UBC president named Communicator of the Year

UBC President Martha Piper has been named Communicator of the Year
by the International Association of Business Communicators of B.C.
Piper is being recognized for increasing the university’s visibility
in the community by promoting UBC and its research with the Think
About It awareness campaign. The award is presented annually to
a B.C. resident who is not directly involved in the communications
profession, but who demonstrates excellence in communications, leadership,
innovation, vision and the ability to inspire others through business
or community work.

  • Contact: Paula Martin, Public Affairs Office, 604.822.2064.

Spinal cord research funded by Hansen initiative

UBC neurotrauma researchers have been awarded more than $300,000
in 1998 funding from the Rick Hansen Neurotrauma Initiative, a collaborative
fund-raising project of the Rick Hansen Institute (RHI) and nine
Canadian provinces. UBC researcher Dr. Wolfram Tetzlaff, the Man-in-Motion
Foundation Chair in Spinal Cord Research, secured more than $100,000
for two projects aimed at repairing nerve cells following injury
to the brain or spinal cord. He and his team will try stimulating
genes to direct the brain to regrow nerves in the spinal cord and
will also investigate ways to rescue damaged or dying cells at spinal
cord injury sites.

  • Contact: Dr. Wolfram Tetzlaff, Collaboration on Repair
    Discoveries (CORD), 604.822.1675.

Latest in 3D microscopes on view

Biological scientists from Europe, Asia and North America will
have an opportunity to use the latest three-dimensional microscope
technology to view living cells during a unique 10-day course on
3D Microscopy of Living Cells at UBC, June 17-28. Although living
cells are three dimensional objects, traditional microscopical techniques
allow viewing on only a single plane. Three-dimensional microscopy
techniques permit the scientist to overcome this limitation. More
than $2-million of the latest technology from Nikon, Zeiss, Olympus
and other optical equipment manufacturers will be used to perform
experiments on at least 15 types of living cells.

  • Contact: Prof. James Pawley, 604.822.6996 or (604) 862-0817.

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