Research News
Nutrition is a key in keeping companion animals healthy
The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) promotes discovery and innovation by funding exceptional Canadian post-secondary research. Ontario Veterinary College clinical studies professor Andronie Vergrugghe is a recent recipient of an NSERC Discovery Grant. She was recognized for her creative and innovative long-term research on companion animal nutrition. Vergrugghe’s specific interest is feline nutrition. In her most recent work, she investigates ways to stimulate cats’ metabolisms to help them burn fat and also scrutinizes the link...
Gender-based discrimination is this CRC’s target
The Canada Research Chairs program helps universities across the country attract some of the world’s most accomplished and promising researchers. At Guelph, international development professor Sharada Srinivasan holds the Canada Research Chair in Gender, Justice and Development. Her research on gender-based discrimination and violence is an integral part of a three-country study examining the social transformation of East and South Asia by the “daughter deficit.” Millions of girls in those societies have been lost due to sex-selective abortion, infanticide and...
A global key influencer in developing vaccines
After an extensive international poll by vaccinenation.org and the World Vaccine Congress Europe, chemistry professor Mario Monteiro was named one of the world’s key influencers in vaccine development. Monteiro has developed vaccines against diarrhea, including one to protect against Campylobacter jejuni (traveller’s diarrhea) that is now being evaluated in human clinical trials. Monteiro was the only Canadian researcher in the top-50 listing and the first Guelph researcher to have technology reach human clinical testing.
"Lab on a Chip" detects subclinical disease
A new system for effectively and efficiently sampling and analyzing blood from livestock has been developed by engineering professor Suresh Neethirajan. Known as Lab on a Chip, the tiny, field-deployable system is directed at testing specifically for subclinical ketosis. This condition puts cows at risk of ketosis, a disease that reduces fertility and milk production. The system was developed in the University’s BioNano Laboatory where Neethirajan is the principal investigator. Lab on a Chip will be site-tested in 2015 at the Livestock Research and Innovation...
Understanding the range of environmental challenges facing pollinators
Global pollinator declines are of urgent concern for maintaining food production and wild plant diversity. Understanding the range of environmental challenges faced by bees, butterflies and other insects is the focus of pollination conservation expert Nigel Raine. He joined the University of Guelph as the Rebanks Family Chair in Pollinator Conservation in May 2014. Canada’s first research chair in pollinator conservation was endowed by The W. Garfield Weston Foundation in the name of Wendy Rebanks. As well as leading cutting-edge research programs, Raine takes...
Biodegradable nanoparticles
Physics professor John Dutcher and his team have discovered a new type of polysaccharide nanoparticle derived from Ontario corn. The discovery, trade-named PHYTOSPHERIXTM, could serve as a non-toxic and biodegradable replacement for petroleum-based compounds and engineered nanoparticles, making consumer products and pharmaceuticals more environmentally friendly. Dutcher and his team received support from the OMAFRA – U of G Partnership to help bring PHYTOSPHERIXTM technology to the marketplace.
Looking to the past for tips on weathering change
In times of socio-economic change, society can respond to its most pressing challenges with careful reading of their historical context. Prof. Kris Inwood (pictured at right) is a researcher in economics and history who is cross-appointed to the College of Management and Economics and the College of Arts. Inwood is examining past and long-term change with an eye to understanding how it can inform the social, economic, and physical well-being of our population. Inwood is seen here poring over an historical census collection with post-doctoral researcher Andrew...
Facing the challenges of preventing obesity in children and teens
Since 1980, Canada has experienced a 100 per-cent increase in overweight or obese children. Obesity is difficult to reverse, which is why Jess Haines is interested in preventing it in children and adolescents. Haines, a professor of family relations and applied nutrition and pictured here with her children, Oscar, 8 and Eleanor, 5, is exploring community and family-based interventions to promote healthy behavior among pre-school children. Haines is one of three recipients of the Early Researcher Award, given by the Ministry of Research and Innovation to young...