Congratulations to Breanna Belisle and Justin Lin on placing 2nd and 3rd respectively in the Sanofi Biogenius Canada regional final, hosted April 9 at the St. Boniface Hospital Research Centre. Both students were mentored in their projects by Dr. Michael P. Czubryt, Principal Investigator, Molecular Pathophysiology, Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences.
Dr. Bram Ramjiawan,Director of Research for the Asper Clinical Research Institute, with Justin Lin
Dr. Bram Ramjiawan,Director of Research for the Asper Clinical Research Institute, with Brenna Belisle
The 2015 Sanofi Biogenius Manitoba regional final awards ceremony, Thursday April 9th at the St Boniface Hospital Research Centre, from left to right: Dr. Bram Ramjiawan, Director of Research for the Asper Clinical Research Institute; Dennis Drewnik, Grade 11 Student, Sisler High School, Winnipeg and Winner of First Prize; Robert Brown, Co-ordinator and Science Advisor, Manitoba Region, Sanofi Biogenius Challenge (SBC); Dr. Douglas Thomson, Professor and Associate Dean (Research and Graduate Programs), The University of Manitoba.
1st place went to Dennis Drewnick of Sisler High School for his research project on plant genetics and disease, with mentor support from Professor Mark Belmonte from the University of Manitoba.
Belisle, a grade 12 student at Fort Richmond Collegiate, placed 2nd for her project exploring the possibility of reducing damage to the heart following cardiac injury through the regulation of gene “action”, the method by which genes exert their effect on tissues or processes.
Lin, a grade 10 student at St. John’s Ravenscourt, placed 3rd for his project exploring whether cholesterol medication in the form of statin drugs can be effective in treating fibrosis (the thickening and scarring of connective tissue) in the heart muscle.
About Sanofi Biogenius Canada (SBC)
For over two decades, the Sanofi Biogenius Canada (SBC) program has nurtured young minds and fostered great talent for the future, challenging high school students to carry out groundbreaking research projects in the field of biotechnology. In past years, participants’ elite research projects range in topic, from cancer and Alzheimer’s disease, to agriculture and the environment. Many have since been patented and commercialized, garnering international media attention and igniting a true culture of innovation in Canada. For many participants, the SBC has proven vastly influential in mapping out future careers – in some cases paving the way for studies in ivy league schools and exciting internships in the biotech industry.