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Laurentian University awarded patent for RNA Disruption Assay

Laurentian University awarded patent for RNA Disruption Assay

Technology developed by L.U. professor Dr. Amadeo Parissenti aids in cancer treatment

October 10, 2014 – Laurentian University has been awarded a patent for the RNA Disruption Assay (RDATM), a technology that aids in the treatment of breast cancer.  The test was developed by Laurentian University professor Dr. Amadeo Parissenti and by his research associate Dr. Baoqing Guo of Health Sciences North.  The patent was issued in September by the Australian Patent Office.

 

The University has licensed the technology exclusively to Rna Diagnostics Inc., a Canadian molecular diagnostics company that develops diagnostic tools to improve chemotherapy management. In addition to other patents currently pending through its licensing arrangement with Rna Diagnostics, Laurentian has a number of patents pending worldwide on discoveries made at the University. 

 

“We are immensely proud of the pioneering work of Dr. Parissenti and his research colleague Dr. Guo, and we are honoured to be holding the patent for a discovery that helps people by improving our understanding of cancer treatment,” said Laurentian University President and Vice-Chancellor Dominic Giroux. “We have enjoyed an exceptional relationship with Rna Diagnostics and we believe our collaboration will continue to produce significant advances for cancer patients everywhere.”

 

Dr. Parissenti is a professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Laurentian, as well as a faculty member at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) and an affiliate scientist with the Advanced Medical Research Institute of Canada (AMRIC), the research arm of Health Sciences North. He is also Chief Scientific Officer for Rna Diagnostics Inc.

 

The RNA Disruption Assay (RDATM) helps oncologists to measure a breast cancer patient’s response to chemotherapy at an early stage of treatment.  The technology can be used after one or two cycles of chemo, and the results can determine whether patients would do better with another therapy.

It is anticipated that the knowledge generated by this patent and others currently pending will change the current treatment landscape for breast and other types of cancer.   Rna Diagnostics currently has ongoing clinical trials and collaborations with healthcare leaders in Germany, Italy, Sweden, the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada.

“Congratulations to Laurentian University on this patent, and to Professor Parissenti and Dr. Guo on the acknowledgment of their key discovery,” said Dr. Ken Pritzker, President and CEO of Rna Diagnostics Inc.  “RDA will assist cancer clinicians in personalized treatment decisions, save healthcare systems significant costs and most importantly, improve outcomes for breast cancer patients. Rna Diagnostics looks forward to our continuing collaboration with Laurentian University to bring RDA, a significant advancement in cancer chemotherapy practice management, to global markets.”

 

About Rna Diagnostics Inc.

Rna Diagnostics, a Canadian molecular diagnostics company, is developing diagnostic tools to improve chemotherapy management. The company’s first product, RNA Disruption Assay™ (RDA™), determines early in a woman’s breast cancer treatment how she is responding to chemotherapy. If the chemotherapy is not working effectively she can be switched quickly to other treatment, avoiding the harmful side-effects of ineffective chemotherapy and thereby improving her outcome. For more information on Rna Diagnostics, please visit www.rnadiagnostics.com

Official opening of Laurentian University's Speech and Language Teaching Clinic

Official opening of Laurentian University's Speech and Language Teaching Clinic

The Clinic will strive to meet the recognized needs and high demand of Greater Sudbury and Northern Ontario.

Laurentian University today officially opened its Speech and Language Clinic, in the presence of dignitaries and health sector professionals. The clinic will offer optimal training conditions to students of the bachelor’s (B.Sc.S.) and master’s (M.Sc.S.) programs in Speech-Language Pathology. It is open to the Greater Sudbury community, thanks to the support of the Office of Francophone Affairs at Laurentian University and the Consortium national de formation en santé (CNFS).
 

“Laurentian University is very proud of this new clinic that will allow our 120 students in Speech-Language Pathology to benefit from quality facilities that meet our exceptional faculty’s high standards of teaching,” said Laurentian University President and Vice-Chancellor Dominic Giroux. “Opening this clinic is timely and significant considering the shortage of Speech-Language Pathologists in the community.  The Clinic will strive to meet the recognized needs and high demand of Greater Sudbury and Northern Ontario.”
 

During the event, Laurentian University’s Speech-Language Pathology program coordinator, Michèle Minor-Corriveau, also launched a new online exchange platform for professionals in the field.  “At a time when information technology presents us with a suitable way to share our resources and best practices, we hope that this forum – the only one of its kind in Ontario – will allow professionals in the field of voice, swallowing, speech, and language disorders to share their knowledge and exchange tips and tools to further advance innovation and research in the field of Speech-Language Pathology.”
 

The field of Speech-Language Pathology covers a wide range of specialists including clinicians, professors, managers, administrators and researchers working in rural and urban settings. These professionals aim to prevent, identify and treat disorders of speech, language (oral and written), voice, fluency (stuttering), and swallowing in people of all ages.
 

The Speech and Language Clinic is located on the sixth floor of the Parker Building, on Laurentian University’s Sudbury campus. Clients should call 705-675-1151, ext. 4122 to book an appointment. For more information about Laurentian University’s Speech-Language Pathology programs and teaching clinic, please visit www.laurentienne.ca/orthophonie. You can also follow Laurentian University’s Speech-Language Pathology program on Twitter @LULorthoSLP and like its Facebook page at facebook.com/LULorthoSLP.

Laurentian hosts second annual Leadership Summit

Laurentian hosts second annual Leadership Summit

Conference aims to build ‘Culture of Collaborative Leadership’

October, 9, 2014 – The City of Greater Sudbury and Laurentian University, with the sponsorship of Canadian Government Executive magazine, have announced the schedule for the second annual Leadership Summit to be held October 16th and 17th in Sudbury.
 

The goals of this summit are to build an innovative and collaborative leadership network, to present the latest research on leadership development, and to lay the foundation for the development of a new Leadership Institute.
 

“We built up some extraordinary momentum with last year’s inaugural Leadership Summit, and we are delighted to see that energy moving us forward,” said Laurentian University President and Vice-Chancellor Dominic Giroux.  “This is a truly collaborative undertaking and all of the partners have a real commitment to working together to grow our leadership potential.”
 

The Summit will begin with an opening reception at the Vale Cavern of Science North on the evening of October 16th.  After an official welcome from Laurentian University Chancellor Steve Paikin, keynote speaker Stephen M. R. Covey will deliver a presentation entitled “The Speed of Trust.” Covey is the New York Times and Wall Street Journal best-selling author of “The Speed of Trust—The One Thing that Changes Everything.”  He is the former CEO of Covey Leadership Centre, and led the strategy that propelled his father’s book, “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” to become one of the most influential business books of the 20th century.  Covey co-founded CoveyLink, a learning and consulting practice focused on enabling leaders and organizations to achieve superior performance. 
 

On October 17th, the Summit moves to the campus of Laurentian University for a full day of interactive discussions, round-table conversations and a summit keynote. 

The forum will provide an opportunity for leaders from the private, public and non-profit sectors to share their perspectives on leadership.  The Summit is also sponsored by the Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation (CEMI) and by Laurentian University’s Goodman School of Mines.
 

Other featured speakers at Leadership Summit 2014 include:
 

Kerry Pond, Assistant Deputy Minister, Centre for Leadership and Learning, Ontario Public Service (OPS);


Jennifer J. Deal Ph.D., senior Research Scientist at the Centre for Creative Leadership (CCL) and an Affiliated Research Scientist at the Center for Effective Organizations at the University of South Carolina.
 

Dr. Rosie Steeves, founder and President of Executive Works, an organization dedicated to helping leaders transform their organizations through effective leadership.
 

Registration details can be found at: laurentian.canadiangovernmentexecutive.ca/

Laurentian University names new Director of Development

Laurentian University names new Director of Development

Kristy Rousseau to lead University’s Development team

September 30th, 2014 – Laurentian University is pleased to announce the appointment of Kristy Rousseau as the new Director of Development.  As Director, Rousseau will oversee and direct all development programs and fundraising activities. She will provide strategic vision, overall direction and guidance to the development team on all fundraising programs.

“We are thrilled to have Kristy in this role,” said Chief Advancement Officer Tracy MacLeod. “She brings professional fundraising experience and leadership abilities that will be extremely valuable to our team, as we continue to build key relationships for the University. We are confident in her ability to take University development to new heights.”

Rousseau has served as Acting Director of Development since May 2014 and is a Certified Fund Raising Executive with nearly 10 years of professional fundraising experience. She has worked collaboratively with various academic and administrative departments to maximize fundraising opportunities in support the university’s strategic priorities.

Before becoming Acting Director of Development, Rousseau served as Manager of Individual Gifts for Laurentian’s Development Office starting in 2011.  Rousseau played a key role in The Next 50 Campaign, which helped to raise over $65M for the University’s strategic priorities. Previously, Rousseau worked as a Development Officer at the Sudbury Regional Hospital Foundation.

Kristy Rousseau is a recipient of a Sudbury Top 40 Under 40 Award. She has also won a CCAE Prix d’Excellence; a Bronze Medal for the Best Development Event, in June 2013.

Rousseau is completing her Masters of Business Administration at Laurentian University and received her Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in Management Economics at the University of Guelph.

 “Being a first-generation university graduate and a Métis Canadian, I am passionate about Laurentian University and its unique position among Canadian universities,” said Rousseau. “We have a great team, and I’m delighted to be leading our work in Development.” 

Laurentian University and Faculty Association reach tentative agreement

Laurentian University and Faculty Association reach tentative agreement

A tentative agreement on a new contract covering the 372 full-time faculty and librarians and 200 part-time sessionals working in Sudbury and Barrie has been reached.

September 29, 2014 - Laurentian University and the Laurentian University Faculty Association (LUFA) have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract covering the 372 full-time faculty and librarians and 200 part-time sessionals working in Sudbury and Barrie. 

“I am pleased that both bargaining teams reached an agreement without any disruption of the academic year. Should it be ratified, this agreement will allow the University and its faculty to continue to build Laurentian’s momentum with exciting plans for the coming years,” said Laurentian President and Vice-Chancellor, Dominic Giroux. 

“This was an intense process. With much hard work, both bargaining teams were able to find ways to address issues of mutual interest in a very collegial manner. This tentative agreement is a positive step forward for the University and LUFA,” added Dr. Anis Farah, President of LUFA. 

The University and LUFA want to thank members of the bargaining teams, led by Dr. Hermann Falter for the University and Dr. Rizwan Haq for LUFA, for their dedication and commitment to a positive organizational culture. 

A ratification vote by LUFA members will be held as soon as possible. The contract is also subject to ratification by Laurentian University’s Board of Governors. As is standard practice, the terms of the tentative agreement will not be disclosed until it has been ratified by both parties. 

It is therefore “business as usual” at Laurentian’s Sudbury and Barrie locations, and for its distance education programs. 

The current collective agreement expired on June 30th. The two parties have held numerous bargaining sessions since April, including one day with a conciliator, and four days with a mediator. 

LUFA had been in a legal strike position and the University had been in a legal lock-out position since September 25th. Parties had agreed to not initiate such measures until September 30th, after completion of scheduled mediation. 

Laurentian names first Manager of Energy and Sustainability

Laurentian names first Manager of Energy and Sustainability

Kati McCartney to lead university in reducing footprint, promoting best practices

September 11 , 2014 – Benchmarking of energy consumption, composting in residences and a zero-waste cafeteria: these are just a few of the initiatives in progress as Laurentian University advances its ‘green agenda’ under Kati McCartney, Manager, Energy and Sustainability. 

“This position is new to Laurentian, but the University is already recognized as an environmental champion on many fronts, and we have the potential to create real leadership in sustainability and conservation,” said McCartney. “I’m confident that we can be in the top tier of green universities.” 

As Manager of Energy and Sustainability, McCartney will lead the development of sustainable operation planning and will manage the energy purchase and use portfolio. She is developing both short and long-term sustainability goals for Laurentian, with initiatives in energy consumption, waste diversion, outreach and education. McCartney graduated from Laurentian University with a Master of Science (Chemical Sciences) and a Master of Business Administration. 

McCartney will also lead efforts to accurately measure, benchmark and reduce energy consumption across campus. Those efforts will include the installation of meters for all commodities – electricity, natural gas,and water – to track consumption and to benchmark efficiency. 

 

 A campus audit conducted in July showed that Laurentian is performing “a bit better than the average for universities in Ontario,” according to McCartney. “With our benchmarking, we’ll be able to identify those areas where we can improve our performance in energy conservation. We’ll retro-fit where it makes sense, and we’ll also be encouraging changes in behaviours related to energy use,” she said. 

One of the high-profile initiatives now underway on the Sudbury campus is the introduction of composting in Laurentian’s residences. With the start of the school year, Laurentian became the first institution in the City of Greater Sudbury to adopt the municipality’s residential composting program. 

“We are the first university in the north to implement composting on such a large scale, and it will be our students who make it happen,” said Laurentian’s Director of Housing and Food Services, Ben Demianiuk. “We’ve worked with the City to put it in place, but it will be up to all of us to create a culture that supports it,” he added. It is estimated that the introduction of composting in residence could divert as much as 50 tonnes of organic waste from landfill each year. 

The waste diversion effort goes even further in the University’s newly-renovated dining space in the Great Hall. The restaurant-style cafeteria has no garbage bins, and no blue-box receptacles for glass, plastic or aluminum containers. 

“This is a real step change, and a bold move,” said McCartney. “There are no disposable cups, paper plates or plastic cutlery; no pop cans or glass bottles to toss in the blue bin. Everything that is used to serve meals is washable, and anything that’s left on the plates goes right into the compost. This is really a big deal in terms of waste diversion,” she said. 

Laurentian University is committed to fostering a strong culture of sustainability and environmental stewardship. Laurentian has signed the Council of Ontario Universities pledge, Ontario Universities: Committed to a Greener World, which commits universities to assist in finding solutions to the challenges of environmental sustainability; to share knowledge about sustainability and climate change; and to incorporate, wherever possible, principles of sustainability into their own operations. 

Laurentian will be holding a Campus Sustainability Forum on September 29th, 2014, which will include a public lecture by environmental activist and former Toronto mayor David Miller, current President and CEO of WWF Canada. Further details of the Sustainability Forum will be published later this month. 

Laurentian University appoints new director of alumni relations

Laurentian University appoints new director of alumni relations

September 10, 2014 - A selection committee with representatives from the Laurentian University Alumni Association, academic and non-academic colleagues unanimously approved the appointment of Rachel Chisholm as Director of Alumni Relations. The appointment is effective September 22, 2014.

 

Ms. Chisholm will provide leadership and strategic direction to the university community related to the development, coordination, and implementation of the University’s alumni relations program in conjunction with the Laurentian University Alumni Association’s (LUAA) strategic plan.

 

“On behalf of the LUAA Board of Directors, I am delighted to welcome Rachel to her new role. The experience she brings in alumni relations will be extremely valuable for our Association. I look forward to working with her as she shares her perspectives and new ideas,” said Diane Mihalek, President of the Laurentian University Alumni Association.

 

“We are thrilled to welcome Rachel to this role, as we increasingly foster the engagement of the University’s Alumni,” said Tracy MacLeod, Laurentian’s Chief Advancement Officer. “Rachel's experience in alumni relations will allow her to connect with graduates through creative programming and effective communications.”

 

Ms. Chisholm served as Alumni Services Manager at George Brown College, where she was responsible for developing business plans, budgets and a print publication. She also launched an online mentoring tool for the alumni community and an alumni engagement tracking system.

 

Born and raised in Montreal, Ms. Chisholm is fluent in French and English.

 

“I am thrilled to be joining the Laurentian University family and eager to meet with Laurentian’s distinguished alumni to hear about the positive contributions they are in the world. Being new to Sudbury, discovering the city, the people and getting involved in the community are just a few of the many things I look forward to,” said Chisholm.

 

The Laurentian University Alumni Association boasts a membership of over 52,000 graduates, with over 16,000 residing in Greater Sudbury.

Laurentian unveils new look of great hall, dining options

Laurentian unveils new look of great hall, dining options

Marche-style restaurant experience at “focal point” of campus

August 27, 2014 – A sweeping re-design of Laurentian University’s iconic Great Hall has transformed the old cafeteria space into a contemporary, “Marché-style” dining venue under the name Fresh Food Company. 

 

“The Great Hall has always been a focal point of campus life.  This is the centrepiece of our expansion of food and beverage service, and it represents a signal moment for the university,” said Laurentian Vice-President, Administration Carol McAulay today at the Grand Opening.  “Over the past few years, we’ve consulted widely with the university community about dining and other amenities on campus, and we’ve enhanced those options accordingly.”

 

Described as a “restaurant-style experience” in the heart of Laurentian’s Sudbury campus, the Fresh Food Company dining space will offer healthy meals, prepared fresh at 12 separate ‘cooking stations,’ including the Deli, the Mongolian Grill, and the Dessert/Waffle Bar.  The Fresh Food Company will offer more local produce and locally-sourced food products, as well as daily specials and vegetarian options. It will be operated by Laurentian University’s food and beverage provider, Aramark Food Services.

 “We know from our research that students want fresh, made-to-order meals, served in a comfortable environment where they can hang out with their friends,” said Brian Struthers, Regional Vice President for Aramark. “The new Fresh Food Company delivers this enhanced, restaurant-like atmosphere, and we believe it will become a great campus hub for both food and social interaction.”

Marché-style dining will allow unlimited choices at set rates for each meal period.  Meal plan payment options will be provided for students in designated residences, with other meal plans available to staff and faculty.

Laurentian University has expanded food and beverage services on campus in the past 2 years, with the addition of a Starbucks location, the Bistro in East Residence, a Subway sandwich shop and, most recently, a Topper’s Pizza outlet. 

 

“Our vision was to create a range of dining options in our various campus neighbourhoods,” said Laurentian’s Director, Housing and Food Services, Ben Demianiuk.  “This is an expansion of menu options, but it’s also about enhancing the social amenities of campus life by adding new, welcoming spaces where people can gather, study or socialize,” he said. 

 

Laurentian has embarked on an ambitious $50 million dollar modernization and renewal program entailing upgrades to classrooms, labs, study and social spaces over the next three years.  The modernization program is outlined in the University’s 2012-2017 Strategic Plan.

Sudbury-designed solar power system to have major field test

Sudbury-designed solar power system to have major field test

Photo-voltaic cells to provide clean energy will be deployed off Maltese coast

AUGUST 19, 2014 – An innovative and energy-smart concept to harness clean solar power for multiple applications will have its first major field test in the Mediterranean sea, off the island of Malta, early in 2015.  Conceived and developed by researchers at MIRARCO and Laurentian University in Sudbury, the demonstration project is being supported by the Government of Malta, the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology, and other research partners.

 

The Offshore Passive Photo-voltaic (OPPV) Project will use thin solar panels (photo-voltaic cells) floating on the water’s surface to generate energy.  The array of panels, measuring about 20 meters by 20 meters, is expected to have a peak output of 8kW, enough power for two typical 3-bedroom homes.

 

“The goal of the demonstration project is to find alternative ways for Malta to generate clean energy, since it is a small island and doesn’t have the land space to install solar panels on the ground,” says MIRARCO researcher Kim Trapani.  “We believe our system is a substantial improvement on other forms of marine renewable energy, such as offshore wind, rigid offshore photo-voltaic structures, wave and tidal energy.  The floating PV panels do not pose a collision risk, and should require very low maintenance.”

 

Originally from Malta, Dr. Trapani completed her Ph.D. at Laurentian University with thesis advisor Dr. Dean Millar, Professor in the Bharti School of Engineering and the MIRARCO Research Chair of Energy in Mining. Dr. Millar is particularly interested in the potential applications of the OPPV project in mining.

 

“Wherever they are located, mines tend to consume appreciable amounts of energy to support mineral production,” said Dr. Millar.  “The Maltese demonstration project is a world first that aims to prove thin-film PV technology in the saltwater marine environment, but it has also been developed as an electricity generating system for mines.”  The flexible laminated panels will float on the surface of the water of tailings ponds, said Dr. Millar.  “The panels could form a barrier to isolate wildlife from the tailings waters, while the panels generate electricity for the mine.”

 

Drs Trapani and Millar have published research suggesting that for remote mines like the Ring of Fire, the cost per kilowatt-hour produced with the PV systems is lower than the cost of installing and running diesel-powered generators.  “Our OPPV technology could have game-changing implications for the mining industry, especially with remote minesites, by providing clean and cheap energy that can be set up where needed with relatively little infrastructure. These demonstration projects aim to prove longer term reliability,” said Dr. Millar. 

Adjunct Professor at Laurentian University elected to the United Nations Committee on Human Rights

Adjunct Professor at Laurentian University elected to the United Nations Committee on Human Rights

Laurentian University awarded Dr. Ben Achour an honourary doctorate in recognition of his work bridging the differences between the Arab and Western Worlds.

July 30, 2014 – Laurentian University congratulates Dr. Yadh Ben Achour on his election to a four-year term to the United Nations Committee on Human Rights.  In 2004, Laurentian University awarded Dr. Ben Achour an honourary doctorate in recognition of his work bridging the differences between the Arab and Western Worlds. Dr. Ben Achour is also an Adjunct Professor with the International Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Law (ICIRL) and the Department of Justice at Laurentian University.

 

The United Nations Human Rights Committee is composed of eighteen independent experts who monitor the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

 

Dr. Ben Achour played a key role in Tunisia’s transition to democracy after the Jasmine Revolution in January 2011. He was named to lead a commission charged with the implementation of the first free and transparent elections in Tunisia in October 2011. The newly elected National Constituent Assembly then drafted Tunisia’s new constitution.

 

Dr. Ben Achour is a strong defender of human rights and the rule of law. In 1992, he resigned from Tunisia’s Constitutional Council and became one of the harshest critics of the regime of Ben Ali. Shortly afterwards, he was elected Dean of the Faculty of Legal, Political and Social Sciences of Tunis, University of Carthage. Since 2013, he has been President of the Administrative Law Court of the African Development Bank. In 2013, he received the International Prize for Democracy from the Fondation Internationaler Demoktratie Preis, Bonn, Germany. 

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