July 22, 2006

50 researchers – primarily from BC and Alberta – will be meeting at UNBC on July24-25 to present some of their findings on the frontier of genetic research. CalledRiboWest, the conference is bringingtogether researchers and students to share recent results related to theirresearch on RNA, which is transcribed from DNA and serves as the template forthe translation of genes into proteins.

The RiboWest conference is the most recent example of agrowing profile at UNBC for teaching and research related to health and humandevelopment. For example, though it is only three years old, the University’sBiochemistry and Molecular Biology major is the third-most popular program andthe genetics research lab in the Dr. Donald Rix Northern Health Sciences Centrehas more than 20 students working on various research projects.

“Our research is contributing to an understanding of howmolecules can make things be alive,” says Biochemistry and Molecular Biologyprofessor Stephen Rader, who is one of the organizers of the UNBC conference. Dr.Rader conducts research on how RNA molecules are spliced together to createdifferent genetic combinations. Errors in the splicing process are believed tolead to diseases such as cancer and cystic fibrosis. Last year, Dr. Rader hadfive students working in his lab; this summer, he has 12. Among their projectsare those listed here:

July 22, 2006

50 researchers – primarily from BC and Alberta – will be meeting at UNBC on July24-25 to present some of their findings on the frontier of genetic research. CalledRiboWest, the conference is bringingtogether researchers and students to share recent results related to theirresearch on RNA, which is transcribed from DNA and serves as the template forthe translation of genes into proteins.

The RiboWest conference is the most recent example of agrowing profile at UNBC for teaching and research related to health and humandevelopment. For example, though it is only three years old, the University’sBiochemistry and Molecular Biology major is the third-most popular program andthe genetics research lab in the Dr. Donald Rix Northern Health Sciences Centrehas more than 20 students working on various research projects.

“Our research is contributing to an understanding of howmolecules can make things be alive,” says Biochemistry and Molecular Biologyprofessor Stephen Rader, who is one of the organizers of the UNBC conference. Dr.Rader conducts research on how RNA molecules are spliced together to createdifferent genetic combinations. Errors in the splicing process are believed tolead to diseases such as cancer and cystic fibrosis. Last year, Dr. Rader hadfive students working in his lab; this summer, he has 12. Among their projectsare those listed here:

- Researching the exact protein that renews the human splicingmechanism to better understand how genetic diseases come to be.

- Determining if molecules such as environmental pollutants oreven perfumes affect the splicing process.

- Understanding the genetic mechanisms behind retinitis pigmentosa,an inherited eye disease.

- Developing a new technique using fluorescence and UV lightto determine the presence of nuclear RNAs in various genetic combinations.

“A characteristic of our lab is the large number of undergraduatestudents engaged in these projects,” says Dr. Rader. “This simply isn’t thecase at many other universities and some of our students have won provincialand national research awards – without evening finishing their bachelor’sdegrees.”

High-resolution photos are available upon request.

For further information, contact:

Stephen Rader, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology professor,UNBC – 250.960.6216

Rob van Adrichem, Director of Media and Public Relations,UNBC – 250.960.5622