June 20, 2008 - ACOA Minister Peter MacKay and PEI Premier Robert Ghiz officially opened the new state-of-the-art 57,000 square-foot research facility at the Atlantic Veterinary College at the University of Prince Edward Island. Read more HERE.

You and a guest are invited to join the PEI BioAlliance Board of Directors, staff, and members of the Prince Edward Island Bioscience Cluster at Fox Meadow Golf and Country Club, Stratford, PEI on July 8th for our Annual BioGolf Tournament and Summer Solstice Celebration. Please click HERE for more details and to register.

Stirling Products recently announced that it has signed a Licensing Agreement with Aquience, a PEI-based company, for the exclusive rights to its companion animal product PetQuench™, which is already being sold and distributed in North America. PetQuench™ is a patented, fortified water formulation especially designed for dogs and cats to help increase the daily consumption of water. It is currently available in over 100 stores across Canada and shortly to be introduced into the United States. Read more HERE.

Congratulating Aaron Zidichouski, representing Sanofi-Aventis is Dr. Rob Van Exan, Director of Immunization Policy Public Affairs for sanofi pasteur.

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.