Sanofi Biogenius Canada

Last updated

Sanofi Biogenius Canada (SBC), formerly known as the Sanofi BioGENEius Challenge Canada (SBCC), is a national, biotechnology-focused science competition for Canadian high school and CEGEP students.

Contents

SBC challenges students to initiate and undertake university-level research projects. Students submit a project proposal to a scientific evaluation committee that reviews their proposed research. For approved projects, the committee suggests mentors from the local biotechnology community. [1]

Working in teams or as individuals, the students spend approximately four months conducting research and collaborating with their mentor. In April, students compile their results, prepare scientific posters and present their findings at their regional competitions to a panel of judges from the local scientific, education and biotechnology communities. The judges grade students on originality and scientific merit, project execution and communication of their work. Cash prizes are awarded to the top five student teams and their schools. As well, in several regional competitions, one project is awarded a commercialization prize. [2]

The winner of each regional competition moves forward to the national competition that has historically taken place at the Ottawa headquarters of the National Research Council (NRC) of Canada. The top national winner goes on to participate in the International BioGENEius Challenge, which takes place each year in conjunction with the annual Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) International Convention. [3]

History

The SBC program began in the Toronto area in 1992 as the Connaught Student Biotechnology Exhibition (CSBE), the competition was established to raise biotechnology awareness among high school students, educators as well as the public and give hands-on exposure to its many applicants.

A group shot of all finalists standing in front of the National Research Council Canada building May 6th, 2009. A group shot of the finalists in front of the National Research Council Canada building May 6th, 2009.jpg
A group shot of all finalists standing in front of the National Research Council Canada building May 6th, 2009.

In 1996–97, the program expanded to Montreal, Quebec and to London, Ontario. The Ottawa region became the newest site in the fall of 1997. The biotechnology associations in Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, British Columbia and Saskatchewan launched competitions in the fall of 1998. In 2000, new programs were set up in Edmonton, Alberta and Manitoba. New Brunswick and Calgary, Alberta became competition sites in 2002. The 2005 competition marked the addition of Prince Edward Island as a participating region in the program. In 2009, Northern Manitoba was added as the 14th SBC region, and in 2010, students from Quebec City competed in the Montreal competition. Following a consolidation of programs in 2011, today's Sanofi Biogenius Canada has nine regional competitions: Atlantic region, Quebec, Eastern Ontario, Greater Toronto Area, Southwestern Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia.

The first national competition was held in 2002 when the BIO convention returned to Toronto, and has continued at the NRC headquarters in Ottawa for the past 10 years.

More than 4,700 students have participated in the SBC program since its inception in 1992. [4]

Founder and Partners

Sanofi Biogenius Canada was founded in 1992 by Sanofi Pasteur to engage younger students in biotechnology education. [2]

The program is managed by Partners in Research, on behalf of Sanofi Pasteur and Sanofi Canada, and in partnership with science outreach and biotechnology industry organizations across Canada. [2]

The SBC national program is sponsored by Sanofi Pasteur, Sanofi Canada, the National Research Council Canada, Canadian Institutes for Health Research, and the Centre for Drug Research and Development.

Research

The competition is intended to assist students in carrying out their biotechnology research ideas, with students often basing their projects on personal scientific knowledge and around individual concerns. [5] Students receive mentorship from local scientists and researchers on how to design a research plan, carry out experimental work, collect data, and analyze their findings for presentation to the regional competition audience. Occasionally, students may gain the opportunity to publish their work, thus giving them a more complete scientific research experience.

Competitions

Regional Competitions

In the spring of each year, students present their research findings and work to a panel of judges in regional competitions across the country. The judging panel is composed of scientists, managers, presidents of companies, government representatives, and education representatives. The panel represents people from all walks of life and students are challenged to explain their science to the general public, and to present their experimental work in a convincing manner. [1]

National Competition

The SBC national competition brings together each of the regional winners at a competition held each year at the National Research Council of Canada headquarters. [6]

The first national competition took place in 2002 at the BIO conference in Toronto. The 2003 through 2007 competitions were held via video-conferencing, with competitors presenting to a panel of judges located at the NRC in Ottawa. In 2008, the national competition switched to a live event held at the NRC headquarters, and has continued as a face-to-face event in each of the subsequent years. [7]

Students give a 10-minute presentation in front of a panel of Canadian scientists. The 2014 national judging panel included representatives from NRC and Genome Canada. [8]

Students compete for cash awards and a spot at the International BioGENEius Competition held at the BIO conference.

The National First-Place Winners from each year are listed below:

YearNameHigh SchoolProject Title/Description
2002 [9] Colleen ConnollySacred Heart High School of Halifax, Halifax, NS“Code Red! Effect of Statin Cholesterol Synthesis Inhibitors on Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule Expression”
2003 [10] Anila MadirajuCentennial Regional High School, Montreal, QCThe Effectiveness of RNA Interference in Cancer Treatment.
2004 [11] [12] Charles TranEdmonton, ABIdentifying a Genetic Mutation for a Rare Condition that Prevents Blood Clotting.
2005 [13] [14] Will TurkGrant Park High School, Winnipeg, MBA Discovery about the Genetics Of Sex Workers with Apparent HIV-AIDS Immunity.
2006 [15] James MacLeodAll Saints Catholic High School, Ottawa, ON"Cytokine Regulation of IL-7 Receptor Alpha Gene Expression" (A Better Understanding of How the HIV-AIDS Virus Attacks the Body's Immune System)
2007 [16] [17] Ted ParanjothyFort Richmond Collegiate, Winnipeg, MB"Peptide Derivatives of Apoptin: Structural Characterization and In Vitro Antiproliferative Screening in Cancer" (A Promising Potential Alternative to Chemotherapy)
2008 [18] [19] Maria MerziotisHillcrest High School, Ottawa, ON"Synthesis of a Receptor for the Influenza Virus" (Experimental "Flu Glue" Tricks Virus and Disrupts Infection Process)
2009 [20] [21] [22] Scott AdamsWalter Murray Collegiate Institute, Saskatoon, SK“Utilizing Antisense ODN Technology as a Means for Silencing Starch Biosynthetic Genes in Wheat” (Creating “Designer Wheat” with Starch Content Tailored to Different Products, from Textiles and Packaging to Foods and Glues)
2010 [23] [24] [25] Rui SongWalter Murray Collegiate Institute, Saskatoon, SK“Racing To Find A Marker: Development of Molecular Markers for Races of Colletotrichum truncatum” (Fingerprinting a Fungus that Destroys Lentil Crops)
2011 [26] [27] [28] Marshall ZhangBayview Secondary School, Richmond Hill, ON“Determining a Potential Basis for Mechanisms of Action of Small Molecules in the Rescue of Delta F508-CFTR” (Using a Supercomputer to Find a Promising New Treatment for Cystic Fibrosis)
2012 [29] [30] [31] [32] Janelle TamWaterloo Collegiate Institute, Waterloo, ON“Cellulose Crystals for Drug Delivery” (Cellulose – A Powerful Antioxidant in Tree Pulp)
2013 [33] Arjun NairWebber Academy, Calgary, AB"An Innovative Approach for a Synergistic Treatment of Cancer"
2014 [34] Nicole TiceaYork House School, Burnaby, BC"Microfluidic Point-of-Care Device for Diagnosis of HIV via Recombinase Polymerase Amplification." A novel method of HIV detection in developing countries. The test is capable of diagnosing HIV in newborns under the age of 18 months and in adults before three months post-transmission. It is the first test capable of analyzing HIV viral nucleic acids in a point-of-care, low-resource setting.
2015 [35] Aditya MohanColonel By Secondary School, Ottawa, ON"Development Of A Novel Oncolytic Virus For Cancer Treatment And Diagnosis." A new way to diagnose, monitor and treat cancer with lower dosages and a more targeted approach.
2016 [36] Iveta DemirovNew Westminster Secondary School, New Westminster, BC"Exploring the Development of Antibody-Scaffolded Membrane-Fusion Inhibitors for HIV-1 Therapy."

The project explored the possibility of inserting small, therapeutic peptides into an antibody with the intention of stabilizing them. Specifically tested were reiterations of peptides that inhibit HIV infection by preventing the virus from entering the host cell. Preliminary results predict that two of the antibody-scaffolded drugs will be able to neutralize HIV.

2017 [37] Tasnia Nabil Vincent Massey Secondary School, Windsor, ON"A Novel Computational Approach to Advance Ferromagnetic NanoTherapy as a Therapeutic Solution for Cancer."

Ferromagnetic NanoTherapy uses the heat generated from magnetic nanoparticle oscillations controlled by an external alternating magnetic field to destroy tumors but not healthy cells. It is minimally invasive and has little-to-know side effects, but lacks development due to complex thermometry. A novel computational tool was created to advance Ferromagnetic NanoTherapy into routine clinical applications by determining the necessary parameters for an optimal therapy and provide a visualization of the nanoparticle heat generation in the body.

International Competition

Since 2002, winners from the Canadian national competition have been competing in the international challenge. Each year the top Canadian winner goes on to participate in the International BioGENEius Challenge. [38]

In 2007, Ted Paranjothy from Winnipeg, Manitoba won the US$7,500 first prize at the sanofi-aventis International BioGENEius Challenge in Boston. [16] Canadians have placed within the top five in other years as well, with Anila Madiraju taking 3rd prize in 2003, and Rui Song winning the 3rd place award in 2012. [39] In 2015 the International BioGENEius Challenge. [38] invited the top two Canadian competitors and Austin Wang from New Westminster BC won the $7,500 prize for the Global Environmental Challenge. In 2017, Tasnia Nabil of Windsor, ON was named the runner up in the International BioGENEius Challenge. [40]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Research Council Canada</span> Primary national research and technology organization of the Government of Canada

The National Research Council Canada is the primary national agency of the Government of Canada dedicated to science and technology research and development. It is the largest federal research and development organization in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lap-Chee Tsui</span> Hong Kong academic

Lap-Chee Tsui is a Chinese-born Canadian geneticist and served as the 14th Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Hong Kong.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Polanyi</span> Canadian chemist (born 1929)

John Charles Polanyi is a German-born Canadian chemist. He was awarded the 1986 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his research in chemical kinetics.

The Gairdner Foundation is a non-profit organization devoted to the recognition of outstanding achievements in biomedical research worldwide. It was created in 1957 by James Arthur Gairdner to recognize and reward the achievements of medical researchers whose work contributes significantly to improving the quality of human life. Since the first awards were made in 1959, the Gairdner Awards have become Canada's most prestigious medical awards, recognizing and celebrating the research of the world’s best and brightest biomedical researchers. Since 1959, more than 390 Canada Gairdner Awards have been given to scientists from 35 countries; of these recipients, 95 have subsequently gone on to win a Nobel Prize.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International Science and Engineering Fair</span> Annual science fair in the U.S.

The Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) is an annual science fair in the United States. It is owned and administered by the Society for Science, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C. Each May, more than 1800 students from roughly 75 countries and territories compete in the fair for scholarships, tuition grants, internships, scientific field trips and the grand prizes, including one $75,000 and two $50,000 college scholarships. All prizes together amount to over $8,000,000. Two major awards ceremonies are the Special Awards Organization Presentation and the Grand Awards Ceremony. The International Science and Engineering Fair was founded in 1950 by Science Service and was sponsored by Intel from 1997 to 2019. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals became the title sponsor for ISEF in 2020, but the event was cancelled that year and replaced with an online version due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2021 ISEF was a fully virtual event while 2022 was held online and in-person in Atlanta, GA, and 2023 was in person in Dallas, TX. The 2024 ISEF will be held in person in Los Angeles, CA.

Started in 1962, the Canadian-Wide Science Fair (CWSF) is an annual science fair in Canada coordinated by Youth Science Canada. Finalists qualify from approximately 25,000 competitors at over 100 Youth Science Canada-affiliated regional science fairs in every province and territory, or, in the province of Quebec, the provincial science fair.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Partners in Research</span>

Partners In Research (PIR) is a registered Canadian charity founded in 1988 to advocate the significance of biomedical research in advancing health and medicine. Since its foundation, PIR has broadened its scope to encompass Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) as fields of study and discovery for Canadian students.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mexican Academy of Sciences</span> Academy of sciences

The Mexican Academy of Sciences(Academia Mexicana de Ciencias) is a non-profit organization comprising over 1800 distinguished Mexican scientists, attached to various institutions in the country, as well as a number of eminent foreign colleagues, including various Nobel Prize winners. The organization, which encompasses exact and natural sciences as well as the social sciences and humanities, is founded on the belief that education, based on the truth of scientific knowledge, is the only means, in the short and long term, of achieving the development of the Mexican spirit and national sovereignty.

The Maple Blues Awards are Canada’s blues awards, "honouring the finest in Canadian blues". They are the only comprehensive national best in blues awards program. The program's goal is to promote blues music across Canada, and to recognize outstanding achievement. The Maple Blues Awards have been presented by the Toronto Blues Society since their inception in 1997.

Expenditures by federal and provincial organizations on scientific research and development accounted for about 10% of all such spending in Canada in 2006. These organizations are active in natural and social science research, engineering research, industrial research and medical research.

Expenditures by Canadian corporations on research and development accounted for about 50% of all spending on scientific research and development in Canada in 2007.

This article outlines the history of natural scientific research in Canada, including physics, astronomy, space science, geology, oceanography, chemistry, biology, and medical research. Neither the social sciences nor the formal sciences are treated here.

This article outlines the history of Canadian technological invention. Technologies chosen for treatment here include, in rough order, transportation, communication, energy, materials, industry, public works, public services, domestic/consumer and defence technologies.

Deepak Gaur was an Indian molecular biologist, and a professor at the School of Biotechnology of Jawaharlal Nehru University. Known for his studies on Plasmodium falciparum, Gaur is a recipient of the N-Bios Prize. The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, the apex agency of the Government of India for scientific research, awarded him the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology, one of the highest Indian science awards, for his contributions to medical sciences in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gillian Wu</span> Canadian immunologist

Gillian Elizabeth Wu is a Canadian Immunologist and the former Dean of Pure and Applied Science at York University. She is currently Professor Emerita in York University's Faculty of Science and Faculty of Health and also at the University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raymond Desjardins</span>

Raymond L. Desjardins is a senior research scientist at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) in the Agrienvironment Division of the Ottawa Research and Development Centre. His areas of expertise include agricultural meteorology, micrometeorology, air quality, and climate change. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, was co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 2007, and in 2018 was appointed as Member of the Order of Canada for his research in agrometeorology and for his innovative devices to quantify greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Connaught Laboratories</span> Non-commercial public health entity

The Connaught Medical Research Laboratories was a non-commercial public health entity established by Dr. John G. FitzGerald in 1914 in Toronto to produce the diphtheria antitoxin. Contemporaneously, the institution was likened to the Pasteur Institutes in France and Belgium and the Lister Institute in London. It expanded significantly after the discovery of insulin at the University of Toronto in 1921, manufacturing and distributing insulin at cost in Canada and overseas. Its non-commercial mandate mediated commercial interests and kept the medication accessible. In the 1930s, methodological advances at Connaught updated the international standard for insulin production.

BIOTECanada, or the Industrial Biotechnology Association of Canada, is a Canadian biotechnology industry association based in Ottawa, Ontario. It is an industry-funded membership organization composed of over 250 national and international pharmaceutical and gene therapy companies, medical device manufacturers, agricultural science businesses, law firms, academic institutions, research and development networks, advertising agencies, insurance companies and financial services firms.

References

  1. 1 2 "Competition Information | Sanofi Biogenius Canada". biogenius.ca. Retrieved 2017-09-13.
  2. 1 2 3 "What is the SBC? | Sanofi Biogenius Canada". biogenius.ca. Retrieved 2017-09-13.
  3. ↑ International BioGENEius Challenge Process
  4. ↑ "What is the SBC". biogenius.ca. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
  5. ↑ "Successes | Sanofi Biogenius Canada". biogenius.ca. Retrieved 2017-09-13.
  6. ↑ "National Competition | Sanofi Biogenius Canada". biogenius.ca. Archived from the original on 2014-09-18.
  7. ↑ Canadian Young Scientist Journal. SABC History Timeline and Highlights. Rick Levick. pp.4-5.ISSN 1913-1925. 2.2011
  8. ↑ "2014 Sanofi BioGENEius Challenge Canada (SBCC) Highlights Newest Crop of Potential Top Scientists | SanofiPasteur.ca". www.sanofipasteur.ca. Retrieved 2017-09-13.
  9. ↑ The Biotech HR Pulse. 2002 Aventis Biotech Challenge National Winners Announced in Toronto. Biotechnology Human Resource Council; Ottawa, ON; July/August 2002.
  10. ↑ 2003 National Winner
  11. ↑ 2004 National Winners
  12. ↑ The Canadian Press. May 13, 2004. Dene Moore. “Keen teen takes home $16,000 in prizes at annual biotech awards.” Toronto, ON.
  13. ↑ 2005 National Winner
  14. ↑ The Canadian Press. May 15, 2005. “Student gets science award: Surprised to win $5,000 top prize”. Toronto, ON.
  15. ↑ 2006 National Winner
  16. 1 2 2007 National Winner
  17. ↑ Media Coverage of the 2007 National Competition
  18. ↑ 2008 National Winners
  19. ↑ "Ottawa teen discovers new way to attack flu virus". CTV News . 2008-05-07. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04.
  20. ↑ 2009 National Winners
  21. ↑ Project Title of 2009 National Winner.
  22. ↑ Media Coverage of the 2009 National Competition and Winners by The Canadian Press. Archived 2013-02-16 at archive.today
  23. ↑ 2010 National Winners
  24. ↑ Project Profile of 2010 National Winner
  25. ↑ 2010 National Winner Media Coverage by The Canadian Press
  26. ↑ 2011 National Winners
  27. ↑ Project Title of 2011 Winner
  28. ↑ Media Coverage of the 2011 Winner by the Toronto Star
  29. ↑ 2012 National Winners
  30. ↑ Project Profile of 2012 Winner
  31. ↑ Project Title of 2012 Winner
  32. ↑ Media Coverage of the 2012 Winner by Agence France-Presse Archived 2012-07-16 at the Wayback Machine
  33. ↑ "Student, 16, Progresses Experimental Way to Kill Cancer with Gold Nano "Bullets," Marvels Experts". biogenius.ca. 9 April 2013.
  34. ↑ "2014 Winner". Global News. Retrieved 2017-09-13.
  35. ↑ "Canada's Top Student Scientist Recognized at Sanofi Biogenius Canada National Final | SanofiPasteur.ca". www.sanofipasteur.ca. Retrieved 2017-09-13.
  36. ↑ "LifeSciences BC Announces Winner of Sanofi Biogenius Canada Competition for B.C." www.businesswire.com. 22 April 2016. Retrieved 2017-09-13.
  37. ↑ "2017 Sanofi Biogenies Winner Tasnia Nabil".
  38. 1 2 Guidelines for Competition in the International BioGENEius Challenge
  39. ↑ 2012 International BioGENEius Challenge Winners Archived 2012-12-03 at the Wayback Machine
  40. ↑ "BioGENEIus Winner and Runners Up Press Release" (PDF).

\

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.