Congratulations to Aaron Zidichouski of Charlottetown Rural High School who was recently awarded a $2,500 prize for first place in the provincial Sanofi-Aventis BioTalent science competition. The seventeen year old student also represented Prince Edward Island at the national biotechnology competition at the National Research Council in Ottawa, Ontario earlier this month with his winning project entitled "Lipid Adhesion to Surfaces that Resist Protein Absorption". The Sanofi-Aventis BioTalent Challenge raises awareness among students, educators and the public about Biotechnology and its applications in human and animal health, agriculture and the environment. Aaron was mentored at the NRC Institute for Nutrisciences and Health at UPEI by Dr. Bob Chapman, Aleks Spurmanis, Alicia Cochrane and Dr. Jim Johnston. Read more HERE . . .

The Provincial Minster of Agriculture for Prince Edward Island has announced the establishment of a Commission on the Future of Agriculture and Agri-food for PEI and has appointed Rory Francis, Executive Director of the PEI BioAlliance to co-chair the Commission. He will share this role with Dr. Tyrchniewicz, Associate Dean of the Asper School of Business at the University of Manitoba. Mr. Francis will continue in his role with the PEI BioAlliance, while allocating some of his time to the Commission for the next several months.

The purpose of the commission is to devise a long-term vision for agriculture and agri-food and recommend an implementation strategy. The province is responding to requests and pressure from industry for new directions that will guide the development of agriculture in the future. In doing so, the Commission will be looking for innovative solutions in approaching current issues facing the agriculture sector locally, nationally and globally. Read more HERE . . .

Dr. Regis Duffy and wife Joan were honoured recently at a ceremony at the University of Prince Edward Island. The recently-constructed state-of-the-art bioscience and research centre at UPEI was named in honour of the Duffy’s for their significant contributions to the University and to the community. Read the full story.

April 24, 2008

A team of researchers at the University of Prince Edward Island’s Atlantic Veterinary College has developed the world’s first vaccine that is effective against a destructive microsporidian parasite of salmon. Until now, there have been no successful treatment or prevention methods against these enigmatic disease-causing organisms. Read more HERE.

Charlottetown, PEI will play host to the International Conference on Biodiversity and Natural Products (ICOB-6 and ISNP-26) from July 13 – 18, 2008. For more information about the program and confirmed list of speakers, click HERE or visit the IUPAC website.

April 11, 2008 - The Prince Edward Island BioAlliance is applauding the Provincial Government's five-year economic strategy released yesterday in Charlottetown by Premier Robert Ghiz. Read today’s News Release issued by the PEI BioAlliance HERE. View news coverage of yesterday’s announcement HERE. You may download a copy of the Province’s strategy document HERE.