By Graham Cook

SFU researchers receive new grants

Teams led by Simon Fraser University researchers Fiona Brinkman and Cenk Sahinalp will use Genome Canada grants in order to create tools to analyze the DNA of cancer patients. The funds stem from Genome Canada’s 2012 Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Competition, which distributed money to 17 projects across Canada. Alongside the Public Health Agency of Canada and BC Public Health Microbiology and Reference Lab, Brinkman’s team will work on new ways for health investigators to use and share genomics information. Sahinalp’s team will use a method called compressed sensing/sparse recovery to investigate the role of alternative splicing in cancer and will work with the Vancouver Prostate Centre.

With files from SFU PAMR

BC government offers ideas for universities to save money

To combat the recent $46 million funding cut to post-secondary education the BC government has created the Post Secondary Administrative Service Delivery Project. It outlines ways that British Columbia’s numerous universities can cut costs, including combining things such as information technology, purchasing, and libraries. The main idea is that more favourable rates can be achieved if multiple universities are combined in one contract. The project is similar to BC Campus which creates products like ApplyBC which helps streamline the university application process.

With files from The Ubyssey

U of A eco-car held up at American border

A University of Alberta team hoping to compete in the Shell Eco-Marathon competition had their dreams dashed as the car was not able to make it through customs. According to the team, Affiliated Custom Broker Ltd. (the company they chose to get the car into the US) was unaware of some of the rules around importing vehicles. The main issue overlooked was that the package did not have EPA approval, which is required 30 days prior to shipping. Six of the 11 team members will be graduating this year meaning that they will be unable to ever race the vehicle.

With files from The Gateway

Tuition freeze to remain for students in Newfoundland

The provincial government of Newfoundland and Labrador has, in their new budget, decided to maintain the tuition freeze for students at the Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN) and the College of the North Atlantic. This decision is largely a result of both MUN’s Student Union and the Newfoundland and Labrador branch of the Canadian Federation of Students lobbying to keep the freeze in place. In addition, Joan Shea, the Provincial Minister of Advanced Education, also sees affordable post-secondary education as a priority for the government.

With files from The Muse