a highlight of the year and still the best mp3 blog in town.
Ottawa! Next week! 👇
This is a critical time. A knowledge crisis. How did we get here & what can we do?
How to Escape the Fake: Making Good Policy in the Age of Misinformation : irpp.org/irpp-event/f... via @irpp.org @cmadocs.bsky.social
Hope to see there!
United against #MSX - joining forces to fight a deadly oyster disease bit.ly/3HiTbZc @genomeatlantic.bsky.social @genomecanada.ca @rodberesford70 @ednatecinc #MalletOysters @PEIAquaculture #PEIShellfishAssn @PotlotekFirstNation
🇨🇦 (3/3) ❄️ 🧬 🔬 Thanks to our funders @genomebc.bsky.social, we’re revealing hidden Arctic biodiversity through cutting-edge genomics. From icy coasts to tundra blooms, every genome tells a story worth protecting. ❄️🧬
🇨🇦 (2/3) ❄️ 🧬 There’s so much to learn from Arctic plants — their unique adaptations, like flexible membranes and cryoprotective compounds, help them survive extreme freeze–thaw cycles and could inspire future innovations in medicine and biotechnology. ❄️🧬
#ArcticPlants #Adaptation #Cryoprotection
🇨🇦 (1/3) ❄️ Why genome sequence the Arctic? To safeguard biodiversity.
🧬 Canada understands the critical importance of Arctic biodiversity—and thanks to the support of our outstanding funders, we're already sequencing some of the most difficult-to-access species from these fragile northern ecosystems.
Awesome initiative.
@genomecanada.ca
Dr. Friesen's influence continues to be felt today. I benefitted from his support numerous times here at Genome Canada, and we remain committed to fulfilling his vision and belief that Canadian research can accomplish great things and generate real benefits for all. He will truly be missed.
As President of the Medical Research Council from 1991-99, he led the transformation of the MRC to CIHR, a novel approach for supporting medical research in Canada. During that time, Dr Friesen was also a driving force behind the creation of Genome Canada and served as its founding Chair.
Dr. Friesen's groundbreaking research in endocrinology led to the discovery of prolactin in humans. A proud Manitoban by birth, Dr Friesen's long association with the University of Manitoba (as both student and professor) continues through an endowed Chair in Metabolic and Endocrine Diseases...
It was with great sadness that we learned of the passing of Dr. Henry Friesen this week. Dr. Friesen was a giant of Canadian biomedical research - a trailblazing scientist, he had a vision and passion for Canadian science that left an indelible mark.
genomecanada.ca/in-memory-of...
@genomecanada.ca
The confluence of biotech tools and AI promises to fundamentally transform our world. Genome Canada and our partners at Canada's six regional genome centres are committed to driving responsible, impactful genomics research to benefit Canada and the world. @genomecanada.bsky.social
Happy #DNADay to all who celebrate! (pro tip - you've got DNA, you're part of the club). Very proud to be celebrating Genome Canada's 25th anniversary this year - we've accomplished a lot, but we're just getting started...
Happy Earth Day from the Canadian BioGenome Project! Our power, our planet. We are happy to know that these genomes are helping advance research aimed at preserving our awesome Canadian biodiversity.
Is my genetic data at risk? While not zero risk I think so, but I have taken some extra steps.
And I delve into the creepy. First with humanoid #robots and then ask would you really want to remember being a baby?
These stories and more in my latest newsletter.
#genomics
www.mediamargins.ca/...
If I knew nothing about Canada except the promises from the three parties, I'd conclude that the federal government must have a large budget surplus and no pressing need to invest in productivity, infrastructure, or defense.
Linocut portrait of biochemist and medical researcher Maud Menten (1879-1960) with the Michalis-Menten equation in blue and a histology image in pinks and purples in the background.
Happy birthday to Canadian medical researcher & #biochemist Maud Menten (1879-1960). 🧪🐡👩🏼🔬 #histscj Not only was she an author of Michaelis-Menten equation for enzyme kinetics, she invented the azo-dye coupling for alkaline phosphatase, 1st example of enzyme histochemistry, still used in imaging of 🧵
Congratulations, @mmarra0630.bsky.social on this well-deserved recognition. Marco has been a trailblazer for genomics whose work is transforming cancer care worldwide. Very proud and pleased that he's part of Canada's genomics community.
They are 10 times our size, but we are 10 times as united and 100 times as resolute.
Me in front of a voting sign
I’m always immensely proud and grateful to live in a country with free and fair elections, this year more than usual. Never take this for granted - get out and exercise your right to vote!
Dance with the Devil, by @LincolnTownley, 2020, 📸 by Bruce Bennett
Apologies to the confused patrons in the Singapore hotel lobby where I was forced to stream the overtime after checking out of my room. Couldn’t find a bar showing the game this morning…
Yes, Canada! McDavid, MacKinnon, Marner, Bennett. Hell of a tournament and game from Crosby and Doughty - but torch has been passed. Just awesome. 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦
The amazing thing about RNA vaccines (aside the many years it took to perfect them and their LNP carriers), is that they reduce time to develop by an order of magnitude and can be rapidly applied to not only infectious diseases but cancer. And they are incredibly safe.
But we are human and I feel sickened by the immediate predicament of so many bright people who were cut loose because of their very training and promise. You wanted to do good and you will prevail. You are on the right side of history.
Science is the independent, utterly arrogant, standard pole against which we pitch our naive questions. It patiently endures our ignorance and only ever hints at the answer. But we glean ever more knowledge, learning to be better. It bows to no one, least of all the king.
With all the carnage being indiscriminately wrought on scientists in the US, remember, a war on science is a lost war. Science doesn’t care what you or anybody else thinks. You either embrace science or you chase imaginary demons. It took us centuries to realize this.
Varmus: "the executive branch is waging war on America’s scientific enterprise...nominating leaders hostile to science and unqualified for their roles...This is not a fight that our country can afford to lose." www.nytimes.com/2025/02/14/o...
