#836: iGEM: ULeth Team Wins Gold In Boston

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Once again students from the University of Lethbridge have come out on top at the iGEM World Jamboree at MIT in Boston.

iGEM is the International Genetically Engineered Machines Competition, with over 40 countries and 300 teams vying for the Gold Medal.

Taylor Sheahan is a PhD student at the University of Lethbridge.

Using synthetic biology and bits of DNA,  her team developed an antibody based  test strip to check for pathogens in emergency vehicles.

TAYLOR SHEAHAN:   So we were approached by the local fire department and EMS because they were concerned with how clean their vehicles actually are, the safety of their workers, and if they are,   transporting these pathogens back to their families. So they just really wanted  to assess if they are cleaning properly or not.   As well  they are interested in looking at some different cleaning products.  So they need a way to be able to validate that one product is actually more effective than the other, since right now they have no way of knowing how well each product is cleaning in comparison to one another.

Taylor Sheahan says the iGEM test strip could also be applied in schools and hospitals,.  

Thanks today to ALBERTA INNOVATES

Learn more at InnovationAnthology.com

I’M CHERYL CROUCHER

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Alberta Innovates

Alberta Innovates is a provincially funded Corporation with a mandate to deliver 21st century solutions for the most compelling challenges facing Albertans. We do this by building on our province’s research and technology development strengths in the core sectors of health, environment, energy, food and fibre and platforms such as artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, and omics. We are working with our partners to diversify Alberta’s economy, improve our environmental performance and enhance our well-being through research and innovation. 

The Alberta Innovates system has roots stretching back almost 90 years

In March, 2016 the consolidation of Alberta Innovates was announced and on November 1, a single, integrated innovation powerhouse, Alberta Innovates, was formed. Two applied research subsidiaries – Innotech Alberta and C-Fer Technologies –  serve public and private sector interests.

The Alberta Innovates system was first created in January 2010, as part of an overall innovation framework developed within the Alberta Research and Innovation Act. At that time, four corporations were established:

  • Bio Solutions
  • Energy and Environment Solutions
  • Health Solutions
  • Technology Futures.

The Alberta Innovates system has a 90-year legacy. Our expertise is built on the successes of:

  • Alberta Institute for Agriculture
  • Forestry and the Environment
  • Alberta Agricultural Research Institute
  • Alberta Forestry Research Institute
  • Alberta Life Sciences Institute
  • Alberta Ingenuity
  • Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research
  • Alberta Research Council
  • iCORE
  • nanoAlberta
  • Alberta Water Research Institute (AWRI)
  • Alberta Energy Research Institute (AERI)
  • Alberta Oil Sands Technology and Research Authority (AOSTRA).

 

Program Date: 2017-01-10