Ph.D. Seminar - McGill University

Department of Human Genetics

Issue No. 65~ Dec 17, 2008 Weekly Bulletin

Ph.D. Seminar Paul Valdmanis

"Genetic analysis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and other motor neuron disorders".

Supervisor: Dr. Guy Rouleau

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

3:30pm

Location: Stewart Bio W4/12

***SEMINAR CATERING**** We will be sampling refreshments from a new catering option at tomorrow’s Ph.D. seminar. Please come and try it out. There will be an opportunity for you to provide feedback on the food quality, etc.

Academic Activities:

The following is the teaching schedule for Friday. Remember to sign the sign-in sheet which will be located at the back of the room (C-417).

Dec 12, 2008

8 - 9 TBA

9 – 10 Case Presentation

Hi All, I found a Starbucks coffee thermos with beige leather (or "simili-leather") wrapping after Case Presentation last Friday morning. Could the owner please contact me so I can return it to you. Thanks, Jennifer Fitzpatrick ([email protected]) tel. (514) 934-1934 ext 22550

SUBJECT: Dean’s Honours Day – Deadline January 15, 2009 Dear colleagues, Each year, members of our faculty receive awards, prizes, appointments and other recognition for their outstanding work in the health sciences. These accomplishments are testimony to the truly exceptional talent of the people who make up the McGill Faculty of Medicine. To underscore these achievements and to celebrate their great significance together, we are introducing Dean’s Honours Day, an entirely new event that will take place for the first time this fall. In preparation for Dean’s Honours Day, the Faculty of Medicine wishes to send out a notice in January 2009 to save the date. To this end, we require your assistance to identify the names of faculty members to be honored at this first and very special event. The Academic Affairs office captures information on our systems and databases, such as new recruits, promotions, award of tenure, award of a CRC, James McGill Professor or William Dawson Scholar. However, your help is needed for the many awards and prizes that are not captured electronically. We have listed below examples to assist you with the identification of honorees. In addition, we have attached a form to facilitate the gathering of data for the year June 2007 to the end of May 2008. Please send your completed Excel sheet to [email protected] by January 15, 2009

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Order of Canada Royal Society of Canada Chair of the Advisory Board Special Awards (not grants) Young Investigator Awards President of Association Fellows (e.g., Canadian Academy of Health Sciences) Foundation Award (e.g., Heart and Stroke) Director of Division If you believe that an award, prize or appointment bestowed on one of your faculty members not listed above should be included, please do not hesitate to add it to the Excel sheet for consideration. Please treat all names you provide as strictly confidential. Individuals who have received awards on or after June 1, 2008 will be included at the next ceremony to be held in 2010.

If you have any questions, require further clarification or have comments, please do not hesitate to contact me (398-3525) or Leo Teatero (398-3481). Many thanks to all of you in helping make this first Dean’s Honours Day a resounding success! Best regards, Shirley

New Course (Offered in January 2009) HGEN 663: Beyond the Human Genome

Coordinator: Jacek Majewski

Aim: Sequencing of the Human Genome has initiated a revolution in biological and biomedical sciences. Experiments are now routinely conducted on a genome-wide scale, and even classical individual results are greatly enriched by their interpretation in genomic and evolutionary contexts. The goal of the course is to familiarize students with the advances introduced to human genetics following the sequencing of the human genome. We will emphasize new developments in genomics and current state of the art technologies, as well as future directions in the post-genomic era. Proposed schedule: This course will be offered in a 3 hour sessions for 12 sessions: 1) Sequencing of the Human Genome - historical background, sequencing methodologies 2) Human Genome sequence and analysis:

a) The Human Genome b) Annotation c) Genome structure and evolution d) Computational challenges

3) Comparative Genomics: a) Mouse and Rat Genomes b) Chimp genome c) Encode project d) Computational approaches to comparative genomic data

4) Non-Mammalian Genomes a) Prokaryotes b) Simple Eukaryotes (yeast)

c) Metazoans (Drosophila(s), Worm…) d) Vertebrates

5) Genetic(omic) Variation a) Polymorphisms – Hapmap, methods, significance b) Copy Number Variations (CNV) – approaches, significance

6) Human Populations a) Migrations, population history

7) Genomics of Human Disease a) Linkage b) Association c) Risk loci and alleles, personalized medicine, ethics.

8) Expression Variation d) Gene expression levels – promoter polymorphisms, dosage effects

(CNVs) e) Splicing differences, the RNA world f) Disease significance

9) Genomic Technologies a) Microarrays – expression arrays, Chip on chip, protein b) DNAse footprinting c) SAGE etc.

10) Proteomics 11) Systems Biology – pathways, interactions, networks 12) Emerging Technologies and New Directions

a) Chip resequencing, Pyrosequencing, etc. b) Latest state of the art c) Where do we go next…

Enrolment: The course will be limited to 24 students in order to facilitate discussion sessions and oral presentations. Prerequisites: Biol 370 or Biol 568 or HGEN692 or equivalent, or consent of instructor.

Course Type: This is a lecture/seminar course aiming to cover in depth the topics related to Genomics in the context of Human Genetics and Biology. Each 3 hour session will consist of 30 minute introduction to the topic given by the instructor, followed by two, 30 minute presentations given by students. The remaining time will be used for discussion. Assigned readings will cover the background necessary for understanding each session, along with papers for student presentations. The topics will begin with the sequencing of the human genome, followed by its annotation and addition of other mammalian sequences. However, the main purpose of the course is to make the students aware of how genomics and high throughput data analysis constantly change the way we approach research in biological and biomedical sciences. Each session will start with background knowledge, but quickly move on to discussion of cutting edge research and latest state of the art results and techniques

Course Evaluation: This will be a graded class. Students will be evaluated on the following criteria:

Class participation (15%): This grade represents student contribution to class participation during open discussion and participation in discussion of student presentations. The students are expected to have critically read the assigned material, be prepared to ask questions aiming to clarify strength and weaknesses of the approaches, and most importantly look towards the future and suggest new directions for future developments. Oral presentation(s) (45%): Each student will have to prepare 1 or 2 (depending on the final class size) oral presentations, based on current literature selected by the instructor. Each presentation will necessitate thorough background reading, presentation of background information, critique of the paper (with emphasis on the methods and technology), clarification of its significance in a broad context, and suggestions for future directions. Written assignment (40%): Each student will write a mini-grant proposal (5 pages), on a topic approved by the instructor. The project will be graded according to the following criteria: familiarity with background material, novelty of the proposed idea, feasibility of the proposal in view of available and emerging data and technologies. For more information please contact Dr. Jacek Majewski ([email protected]) or [email protected] for approval to register.

To all graduate students, faculty and staff: As part of our ongoing efforts to improve the graduate student experience at McGill and to make sure GPS policies and procedures are aligned with fundamental academic concerns, we are pleased to announce that the Thesis Submission Fee for both Doctoral and Master’s students has been eliminated. All fees charged as of September, 2008 have been reimbursed. Best regards, Martin Kreiswirth __________________________________ Martin Kreiswirth, PhD Associate Provost (Graduate Education) Dean, Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Professor of English McGill University James Administration Building, Rm 325 845 Sherbrooke St. West Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3A 2T5 Tel: (514) 398-1224; Fax: (514) 398-3296 E-mail: [email protected] President, Canadian Association for Graduate Studies President-Elect, Northeastern Association of Graduate Schools The Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Office (GPSO) and Teaching and Learning Services (TLS) are pleased to announce: The competition for the Arthur and Dawn Weston Fellowship in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education. This fellowship will be awarded to an outstanding full-time graduate student interested in conducting research on university teaching and learning in any Faculty. For application guidelines and forms, please visit our website: http://www.mcgill.ca/tls/fellowship For more information, please contact Mary-Jo Rahal at [email protected].

************************************************************ MESSAGE FOR ALL NEWLY ADMITTED

GRADUATE STUDENTS AND POSTDOCTORAL STUDIES SCHOLARS

University Orientation is an important "Don't Miss" information session for ALL students starting their studies at McGill. This is where you will receive important information and resource material that you will want to have on hand. University Orientation consists of presentations made by the Executive Director of Services for Students, the Dean of Students, the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies as well as representatives from the Post Graduate Students’ Society or the Macdonald Campus Graduate Students’ Society, respectively. It is strongly recommended that NEW graduate students and NEW postdoctoral scholars attend the appropriate University Orientation session listed below.

Date: Monday, January 5, 2009 For NEW Graduate Students on the Macdonald Campus

Time: 5:30-7:00 p.m. Location: Centennial Centre, Macdonald Campus This session is intended for all January 2009 admitted graduate students.

Date: Tuesday, January 6, 2009 For NEW Graduate Students on the Downtown Campus

Time: 5:00-6:00 p.m. Location: Ballroom, Thomson House (3650 McTavish Street) This session is intended for all January 2009 admitted graduate students.

Date: Thursday, January 8, 2009 For NEW Postdoctoral Scholars

Time: 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. Location: Ballroom, Thomson House (3650 McTavish Street) This session is intended for all Postdoctoral Scholars new to the University since September 2008, as well as anyone who wasn’t able to attend the Postdoctoral University Orientation held in September 2008. Also for your information, please note the following:

First-Year Office – First time at McGill? The First-Year Office is a service for everyone new at McGill. The First-Year Office is here to help make the transition to McGill’s academic and social networks as smooth as possible by providing pertinent information and links to a range of support mechanisms across campus from one central location. The First-Year Office is in the Brown Student Services Building, Suite 2100, 3600 McTavish Street. Phone: 514-398-6913 Email: [email protected] Visit our web site at: www.mcgill.ca/firstyear First-Year Resource Room - The First-Year Resource Room is equipped with phone lines and Internet connections for students still getting set-up and/or who’d like help with Minerva course registration, setting up your McGill email account or updating your personal information. Situated in the First-Year Office, the FY Resource Room operates Monday to Friday in room 2100 of the Brown Student Services Building, 3600 McTavish Street and is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., from January 5-20, 2009. Academic Study Skills Workshop – If you are an incoming “mature” graduate student, i.e., someone who has been away from regular full-time university studies for a while, you may want to consider attending our Academic Skills Development Workshop. This free, half-day workshop will provide techniques to improve reading efficiency, note-taking skills and writing of papers, as well as preparation for exams. It will also provide you with an opportunity to meet and network with other mature students. This workshop will take place on Saturday, January 10, 2009 from 13:00 to 17:00. Make your reservation by calling the First-Year Office at 514-398-6913. Space is limited so first come, first served. First-Year Essentials – Looking for information on banks around campus, cost of living, cell phone providers or daycares? Take a minute to browse this on-line resource for a wealth of information on a variety of topics from academic links to second hand shopping locations for clothing and books. Check out First-Year Essentials at www.firstyear.mcgill.ca/essentials

CAPS (Career and Placement Services) December Newsletter can be viewed at: http://caps.mcgill.ca/graduate/online/2008-2009/december-2008.html Email announcement REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS / APPEL DE DEMANDES Applications are now submitted on line through the PSC Website Parkinson Society Canada is pleased to announce the second competition of our July 2009-June 2011 National Research Program Funding Cycle Funding Opportunities: PILOT PROJECT GRANTS • One-year duration • Maximum funding of $45,000 • Pilot Project Program grants intend to foster novel, high-potential projects

and ideas with a trajectory for major grants with larger granting institutions NEW INVESTIGATOR AWARD PROGRAM • Two-year duration • $45,000 per year • For junior faculty in a Canadian university in first 5 years of their career as a

research scientist in Canada • This program provides new investigators with an early opportunity to develop

and demonstrate their ability to initiate and conduct independent health research

BASIC RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP • Two-year duration • $40,000 - $50,000 per year • Candidates must hold a doctoral degree (MD or PhD) and may be Canadian

citizens who propose to train at an Approved Institution located inside or outside of Canada, or international applicants proposing to train at an Approved Institution located in Canada

• This program encourages promising young scientists to enter the field of Parkinson's basic research and to invest in research training that offers promise for future work in the area of Parkinson’s disease

GRADUATE STUDENTSHIP AWARD • Two-year duration • $20,000 per year *(see RFA for explanation of funding) • At the time of application, candidates must be enrolled in a full-time

graduate study program at the Master's or PhD level. Candidates may be Canadian citizens who propose to train at an Approved Institution (see definition in Part III of these Guidelines)

• This program invests in research training that offers promise for future work in the area of Parkinson’s disease by supporting talented young scientists and providing students with an opportunity to enter into the area of Parkinson’s research during the early stages of their training.

located inside Canada or international applicants proposing to train at an Approved Institution located in Canada, who fulfill the criteria for a student visa.

Parkinson Society Canada is committed to advancing our research program to better serve Canadians with Parkinson’s, to foster Canadian Parkinson’s research leadership internationally, and to support efforts to ease the burden and find a cure. Ease the Burden: Find a Cure Letter of Intent deadline: Friday, February 2, 2009, 5:00 EST Application deadline: Monday, March 3, 2009 Application materials and information may be obtained at : http://www.parkinson.ca/site/c.kgLNIWODKpF/b.3536095/k.2D1B/National_Research_Program_Grants.htm Or contact: Ivy Lim-Carter, Manager, National Research & Clinical Programs Parkinson Society Canada Tel: 416-227-3382 or 1 800 565-3000, ext. 3382 Email: [email protected]

APPLICATION DEADLINE: January 16, 2009

COLE FOUNDATION FELLOWSHIPS 2009-2011 – CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

The Cole Foundation is offering fellowships to Clinical Fellows (holders of a medical degree), postdoctoral residents and graduate students to promote research in pre-leukemia, leukemia and other leukemia related

diseases in children and young adults as well as the development of clinical care for patients affected by these diseases.

Eligible candidates must:

• Have full-time status at the University of Montreal, McGill University or at the INRS-Institut Armand-Frappier

• Be registered in a fellowship program, a postdoctoral residency, or in graduate studies

• Complete a Cole Foundation Fellowship application form • Submit a letter of support from their supervisors

This competition is open to all Canadian and all foreign citizens. The scholar’s research activities can be carried out in the Montreal area or in an establishment outside Montreal so long as this is accepted by the research director.

Applications will be evaluated by a committee of experts for academic and scientific excellence, the quality of the research laboratory, the coherence of the research program with the priorities of the training environment and the extent to which the research program meets the Cole Foundation Fellowship Program priorities as described above.

The fellowships are offered for two-year mandates. The installment for the second year is contingent upon a satisfactory progress report for the first year activities and upon the support of the host laboratory director. On a yearly basis these fellowships offer: $50,000 for Clinical Fellows; $40,000 for post-doctoral residents; $21,000 for doctoral candidates; and $17,500 for master’s candidates. In addition, a yearly supplement of $2,000 for Fellows and post-doctoral residents and $1000 for doctoral and master’s candidates will be awarded for academic activities (attendance at conventions, purchasing of books or laboratory fees, etc.).

The deadline for the competition is January 16, 2009. Application forms for submissions and for letters of support may be obtained through the host institution (University of Montreal, McGill University or the INRS-Institut Armand-Frappier). The completed forms must be submitted by email to the host institution contact person. A paper copy of the first page of the application form with the signatures should also be submitted to the appropriate contact person. The award winners will be announced before mid April 2009 and the fellowships will take effect July 1, 2009.

Please visit our website to download forms: http://www.medicine.mcgill.ca/research/bursary/otheropportunities.htm

Please submit applications to: Dalia Soliman McGill University, Faculty of Medicine Awards Coordinator McIntyre Building, Room 637 3655 Promenade Sir William Osler Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6 [email protected]