Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a terrible wasting disease of the central nervous system. It can affect vision, hearing, memory, balance and mobility. Although the disease in itself is not fatal, two-thirds of MS patient deaths are directly related to the disease and MS patient life expectancy is 5 to 10 years lower than that of unaffected people. Canada has one of the highest rates of multiple sclerosis (MS) in the world.

Though there is no cure, the number and effectiveness of treatments for MS symptoms is growing. In the front ranks of those involved in the international fight is Dr. V.W. Yong, a Professor of Clinical Neurosciences at the Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary. The celebrated author of numerous research articles in the field, Dr. Yong knows a promising idea when he sees one.

He was, therefore, the perfect mentor for Yasamin Mahjoub, a 16-year-old Grade 11 student at Calgary’s Sir Winston Churchill High School. “I have a passion for science, and specifically biology,” she says. “I wanted to go beyond the curriculum, and the sanofi-aventis BioTalent Challenge was the perfect opportunity for me.”

Yasamin’s project was based on the observation that pregnant MS patients generally seem healthier and suffer fewer relapses than before pregnancy. She and Dr. Yong postulated that hormones produced during pregnancy might be “protecting” neurons from the effects of iron accumulation in the brain, a characteristic of MS.

Yasamin’s background research began last summer and since November she’s devoted 10 hours a week to lab testing cell cultures to see if the deaths of neurons by iron could be reduced by the hormones. Essentially, she divided cell cultures into batches treated with estrogen, progesterone or prolactin, and left one untreated. Then she exposed the groups of cells to iron and counted the number of cells that died. The results clearly showed significantly fewer cells in the hormones-treated cultures were killed by iron.

Dr Yong says the positive test results offer important new, testable hypotheses into the causes of MS, and suggest new methods to alleviate the disease’s consequences. “The results have pushed the frontiers of science,” he says.

While many more preliminary steps are needed before clinical trials can be contemplated, Yasamin’s project has already had one important effect: she plans to pursue further research into the way that hormones affect iron neurotoxicity. She is also planning to continue health sciences as a career. “My SABC experience was rewarding,” she says. “It helped me realize that this really is what I want to do with my life.”

Yasamin Mahjoub a grade 11 student from Sir Winston Churchill High School won the $2,000 first place prize with a study about “Protection against iron neurotoxicity by pregnancy-related hormones”. Dr. V.W. Yong of the Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary mentored Yasamin, throughout her research.
Representing Calgary, Yasamin will present her research at the National Competition before a panel of experts at the National Research Council in Ottawa, on May 9, 2011.

2nd Place: Rebecca Todesco representing Queen Elizabeth High School, won the $1,500 second place prize for a project titled “Airborne Attack – Alternaria Alternata Allergen Targets Proteinase-Activated Receptor -2”. Rebecca was mentored by Dr. Morley Hollenberg from the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Calgary.

3rd Place: The third place prize of $1,000 was awarded to Sarah Hyslop, a grade ten Home School student. Sarah was mentored by Dr. Heidi Mulcahy, from the Bacterial Pathogenesis Research Group, University of Calgary, who supported Sarah throughout her innovative project: “Biofilm Eradication Using Novel Enzymes and Antibiotic Combinations.”

4th Place: $750 was awarded to Kelcie Miller-Anderson of Bishop Carroll High School for achieving fourth place. Kelcie worked on a project entitled: “Trehalose: A New Cryoprotectant for Stem Cells” with the help of her mentor Dr. Derrick Rancourt, Departments of Oncology, BioChemistry &Molecular Biology and Medical Genetics, University of Calgary. Kelcie was also the winner of the Most Comercially Viable Award, a $250 prize awarded to the project with the most commercial potential.

5th Place: Fifth place prize of $500 was awarded to the team of Ting Wang, Amy Li and Chen Fan of Western Canada High School. Dr. Chris Mody, from the Faculty of Medicine, Immunology Research Group, University of Calgary, mentored this team for their novel study “The Antifungal Properties of Manuka Honey in Suppressing the Growth of Cryptococcus Neoformans.”

Best Elevator Pitch: Congratulations to the team of Cody Wang, Richard Liu and Kevin Li for winning the $250 EP prize. The team did an awesome selling job on the market potential of the “Effects of Vitamin E Supplementation on the Growth and Development of Bison Embryos”

Congratulations to our Merit Award winners and Thank You to the Mentors:
Alisha Chen and Teresa Li; Western Canada High School; Mr. David Liu
Haris Malik; Western Canada High School; Dr. Jeff Goldberg
Juliet Su and Billy Sun; Western Canada High School; Dr. Aalim Weljie
Bob Bao, Mark Li and Eric Cao; Western Canada HS & Henry Wisewood HS; Dr. Laura Fick
Sarthak Sinha; Henry Wisewood High School; Dr. Jeff Bernaskie
Megan Liang and Helen Wang; Western Canada High School; Dr. Marcus Samuel
Cody Wang, Richard Liu and Kevin Li; Western Canada HS; Drs. Judit Smits and Jacob Thundathil
Hala Said and Uilst Bat-Erdene; Western Canada High School; Dr. Robin Yates
Michelle Vogelaar and Wendy Xiang; Dr. E.P. Scarlett High School; Dr. Wic Wildering
Janelle Yu, Ryan Lukic and Julian Friedrich; Henry Wisewood HS; Dr. Dominik Guensch

2011 interim hand out

Elevator Pitch Power Point 2011

2011 interim hand out

All teams are expected to attend the interim meeting.
When: Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Where: Room 1405B O’Brien Centre – from the Mall in Health Sciences go up the stairs to the 1st floor of the O’Brien Centre
Time: 4:30 pm – 8 ish, pizza will be served
What: all teams to give a two slide power point updating what they have done so far and what remains to be done, Mr. Keith Sharnau will be giving an Elevator Pitch/Presentation skills workshop – you don’t want to miss this!

Maps:
Ground floor HSc and HMRB (this map will get you to the Mall)
Map to O’Brien Centre Room 1405B

Students Register on-line. Use the following links and the UC-ID # you will be (or have been) sent under separate e-mail.
Other tips: Supervisor name: Jessica Oosterhuis
Supervisor e-mail: calgary.sabc@bioalberta.com
Department: choose a science department
Register for WHIMIS-lab worker, student and Biosafety 1

Safety Course Registration

WHIMIS is an on-line course, Biosafety 1 will take place Friday December 3, 9am-12pm Health Sciences campus room G750

Proposal Submission Deadline: Friday, October 29, 2010
NOTE: all proposals are submitted on-line. Please ensure you attach the correct document. A hard copy with appropriate signatures must be sent to BioAlberta, post marked no later than October 29, 2010

The Sanofi Aventis BioTalent Challenge (SABC) in the Calgary region is administered by BioAlberta and implemented by Calgary Coordinator Jessica Oosterhuis.

Calgary SABC 2011 Competition: Congratulations to all teams who competed at this years Regional Finals. Calgary 2011 Winners

Calgary Region News and Archive

What is SABC all about?
Are you looking for the chance to discover what scientific research is all about? With the SABC you will work in a lab, compete for cash prizes and have the chance to represent Calgary in Ottawa at the National Competition. SABC is an exciting way for students to learn what scientists do, write a research proposal and perform experiments in the lab under guidance of a mentor. Participating in the SABC nurtures interest in scientific research, helps to shape the career paths for students, and provides more than $6,000 in cash prizes which is shared between the winners and their schools.

Participation in the Calgary region is open to students currently in Grades 10, 11 and 12. Individuals or groups of up to four students are invited to apply. Your application will be reviewed by a panel of experts, just as a grant would be reviewed for researchers applying for money at the University. Successful applicants are then matched with a mentor and carry out their research in the mentor’s lab.

How do I get involved?
Talk to your high school science teacher about the program, or contact the Regional Coordinator Jessica Oosterhuis.

Interested in competing in SABC 2011?
SABC 2011 is now closed, start thinking about SABC 2012! Important information, dates and deadlines.

How do I get started?
Presentation Tips
Twitter SABC_Calgary

Calgary Contact:
Jessica Oosterhuis, Regional Coordinator
sabc.calgary@bioalberta.com
Tel: 403-254-9775

2011 Calgary Regional Final Photos
2011 Calgary Regional Photo Gallery
2011 Calgary Regional Winners
2010 Calgary Regional Winners
2010 Calgary Regional Photo Gallery
2009 Calgary Regional Photo Gallery
2009 Calgary Regional Final Photos
2009 Calgary Regional Winners
2008 Calgary Regional Winners

SABC 2010 Calgary Finals Photo Gallery
click on thumb nail to view larger image
All photos: Emilie van der Hoorn, photographer