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Researchers net health funding to be at SFU
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June 26, 2002
Karen Kobayashi is exactly the kind of researcher the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research (MSFHR) strives to keep in BC. The Simon Fraser University graduate’s investigation of how ethnicity affects aging and health has piqued the interest of several BC universities and led to some job possibilities for her in central Canada.
But, a 2002 MSFHR post-doctoral fellowship is enabling Kobayashi to pursue research at SFU’s Gerontology Research Centre, working with professor Andrew Wister. "Otherwise, I might have been heading east," says Kobayashi, who completed her doctoral studies under SFU sociologist Ellen Gee in 1999.
Kobayashi is wrapping up a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of BC. Her look at factors promoting and impeding healthy aging among Chinese and South Asian adults is particularly relevant in BC, where Asians are the fastest growing segment of the population. "Recent immigrant middle aged women within this segment of Canada’s population are significantly less likely to get pap smears and mammograms done to detect diseases than their Canadian-born counterparts," says Kobayashi. The third generation Japanese Canadian is one of two SFU recipients of a 2002 MSFHR post-doctoral fellowship ($35,000 year and research/travel allowance $4,000). Rami Hannoush, a chemist, is coming to SFU from McGill University.
Four SFU graduate students are recipients of MSFHR trainee awards. The $22,500 renewable award, which includes a $2,500 research and travel allowance, will enable Nag Kumar, originally from Fiji, to focus on researching compounds for the development of better cancer fighting drugs. Kumar will graduate with a BSc in chemistry and begin his doctoral studies in carbohydrate chemistry under SFU chemistry chair Mario Pinto in October. "The MSFHR award allows me to concentrate more on my research than teaching assistance to make a living," says Kumar, a Coquitlam resident.
The other MSFHR trainee recipients are Michael Hildebrand, biological sciences; Dawn Mackey, kinesiology and Alfredo Menendez, molecular biology and biochemistry. One of two MSFHR career investigator awards at SFU, which cover five years, will enable Mark Paetzel to focus more on his groundbreaking research. Paetzel takes up his SFU appointment as an assistant professor in molecular biology and biochemistry in September. He presently holds a post-doctoral appointment at UBC. A Vancouver resident, Paetzel investigates the three-dimensional structure of bacterial membrane proteins. The other career award could result in SFU attracting one of the world’s top experts in sports-related concussions, McGill University neurosurgeon Karen Johnston. A Vancouver resident, Paetzel investigates the three-dimensional structure of bacterial membrane proteins. The other career award could result in SFU attracting one of the world’s top experts in sports-related concussions, McGill University neurosurgeon Karen Johnston.
Career awards contribute towards the recipients’ salaries and startup funds at the universities where they’ve been appointed faculty, or at universities seeking their appointment.
SFU’s 2002 MSFHR awards collectively are worth $984,798. In addition, career award recipients will receive $175,000 in establishment grants. Named after BC’s only Nobel Prize recipient, the MSFRH was conceived of by a coalition of universities, teaching hospitals, biotechnology companies and others in BC.
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CONTACT
Karen Kobayashi, kkobayas@interchange.ubc.ca
Cherry Graf, 604.714.2772, cgraf@msfhr.org
Carol Thorbes, Media & PR, 604.291.3035
But, a 2002 MSFHR post-doctoral fellowship is enabling Kobayashi to pursue research at SFU’s Gerontology Research Centre, working with professor Andrew Wister. "Otherwise, I might have been heading east," says Kobayashi, who completed her doctoral studies under SFU sociologist Ellen Gee in 1999.
Kobayashi is wrapping up a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of BC. Her look at factors promoting and impeding healthy aging among Chinese and South Asian adults is particularly relevant in BC, where Asians are the fastest growing segment of the population. "Recent immigrant middle aged women within this segment of Canada’s population are significantly less likely to get pap smears and mammograms done to detect diseases than their Canadian-born counterparts," says Kobayashi. The third generation Japanese Canadian is one of two SFU recipients of a 2002 MSFHR post-doctoral fellowship ($35,000 year and research/travel allowance $4,000). Rami Hannoush, a chemist, is coming to SFU from McGill University.
Four SFU graduate students are recipients of MSFHR trainee awards. The $22,500 renewable award, which includes a $2,500 research and travel allowance, will enable Nag Kumar, originally from Fiji, to focus on researching compounds for the development of better cancer fighting drugs. Kumar will graduate with a BSc in chemistry and begin his doctoral studies in carbohydrate chemistry under SFU chemistry chair Mario Pinto in October. "The MSFHR award allows me to concentrate more on my research than teaching assistance to make a living," says Kumar, a Coquitlam resident.
The other MSFHR trainee recipients are Michael Hildebrand, biological sciences; Dawn Mackey, kinesiology and Alfredo Menendez, molecular biology and biochemistry. One of two MSFHR career investigator awards at SFU, which cover five years, will enable Mark Paetzel to focus more on his groundbreaking research. Paetzel takes up his SFU appointment as an assistant professor in molecular biology and biochemistry in September. He presently holds a post-doctoral appointment at UBC. A Vancouver resident, Paetzel investigates the three-dimensional structure of bacterial membrane proteins. The other career award could result in SFU attracting one of the world’s top experts in sports-related concussions, McGill University neurosurgeon Karen Johnston. A Vancouver resident, Paetzel investigates the three-dimensional structure of bacterial membrane proteins. The other career award could result in SFU attracting one of the world’s top experts in sports-related concussions, McGill University neurosurgeon Karen Johnston.
Career awards contribute towards the recipients’ salaries and startup funds at the universities where they’ve been appointed faculty, or at universities seeking their appointment.
SFU’s 2002 MSFHR awards collectively are worth $984,798. In addition, career award recipients will receive $175,000 in establishment grants. Named after BC’s only Nobel Prize recipient, the MSFRH was conceived of by a coalition of universities, teaching hospitals, biotechnology companies and others in BC.
—30—
CONTACT
Karen Kobayashi, kkobayas@interchange.ubc.ca
Cherry Graf, 604.714.2772, cgraf@msfhr.org
Carol Thorbes, Media & PR, 604.291.3035