Prof. John Trant in labBiochemist John Trant is heading up a research team exploring the behaviours of disease-causing proteins.

Research team to explore dynamics of cancer-causing proteins

A team of UWindsor scientists will use a multifaceted approach to explain the basic behaviours of disease-causing proteins, in an effort to advance the understanding of why a Canadian biopharma company's cancer-fighting drug is proving successful in clinical trials.

Cotinga Pharmaceuticals developed a drug that targets and repairs specific proteins found in many cancers. To understand precisely how the drug and the proteins interact, as well as how the drug can repair their functions , the UWindsor team will use a combination of computer simulations and X-ray crystallography to capture “pictures” of the drugs’ actions-in-motion with the proteins.

Chemistry and biochemistry professor John Trant is the lead researcher of the $1.13 million dollar Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) project, “Understanding mechanism of action: Combined computational and structural biology studies to determine small molecule effects on protein dynamics and function.” The initiative will receive funding from NSERC and Cotinga Pharmaceuticals.

“This five-year project will not only advance Cotinga's science, but it will also help us better understand how drug molecules, in general, are able to help misfolded proteins regain their proper shape, how proteins fold, and why proteins interact with other proteins the way that they do,” says Dr. Trant. “This is bigger than anything we've taken on previously.”

The research team will also draw on the expertise of biochemistry professor Yufeng Tong and biomedical sciences professor Lisa Porter. Trant says the project’s major strength is the collaboration of the three researchers with different skill sets and varied research techniques.

“Dr. Tong is a world expert in X-ray crystallography, which he uses to take accurate snapshots of these proteins. Dr. Porter is renowned for her cancer research, especially the role of gene expression in cancers. And my lab has state-of-the-art computational modelling capabilities to model the flexible protein in motion,” says Trant.

“I couldn’t have better colleagues to address this specific challenge, and we are excited to deepen the ongoing integration of our labs’ efforts.”

Cotinga’s drug targets one protein in particular, which is called p53 — the guardian of the genome, the master of gene expression, and also one of the most mutated proteins in cancers. When working normally, it helps to restore normal cellular function in diseased cells. When p53 is mutated, it stops doing its job properly and goes rogue, which leads to uncontrolled growth of cells and ultimately causes cancer.

Trant says despite decades of studies on the incredibly complex p53 network, and the availability of the details of its individual parts, no one has ever seen a clear picture of the whole protein and no one knows how to rein it in when it goes rogue.

“We have a partial picture of p53 — which is essentially two ball bits that crystallize nicely with these spaghetti-like strings hanging from them,” he says. “It is very flexible, and to make matters more complicated, it likes to almost always dance in a complicated group of four around a common DNA maypole.”

There are currently only static X-ray images of p53, but still pictures can’t take into account the continual motion of these proteins. Trant says to determine how the drug interacts with p53, the team will investigate a host of possibilities, including protein folding, protein degradation,  and modelling the flexible protein in motion.

Dean of science Chris Houser says collaborating with the company’s clinical researchers could form the basis for a new model for industrial-academic collaboration between small pharmaceutical companies and academic researchers.

“This project consequently advances the economic interests of a Canadian company, assists in providing exceptional multidisciplinary training to the students and postdoctoral fellows working on it, and prepares them for employment in the chemical industry,” Dr. Houser says.

Trant says this initiative gives the team of researchers and their trainees, led by Farsheed Shahbazi, Maryam Kosar, and Azam Mohammadzadeh, an opportunity to unravel the mysteries of p53.

“This is our chance to acquire a detailed understanding of the precise mechanism of action of these compounds and ultimately to improve humanity’s understanding of the basic behaviour of these very important proteins,” he says.

—Sara Elliott

Awards highlight Windsor as leader in automotive cybersecurity

University of Windsor researchers have captured three of 10 national cybersecurity awards announced Thursday by the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association (APMA).

The organization’s Institute for Automotive Cybersecurity recognized individuals and companies for their achievements in the field, including UWindsor professors Mitra Mirhassani (MA 2003, PhD 2007) and Ikjot Saini (PhD 2020), and recent grad Noah Campbell (BSc 2020).

Dr. Mirhassani, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, received the Outstanding Individual Cyber Achievement Award for her research and teaching in autonomous vehicles, hardware, and cybersecurity. This award recognizes an individual working in Canada with outstanding achievements in education, technology, governance, and assessments.

Dr. Saini, assistant professor of computer science, received the Cyber Women of the Year award for her work in autonomous vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication and founding the first Canadian student chapter of Women in Cybersecurity. This award recognizes a woman working in Canada with outstanding achievements in cybersecurity, specific to the automotive sector.

Campbell is tech community program manager for the WEtech Alliance and the WindsorEssex Economic Development Corporation. He received the Young Cyber Achievement award for his work as a student ambassador, founder of the Google Developers Club, and community engagement. This award recognizes an individual under 30 years old working in Canada with achievements in automotive cybersecurity in a private, public, or academic capacity.

Heather Pratt, UWindsor executive director for research and innovation, noted the three honourees have all demonstrated achievements in cybersecurity.

“They are all stellar mentors to a wide variety of students and outstanding leaders in the field of cybersecurity research and we are very proud,” she said. “Winning these awards highlights that Windsor-Essex is a leader in the automobility and cybersecurity sector.”

—Tina Suntres

replica of the Two Row wampum beltThe Leddy Library’s holdings include this replica of the Two Row wampum belt used in 1613 to mark the agreement of Turtle Island.

Library resources highlight the importance of treaties

In Ontario, Treaties Recognition Week takes place the first week of November each year. It was introduced in 2016 as one way to honour the importance of treaties and to help Ontarians learn more about treaty rights and relationships.

The Leddy Library invites users to explore a variety of resources this week: from print to electronic books, primary archival resources, and even physical replicas of existing treaties in the form of wampum belts, a form of treaty used in 1600s to establish relationships between certain Indigenous communities and early European settlers.

While European text-based treaties are an important resource to use in the classroom, the Leddy Library provides access to two replica wampum belts for faculty and staff to use in their teaching, the Two Row wampum belt used in 1613 to mark the agreement of Turtle Island and the Dish with One Spoon used in 1701 during the Haudenosaunee Confederacy.

In addition, the Curriculum Resource Centre includes a Lego wampum belt kit “We are all...Treaty people,” for education students to assist in their indigenizing the curriculum and decolonizing classrooms from K-12.

The library has collected in one area books and other resources regarding local history and treaties. It has been supplemented with a collection of children’s materials regarding treaties, and a list of books from a broader perspective regarding treaties from both European and Indigenous perspectives.

“Treaties are a part of the warp and weave of Canada’s history, and the history of every resident of this land,” said Jennifer Soutter, Indigenous outreach librarian at Leddy Library. “It’s important we recognize and understand these agreements as we continue our journey of learning and reconciliation.”

A digital copy of the Huron and the Jesuits Land Grant, representing an agreement about land the main campus the University of Windsor resides within, has also been made available for viewing by Leddy’s Archives, along with an English translation.

In addition to exploring the Leddy Library’s resources, Ontario.ca encourages you to participate in the virtual Living Library event We are all Treaty People on Nov. 6 from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.

The event features a one-hour panel discussion followed by a 30-minute question-and-answer session.

Moderator Bob Goulais is an Anishinaabe from Nipissing First Nation. An experienced senior executive and consultant, he has more than 20 years of service to industry, government, not-for-profit ,and Indigenous organizations, specializing in community engagement and strategic communications specifically reaching First Nation, Métis and Inuit communities.

Panellist Robert Greene is an Anishinaabe of the Ojibway Nation, born and raised on the reserve of Iskatewizaagegan No. 39 Independent First Nation. A certified counsellor and complex trauma therapist, he has extensive experience working as an elder, spiritual care giver, mental health counsellor, and cultural advisor.

The other panellist, Maurice Switzer, is a citizen of the Mississaugas of Alderville First Nation. He has served as publisher of the Winnipeg Free Press, Director of Communications for the Assembly of First Nations and Union of Ontario Indians, and an adjunct professor of Indigenous Studies on the Laurentian University campus.

Learn more about treaties on the Ontario website: https://www.ontario.ca/page/treaties.

—Marcie Demmans

IHI Open School logo on graphic of computerThe Patient Safety Learning Series of virtual presentations opens today.

Webinars offer insight into patient safety

The Patient Safety Learning Series of virtual presentations opens today — Monday, Nov. 2 — with nursing professor Debbie Rickeard discussing “Preventing Failure to Rescue: Identifying Clinical Deterioration.”

The webinar is free and open to everyone with an interest in patient safety, including students at all levels, graduates, faculty, staff, and individuals outside the University. It begins at 1 p.m. and will cover the causes of deterioration, importance of early identification, and tips to improve your practice.

The link to the event in Microsoft Teams will be sent only to those who have registered in advance.

Offered by the University of Windsor chapter of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement Open School for Health Professionals, the series continues with:

  • Personal Protective Equipment Fashion Show
    Friday, Nov. 6, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
    The University of Windsor nursing peer mentors will reinforce the importance of proper selection and use of PPE in the acute care setting and in the community.
     
  • Student Nurse Medication Incident Reporting – Does it Really Matter? Implications for the Interdisciplinary Team
    Monday, Nov. 23, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
    Nursing faculty members Michelle Freeman, Susan Dennison, and Natalie Giannotti will discuss the rationale for reporting medication incidents, how to report efficiently and effectively, and the impact on the safety of patients and providers.

Registration for any of three events is available at https://uwindsor.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_72nvkzkA52cPZmB.

arm getting flu shotA clinic offers free flu vaccination, Nov. 11 in the Alumni Auditorium.

Say no to the flu at vaccine clinic

The University of Windsor Student Health Services will hold a free flu vaccination clinic in the CAW Student Centre’s second-floor Alumni Auditorium from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11.

This clinic is open to all University of Windsor students, staff, and faculty by appointment only.

Vaccinating against the influenza virus is the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from getting sick this flu season, advises Student Health Services. This year, it is especially important to keep people feeling well and out of hospitals.

For more information on the flu, or to book an appointment, visit the Student Health Services website.

Her Campus logo superimposed over line drawing of Ambassador BridgeThe University of Windsor chapter of Her Campus will hold bi-weekly sessions of a virtual student get-together.

Women’s organization planning coffee talks

In response to the lack of social interaction during COVID-19, the University of Windsor chapter of Her Campus has created bi-weekly sessions of Coffee with Her Campus as a virtual student get-together.

Her Campus is an online magazine targeted at collegiate women.

Each meeting will take place over an hour on a Friday evening at 7 p.m. via Microsoft Teams, with a topic of discussion to get the chat started:

  • Online Learning, Nov. 6
    A get-together to discuss the struggles and successes of online learning. This would also be an opportunity for students to discuss loneliness and issues they’ve been having due to COVID-19.
  • What’s the Tea? Nov. 20
    A time to spill the tea on what students have going on in their lives right now. 
  • Exam Season Self-Care, Dec. 4
    This session is for everyone going into exam season. This is the time to discuss problems that students have studying and for students to receive support and advice from co-students.
  • Holiday Plans, Dec. 18
    Holidays will be coming up during this event, as such this event gives students the opportunity to discuss holiday plans and come up with ideas for socializing and safely seeing family whatever their COVID-19 situation is.

To join in on one or all of the meetings, fill out the Google Form, making sure to include your UWindsor email address. You will be sent a Microsoft link for each session you register for closer to the event.