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SFU researcher studies infectious diseases
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June 12, 2002
SFU assistant professor of molecular biology and biochemistry Fiona Brinkman has a lead role in a major genomic project recently funded by Genome Canada through its regional arm in the Prairies. Genome Canada awarded the project $13.4 million.
Brinkman is the research director of informatics for the project. It will determine which genes are activated by different pathogens and their hosts during different types of infections. She is coordinating all computational analyses of the data generated by the project, which involves researchers from the University of Saskatchewan, the University of British Columbia and the BC Cancer Agency.
Brinkman says this project is expected to be more relevant and useful to understanding how disease-causing agents infect humans and animals than previous studies. "We are looking at infections that are more natural and examining many different types of infections at once," explains Brinkman. "Our broad-based approach will permit global conclusions to be made about how infections occur and the reaction of the host to these infections. This approach will hopefully lead to the development of truly novel therapeutics that boost immunity to disease."
In May, Brinkman was named one of the world’s top 100 young innovators. Her name appeared on a prestigious list published annually by Technology Review, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s award winning magazine on innovation. Those named to the magazine’s list are chosen on the basis of their contribution to transforming the nature of technology in various industries, such as biotechnology, computing and transportation. This year’s TR100 innovators hailed from nine different countries.
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CONTACT
Fiona Brinkman, 604.291.5646, brinkman@sfu.ca
Carol Thorbes, Media & PR, 604.291.3035
Brinkman is the research director of informatics for the project. It will determine which genes are activated by different pathogens and their hosts during different types of infections. She is coordinating all computational analyses of the data generated by the project, which involves researchers from the University of Saskatchewan, the University of British Columbia and the BC Cancer Agency.
Brinkman says this project is expected to be more relevant and useful to understanding how disease-causing agents infect humans and animals than previous studies. "We are looking at infections that are more natural and examining many different types of infections at once," explains Brinkman. "Our broad-based approach will permit global conclusions to be made about how infections occur and the reaction of the host to these infections. This approach will hopefully lead to the development of truly novel therapeutics that boost immunity to disease."
In May, Brinkman was named one of the world’s top 100 young innovators. Her name appeared on a prestigious list published annually by Technology Review, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s award winning magazine on innovation. Those named to the magazine’s list are chosen on the basis of their contribution to transforming the nature of technology in various industries, such as biotechnology, computing and transportation. This year’s TR100 innovators hailed from nine different countries.
—30—
CONTACT
Fiona Brinkman, 604.291.5646, brinkman@sfu.ca
Carol Thorbes, Media & PR, 604.291.3035