Six University of Ottawa researchers to receive the Ontario Early Researcher Award
Ottawa, August 19, 2009 — Top-notch research work has reaped a hefty reward for six University of Ottawa scientists: Each has landed a $140,000 Government of Ontario Early Researcher Award, drawn from the Ontario Research and Development Challenge Fund set up by the province in 1998 to support emerging researchers.
“The award is a crucial building block for these best and brightest innovators and researchers,” says Mona Nemer, Vice-President, Research of the University of Ottawa. “The U of O is proud to have so many of the most promising researchers in the Canadian and international scientific communities among its faculty."
Here are the winners from the University of Ottawa:
Dr. Muralee Murugesu, Department of Chemistry
High-Energy Barrier Single-Molecule Magnets for Molecular Electronics
Dr. Murugesu’s research into novel molecule-based magnetic materials will provide new insights into their unique properties. More work on how we can isolate and fundamentally understand these materials could open the door to faster and low-powered electronics and to higher-density data storage.
Dr. Cristina Marie Atance, School of Psychology
Future Thinking in Young Children
Remembering the past and thinking about the future are two of the most remarkable feats of the human mind. Future thinking also underlies important adaptive behaviours such as planning, delaying gratification and anticipating the consequences of one’s actions. But psychologists know little about its developmental origins and trajectory. Dr. Atance is addressing this knowledge gap through a series of novel methods she has designed to assess young children’s capacity to think about the immediate and more-distant future.
Dr. Hai-Ying Mary Cheng, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology
MicroRNA-mediated Translational Control of Biological Timing in Mammals
Our internal biological clocks drive our daily circadian rhythms in behaviour and physiology, and they help us adapt these rhythms in response to environmental change. Dr. Cheng’s research focuses on the role of microRNAs in clock regulation and aims to decipher the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms involved. This work could one day help individuals readjust their internal biological clocks more effectively.
Dr. André M. Beauchemin, Department of Chemistry
Toward Simple, Efficient Approaches to Nitrogen-Containing Bioactive Molecules
Over 90% of the compounds manufactured and tested by pharmaceutical companies have at least one nitrogen atom in their structure – and the conversion of alkenes, alkynes and arenes into these nitrogen-containing molecules currently requires several steps. Dr. Beauchemin is researching more cost-effective, efficient processes, which would give us both shorter and better access to these compounds.
Two researchers are from University of Ottawa affiliate institutes:
Dr. Kristi Bree Adamo, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute
Tackling the Childhood Obesity Epidemic – Starting with Mom
Current evidence shows that preventing obesity in pregnant women may prevent their children from becoming obese later in life. Dr. Adamo will provide structured physical activity and nutrition programs to overweight or obese women during their pregnancies to determine whether these activities can help them avoid excessive weight gain during pregnancy and thus attenuate pregnancy-related complications and weight issues in their offspring.
Dr. Hsiao-Huei Chen, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
The Molecular Mechanisms Controlling Sensory Neuron Development: A Foundation for Cell-based Therapy for Neuropathies
Muscle sensory disorders are often associated with cancer, diabetes, HIV infection and congenital ataxias. Cell-based therapies to selectively replace the missing neurons without increasing pain could alleviate these disorders. Such therapies require knowledge of the molecular pathways controlling neuron development and function. Dr. Chen's research team proposes to use the simple stretch knee-jerk reflex to reveal and explain the molecular pathways that control sensory neuron development and function. The team will also use electrophysiological recording to assess the functional integrity of this reflex circuit.
The University of Ottawa is committed to research excellence and encourages an interdisciplinary approach to knowledge creation, which attracts the best academic talent from across Canada and around the world.