The Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) has announced funding for research equipment at the University of Northern British Columbia as part of an anti-cancer drug discovery platform that will be unique in Canada. The funding will help purchase highly specialized equipment that will allow researchers to screen chemical molecules for their cancer-fighting potential and provide a glimpse into how they might act as drugs.

“This equipment will enable the development of a fluorescence-based technique to screen libraries of chemicals. It will be the first of its kind in Canada,” says Dr. Chow Lee, the UNBC biochemistry professor who is spearheading the program. “This research is very important because it will allow future study into designing more potent anti-cancer drugs.”

Dr. Lee explains the goal of the project is to develop a method of flagging chemical molecules that interfere with cancerous activity using the purchased equipment: a Fluorescence Multiplate Reader and a Circular Dichroism Spectropolarimeter. “This equipment will allow researchers to ‘preview’ how the identified molecules act as anti-cancer agents,” says Dr. Lee. “Any chemical molecules that we flag are expected to act through a new molecular pathway to inhibit the development of tumors.”

Dr. Lee’s research involves the protein CRD-BP, which is only over-produced in many cancers including breast, lung, ovarian, colon, and skin cancers. Research from around the world, including here at UNBC, so far indicates that the reason CRD-BP is associated with cancers is its ability to physically interact with certain RNA molecules that code for cancer-causing proteins. In this program, Dr. Lee and his team at UNBC will attempt to find chemical molecules that have the ability to break the interaction between CRD-BP and its target RNA.

“At UNBC, we have the combined knowledge, expertise, and technical know-how to conduct this research,” adds Dr. Lee. “Due to our past experiences working in this field, we also have the specific reagents (chemicals such as proteins and RNA molecules) to allow us to pursue this rare opportunity.”

“Congratulations to Dr. Lee on the success of his research. Our Conservative Government’s commitment to research and innovation has and is being demonstrated by the Leaders Opportunity Fund,” says Cariboo-Prince George Member of Parliament Dick Harris. “This project meets the high standards required to qualify for funding under this program.”

“Investing in science and technology is essential to the future of Canada’s economic growth,” said Bob Zimmer, Member of Parliament for Prince George-Peace River. “Our government’s commitment to helping universities, like UNBC, attract and retain world-leading research talent will lead to discoveries that improve the quality of life of Canadians and create new jobs.”

CFI’s funding brings the total collected for the equipment so far to over $135,000 towards the approximately $223,000 overall cost. “I’d also like to thank the Northern Cancer Control Strategy for their contribution as well as the University for investing seed money into this project,” says Dr. Lee. 

Media Advisory: Chow Lee is in currently in Malaysia. Media wishing to contact him for an interview this week can phone 011.607.222.3672 between 3pm-5pm PDST on January 24 and 25, 2012.

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Dr. Chow Lee

Dr. Chow Lee in his lab