ON CAMPUS NEWS news.usask.ca MARCH 13, 2020 Volume 27, Issue 7 SEEKING SOLUTIONS Researchers across campus in the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Medicine, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, and the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization- International Vaccine Centre are seeking solutions for deadly diseases like coronavirus and antimicrobial resistant bacteria, as well as virulent influenza outbreaks in animal populations. In this edition of On Campus News, we speak with Dr. Volker Gerdts (DVM), Dr. JoAnne Dillon (PhD), Dr. Mirek Cygler (PhD) and Dr. Susan Detmer (DVM) about the important research work currently underway on campus. (Image of coronavirus courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) SEE PAGES 3-4, 8-9 — 6-7 — — 12 — — 16 — FLOOD RESEARCH HUSKIES CHAMPIONS MEDIEVAL MANUSCRIPTS Publication Mail Agreement #40065156 USask training pharmacists to help address substance use KIERAN KOBITZ A new resource is being developed “It’s important to understand the community and are well-posi- at the University of Saskatchewan why and how patients arrived in their tioned to help address substance use (USask) to help address opioid and current situations,” said Dr. Charity disorders. On Campus News is published 12 times crystal meth use in the province. Evans (PhD), director of CPDPP. The training program is per year by University of Saskatchewan Continuing Professional Devel- Funding for the program comes intended to be one piece of an Marketing and Communications. It is opment for Pharmacy Professionals from the bilateral agreement between overall harm reduction strategy in distributed to all USask faculty, staff, graduate students and members of (CPDPP), a unit within USask’s the Government of Canada and the province. governing bodies, as well as to others College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, the Government of Saskatchewan “Harm reduction is a huge, in the university community, related will take the lead on training provin- under the Emergency Treatment complex system and there isn’t organizations, some Saskatchewan cial pharmacists and pharmacy Fund, which was part of the 2018 one simple answer to addressing government officials and news media. technicians in a new program to federal budget to provide one-time substance use disorders,” continued Subscriptions are available for $24 help address substance use disorders emergency funding for provinces Evans. “Pharmacy professionals in per year. Story and photo ideas in the province. and territories to improve access to Saskatchewan will soon be an addi- are welcome. Advertising rates are available online or on request. Beginning this spring, CPDPP evidence-based treatment services. tional resource to help people with will start training Saskatchewan Through the agreement, the substance use disorders.” JOSH SCHAEFER - pharmacists in opioid agonist Saskatchewan Ministry of Health is The training program will On Campus News aims to provide a therapy, which includes opioid Dr. Charity Evans (PhD). providing CPDPP with $100,000 to also be interdisciplinary, and will forum for the sharing of timely news, substitution therapy such as develop and implement the training utilize expertise from individuals information and opinions about methadone. But the training will and creates opportunities for people program. with lived experience, pharmacists events and issues of interest to the USask community. also help pharmacists better under- to rebuild a sense of control and The overall goal of the new already involved in harm reduction stand patient needs and root causes empowerment. The case-basedprogram is to increase access to activities, doctors, nurses and other The views and opinions expressed by writers of letters to the editor and of substance use. learning approach will help pharma- services to help people who are health-care professionals, and will viewpoints do not necessarily reflect The new program will embrace cists understand the lived experiences using opioids and crystal meth. As be delivered through both online those of USask or On Campus News. the concept of trauma-informed of their patients, rather than simply front-line health-care professionals, modules and in-person workshops - practice that emphasizes physical, viewing the situation as a condition pharmacists and technicians are psychological, and emotional safety to be treated with medication. regularly in contact with people in SEE TRAINING, PAGE 15 We acknowledge we are on Treaty 6 Territory and the Homeland of the Métis. We pay our respect to the First Nation and Métis ancestors of this place and reaffirm our relationship with one another. - IN CASE YOU MISSED IT EDITOR A lot happens at the USask during the weeks when On Campus News isn’t published. James Shewaga Here are a few of the top stories from news.usask.ca: WRITERS Laila Balkhi, Katie Brickman-Young, Sean Conroy, Megan Evans, Jody Gress, Kieran Kobitz, James Shewaga, Vannelli moving on USask-city partner Accreditation met Research funding Carlee Snow, Sarah Thomas. The University of Saskatchewan Measuring pharmaceuticals in Sas- USask’s College of Medicine has USask pharmacy researchers have DESIGNERS (USask) is looking for a new pro- katoon’s wastewater, diverting food achieved further strong results been awarded more than $1.7 million Brian Kachur vost and vice-president academic from the landfill to save money and from the Committee on Accredita- over three years to implement Pierre Wilkinson after Dr. Tony Vannelli (PhD) an- the planet, and improving property tion of Canadian Medical Schools and assess a new pharmacist-led nounced that he is stepping down assessment appeals are some of the (CACMS), meaning a site visit will interprofessional model for chronic to move closer to his family in On- first research projects of a new col- not be required until 2025 or 2026. pain management aimed at reducing tario and take a new position as laboration between the City of Sas- While the college achieved full ac- opioid use and improve patient provost at Wilfrid Laurier Universi- katoon and USask researchers. Five creditation in the wake of a com- health. Funded by Health Canada’s ty, effective August 1. USask Presi- projects have been awarded a total of plete onsite review in 2017, CACMS Substance Use and Addictions dent Peter Stoicheff said an interna- $100,000 through the Research Junc- required follow-up reports that Program, pharmacy researchers tional search for the next provost is tion Development Grant program, a weren’t available at the time of the Derek Jorgenson and Katelyn Halpape ISSN: 1195-7654 already underway, with an interim jointly funded university-municipal visit. The college submitted those will lead a team to implement and PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40065156 provost and vice-president academ- research partnership announced in reports in 2019 and announced suc- test the new approach. Doctors and Return undeliverable addresses to: ic to be appointed prior to Vannel- 2019. Projects funded through the cessful results in late February. The nurse practitioners will refer patients UNIVERSITY OF SASKATCHEWAN li’s departure. Vannelli joined US- initiative create hands-on learning college has now earned the satisfac- to pharmacists to provide improved MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS ask on August 1, 2017 after 10 years and research opportunities for USask tion of the accrediting body across pain management plans and G16 THORVALDSON BUILDING at the University of Guelph. students and post-doctoral fellows. all 93 areas CACMS reviewed. information on non-drug options. 110 SCIENCE PLACE SASKATOON, SK S7N 5C9 Email: [email protected] FOR MORE UP-TO-THE-MINUTE NEWS, VISIT: news.usask.ca @usask 2 MARCH 13, 2020 VIDO-InterVac team tackles coronavirus Researchers developing prototype vaccines at University of Saskatchewan JAMES SHEWAGA As the world prepares for a potential pandemic, coronavirus has become the No.1 priority for researchers at the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization-International Vaccine Centre (VIDO-InterVac) at the University of Saskatchewan (USask). With the World Health Orga- nization confirming that the new strain of coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, continues to spread rapidly (more than 114,000 people infected in more than 110 countries and more Dr. Volker Gerdts (DVM) than 4,000 deaths as of March 10), VIDO-InterVac researchers have In addition to combating the successfully grown the virus in a cell coronavirus outbreak spreading culture and are now testing a new through the human population, vaccine in animals as part of the VIDO-InterVac is also working hard global effort to combat the corona- on a vaccine to fight the growing virus threat. threat to the world’s swine popula- “The virus continues to spread, tion, with serious implications for with more cases and further global food security. geographic reach than what was “African swine fever is initially anticipated,” said Dr. Volker VIDO-InterVac researchers are working on prototype vaccines to combat the new coronavirus outbreak. DAVID STOBBE spreading and VIDO-InterVac is Gerdts (DVM), director and CEO The USask-based research team and collaborating scientists received $1 million in research funding March 6. the only non-government Canadian of VIDO-InterVac, which received facility that has received permission approval in early January from the global fight against coronavirus. in cattle and pigs,” said Gerdts. “We need another $10 million to fully to work with the virus, and that Public Health Agency of Canada to “We are very well-positioned