Research and Innovation : In The News

Researchers from University of Toronto have made giant strides in the search for relief from obstructive sleep apnea, a sleeping disorder that effects more than 18 million North Americans. As reported by the Medical News, the UofT scientists found that repeated obstruction of the airways releases the brain chemical noradrenaline, an important finding as it suggests that common drugs that affect noradrenaline levels in the brain could be used to improve breathing in patients suffering from sleep apnea.

"In a recent study that appeared in the Journal of Neuroscience, scientists from the University demonstrated that repeated obstruction of the airways requires release of the brain chemical noradrenaline. The release of this chemical helps the brain learn to breathe more effectively and purposefully."

"What we showed is that repeated disruption of normal lung activity - what happens during sleep apnea - triggers a form of learning that helps you breathe better. This type of brain plasticity could be harnessed to help overcome the breathing insufficiency that typifies sleep apnea" says Dr. John Peever, Associate Professor of neuroscience and lead author of the study."

"These findings are important because they suggest that artificial manipulation with common drugs that affect noradrenaline levels in the brain could also help improve breathing in patients suffering from sleep apnea. This work could serve as the potential basis for developing the long sought after pill for sleep apnea."

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original source Medical News

The Financial Times writes why Canada is a good bet for international students seeking an MBA. Canada is lauded for its impressive business schools (notably Toronto's Rotman School of Management), healthy banking culture, and robust financial sector.

"The University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management estimates that the mean starting salary for its graduates rose to C$86,245 ($86,490) in 2010 from C$85,454 the previous year."

"Canada's big banks are in much healthier shape than most of their US and European counterparts. RBC, the country's biggest financial institution, had 72,100 people on its payroll at the end of October 2010, only slightly down from two years earlier, and 11 per cent more than in late 2007. Noting that MBAs are an important pool for the bank's future leadership, Galbraith says: "We need to keep that pipeline open."

"In a bid to capitalise on international interest in Canada's financial sector, a group of Toronto-based banks, insurers and asset managers has joined forces with Rotman to set up the Global Risk Institute in Financial Services. The institute, backed by C$10m in government grants, will provide research in various aspects of risk management and promote collaboration between regulators, policymakers and the financial industry."

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original source Financial Times

Toronto has been named one of the world's 10 "startup hubs to watch" by entrepreneurial product development company, The Grasshopper Group.

"Although not historically known as a nexus of entrepreneurship, Toronto has come onto the scene as a fast-moving startup city. As the Toronto page of AreaStartups.com explains, the city now possesses a "vibrant and quickly growing startup ecosystem" comprised of nearly 400 companies. Well-known local startups include NetShelter Technology Media, Casale Media and Macrae's Blue Book. BlogTo lists 10 of the top Toronto startups of 2009 � many of which are still thriving today."

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original source The Grasshopper Group

The International Business Times praises Toronto's Rotman School of Management for offering an MBA program that successfully fosters innovation and entrepreneurship. Part of the University of Toronto, Rotman is lauded for its Centre for Integrative Thinking, a lab where international scholars collaborate to conduct original and innovative research.

"The Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto internalizes innovation and flexibility through a concept coined by it as Integrative Thinking TM."

"At the Desautels Centre for Integrative Thinking, internationally-renowned scholars come together to push the frontiers of Integrative Thinking and conduct original research, making Rotman a focal point for thought leadership and dialogue in this area.
In addition to discipline-based courses in areas like Finance and Accounting, first-year students at the Rotman MBA also take 'Fundamentals of Integrative Thinking.' This focuses on understanding and analyzing the big picture so that they are able to approach each challenge with creativity and a willingness to take risks."

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original source International Business Times

An new Toronto organization is offering would-be entrepreneurs the chance to win $1,000 cash, no strings attached, to turn innovative ideas into reality. There's only one requirement, the idea has to be awesome. The Toronto Star writes on the newly formed Toronto Chapter of the Awesome Foundation.

"It's about turning random flashes of half-baked genius into reality," says Matt Thompson, the Toronto chapter's Trustee of Awesome."

"Yes. That is his official title."

"The money is given up front in cash. No strings attached. No questions asked. And the Awesome Foundation will make no claims to ownership of the idea or the finished product."

"The Trustees of Awesome � 10 for each chapter, give or take � put up $100 of their own money every month to support awesome projects.Make no mistake; they won't peer over your shoulder as you work toward your goal. They open their wallets with hope, trust and blind faith.The Toronto trustees are a mix of artsy folks, entrepreneurs and researchers."

"We're just 10 average schmucks who care about advancing the cause of awesome," says Thompson, who works for a non-profit.

"Applications for the first Toronto grant are due on Feb 15. The Toronto Trustees will get together � probably at a pub, Thompson says � to read over the submissions. They'll pick a winner by consensus."

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original source Toronto Star

As reported by the National Post, the federal government has declared 2011 the "Year of the Entrepreneur". The announcement, made at the Digital Media Zone at Ryerson University, was the result of a combined effort from the Canadian Youth Business Foundation and the Canadian Federation of Independent Business to make entrepreneurship in the coming year a top federal priority.

"In a joint statement, CYBF and CFIB said "Year of the Entrepreneur initiatives will bring together like-minded organizations from across the country to exchange ideas, establish networks and collaborate on partnerships that will help drive sustainable economic growth." Vivian Prokop, chief executive of CYBF, said the designation will help build momentum "to show the world Canada is propelling economic recovery and growth through entrepreneurship." As part of the celebration of entrepreneurs, CYBF plans to launch the entrepreneurial Educator of the Year Award, continue to build on Canada's presence at the G20 Young Entrepreneur Summit, and start new programs for innovation, socialpreneurs and newcomers."

"Rob Moore, Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism) and Ted Menzies, Minister of State (Finance) were on hand to make the announcement but the message was clear � the Harper Government was passing on the baton of Canada's economic action plan to the private sector."

"As we move into the next phase � Canada's outstanding entrepreneurs and the small and medium-sized business community will play even greater roles in securing our fragile economic recovery. Designating 2011 as the Year of the Entrepreneur marks the symbolic beginning of the new phase of that recovery," Mr. Moore said."

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original source National Post

The Toronto Star writes on the 2011 DiverseCity Fellowship, a year long leadership and networking program for Toronto's future city-builders. This year's fellowship, a joint initiative of the Maytree Foundation and Greater Toronto CivicAction Alliance, has been offered to 24 notable Torontonians.

"This year's group includes city planners, bankers, health workers, research analysts, accountants and the founder of the Black Daddies Club community organization in the Jane-Finch neighbourhood."

"Now in its third year, the fellowship is a joint initiative of the Maytree Foundation and Greater Toronto CivicAction Alliance, formerly the Toronto City Summit Alliance."

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original source Toronto Star

In January of last year Toronto City Hall announced an ambitious and innovative sustainability policy, requiring all new buildings and retrofits to include a green roof. Now, one year later, Blog TO looks at some of the most noteworthy projects that have emerged as a result.

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original source Blog TO

The Toronto Star writes on Toronto's Centre for Youth Development and Mentoring Services, a non-profit mentoring program that works with youth vulnerable to gangs and drugs. Started by four friends -- Alihashi, Abdifatah Warsame, Ali Sheikh and Abdi Qami -- in 2006, the program has had tremendous success. None of the 300 teens who participated have dropped out of school and many have gone on to higher education.

"The program has carried on quietly for five years, keeping a low profile; but its results have been miraculous. None of the 300-odd teens who participated in the program have dropped out of school. Their grades have gone from low C's and D's to high B's and, in some cases, A's. And many have gone on to college and university."

"But most of all, the teens have stayed out of trouble � away from the street crime that has plagued the community."

It's a well-documented fact that children from Somali, Arab, Iranian, Portuguese and Vietnamese communities have a dropout rate two to three times greater than the national average.The four Somali-Canadian friends, in their 30s, could never wrap their heads around those numbers. Back in 2006, they chatted about how they could help teens in their community."

"They (teens) faced the same problems as we did," says Alihashi. "Poor neighbourhoods, low-income families. We made it through school and based on our experiences, we wanted to help other kids."

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original source Toronto Star

The Toronto Star features Kidscentral Supply, Toronto-based company that specializes in wholesaling children's products. Launched in 2001 by Toronto couple Boris and Tammy Zilberberg, the company now boasts a staff of 12, five sales representatives and annual sales of about $4 million.

"Boris says Kidcentral has prospered, to a great extent, because retailing of children's products in Canada is still a Mom and Pop business, with none of the dominant national chains or category killers that control other lines of merchandise."

"That means retailers rely on wholesalers like Kidcentral to identify, source and supply them with the latest and greatest kids' stuff. It helps that the Zilberbergs have a background as storekeepers and have the desire to find the next great product by attending trade shows around the world. What sets Kidcentral apart from its competitors is the attention to detail, the quality of merchandise and customer service, says Terry Leahy, owner of Safety Superstore, a three-store chain of children's products in the GTA. "They keep us informed of anything new, keep track of their clients' inventory and conduct in-store training of staff."

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original source Toronto Star

The National Post writes on 4D Cityscape Time Puzzles, a series of city maquettes designed by Toronto entrepreneur Shaun Sakdinan. Sakdinan's launched his puzzles series--scale replicas of cities around the world--early this year and are already being carried by more than 3,000 stores internationally. New York, the first city designed was unveiled last October, quickly followed by Chicago, Las Vegas, Washington and Toronto.

"Each puzzle starts on a base of traditional jigsaw pieces, complete with glow-in-the-dark streets; once that's complete, the next layer uses scale-model buildings to create a given city's current skyline. Sakdinan's twist is the addition of what a fourth dimension: time. Architectural landmarks such as islands, bridges, statues and buildings get installed in chronological sequence."

The first 4D Cityscape metropolis, New York, was unveiled last October. "It's the hardest city," Sakdinan said, "and we wanted a challenge!" In addition to the base pieces, the puzzle contains 126 interlocking landmarks that span two centuries. Next came Chicago, Las Vegas, Washington and Toronto, "because we're from Toronto and we had to have Toronto," he said. (Canadians seem to have a knack for puzzles. The original 3-D puzzles, Puzz-3D, were pioneered by Montreal's Paul Gallant and his puzzle company Wrebbit.)

"The idea is when you get the jigsaw puzzle complete, it teaches you the history of the city. After City Hall in 1812 in New York the next building might be 1940, the Chrysler building," he enthused. "You're recreating time. If you wanted to take a rest you could leave it at the skyline in 1970 and experience it how it was at that moment in time."

"The educational puzzles are now carried by more than 3,000 stores internationally � including FAO Schwartz, National Geographic, Toys "R" Us and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Harrods and Hamleys in London (in Canada, the 4-D CityScape Puzzles are $29.99 and available at Sears stores across the country and through Mastermind Toys). It was also named 2010 Gift of the Year by the Gift Association of the U.K."

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original source National Post

The Globe & Mail looks into the innovative research of Julie McCarthy, a professor at the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management. McCarthy has spent years studying the negative effects of putting employees and potential employees under intense pressure, suggesting that companies looking for the best candidates should seek to minimize anxiety levels at the workplace.

"Some people might argue that we want to hire someone who can handle anxiety and if you can't handle it in a job interview, how can you handle it on the job," she says. And in some cases, that may be true. But, for the most part, the intense pressure that candidates face in job interviews isn't characteristic of the day-to-day performance that's required of them, argues Dr. McCarthy. "Just because someone is anxious in a job interview doesn't mean they aren't going to be a phenomenal employee," she says. "They might actually be superb."

"The research has important implications for companies that want to ensure they use fair and objective hiring and advancement practices and select the best qualified people. "You want to get as accurate a picture as possible of the individual," she says."

"Dr. McCarthy has been studying workplace anxiety since she was a PhD student, when she developed work selection tests for various companies. Friends and colleagues used to turn to her for advice on how to curb their nervousness during job interviews. Her research work now focuses on analyzing the impact of employee anxiety on test and interview performance. She collaborates with numerous employers to gauge the impact of anxiety on an employee's performance in job interviews, annual reviews and promotional exams, and to identify strategies to reduce the negative effects of anxiety. She has worked with police services, retailers, the armed forces, government agencies, and other organizations in Canada and the U.S."

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original source Globe & Mail

As reported by the Times of India, researchers from Toronto's Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, have found that "mindfulness-based cognitive therapy" can be as effective as antidepressant medication for preventing relapse among patients suffering from depression. The findings of the innovative study (which followed 160 patients age 18 to 65 over eight months of treatment) were recently reported in the Archives of General Psychiatry.

"Zindel V. Segal, of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, and colleagues studied 160 patients age 18 to 65.After eight months of treatment, 84 achieved remission. Patients in remission were then randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups: 28 continued taking their medication; 30 had their medication slowly replaced by placebo; and 26 tapered their medication and then received mindfulness-based cognitive behavioural therapy."

"In this therapy, patients learn to monitor and observe their thinking patterns when they feel sad, changing automatic reactions associated with depression into opportunities for useful reflection."

"During the 18-month follow-up period, relapse occurred among 38 per cent of those in the cognitive behavioral therapy group, 46 per cent of those in the maintenance medication group and 60 per cent of those in the placebo group, making both medication and behavioral therapy effective at preventing relapse."

"For those unwilling or unable to tolerate maintenance antidepressant treatment, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy offers equal protection from relapse during an 18-month period," wrote the authors."

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original source Times of India

The Toronto Star writes on new local community hub Crescent Town. Located at 3079 Danforth Ave, just east of Victoria Park, Crescent Town has become a gathering place for the community, in particular for newcomers to Toronto, offering a much-needed mix of health, social, youth and community services.

"The services are desperately needed. There has been a dearth of health and social programs for residents � many of them poor and newcomers. For executive director Axelle Janczur, AccessPoint is the realization of a dream. "Community hubs are about bringing a variety of services under one roof to create synergy . . . and provide better access for grassroots community groups and residents � all those who need them," she said."

"The evolution of the hubs began in 2006 when the provincial health ministry announced the need for health services in Toronto's priority neighbourhoods, where services were lacking or non-existent. In 2007, United Way Toronto joined the province to establish community hubs in poor neighbourhoods. Money to open eight hubs became available a year later. The first opened in 2009 in Scarborough."

"The centre is another step toward making Toronto's neighbourhoods stronger, said United Way president and CEO Susan McIsaac."

"We're so delighted to see a project like this one open its doors to the community, bringing renewed energy and spirit to the neighbourhood and providing opportunities for a better life for everyone," she said."

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original source Toronto Star

New research released by a group of University of Toronto scientists suggests that a peptide inhibitor called ZIP could help alleviate certain kinds of chronic pain. As reported by HealthCanal.com the study could prove groundbreaking as chronic pain treatments to date remain insufficient or ineffective for many patients.

"The new research, led by Professor Min Zhuo of the University of Toronto's Department of Physiology and published in the current edition of the journal Science, explores the role that the protein kinase M zeta plays in storing "memories" of pain and therefore enhancing the sensation of pain. Blocking the effect of [the protein] through the use of a selective inhibitor called pseudosubstrate inhibitory peptide - or ZIP -- blocked behavioral sensitization and nerve injury related to chronic pain."

"Normal pain or physiological pain is an important warning signal to avoid potentially dangerous situations or environments. It is brief, and short-lasting. Chronic pain is different, as it persists for weeks, month or years due to spontaneous firing or overexcited pain-related neurons."

"What makes chronic pain difficult to treat is that these painful signals trigger long-term plastic changes in different cortical areas and form permanent bad 'memory'. It explains why the treatment ofchronic pain in areas like the spinal cord is often insufficient or ineffective," said Zhuo, the Canada Research Chair in Pain and Cognition."

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original source HealthCanal.com