Annual Report 2011 / 2012 Understand. Assess. Prevent.
year VII
REFLECTIONS
OVERVIEW
THE PRION A unique disease agent The term “prion” was coined 1982 by then-future Nobel Laureate Dr. Stanley Prusiner at the University of California in San Francisco. The proteinaceous infectious particle (prion) was hypothesized to have a very unique mechanism of infectivity. Unlike viruses or bacteria that need genetic material such as DNA or RNA to cause disease, prions act as a template to convert normal prion proteins into toxic disease agents. Correctly-folded proteins in our cells adopt one particular structure in order to carry out their normal function. Contact with a prion not only triggers a loss of the normal function, but also triggers conversion to more infectious prion protein. Infectious prions can be generated by a spontaneous prion protein misfolding event, genetic mutation in the prion protein gene, or infectious prions being transmitted between individuals or between species. A greater understanding of how the prion converts to the infectious misfolded form and how prions are toxic to neurons leading to cell death will open the door to developing treatments and preventive options for prion and prion-like diseases.
Prion and prion-like diseases Prion diseases—also known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE) —are fatal, infectious diseases in humans and animals with “sponge-like” brain tissue associated with neuronal degeneration. In animals, the most common of these diseases include scrapie in sheep and goats, bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE, also commonly known as “mad cow disease”), and chronic wasting disease (CWD) in deer and elk. Some examples of prion diseases in humans include Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), variant CJD (vCJD), and inherited prion disease due to mutations in PRNP, the gene that encodes the prion protein, such as familial CJD, Gerstmann–Sträussler–Scheinker syndrome and fatal familial insomnia.
Understand, assess, prevent PrioNet Canada was launched by the Government of Canada’s Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE) program in 2005, in response to the estimated $6 billion in economic losses that Canada suffered when domestic BSE was identified in Alberta in 2003. Seven years later, classic prion related problems such as CWD, surveillance of BSE, and threats to the food and blood supply remain a significant concern for Canada. PrioNet Canada has achieved international attention for scientific advances and risk management strategies directed at controlling prion diseases, and is now directing capacity into therapeutic solutions for prion-like diseases of aging, such Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and ALS.
Receptors and solutions PrioNet plays a coordinating role bringing together various government agencies, policy makers, industry and research communities to develop strategies for monitoring and controlling prion diseases. This approach allows PrioNet to capitalize on strengths in basic, applied, and social science research to find practical solutions for the problems posed by prion diseases and other neurodegenerative disorders.
Support PrioNet is made possible by the Networks of Centres of Excellence, the Canadian government’s innovative science and technology program, a joint initiative of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, and Industry Canada. The program represents a unique partnership among universities, industries, and government to deliver socioeconomic benefits for all Canadians.
PrioNet proudly acknowledges host support from the University of British Columbia and Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Recent research is identifying links between the biological mechanisms of prion diseases and other neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).While each of these diseases manifests itself in a different way, the hallmark of all is a progressive neurodegeneration associated with accumulation of misfolded protein aggregates in the brain.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
CONTENTS Click to go to section:
■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
1 2 3 4 9 14 18 21 28 30 34
OVERVIEW TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE MESSAGE KEY IMPACTS RESEARCH EDUCATION & TRAINING KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE & OUTREACH RESEARCH PROJECTS PARTNERS
Contact Information
PrioNet Canada Suite 200, 2386 East Mall Gerald McGavin Building University of British Columbia Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V6T 1Z3 tel: 604-222-3600 fax: 604-222-3606 e-mail: admin@prionetcanada.ca web: www.prionetcanada.ca
Design
basic elements design
Writers & Editors
Neil Cashman, Sandra Haney, Alison Palmer, Michelle Wong
NETWORK COMMUNITY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
year VII
REFLECTIONS
PrioNet Canada
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EXECUTIVE MESSAGE
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EXECUTIVE MESSAGE
Chair and Scientific Director
It was a tremendous year. We launched our Knowledge Mobilization program, funding four projects across Canada that will study existing PrioNet projects and how their outcomes are impacting Canadians. We also launched Open Call IV that supported 11 research projects across Canada involving 55 researchers. PrioNet appointed a new Executive Director, Dr. Michelle Wong, who was promoted from her role as Director of Scientific Programs and Training. We co-hosted PRION 2011: New World in partnership with the Alberta Prion Research Institute in May of 2011—the first time this prestigious international congress event was held outside of Europe since its inception over a decade ago. And finally, we prepared for our application of renewal funding to the Networks of Centres of Excellence. The renewal process was a challenging, yet satisfying, exercise that enabled us to reflect on what we have accomplished and chart a direction for the future. Despite our efforts and accomplishments over the last seven years, it is with great sadness that we witness PrioNet, as a Network of Centres of Excellence, come to a close in 2012. We are, however, confident the exemplary research we have helped support will flourish for many years to come through new opportunities.
PrioNet is a uniquely Canadian solution that has produced significant impacts to help solve the problems of prions and prion-like diseases.
Dr. David Dolphin Chair, Board of Directors
“Reflections” is the theme of this final annual report—with the impacts of our efforts from this past year and previous years highlighted in this report. PrioNet’s approach of leveraging its multidisciplinary research program for maximum results, engaging with national and international partners, training highly skilled people for Canada’s workforce, and translating knowledge into practical solutions to derive maximum socioeconomic benefit is a uniquely Canadian solution that has produced significant impacts to help solve the problems of prions and prion-like diseases. PrioNet’s achievements has put Canada at the global forefront of prion research, which has been made possible only by its community of scientists, students, and other young professionals networking with stakeholders and partners. On behalf of every individual or group who have benefited from our activities, PrioNet wishes to thank each and every member of the network community for their contributions over the last seven years. We know Canada will continue to benefit from the knowledge our network has created well into the future, and we look forward to seeing what remains to be discovered in this crucial field of research.
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REFLECTIONS
Dr. Neil R. Cashman Scientific Director
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KEY IMPACTS
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KEY IMPACTS
PrioNet by the numbers
Over its seven year mandate, PrioNet Canada has: • Built a prion research community in Canada: • Quadrupled the number of Canadian prion researchers, from 29 in 2005 to 122 in 2012 • Engaged industry, government and non-government partners from 20 in 2005 to 94 in 2012
RESEARCHERS 2005 2012 PARTNERS
2005 2012
0
25
50
75
100
125
• Facilitated the exchange of knowledge: • Held a total of 65 events, 31 national and 34 international, 10 through the the NCE’s International Partnerships Initiative • Garnered over 370 media mentions across online and print news, radio and television
• Trained the next generation of research leaders: • Engaged over 300 graduate students, post-doctoral fellows and young professionals • Granted 292 training awards
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• Advanced our understanding of prion diseases: • Saw a five-fold increase in prion research projects, from 7 in 2005 to 40 in 2012 • Produced over 680 publications
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KEY IMPACTS
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RESEARCH REFLECTIONS In just seven years, PrioNet has created the kind of knowledge that will continue to benefit Canadians well into the future. Like parts of a complex puzzle, PrioNet discoveries, assembled together, have helped to answer some of the major risk, socioeconomic, and biological questions surrounding prion and prion-like diseases. A selection of these successes are presented here as a reflection on the network’s discoveries, growth, and interconnectedness.
This network influenced Canadian policymakers to adopt a framework on the management of BSE
Risk communication and knowledge transfer have been two cornerstones of PrioNet’s research program. Led by Dr. Daniel Krewski, Director of the R. Samuel McLaughlin Centre for Population Health Risk Assessment at the University of Ottawa and Associate Scientific Director of PrioNet, the BSE Integrated Risk Management Framework (IRMF) was developed to help inform Canadian and international policy makers on the risk assessment and management of BSE. This framework gives policymakers the capacity to quantitatively estimate the potential of disease spread in cattle and the extent of human exposure. The IRMF provides clear guidance on how to maintain Canada’s BSE risk status, which promises to improve Canada’s reputation in the international beef trade.
Dr. Daniel Krewski, University of Ottawa
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KEY IMPACTS
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PrioNet member Dr. David Bressler and his team from the University of Alberta, in partnership with Sanimax, have converted specified risk materials (by-products from the beef industry) into useful materials such as non-food packaging, shipping materials and large-volume insulation. The addedvalue of Dr. Bressler’s conversion technology will benefit Canada’s beef and related industries, while at the same time helping to decontaminate these potentially infectious materials.
Dr. David Bressler, University of Alberta
Dr. Trent Bollinger, University of Saskatchewan
Dr. Trent Bollinger and his team at the University of Saskatchewan, together with partners in the Government of Alberta and Saskatchewan Environment, integrated their social structure, environmental exposure, and spatial movement findings with results of ongoing CWD surveillance programs for wild deer in Saskatchewan and Alberta. This work helps to develop predictive models that will inform strategies to better manage the disease, such as vaccination programs.
This network developed strategies to mitigate the environmental impacts of BSE and CWD
Dr. Norman Neumann from the University of Alberta collaborated with researchers from the United States and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada to better understand patterns of transmission and deposition of infectious prion materials in the environment. Using a technology called protein misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA), Dr. Neumann and his team were able to help inform decontamination strategies for controlling the spread of CWD and minimize the impact of the disease on humans and animals.
Dr. Norman Neumann, University of Alberta
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KEY IMPACTS
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This network has significantly improved our understanding of the molecular mechanism of protein misfolding to cause disease
Proteins are generally thought to be stable structures that fold in a specific way to perform their function; however, the cellular form of the prion protein has major regions that have no stable structure. Dr. Avi Chakrabartty from the University of Toronto and collaborators such as Dr. Julie Forman-Kay at the Hospital for Sick Children found that more regions of disordered structure could hold the key to better understanding the implications of proteins in cell death or the elusive mechanisms of aggregation and subsequent conversion of the normal prion protein to the disease-causing form.
RESEARCH REFLECTIONS This network aligned major stakeholders, including Aboriginal communities, towards a solution for CWD The Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Research Centre and its provincial and federal stakeholders called on PrioNet to lead an initiative to update and refine a strategy document for managing CWD in Canada. PrioNet, Alberta Prion Research Institute and agencies directly engaged in managing CWD in wildlife and livestock and in protecting public health convened and after iterative consultations and meetings developed “A Proposal for Canada’s National Chronic Wasting Disease Strategy” for Canadian policy makers.
Dr. Ellen Goddard, University of Alberta
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Dr. Stéphane McLachlan, University of Manitoba
Dr. Stéphane McLachlan of the University of Manitoba and his pan-Canadian team of more than 20 researchers is partnering directly with Aboriginal communities to study the impacts of CWD in wild animals on their livelihoods, linking traditional knowledge with western science. Their work has illuminated new and better ways to share information among affected communities, scientists and government, and is helping to secure Aboriginals’ traditional knowledge and food systems.
PrioNet researcher Dr. Ellen Goddard at the University of Alberta is collaborating with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Health Canada, and the Public Health Agency of Canada to develop a set of effective risk management policies and strategies to control the spread of CWD in Canada, building on the success of the “BSE Integrated Risk Management Framework”.
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PrioNet’s Scientific Director Dr. Neil Cashman at the University of British Columbia had a major finding identifying “prion epitopes”, parts of the misfolded protein that can be exploited as potential therapeutic or diagnostic targets in prion disease. The commercial potential of this finding lies in the fact that vaccine antibodies will bind selectively to the infectious misfolded prions, but not to the normal prion protein; since the antibodies recognize only specific parts of the disease-causing prions, there is potential to apply them to multiple prion diseases. In this year alone, Dr. Cashman also signed a collaborative research agreement with Cangene Corporation to develop his work on immune-based therapies for Alzheimer’s disease, discovered a key link between prions and the neurodegenerative disease ALS, and was part of an international research team from Canada, France and the United States that discovered that women who are injected with urine-derived fertility products may be at a higher risk of developing prion disease due to the presence of at least the normal prion protein in the products.
This network has worked with industrial partners to embark on diagnostic, vaccine, and therapeutic strategies for these disorders
Dr. Neil Cashman, University of British Columbia
Together with Dr. Steven Plotkin at the University of British Columbia, Dr. Cashman’s group developed a computational algorithm that identifies regions of proteins that are thermodynamically most likely to unfold. This algorithm will be used to design the active components of potential vaccines against prion disease and other neurodegenerative disorders.
Dr. Scott Napper and Dr. Andrew Potter, both of the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization-International Vaccine Centre (VIDO-InterVac) and the University of Saskatchewan, are applying Dr. Cashman’s “prion epitope” knowledge and working in partnership with PREVENT and Amorfix Life Sciences to develop vaccines for CWD. If successful, these vaccines could potentially save Canada hundreds of millions of dollars in management costs for CWD, and help to halt the disease in North America.
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Dr. Andrew Potter, University of Saskatchewan
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RESEARCH
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RESEARCH 2011/2012 Highlights
• Launched its “Knowledge Mobilization Program” supporting four projects to ensure knowledge created by our work is informed by receptor needs and reaches the right audience • Funded 11 new projects involving 55 researchers from across the country through its Open Call IV
Nobel Laureate Dr. Stanley Prusiner
• Published in high impact journals such as Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and promoted research outcomes through media releases generating over 100 mentions in major newspapers, radio and news television
• Hosted the international PRION 2011 congress highlighting Canadian contributions to prion research
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RESEARCH
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RESEARCH
COLLABORATIONS
40 active projects
2011/2012
Netherlands Switzerland
Germany France Edmonton
Calgary
Vancouver
6
Victoria
1
14
1
Quebec City Lethbridge
1
Sherbrooke Saskatoon
2
3
India Winnipeg
Montreal
3 Toronto 3 London
USA
1
Guelph
2
Ottawa
3
Brazil
As of March 31, 2012 PrioNet’s network included 27 universities and institutions, 40 active projects, 122 Scientific Members and 47 national and international collaborators along with 94 different partners working together to improve our understanding of prions and to develop approaches for preventing prion diseases in Canada and around the world.
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RESEARCH
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RESEARCH THEMES PrioNet’s three integrated research themes provide the framework to manage the projects and their outcomes:
THEME I
THEME II
This theme addresses prion contamination in affected environments by fostering the growth of a new industry to dispose and develop value-added products for BSE specified risk materials, identifying models for CWD transmission, and creating solutions for controlling CWD such as vaccine development.
This theme seeks an understanding of how the prion protein misfolding causes disease, which will help quantify the risks and develop treatments or preventive options for prion and prion-like diseases.
Prion Ecology
Theme Leader: Frederick A. Leighton, University of Saskatchewan Assistant Theme Leader: Judd Aiken, University of Alberta
Prion Biology
Assistant Theme Leader: Xavier Roucou, University of Sherbrooke ■
THEME III
Prion Preparedness and Prevention This theme aims to prevent or effectively manage prion disease risks for Canadians. Projects are determining the impacts of CWD on user groups such as Aboriginal communities, characterizing the contagion patterns for CWD in wild deer, and developing an integrated risk management framework. Theme Leader: Ralph Matthews, University of British Columbia Assistant Theme Leader: Daniel Krewski, University of Ottawa
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■
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RESEARCH
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PROJECTS BY THEME
INVESTMENT BY THEME
THEME I Prion Ecology
THEME I Prion Ecology
THEME III Prion Preparedness and Prevention
THEME III Prion Preparedness and Prevention
THEME II Prion Biology
THEME II Prion Biology
STRATEGIC PROGRAMS PrioNet has established a robust prion research enterprise in Canada through the following strategic programs, with details on the projects available on pages 21 to 27.
OPEN CALL PROJECTS
PrioNet has Funds large-scale projects that address the most pressing challenges in prion and protein misfolding disease research.
BOOTSTRAP, the Business Opportunity Support and Technology Assessment Program Fosters technology development through an integrated academic-industry partnership.
HIGH IMPACT
Supports research urgencies or projects with significant scientific gain or socio-economic impact.
PROOF OF PRINCIPLE
Helps prion researchers advance discoveries towards commercialization.
RECRUITMENT
Facilitates the development of Canada’s prion research community by recruiting high-caliber prion scientists.
KNOWLEDGE MOBILIZATION
Investigates the process of putting available prion research knowledge into service for society. It ensures that scientific knowledge is informed by receptor needs and reaches the right audience.
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RESEARCH
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ACTIVE PROJECTS IN 2011/2012 THEMES Open Call High Impact Recruitment
Bootstrap or Bootstrap-IDeal
Proof of Principle
Knowledge Mobilization
TOTAL
THEME I: Prion Ecology
3
1
4
THEME II: Prion Biology
13
5
1
2
3
24
THEME III: Prion Preparedness & Prevention
6
2
4
12
22
7
1
3
3
4
40
PRIONET RESEARCH PROGRAM GROWTH 0
10
20
30
YEAR 1 2005 / 06
Core
7
YEAR 2 2006 / 07
Core
Open Call
YEAR 3 2007 / 08
Core
Open Call
High Impact
YEAR 4 2008 / 09
Core
Open Call
High Impact
Recruitment
YEAR 5 2009 / 10
Open Call
High Impact
Recruitment
Bootstrap
YEAR 6 2010 / 11
Open Call
High Impact
Recruitment
Bootstrap
Proof of Principle
YEAR 7 2011 / 12
Open Call
High Impact
Recruitment
Bootstrap
Proof of Principle
17 18
PLATFORM FACILITIES PrioNet’s four platform facilities provide access to leading edge resources that foster and catalyze prion research results:
Animal Models and Transgenesis Platform
(David Westaway, University of Alberta) Develops targeted transgenic and knockout mice for biological studies.
Pathogenesis and Bioassay Platform
(Neil Cashman, University of British Columbia) Provides access to experimental models of prion disease in biocontainment.
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REFLECTIONS
31 32 41 Knowledge Mobilization
40
Chronic Wasting Disease Tissue Bank
(Frederick A. Leighton, University of Saskatchewan) Provides access to retained and catalogued materials from the Canadian CWD surveillance program.
Prion Protein and Plasmid Production, PrP5
(David Wishart, University of Alberta) Produces recombinant prion proteins, amyloidogenic proteins, plasmids, transformed cells, as well as advice and protocols for recombinant protein production.
Monoclonal Antibody Platform
(Biotechnology Research Institute – National Research Council of Canada) This independent service provides high-quality custom-made monoclonal antibodies.
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EDUCATION & TRAINING
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EDUCATION & TRAINING
Training PrioNet’s highly qualified personnel (HQP) represent students, post-doctoral fellows, young research associates and assistants and other trainees working on PrioNet and prion related research—the next generation of prion research leaders. PrioNet offers various training programs for the professional development of HQP. Last year, PrioNet’s training initiatives focused its seven programs into two topic clusters: “Go Far” which enhances training experience through conference, workshop or exchange support, and “Speak Up”, which fosters effective science communications.
2011/2012 Highlights
67
training awards were granted • Writing and publishing two issues annually of the Prioneer newsletter informing student and other young professionals of PrioNet programs, training opportunities, and other news
• Partnered with NeuroPrion from Europe to send students to attend an intensive Canadian European two-day workshop for “Young Researchers Training in Science Communication”
• Offered two regional Career Fairs to 60 attendees in Edmonton and Ottawa
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EDUCATION & TRAINING
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PrioNet Student and Young Professional Association The cornerstone of PrioNet’s training program is the Student and Young Professional Association (SYPA), a connected and engaged community of over 300 graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, technicians, and research associates based in 13 cities across the country and actively involved in the Network. The SYPA Council, which governs the SYPA membership, is a motivated team of over ten engaged volunteers from across the country working with PrioNet to enhance the technical and professional experience of trainees. They provide guidance on the development of PrioNet programs and events, represent the SYPA membership at both the PrioNet Committee and Board level, and inform the SYPA community about new program developments and offerings. SYPA enhances the training experience of Canada’s burgeoning young prion scientists and has helped them to prepare for future careers contributing to Canada’s knowledge economy.
SYPA Council 2011/ 2012 Chair: Deena Gendoo, McGill University Vice-Chair: Amrit Boese, University of Manitoba Communications and Governance Committee Julie Proft, University of Calgary Nishandan Yogasingam, Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Events Committee Irene Oviedo Landaverde, Canadian Food Inspection Agency Fei Yang Liu, University of Toronto Rory Shott, University of Alberta Roger Ma, University of Calgary
Training and Professional Development Committee Anna Majer, University of Manitoba Antanas Staskevicius, Canada Food Inspection Agency
Calgary 27 Vancouver 20
Edmonton 90 Saskatoon 19
Montreal 6 Ottawa 26 Toronto 32
Victoria 4
Lethbridge 6
Member Distribution
Winnipeg 31 London 20
2011-2012 (by city)
Kingston 1 Sherbrooke 20 PrioNet Canada
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“The event opened my mind to other career opportunities outside academia.”
EDUCATION & TRAINING
Launching the careers of the next generation On November 18th, 2011 in Edmonton and March 2nd, 2012 in Ottawa, PrioNet presented the “SYPA Career Workshop and Fair” events, opportunities for the network’s graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, and young professionals to develop career skills, make connections with potential employers, and learn about the career experiences of other researchers. The events welcomed a total of over 60 attendees, and included invited speakers from industry, academia, government, science communication, patent law, and non-governmental organizations. Attendees reported leaving the event feeling better informed about their career options, and better connected with potential employers, having taken advantage of the chance to interact with speakers at breaks and during the interactive fair component of the day. Podcasts were made available and posted on PrioNet’s website to help disseminate the valuable career information shared at the session.
“The speakers were all excellent and represented some of the best agencies and companies that could be potential employers.”
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EDUCATION & TRAINING
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Art meets science As a graduate from McMaster University, Nishandan Yogasingam has volunteered his talent and passion for art and design towards various SYPA and PrioNet events as well as the SYPA Prioneer newsletter over the last number of years. He works as a molecular biologist for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency the Ottawa prion lab performing research and diagnostics. When he was a young, Nishandan was an aspiring comic book artist and painter. Strangely it was his “love of art that brought him into the molecular sciences” when he was tasked with building a 7-foot model of DNA’s double helix as part of a school assignment. Nishandan feels the relationship between art and science is that both have the objective of investigation. Science—the investigation of facts and principles, and art—the investigation of nature and humanity through sound, solid or paint. Nishandan has volunteered many hours sharing his craft with SYPA and the broader prion community producing beautiful and memorable creations to enhance our programs. Nishandan Yogasingam from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency
PRION 2011 t-shirt design
Training exchange provides new experience Jason Yau, a PhD student of Dr. Simon Sharpe at the University of Toronto, received a PrioNet training award to travel to one of Canada’s leading-edge effort to study, treat, and prevent prion diseases—the Centre for Prion and Protein Folding Diseases (CPPFD) at the University of Alberta. Opened in 2006 and led by Dr. David Westaway, the CPPFD houses scientists at the forefront of research into prion diseases and other neurodegenerative disorders. Jason traveled to Edmonton to learn various tissue culture techniques in Dr. Valerie Sim’s Laboratory at the Centre. He studied the harmful effects of protein aggregates in cell and brain slice cultures as a model system to look at toxicity in disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. On top of his scientific skills sets acquired on his visit, Jason’s eyes were opened to a new level of learning and experience made available at the Centre with its goal to advance the knowledge of prion disorders while simultaneously creating a training ground for future prion scientists. For example, trainees present weekly on their latest experimental data at communal meetings with feedback from investigators and peers. Guest lecturers are also invited to share their latest advancements in prion research from around the world. Jason took away the experience of a extraordinary learning environment fostering scientific creativity and trainee development.
Oligomers being studied under the microscope. Jason Yau is a PhD student with Dr. Simon Sharpe at the University of Toronto
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KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE & OUTREACH
KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE & OUTREACH 2011/2012 Highlights
• Twitter @prionet doubled its followers to 115, representing government agencies, universities, researchers and the global prion community
• PrioNet issued four major press releases generating 100 stories in print and broadcast media including major Canadian newspaper and radio
• PrioNet held or participated in 11 major events interacting with thousands of participants from around the world • PRION 2011, held in May 2011 in Montreal, was the first time this international congress was hosted outside of Europe
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KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE & OUTREACH
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EVENTS
PrioNet offers or supports numerous events, directly or in-kind, to help facilitate communications and knowledge exchange relevant to its network, partners, or the community at large.
Young Researchers Training in Scientific Communication May 14-15, 2011 Montreal, Quebec SYPA Day at PRION 2011 May 15-16, 2011 Montreal, Quebec www.prion2011.ca
AAAS Annual Meeting Flattening the World: Building a Global Knowledge Society February 16-20, 2012 Vancouver, BC www.aaas.org Managing the Future Risk of BSE – Foresight Workshop February 22-24, 2012 Banff, Alberta www.prionetcanada.ca
PRION 2011: New World May 16-19, 2011 Montreal, Quebec www.prion2011.ca CJD 2011 and CJD Foundation Family Conference July 8-10, 2011 Washington, D.C. www.cjdfoundation.org PrioNet SYPA Career Workshop and Fair – Edmonton November 18, 2011 Ottawa, Ontario www.prionetcanada.ca/training
PrioNet SYPA Career Workshop and Fair – Ottawa March 2, 2012 Ottawa, Ontario www.prionetcanada.ca/training Prion Science: Brazil & Canada March 7-8, 2012 São Paolo, Brazil www.prionetcanada.ca
Networks of Centres of Excellence Annual Meeting December 5-7, 2011 Ottawa, Ontario www.nce-rce.gc.ca Joint PrioNet/APRI Networking and Collaboration Meeting January 17-18, 2012 Vancouver, BC www.prionetcanada.ca
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KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE & OUTREACH
PRION 2011: Gathering the global prion community PrioNet Canada and the Alberta Prion Research Institute were proud co-hosts of the PRION 2011: New World international congress in Montreal in May—held for the first time outside of Europe. The congress, organized by an international steering committee, gathered nearly 600 delegates from 29 different countries, representing academia, government, industry and the not-for-profit sector. From the plenary by Nobel Laureate Dr. Stanley Prusiner and spirited “hot topic” panel sessions, to the 58 oral and 290 poster presentations, the congress was a vibrant four day success. The Student and Post-doctoral Fellow Poster Competition saw an impressive total of 146 participants across the congress’ three themes evaluated by an international team of 25 judges. The congress centered on four major themes Prion Biology, Prions in Affected Environments, Managing Prion Disease Risks, and Prion-like Propagation and Protein Misfolding. The latter theme, which was incorporated into the PRION program for the first time this year, represents the expansion of the prion research field to encompass other neurodegenerative diseases that exhibit prion-like propagation mechanisms. The following organizations were instrumental to helping make PRION 2011 such a success: Health Canada, The Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency, ProMetic Biosciences, Biosphere Technologies, Neotope Biosciences, Biogen Idec, and GE Healthcare.
“The scientific program was truly exceptional with presentations and posters from so many leading thinkers in this highly complex and rapidly widening field of misfolding proteins. As an observer, I remain concerned that prions will continue to constitute an unknown, and potentially serious, threat until their biology can be fully understood.” – Dr. John Webb, Director of Emerging Science, Maple Leaf Foods
PrioNet partners with Brazil A delegation of Canadian researchers headed to São Paolo, Brazil, on March 7-8, 2012 for meetings to help find solutions to illnesses that know no borders: prion diseases and other neurodegenerative disorders. The group of seven PrioNet scientists, from the University of British Columbia, University of Alberta, Western University, McGill University, and the National Research Council of Canada participated. This knowledge exchange was organized to foster scientific and commercial collaboration between Canada and Brazil, and to create a tremendous opportunity to engage an international partner identified by the Canadian government as a key market for collaboration. Nearly 75 attendees, including representatives from the Canadian Consulate, the Brazilian Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, International Science and Technology Partnerships Canada, the Foundation for Research Support of the State of São Paulo, private-sector companies, and scientists from Canada and Brazil, participated in a showcase of research developments in prion and neurodegenerative research. These developments ranged from the role of cell signaling in neurodegeneration to new molecular targets which help stop the progression of ALS. Dr. Marco Prado, who was recruited to Canada from Brazil in 2008, is a PrioNet Scientific Member and Professor at the Robarts Research Institute at Western University was an instrumental part of this inaugural meeting. “We know this event will help build research collaborations required to secure global partnerships and attract talent to Canada to grow our knowledge economy.”
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PrionScience Brazil & Canada SÃO PAULO 2012 MARCH 7, 8
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RESEARCH PROJECTS / THEME I
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RESEARCH PROJECTS THEME I
Prion Ecology
Theme Leader: Frederick A. Leighton, University of Saskatchewan Assistant Theme Leader: Judd Aiken, University of Alberta Open Call II
Development of Models of CWD Transmission and Risk at Multiple Spatial Scales: population effects and social networks Principal Investigator: Trent Bollinger, University of Saskatchewan Co-Investigators: David Coltman, University of Alberta Frederick A. Leighton, University of Saskatchewan François Messier, University of Saskatchewan Cheryl Waldner, University of Saskatchewan Collaborators: Catherine Cullingham, University of Alberta Evelyn Merrill, University of Alberta Nathaniel Osgood, University of Saskatchewan Erin Rees, University of Montreal
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REFLECTIONS
Open Call IV
Chronic Wasting Disease Strains Principal Investigator: Debbie McKenzie, University of Alberta Co-Investigators: Judd Aiken, University of Alberta David Westaway, University of Alberta Valerie Sim, University of Alberta Collaborators: Qing Zhong Kong, Case Western Reserve University, USA Ling Jun Li, University of Wisconsin, USA Glenn Millhauser, University of California, Santa Cruz, USA
Open Call IV
Development of an Oral Vaccine for Chronic Wasting Disease Principal Investigator: Scott Napper, University of Saskatchewan Co-Investigators: Trent Bollinger, University of Saskatchewan Neil Cashman, University of British Columbia Philip Griebel, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization Frederick A. Leighton, University of Saskatchewan Nate Osgood, University of Saskatchewan Andrew Potter, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization Suresh Tikoo, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization Cheryl Waldner, University of Saskatchewan Murray Woodbury, University of Saskatchewan Partner: PREVENT
Bootstrap-IDeal
Development of Value-Added Applications Derived from Rendering By-product Streams, including Specified Risk Materials Principal Investigator: David Bressler, University of Alberta Collaborators: Phillip Choi, University of Alberta Anthony Yeung, University of Alberta Ken Vander Vleuten and Dave Zuliani, Sanimax Corporation Partners: Alberta Prion Research Institute, Sanimax
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RESEARCH PROJECTS / THEME II
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Open Call II
Prion Protein Conversion in Disease: the “Demiglobule” Hypothesis Principal Investigator: Neil Cashman, University of British Columbia Co-Investigators: Andre Marziali, University of British Columbia Steven Plotkin, University of British Columbia Brian Sykes, University of Alberta David Westaway, University of Alberta David Wishart, University of Alberta
THEME II
Open Call II
Prion Biology
Evolutionary Analysis and Conformational Modeling of Prion Proteins and Prion Protein-like Molecules
Open Call II
Principal Investigator: Paul Harrison, McGill University Co-Investigator: Jacek Majewski, McGill University Collaborators: Ted Allison, University of Alberta Gerold Schmitt-Ulms, University of Toronto Ramanathan Sowdhamini, National Centre for Biological Sciences, India Jerome Waldispuhl, McGill University
Assistant Theme Leader: Xavier Roucou, University of Sherbrooke
Identification of miRNA Driven Regulatory Circuits Involved in Prion-Induced Neurodegeneration Principal Investigator: Stephanie Booth, University of Manitoba Co-Investigators: Leluo Guan, University of Alberta Stephen Moore, University of Alberta Luis Schang, University of Alberta Collaborators: Arnold Kell, Steacie Institute - National Research Council of Canada Carol Lavigne, Public Health Agency of Canada Dirk Motzkus, German Primate Centre, Germany Manjuanth Swarmy, Harvard Medical School, USA Alain Thierry, Sysdiag-UMR/Bio-Rad, France
Open Call II
Open Call II
Protein Kinases as Potential Therapeutic Targets in Prion Diseases Principal Investigator: Luis Schang, University of Alberta Co-Investigators: Stephanie Booth, University of Manitoba Stefanie Czub, Canadian Food Inspection Agency Xavier Roucou, University of Sherbrooke Collaborators: Judd Aiken, University of Alberta Frank Jirik, University of Calgary Allen Herbst, University of Alberta
Discovery and Characterization of Novel Interactions Involving PrP and Related Proteins Principal Investigator: John Glover, University of Toronto Co-Investigators: Igor Stagljar, University of Toronto David Williams, University of Toronto
PrioNet Canada
Annual Report 2011 / 2012
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RESEARCH PROJECTS / THEME II
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THEME II / PRION BIOLOGY Open Call III
Oligomeric PrPres and Amyloidogenic PrP Fragments: their molecular structure, toxicity, and role in prion disease pathogenesis Principal Investigator: Valerie Sim, University of Alberta Co-Investigators: Stephanie Booth, University of Manitoba Régis Pomès, University of Toronto Simon Sharpe, Hospital for Sick Children Peter Tieleman, University of Calgary David Westaway, University of Alberta Collaborators: Byron Caughey, NIH/NIAID Rocky Mountain Laboratories, USA Jay Ingram, formerly of Discovery Channel Canada
Open Call IV
Structural Proteomics of Prion Aggregates Principal Investigator: Christoph Borchers, University of Victoria Co-Investigators: Lars Konermann, Western University David Wishart, University of Alberta
Open Call IV
Prion-like Propagated Misfolding of SOD1 in ALS Pathogenesis Principal Investigator: Neil Cashman, University of British Columbia Co-Investigators: Ted Allison, University of Alberta Emil Pai, University of Toronto Steven Plotkin, University of British Columbia Scott Prosser, University of Toronto David Wishart, University of Alberta
PrioNet Canada
Annual Report 2011 / 2012
REFLECTIONS
Open Call IV
Identifying Novel Regulators of Cell-to-Cell Prion-like Propagation of α-Synuclein Pathology in Parkinson’s Disease Principal Investigator: Edward Fon, McGill University Co-Investigator: Robert Screaton, University of Ottawa Collaborators and Partner: Centre for Drug Research and Development
Open Call IV
Upstream and Downstream Partners of the Prion Protein as Therapeutic Targets in Prion Diseases and Alzheimer’s Disease Principal Investigator: Marco Prado, Western University Co-Investigators: Neil Cashman, University of British Columbia Vania Prado, Western University Stephen Ferguson, Western University Jane Rylett, Western University Robert Bartha, Western University Ravi Menon, Western University Michael Strong, Western University John F. MacDonald, Western University James Wing-Yiu Choi, Western University Collaborators: Vilma Martins, CIPE-A.C. Camargo Hospital, Brazil Glaucia Hajj, CIPE-A.C. Camargo Hospital, Brazil
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RESEARCH PROJECTS / THEME II
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THEME II / PRION BIOLOGY Open Call IV
Alt-PrP, the Novel Polypeptide Encoded within the Prion Protein Gene Prnp: function in prion disease and potential as a biomarker Principal Investigator: Xavier Roucou, University of Sherbrooke Co-Investigators: Aru Balachandran, University of Guelph Michael Coulthart, Public Health Agency of Canada David Knox, Public Health Agency of Canada Collaborator: Human Rezaei, French National Institute for Agricultural Research, France
Open Call IV
Physiological Travel of Prion Proteins and Pathophysiological Delivery of Misfolded Cargo: relationship to prion infections and Alzheimer’s disease Principal Investigator: Gerold Schmitt-Ulms, University of Toronto Co-Investigators: Graham George, University of Saskatchewan David Westaway, University of Alberta
Open Call IV
Misfolding Pathways of Mammalian PrP: defining the structural basis for prion disease susceptibility Principal Investigator: Simon Sharpe, The Hospital for Sick Children Co-Investigators: Avi Chakrabartty, University of Toronto Julie Forman-Kay, The Hospital for Sick Children Scott Napper, University of Saskatchewan Emil Pai, University of Toronto Shoshana Wodak, The Hospital for Sick Children
PrioNet Canada
Annual Report 2011 / 2012
Recruitment
Linking Prion Fibril Stability and Prion Infectivity Principal Investigator: Jörg Gsponer, University of British Columbia Co-Investigators: Neil Cashman, University of British Columbia Hongbin Li, University of British Columbia Collaborator: Jens Pahnke, University of Rostock, Germany
Bootstrap-Ideal
Testing potential chemical chaperones for prions with single-molecule spectroscopies Principal Investigator: Michael Woodside, University of Alberta Collaborator: Nils Petersen, University of Alberta Partners: Alberta Prion Research Institute, ChemRoutes, National Institute of Nanotechnology – National Research Council of Canada
Bootstrap
Exploitation of PrP Misfolding Epitopes in TSE Vaccines and Cancer Immunotherapies Principal Investigator: Neil Cashman, University of British Columbia Collaborators: Andrew Potter, PREVENT Yuzhou Wang, University of British Columbia Dawn Waterhouse, University of British Columbia Partners: Amorfix Life Sciences, PREVENT
High-Impact
Structural Characterization of the Fab Fragments of Three PrPC-specific Antibodies and the Complexes with their Epitopes on the PrPC Principal Investigator: Michael James, University of Alberta Co-Investigator: Nat Kav, University of Alberta Collaborator: Adriano Aguzzi, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland
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RESEARCH PROJECTS / THEME II
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THEME II / PRION BIOLOGY High-Impact
A Stress-Regulated Cryptic Out-of-Frame Polypeptide Encoded in the Prion Protein Gene in Higher Mammals Principal Investigator: Xavier Roucou, University of Sherbrooke Co-Investigators: Aru Balachandran, University of Guelph Michael Coulthart, Public Health Agency of Canada Collaborator: Gerard Jansen, Eastern Ontario Regional Laboratory
High-Impact
Novel Intercellular Mechanisms for Alzheimer and Prion Diseases to Interact: disease spreading as a unique therapeutic target Principal Investigator: Ted Allison, University of Alberta Co-Investigator: Xavier Roucou, University of Sherbrooke
Proof of Principle
An Amyloid-β Oligomer Specific Epitope: Target for Alzheimer Disease Therapy and Propagation Pathogenesis Principal Investigator: Neil Cashman, University of British Columbia Co-Investigators: Xavier Roucou, University of Sherbrooke Weihong Song, University of British Columbia Collaborators: Jean-Philippe Deslys, Atomic Energy Commission, France Human Rezaei, French National Institute for Agricultural Research, France
Proof of Principle
High-Impact
AAV-mediated Expression of Single Chain Antibodies Against Misfolded proteins in Biophotonic Mouse Models of ALS Principal Investigator: Jean-Pierre Julien, Laval University Co-Investigator: Jasna Kriz, Laval University
High-Impact
Regulation of NMDA Receptors by Prion Proteins: implication for Alzheimer’s Disease
Identification, Characterization and Development of Novel Inhibitors of Prion Protein Conversion Principal Investigator: David Wishart, University of Alberta Co-Investigator: Neil Cashman, University of British Columbia
Proof of Principle
Vaccination of mice against prion disease using attenuated PrP oligomers Principal Investigator: David Wishart, University of Alberta Co-Investigator: Neil Cashman, University of British Columbia
Principal Investigator: Gerald Zamponi, University of Calgary
PrioNet Canada
Annual Report 2011 / 2012
REFLECTIONS
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RESEARCH PROJECTS / THEME III
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THEME III
Prion Preparedness and Prevention Theme Leader: Ralph Matthews, University of British Columbia Assistant Theme Leader: Daniel Krewski, University of Ottawa Open Call II
The Political Economy of Testing and Traceability Systems in Prion Disease Risk Management Principal Investigator: Ellen Goddard, University of Alberta Co-Investigators: Tomas Nilsson, University of Alberta Sven Anders, University of Alberta James Rude, University of Alberta Collaborators: Andreas Boecker, University of Guelph Janneke de Jonge, Wageningen University, Netherlands Leigh Maynard, University of Kentucky, USA
Open Call II
Developing an Integrated Model of Risk Estimation of BSE and vCJD in Canada Principal Investigator: Daniel Krewski, University of Ottawa Co-Investigators: Susie ElSaadany, University of Ottawa Robert Smith?, University of Ottawa Collaborators: Noel Murray, Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Knowledge Mobilization
The Social Dimensions of Knowledge Mobilization: an ex post facto analysis of how PrioNet biology knowledge moves through society Principal Investigator: Nathan Young, University of Ottawa Co-Investigator: Xavier Roucou, University of Sherbrooke
PrioNet Canada
Annual Report 2011 / 2012
Open Call III
In Land and Life: Multi-Scale Implications of Chronic Wasting Disease for Aboriginal Communities and Other Stakeholders Principal Investigator: StĂŠphane McLachlan, University of Manitoba Co-Investigators: Carol Amaratunga, University of Ottawa Gwendolyn Blue, University of Calgary Carmen Fuentealba, University of Calgary Susan Kutz, University of Calgary Juan Carlos Rodriguez-Lecompte, University of Manitoba Shirley Thompson, University of Manitoba Collaborators: Oscar Illanes, University of Calgary Ryan Brook, University of Calgary Joyce Slater, University of Manitoba Partners: Cote First Nation, Keeseekoose First Nation, Paul First Nation, Yellowhead Tribal Council
Open Call III
Characterizing Patterns of Contagion and Transmission of Chronic Wasting Disease in Cervids Principal Investigator: Norman Neumann, University of Alberta Co-Investigators: Judd Aiken, University of Alberta Mike Belosevic, University of Alberta Aru Balachandran, University of Guelph Trent Bollinger, University of Saskatchewan Sylvia Checkley, University of Alberta Collaborators: Eva Chow, Alberta Agriculture and Food Catherine Graham, Canadian Food Inspection Agency Gordon Mitchell, Canadian Food Inspection Agency Margo Pybus, Alberta Sustainable Resources Development Michael Samuel, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA
Knowledge Mobilization
Rhetoric and Knowledge Mobilization in Prion Research Across Communities Principal Investigator: Heather Graves, University of Alberta Co-Investigator: David Wishart, University of Alberta
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RESEARCH PROJECTS / THEME III
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THEME III / PRION PREPAREDNESS AND PREVENTION Open Call IV
Integrating Resource Selection, Movement and Group Size Models to Predict and Communicate Chronic Wasting Disease Risk for Elk with Co-occurring White-tailed Deer Principal Investigator: Ryan Brook, University of Saskatchewan Co-Investigators: Trent Bollinger, University of Saskatchewan Douglas Clark, University of Saskatchewan Patricia Farnese, University of Saskatchewan Philip McLoughlin, University of Saskatchewan Paul Paquet, University of Calgary James Roth, University of Manitoba Partners & Collaborators: Parks Canada, Manitoba Conservation, Saskatchewan Environment, Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve, Prince Alberta Model Forest, Ebb and Flow First Nation, Keeseekoowenin First Nation, Sandy Bay First Nation, Waywayseecappo First Nation, Gamblers First Nation, Rolling River First Nation, Tootinawaziibeeng First Nation, Red Earth First Nation, National Park Service, Earth Rhythms Inc., Manitoba Agricultural Services Corp.
Open Call IV
Development of an Integrated Risk Management Framework for Chronic Wasting Disease Principal Investigator: Ellen Goddard, University of Alberta Co-Investigators: Judd Aiken, University of Alberta Wiktor Adamowicz, University of Alberta Aru Balachandran, University of Guelph Daniel Krewski, University of Ottawa Frederick A. Leighton, University of Saskatchewan Louise Lemyre, University of Ottawa Frithjof Lutscher, University of Ottawa Stéphane McLachlan, University of Manitoba Brenda Parlee, University of Alberta Robert Smith?, University of Ottawa
PrioNet Canada
Annual Report 2011 / 2012
REFLECTIONS
High Impact
Understanding the Importance of Caribou in the Diets of Households in Selected Communities in Northern Canada Principal Investigator: Ellen Goddard, University of Alberta Co-Investigator: Brenda Parlee, University of Alberta Collaborator: Sangita Sharma, University of Alberta
High Impact
Eliciting Expert Opinions to Address Uncertainties Associated with the Risks of Chronic Wasting Disease Principal Investigator: Daniel Krewski, University of Ottawa Co-Investigators: Susie ElSaadany, Public Health Agency of Canada Robert Smith?, University of Ottawa Frithjof Lutscher, University of Ottawa
Knowledge Mobilization
In Land and Life: Knowledge Mobilization, CWD, and Aboriginal Communities in Saskatchewan and Alberta Principal Investigator: Stéphane McLachlan, University of Manitoba Co-Investigators: Ryan Brook, University of Saskatchewan Emily Jenkins, University of Saskatchewan Frederick A. Leighton, University of Saskatchewan Partners: Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation, Cote First Nation, Keeseekoose First Nation, Paul First Nation, Poundmaker First Nation
Knowledge Mobilization
Scientific Knowledge as a Social Process – A Case Study of Knowledge Mobilization, Transfer and Implementation in a Prion Biology Research Context Principal Investigator: Ralph Matthews, University of British Columbia Co-Investigator: Neil Cashman, University of British Columbia
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PARTNERS
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PARTNERS UNIVERSITIES
Case Western Reserve University Emory University Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf Laval University McGill University Mississippi State University University of Alberta University of British Columbia University of Calgary University of California University of Exeter University of Guelph University of Kentucky University of Manitoba University of Maryland University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University of Ontario Institute of Technology University of Ottawa University of Rostock University of Saskatchewan University of Sherbrooke University of Toronto University of Victoria University of Wisconsin-Madison University Health Network Wagenigen University Western University
PrioNet Canada
Annual Report 2011 / 2012
(cash and in-kind) As of March 31, 2012
INDUSTRY
Agilent Technologies Inc. Amorfix Life Sciences Ltd. Biogen Idec Inc. Canadian Cattlemen’s Association Cangene ChemRoutes Corp. GE Healthcare Biosciences Merck Serono Neotope ProMetic Biosciences Rx&D, Canada’s Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies Sanimax Industries Inc. Servier TEVA Canada Innovation Taylor and Francis Thermo Fisher Scientific
PrioNet’s strategic research partner is the Alberta Prion Research Institute (APRI) Alberta Innovates – Bio Solutions (www.prioninstitute.ca), that provides a value-added strategic federal provincial alliance. The partnership has been an integral resource for prion research in Canada, especially for building capacity and expertise in Alberta. Beyond research, PrioNet collaborates with APRI on significant knowledge translation endeavors, such as PRION 2011—the major international prion conference, public outreach, training opportunities for students and other young professionals, and the development of scientific and policy meetings.
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PARTNERS
(cash and in-kind) As of March 31, 2012
GOVERNMENT
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development Alberta Centre for Prions and Protein Folding Diseases Alberta Innovates - Health Solutions Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency Alberta Prion Research Institute, Alberta Innovates - Bio Solutions Alberta Sustainable Resources Development Canadian Food Inspection Agency Consumer and Market Demand - Agricultural Policy Research Network BC Cancer Agency BC Centre for Disease Control Biotechnology Research Institute – National Research Council of Canada Eastern Ontario Regional Laboratory Genome Alberta Government of Yukon Health Canada Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation Manitoba Conservation Ontario Graduate Scholarship Program Parks Canada Public Health Agency of Canada Province of Manitoba - Manitoba Centre of Excellence Provincial Laboratory for Public Health - Alberta Saskatchewan Environment Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation Steacie Institute - National Research Council of Canada
OTHER
Advanced Foods and Materials Network A.C. Camargo Hospital Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation Alzheimer’s Society of London and Middlesex Atomic Energy Commission Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre Centre for Drug Research and Development Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute CJD Foundation Compute Canada Cote First Nation
PrioNet Canada
Annual Report 2011 / 2012
REFLECTIONS
OTHER continued
Discovery Channel Canada Earth Rhythms, Inc. Ebb and Flow First Nation Fondation André-Delambre French National Institute for Agricultural Research Gamblers First Nation German Primate Center Heart and Stoke Foundation of Alberta The Hospital for Sick Children Justice Institute of British Columbia Keeseekoose First Nation Keeseekoowenin First Nation McLaughlin Research Institute Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital National Centre for Biological Sciences National Institute for Nanotechnology National Park Service Neurological Health Charities Canada NeuroPrion Association NIH/NIHAID Rocky Mountain Laboratories Pan-Alberta Metabolomics Platform Pan-Provincial Vaccine Enterprise Science and Technology Park of Bizkaia Paul First Nation Poundmaker First Nation Prince Albert Model Forest R. Samuel McLaughlin Centre for Population Health Risk Assessment Red Earth First Nation Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve Rolling River First Nation Sandy Bay First Nation São Paulo Research Foundation Sysdiag-UMR/Bio-Rad Tootinawazibeeng First Nation University Hospital University Hospital Foundation Vaccine and Infectious Diseases Organization Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute Waywayseecappo First Nation Western General Hospital Yellowhead Tribal Council
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NETWORK COMMUNITY
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NETWORK COMMUNITY FULL SCIENTIFIC MEMBERS University of Alberta Wiktor Adamowicz Judd Aiken Ted Allison Sven Anders Lorne Babiuk Mike Belosevic David Bressler Philip Choi David Coltman Mohamed Gamal El-Din Ellen Goddard Heather Graves Leluo Guan Michael James Jack Jhamandas Nat Kav Andriy Kovalenko Liang Li Debbie McKenzie Norman F. Neumann Brenda Parlee Nils Petersen James Rude Luis Schang Valerie Sim Mavanur Suresh Brian Sykes David Westaway David Wishart Michael Woodside
University of British Columbia Jane Buxton Bonnie Henry Neil Cashman Jörg Gsponer William Jia Hongbin Li Andre Marziali Ralph Matthews Steven Plotkin Weihong Song
PrioNet Canada
Annual Report 2011 / 2012
University of Calgary Gwendolyn Blue Sylvia Checkley Stefanie Czub Carmen Fuentealba Frank Jirik Susan Kutz Paul Paquet Alan Smart Josephine Smart Peter Stys Peter Tieleman Shigeki Tsutsui Robin M. Yates Gerald Zamponi
University of Guelph Aru Balachandran Gordon Hayward
The Hospital for Sick Children Julie Forman-Kay Régis Pomès Simon Sharpe Shoshana Wodak
Laval University Jean-Pierre Julien Jasna Kriz
McGill University Edward Fon Paul Harrison Jacek Majewski
University of Manitoba
Stephanie Booth Stéphane McLachlan Juan Carlos Rodriguez-Lecompte James Roth Shirley Thompson
University of Ontario Institute of Technology John Samis
University of Ottawa Carol Amaratunga Susie ElSaadany Gerard Jansen Daniel Krewski William Leiss Louise Lemyre Frithjof Lutscher Robert Screaton Robert Smith? Michael Tyshenko Nathan Young
University of Saskatchewan Trent Bollinger Ryan Brook Douglas Clark Patricia Farnese Graham N. George Philip Griebel Emily Jenkins Frederick A. Leighton Philip McLoughlin Scott Napper Nathaniel Osgood Andrew Potter Suresh Tikoo Cheryl Waldner Murray Woodbury
University of Sherbrooke Xavier Roucou
University of Toronto Avijit Chakrabartty John Glover Lewis Kay Emil Pai Scott Prosser Gerold Schmitt-Ulms Igor Stagljar David Williams
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NETWORK COMMUNITY
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FULL SCIENTIFIC MEMBERS continued
University of Victoria Christoph Borchers
Western University Robert Bartha Stephen S.G. Ferguson Lars Konermann John F. MacDonald Ravi Menon Marco Prado Vania Prado Jane Rylett Michael Strong James Wing-Yiu Choy
ASSOCIATE SCIENTIFIC MEMBERS Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development Eva Chow
Canadian Food Inspection Agency Catherine Graham
Public Health Agency of Canada Michael Coulthart David Knox
Queensland Alliance for Agriculture & Food Innovation Stephen Moore
PrioNet Canada
Annual Report 2011 / 2012
REFLECTIONS
COLLABORATORS Adriano Aguzzi, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland Judd Aiken, University of Alberta Ted Allison, University of Alberta Andreas Boecker, University of Guelph Ryan Brook, University of Calgary Byron Caughey, NIH/NIAID Rocky Mountain Laboratories, USA Phillip Choi, University of Alberta Eva Chow, Alberta Agriculture and Food Catherine Cullingham, University of Alberta Jean-Philippe Deslys, Atomic Energy Commission, France Catherine Graham, Canadian Food Inspection Agency Glaucia Hajj, CIPE-A.C. Camargo Hospital, Brazil Allen Herbst, University of Alberta Oscar Illanes, University of Calgary Jay Ingram, formerly of Discovery Channel Canada Gerard Jansen, Eastern Ontario Regional Laboratory Frank Jirik, University of Calgary Janneke de Jonge, Wageningen University, Netherlands Arnold Kell, Steacie Institute - National Research Council of Canada Qing Zhong Kong, Case Western Reserve University, USA Carol Lavigne, Public Health Agency of Canada Ling Jun Li, University of Wisconsin, USA Vilma Martins, CIPE-A.C. Camargo Hospital, Brazil Leigh Maynard, University of Kentucky, USA Evelyn Merrill, University of Alberta Glenn Millhauser, University of California - Santa Cruz, USA Gordon Mitchell, Canadian Food Inspection Agency Dirk Motzkus, German Primate Centre, Germany Noel Murray, Canadian Food Inspection Agency Nathaniel Osgood, University of Saskatchewan Jens Pahnke, University of Rostock, Germany Andrew Potter, PREVENT Margo Pybus, Alberta Sustainable Resources Development Erin Rees, University of Montreal Human Rezaei, French National Institute for Agricultural Research, France Michael Samuel, University of Wisconsin - Madison, USA Gerold Schmitt-Ulms, University of Toronto Joyce Slater, University of Manitoba Ramanathan Sowdhamini, National Centre for Biological Sciences, India Manjuanth Swarmy, Harvard Medical School, USA Alain Thierry, Sysdiag-UMR/Bio-Rad, France Ken Vander Vleuten, Sanimax Corporation Jerome Waldispuhl, McGill University Yuzhou Wang, University of British Columbia Dawn Waterhouse, University of British Columbia Anthony Yeung, University of Alberta Dave Zuliani, Sanimax Corporation
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chair: David Dolphin, Professor Emeritus, University of British Columbia Vice-Chair: Bhagirath Singh, Director, Centre for Human Immunology, Western University Scientific Director: Neil Cashman, PrioNet Canada/University of British Columbia (non-voting) Executive Director: Michelle Wong, PrioNet Canada (non-voting) David Bailey, President, Genome Alberta Ted Bilyea, Consultant, Ted Bilyea and Associates Robert Clarke, former Assistant Deputy Minister, Public Health Agency of Canada John Culley, former Director, Office of Intellectual Property and Commercialization, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Fouad Elgindy, Senior Program Manager, Networks of Centres of Excellence (observer) Deena Gendoo, McGill University - PrioNet SYPA Representative (non-voting) John Hepburn, Vice President Research and International, University of British Columbia (host institution) Jay Ingram, Science Communication Consultant, former co-host / producer Discovery Channel Canada Kevin Keough, Executive Director, Alberta Prion Research Institute, Alberta Innovates – Bio Solutions Daniel Krewski, Associate Scientific Director, PrioNet Canada/University of Ottawa (non-voting) Dennis Laycraft, Executive Vice President, Canadian Cattlemen’s Association Shannon MacDonald, Vice-President Public Affairs and Partnerships, Rx&D Stephen Morgan Jones, Director General, Science Partnerships Directorate - Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Marco Prado, Western University (scientific member participant)
Business Advisory Committee
Governance Committee
Chair: John Culley, former Director, Office of Intellectual Property and Commercialization, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Stephen Morgan Jones, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Dennis Laycraft, Canadian Cattlemen’s Association Michelle Wong, PrioNet Canada (observer)
Chair: Stephen Morgan Jones, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada David Bailey, Genome Alberta David Dolphin, Chair of PrioNet Canada’s Board of Directors (ex officio)
Executive Committee
Chair: David Bailey, Genome Alberta Neil Cashman, PrioNet Canada/University of British Columbia (non-voting) David Dolphin, Chair of PrioNet Canada’s Board of Directors (ex officio) Dennis Laycraft, Canadian Cattlemen’s Association Bhagirath Singh, Western University Michelle Wong, PrioNet Canada (non-voting)
Chair: David Dolphin, Chair - PrioNet Board of Directors David Bailey, Genome Alberta Ted Bilyea, Ted Bilyea and Associates Neil Cashman, PrioNet Canada/University of British Columbia (non-voting) John Culley, former Director, Office of Intellectual Property and Commercialization, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Stephen Morgan Jones, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Bhagirath Singh, Western University Michelle Wong, PrioNet Canada (non-voting)
Scientific Strategy and Policy Committee
Finance, Audit, and Compensation Committee Chair: Bhagirath Singh, Western University David Dolphin, Chair of PrioNet Canada Board of Directors (ex officio) John Hepburn, University of British Columbia Dennis Laycraft, Canadian Cattlemen’s Association Mark Vernon, University of British Columbia
PrioNet Canada
Annual Report 2011 / 2012
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NETWORK COMMUNITY
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RESEARCH MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
Education Committee
Chair: Steve Withers, University of British Columbia Judd Aiken, University of Alberta Conrad Brunk, University of Victoria Neil Cashman, University of British Columbia Fouad Elgindy, Networks of Centres of Excellence (observer) Matt Farrer, University of British Columbia Edward Fon, McGill University J.P. Heale, University-Industry Liaison Office, University of British Columbia Bob Hills, Health Canada Daniel Krewski, University of Ottawa Frederick A. Leighton, University of Saskatchewan Ralph Matthews, University of British Columbia Stéphane McLachlan, University of Manitoba Xavier Roucou, University of Sherbrooke Primal Silva, Canadian Food Inspection Agency Michelle Wong, PrioNet Canada (observer) Rickey Yada, University of Guelph
Chair: Neil Cashman, PrioNet/University of British Columbia Anna Majer, University of Manitoba (Student Representative) Stéphane McLachlan, University of Manitoba (Member at Large, Social Sciences) Alison Palmer, PrioNet Canada (non-voting) Xavier Roucou, University of Sherbrooke (Member at Large, Basic Sciences) Josephine Smart, University of Calgary (Member at Large, Social Sciences) Antanas Staskevicius, University of Sherbrooke (Student Representative) David Westaway, University of Alberta (Member at Large, Basic Sciences) Rickey Yada, University of Guelph (External Member) Michelle Wong, PrioNet Canada (observer)
Platform Review Sub-Committee Judd Aiken, University of Alberta J.P. Heale, University of British Columbia Xavier Roucou, University of Sherbrooke Rickey Yada, University of Guelph
SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE Neil Cashman, Scientific Director, PrioNet Canada/University of British Columbia (ex-officio) Byron Caughey, NIAID Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institutes of Health (United States) Jean-Philippe Deslys, Prion Research Group, Atomic Energy Commission (France) Linda Detwiler, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University (United States) Nikolay Dokholyan, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (United States) Matt Lobley, Centre for Rural Policy Research, University of Exeter (United Kingdom) Detlev Riesner, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (Germany) Robert G. Rohwer, School of Medicine, University of Maryland at Baltimore (United States) Michael D. Samuel, Wisconsin Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, University of Wisconsin-Madison (United States) Lary Walker, Yerkes National Primate Research Center and Department of Neurology, Emory University (United States) Robert G. Will, National Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Surveillance Unit (Scotland)
STAFF Neil Cashman, Scientific Director Michelle Wong, Executive Director Shaunne Davidson, Office Manager Angela Fang, Accounting and Administrative Assistant Leslie Grad, Director of Scientific Programs Sandra Haney, Director of Communications and Marketing Alison Palmer, Communications and Training Manager Shumsheer Sidhu, Finance Manager
PrioNet Canada
Annual Report 2011 / 2012
REFLECTIONS
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FINANCIAL STATEMENTS / march 31, 2012
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Independent Auditor’s Report To the Directors of PrioNet Canada We have audited the accompanying financial statements of PrioNet Canada, which comprise the statement of financial position as at March 31, 2012 and the statements of operations and cash flows for the year then ended, and the related notes including a summary of significant accounting policies. Management’s responsibility for the financial statements Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of these financial statements in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles, and for such internal control as management determines is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. Auditor’s responsibility Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit. We conducted our audit in accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing standards. Those standards require that we comply with ethical requirements and plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free from material misstatement. An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The procedures selected depend on the auditor’s judgment, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal control relevant to the entity’s preparation and fair presentation of the financial statements in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity’s internal control. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion. Opinion In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of PrioNet Canada as at March 31, 2012 and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year then ended in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles. Emphasis of matter Without qualifying our opinion, we draw attention to note 3 in the financial statements which describes matters and conditions that indicate the existence of a material uncertainty that may cast significant doubt about PrioNet Canada’s ability to continue as a going concern.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Chartered Accountants June 21, 2012
PrioNet Canada
Annual Report 2011 / 2012
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FINANCIAL STATEMENTS / march 31, 2012
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STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION As at March 31, 2012
2012 $
2011 $
Assets Current assets Cash held in trust by UBC 1,343,336 3,208,722 Cash held at bank 129,901 67,527 Accounts receivable 28,850 40,000 Unspent research grants paid to participating institutions 1,083,345 1,155,395 Prepaid expenses 41,029 190,664 2,626,461 4,662,308 Furniture and equipment (note 5) 15,337 26,418 2,641,798 4,688,726 Liabilities Current liabilities Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 88,468 84,711 Deferred contributions (note 6(a)) 2,407,892 4,509,869 Deferred capital contributions (note 6(b)) 15,337 26,418 2,511,697 4,620,998 Unrestricted funds 130,101 67,728 2,641,798 4,688,726
Approved by the Board of Director
Dr. David Dolphin, Chair
Dr. Bhagirath Singh, Director
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
PrioNet Canada
Annual Report 2011 / 2012
REFLECTIONS
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FINANCIAL STATEMENTS / march 31, 2012
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STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS For the year ended March 31, 2012
2012 $
2011 $
Revenue Grant from NCE (note 6(a)) 7,166,499 6,378,813 Grant from Host Institution (note 6(a)) 81,178 150,005 Other sources of funds 127,301 65,691 Amortization of deferred capital contributions (note 6(b)) 15,381 15,367 7,390,359 6,609,876 Expenses Administrative 9,381 15,168 Depreciation of furniture and equipment 15,381 15,367 Insurance 21,170 21,219 Professional fees 137,712 161,400 Rent 66,366 63,816 Repairs and maintenance 20,091 25,348 Research and training (note 8) 6,066,916 5,415,679 Salaries and benefits 542,537 549,299 Supplies 24,800 32,780 Travel, meetings and workshops 423,632 284,494 7,327,986 6,584,570 Excess of revenue over expenses for the year 62,373 25,306 Unrestricted funds - Balance brought forward 67,728 42,422 Unrestricted funds - Balance carried forward 130,101 67,728
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
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FINANCIAL STATEMENTS / march 31, 2012
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STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS For the year ended March 31, 2012
2012 2011 $ $ Cash flows from operating activities Excess of revenue over expenses for the year 62,373 25,306 Add: Non-cash items Depreciation of furniture and equipment 15,381 15,367 Recognition of grant revenues (7,247,677) (6,528,818) Amortization of deferred capital contributions (15,381) (15,367) (7,185,304) (6,503,512) Changes in non-cash capital working capital items Accounts receivable 11,150 87,062 Unspent research grants paid to participating institutions 72,050 (171,590) Prepaid expenses 149,635 (166,450) Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 3,757 (319,924) Deferred contributions received 5,150,000 5,150,000 5,386,592 4,579,098 (1,798,712) (1,924,414) Cash flows from investing activities Furniture and equipment acquired (4,300) (3,012) Decrease in cash (1,803,012) (1,927,426) Cash - Beginning of year 3,276,249 5,203,675 Cash - End of year 1,473,237 3,276,249
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
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NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS / march 31, 2012
1 Nature of operations PrioNet Canada (PrioNet) is a not-for-profit program under the Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE) where PrioNet’s operations began on November 1, 2005. On April 13, 2006, PrioNet was formally incorporated under the Canada Corporations Act. PrioNet was established to respond to the potential risk of mad cow and other prion diseases in Canada. PrioNet, under the International Partnership Initiative (IPI), continued to focus on enhancing outreach initiatives by extending the geographical range of the network to encompass international partners. PrioNet pursues its mission by distributing awards to its principal investigators through their participating institutions for approved research projects. Under a funding agreement and amended funding agreement between PrioNet and the NCE, PrioNet was awarded a grant of $20,696,000, of which $19,900,000 was the initial NCE funds and $796,000 was the additional IPI funds awarded. On top of this $19,900,000 from the NCE, PrioNet also received $100,000 from the NCE to prepare the initial application, which was applied against the $5,000,000 received in the first year of funding. The initial NCE funds were paid over a period of four years, and as at March 31, 2009, the full $19,900,000 had been received. The full amount of the two-year IPI award was paid as of March 31, 2008 and a one-year carry forward was granted by the NCE to fully expend the award by March 31, 2010. PrioNet was successful in its mid-term review and was approved a continuation of its initial award for an additional $15,000,000 under an amendment to the funding agreement to be paid in full by March 31, 2012. On August 11, 2011, PrioNet submitted a renewal application for a second cycle of funding for $35,000,000 over a seven-year period. However, the application was not renewed by the NCE due to the budget cut back at the federal level. The NCE program is a program of the Government of Canada jointly administered by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) in partnership with Industry Canada. PrioNet’s International Scientific Advisory Committee and Research Management Committee are responsible for reviewing research proposals and for making recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding research projects, including the addition and termination of projects.
2
Summary of significant accounting policies
Basis of accounting These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) for not-for-profit organizations. PrioNet follows the deferral method of accounting for contributions. Cash held in trust by UBC Based on the funding arrangement between PrioNet and the NCE, the grant is to be administered by the University of British Columbia (UBC). In addition, PrioNet has a bank account to hold any unrestricted funds. Unspent research grants paid to participating institutions Research grants paid to the participating institutions are deferred on the statement of financial position and when the participating institution incurs costs, they are recognized as an expense. These amounts reflect the unspent portion of grants paid. Furniture and equipment Furniture and equipment are recorded at cost and depreciated on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives at the following annual rates: Furniture 20% Computers 30% Cash and cash equivalents PrioNet considers all highly liquid investments that have little or no interest risk or credit risk to be cash equivalents. Due to the short time to maturity of the cash equivalents, their carrying amounts approximate their fair values.
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NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS / march 31, 2012
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Revenue recognition In fiscal 2006, PrioNet entered into an agreement with the NCE program to receive funding of $20,696,000 over an initial period of four years. During fiscal 2009, PrioNet had a successful mid-term review by the NCE which awarded PrioNet $15,000,000 as a continuation of its existing award over an additional three years. Under the terms of the agreement, this funding will be directed to the granting of awards to participating institutions and the payment of PrioNet’s operating and capital expenditures. When received, the restricted contribution is deferred and recognized as revenue in the year in which the related expenses are incurred by PrioNet or the participating institution. Restricted contributions applied toward the purchase of furniture and equipment are deferred and amortized to revenue on a straight-line basis at a rate corresponding with the amortization rate for the related furniture and equipment. Unrestricted contributions are recognized as revenue in the current period if the amount to be received can be reasonably estimated and collection is reasonably assured. Grant from Host Institution On September 6, 2005, the Host Institution Agreement was signed between PrioNet and UBC and the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority. The agreement provides a cash grant as well as in-kind support. Gifts in kind are not recorded in the financial statements and include legal service coordination; payroll, purchasing, and grant management; and management of intellectual property, IT support and web hosting services. UBC will continue to support PrioNet in fiscal 2012-2013 in the amount of $15,000 as well as provide in-kind support as described previously. Financial instruments PrioNet has adopted the provisions of Section 3855, Financial Instruments - Recognition and Measurement, and Section 3861, Financial Instruments Disclosure and Presentation, of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants (CICA) Handbook, as they apply to not-for-profit organizations. The standards require that all financial assets and liabilities be measured at fair value with the exception of investments held to maturity, loans and receivables, and other liabilities that are measured at amortized cost using the effective interest rate method. Cash, accounts receivable, and accounts payable and accrued liabilities are measured at amortized cost. Use of estimates The preparation of financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those reported. Items requiring the use of management estimates include useful lives of furniture and equipment. Employee future benefits During fiscal 2007, PrioNet staff became eligible to join the UBC staff pension plan. The UBC staff pension plan provides benefits based on 2% of the average best three years’ basic salary multiplied by the number of years of contributory service, less an adjustment to Canada Pension Plan contributory earnings. PrioNet’s contribution for staff is approximately 6% of salary. In the event of funding deficiencies, PrioNet’s contributions remain fixed and benefits for members may be reduced. Accordingly, PrioNet expenses contributions to this plan in the year the contributions are made. Benefit security for employees is improved by the plan maintaining a contingency reserve. The contingency reserve recommended by the plan’s actuary and approved by the pension board and Canada Revenue Agency is 40% of liabilities. Contributions made during the year were $29,487 (2011 - $33,353).
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NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS / march 31, 2012
3 Going concern These financial statements have been prepared using Canadian GAAP applicable to a going concern which assumes that PrioNet will be able to realize assets and discharge liabilities in the normal course of business for the foreseeable future. In the course of its operations, PrioNet has sustained negative cash flows from operations. As of March 31, 2012, PrioNet had cash held in trust by UBC of $1,343,336, which includes support from the host institute, to be used to fund NCE related research expenditures and related activities and unrestricted cash of $129,901. Working capital totals $2,537,993, with deferred contributions of $2,407,892, leaving an unrestricted fund balance of $130,101. The ability of PrioNet to continue as a going concern is dependent on its ability to obtain funding to support the research of Prion. The main source of funding received was from the NCE that concluded as of March 31, 2012 and has not been renewed. Management has secured sufficient cash flows from the Host instituted to continue operations to March 31, 2013; however, subsequent to this date no additional funding has been secured. Management continues to solicit funding from the federal government and other sources to continue operations beyond March 31, 2013. As a result, there are events and conditions that cast significant doubt about the validity of the assumption that PrioNet can continue as a going concern. These financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty, and these adjustments could be material.
4 Future accounting pronouncements In December 2010, the CICA in conjunction with the Accounting Standards Board (“AcSB”) issued new accounting standards for not-for-profit organizations. Going forward, private sector not-for-profit organizations will be required to adopt either Part I of the CICA Handbook - International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) or Part III of the CICA Handbook - Accounting Standards for Not-for-Profit Organizations. These requirements will be effective for years beginning on or after January 1, 2012. PrioNet will be adopting Part III of the CICA Handbook - Accounting Standards for Not-for-Profit Organizations for its fiscal year ending March 31, 2013. The financial reporting impact of the transition is currently under review.
5 Furniture and equipment 2012 2011 Accumulated Net book Net book Cost depreciation value value $ $ $ $ Furniture 37,391 28,688 8,703 14,264 Computers 61,151 54,517 6,634 12,154 98,542 83,205 15,337 26,418
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NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS / march 31, 2012
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6 Deferred contributions Deferred contributions represent unspent grants for operating expenses and capital purposes. a) Deferred contributions relating to expenses of future periods 2012 2011 $ $ Balance - Beginning of year 4,509,869 5,891,699 Contributions received during the year Grant from CIHR 2,500,000 2,500,000 Grant from NSERC 2,000,000 2,000,000 Grant from SSHRC 500,000 500,000 Grant from Host Institution 150,000 150,000 5,150,000 5,150,000 9,659,869 11,041,699 Amounts recognized as revenue during the year (7,247,677) (6,528,818) Amounts applied toward furniture and equipment purchased during the year (4,300) (3,012) Balance - End of year 2,407,892 4,509,869
b) Deferred capital contributions relating to furniture and equipment 2012 2011 $ $ Balance - Beginning of year 26,418 38,773 Allocation of deferred contributions (note 6(a)) 4,300 3,012 Amounts amortized to revenue (15,381) (15,367) Balance - End of year 15,337 26,418
7 Related party transactions and economic dependence Since PrioNet’s inception on December 23, 2005, PrioNet has been awarded a total grant of $35,000,000 under the NCE program. An additional $796,000 of the IPI award was granted to PrioNet in March 2007. The amounts received from these granting agencies represent a significant portion of funds received by PrioNet and have been disclosed in note 6. As part of the NCE agreement, PrioNet has one director representing UBC.
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NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS / march 31, 2012
8 Expenses PrioNet disburses funds to the principal investigators of the project to their host institutions. As at November 2011, PrioNet discontinued the practice of allowing the principal investigator to sub-grant their award to the co-investigators on the research project. Moving forward, PrioNet will disburse funds directly to the co-investigators on the projects as directed by the principal investigators. Funds are held in trust by the institutions and as expenses are incurred they are expensed by PrioNet. During 2012, the expenses for research and training totalled $6,066,916 including $5,473,170 of expenses incurred from funds transferred to institutions for research. An additional $593,746 of expenses was incurred and expensed by the administrative centre through joint initiative and training programs.
Balance Current Current Balance March 31, Funds Year Year March 31, 2011 Returned Grant Expenditures 2012 $ $ $ $ $ Institution - Master grants Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario - - 70,000 18,944 51,056 Hospital for Sick Children - - 243,000 189,265 53,735 University of Alberta 675,440 - 1,162,201 1,577,335 260,306 University of British Columbia 151,613 - 1,197,900 1,076,425 273,088 University of Calgary 16,000 - 172,000 188,000 University of Ottawa 31,068 (67) 379,000 334,172 75,829 University of Saskatchewan 7,944 - 597,350 487,307 117,987 University of Toronto 116,402 - 131,500 247,879 23 University de Sherbrooke 89,124 - 208,000 297,124 McGill University 37,712 - 230,000 255,385 12,327 University of Manitoba 14,500 - 242,150 87,101 169,549 University of Victoria - - 246,848 211,950 34,898 University Health Network - - 28,500 24,298 4,202 Laval University - - 200,000 200,000 University of Western Ontario 15,592 - 292,738 277,985 30,345 1,155,395 (67) 5,401,187 5,473,170 1,083,345 Administrative centre expenditures Stakeholder meetings 24,469 Network meetings 97,957 Renewal 149,125 International Collaborations 106,634 Contingency 58,135 Training programs 157,426 Total research and training 593,746 6,066,916
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NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS / march 31, 2012
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9 Capital PrioNet defines its capital as the amounts included in unrestricted funds, deferred contributions and deferred capital contributions. PrioNet’s objectives when managing its capital are to safeguard its assets and its ability to continue as a going concern, while ensuring sufficient funding is available to ensure it can continue to fulfill its mission as set out in note 1. PrioNet has certain external restrictions on the use of deferred contributions and deferred capital contributions, as set out in note 6. PrioNet has internal control processes to ensure that the restrictions are met prior to the utilization of these resources and has been in compliance with these restrictions throughout the year.
10 Financial instruments PrioNet is not exposed to significant credit, interest rate or currency risk.
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Annual Report 2011 / 2012 Understand. Assess. Prevent.
year VII
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