CSL Behring - Canada Research Chair in Endothelial Cell Biology to Accelerate
Development of Innovative Therapies

    
    Position established to address unmet needs in treating bleeding and
immune
    system disorders



    
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<p><location>VANCOUVER</location>, <chron>Oct. 5</chron> /CNW/ -- The Centre for Blood Research (CBR) and the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia have announced the establishment of the CSL Behring - <location>Canada</location> Research Chair in Endothelial Cell Biology. Over the next five years, the CBR and CSL Behring <location>Canada</location>, the biopharmaceutical company co-funding the chair program, will collaborate on the research and development of new therapies for patients with bleeding and immune system disorders. The CSL Behring - <location>Canada</location> Research Chair in Endothelial Cell Biology, a professorship created through the <location>Canada</location> Research Chairs program, will be held by the newly appointed Director of the CBR, physician-scientist <person>Edward Conway</person>, MD, PhD, MBA.</p>
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<p>"The <location>Canada</location> Research Chairs program brings together the unique skills of both industry and academia," said <person>Dr. Conway</person>, Director of the Centre for Blood Research and Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology, Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia. "Through our combined efforts, we intend to promote first-class education, training, and research for the management of bleeding and immune system disorders, all of which will accelerate delivery of new discoveries in these fields in <location>Canada</location> and throughout the world."</p>
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<p><person>Dr. Conway</person> trained as a hematologist-oncologist at the University of <location>Toronto</location> and at Harvard University and has been a staff physician-scientist in <location>Toronto</location> and more recently at the University of Leuven in <location>Belgium</location>, where he received his PhD. His scientific interests involve studies of the vasculoprotective properties of the endothelium and its interactions with multiple biological systems.  <person>Dr. Conway</person> has wide expertise in the fields of coagulation, vascular biology, angiogenesis, inflammation, and innate immunity.</p>
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<p>"CSL Behring <location>Canada</location> is proud to partner with the University of British Columbia to establish this scientifically important chair," said <person>Dr. Heinz Neuhaus</person>, General Manager, CSL Behring <location>Canada</location>.  "The CBR goals align with CSL Behring's mission to develop safe and effective therapies that improve the lives of patients with rare and serious diseases, and we look forward to a productive collaboration."</p>
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<p>Created as a permanent program in 2000, the <location>Canada</location> Research Chairs program was designed by the Government of <location>Canada</location> to encourage research and development in <location>Canada</location>. Since its inception, the program has allowed chairpersons to improve Canadians' depth of knowledge and quality of life, strengthen the country's international competitiveness and help train the next generation of highly skilled people. There are currently 1,796 research professorships at 70 universities across <location>Canada</location>.</p>
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<p>"We are delighted that this important collaboration between academia, industry and support from the federal government has helped to repatriate <person>Dr. Conway</person> back to <location>Canada</location>.  Special thanks to <person>Dr. Dana Devine</person> (Vice-President of Medical, Scientific and Research Affairs for Canadian Blood Services) and <person>Dr. Ross MacGillivray</person> (newly named Vice- Dean Academic Affairs for the Faculty, Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology) who were instrumental in securing this gift," said <person>Dr. Gavin Stuart</person>, UBC Vice Provost Health and Dean, Faculty of Medicine.</p>
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    About the Centre for Blood Research (CBR)
    
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<p>The University of British Columbia (UBC) Centre for Blood Research (CBR) was established in 2002 and is currently the largest inter-disciplinary blood research centre in the world.  Current membership involves 42 investigators from the Faculties of Applied Science, Arts, Dentistry, Medicine, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Science, and some with appointments at the University of Victoria and the University of Northern British Columbia.  CBR investigators are mainly located in <location>Vancouver</location> at the Life Sciences Centre and other buildings on the UBC campus and the associated teaching hospitals and BC Cancer Agency.</p>
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<p>The mission of the CBR is to provide leading edge biomedical research, training, education, and innovative technologies for accelerated delivery of affordable, safe, high-quality diagnostics, therapeutics and medical care.  Specific areas of interest include applying emerging biotechnologies to the study of blood and blood processing for the creation of new knowledge in transfusion science; developing safer means of removing excess iron from blood; identifying risk factors, biomarkers and therapies for innate immune, inflammatory, malignant, hemostatic and thrombotic disorders; developing novel approaches to repair vascular system abnormalities; designing microbe-resistant drugs for a range of viruses, parasites and bacteria; restoring organ function with stem cell technologies; modulating the immune system for better management of chronic inflammatory diseases; improving drug production technologies; and establishing integrated research and clinical training programs to better manage the significant medical problems that confront our society.</p>
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    About the Faculty of Medicine at UBC
    
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<p>The University of British Columbia is home to the province's only medical school. It provides innovative educational and research programs in the areas of health and life sciences through an integrated and province-wide delivery model. Founded in 1950 with a graduating class of 60 students, it now has more than 2,590 students at the undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate levels and provides teaching to several thousand additional students from other disciplines at UBC. <a href="http://www.med.ubc.ca">www.med.ubc.ca</a></p>
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    About CSL Behring Canada
    
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<p>Committed to saving lives and improving the quality of life for people with rare and serious diseases, CSL Behring manufactures and markets a range of plasma-derived and recombinant therapies worldwide. As a global leader in the plasma protein therapeutics industry, the company offers a wide range of plasma-derived and recombinant therapeutic products including a variety of products used in the hospital setting for critical care, for primary immunological disorders, and as thrombolytic agents. The company also operates one of the world's largest plasma collection networks, CSL Plasma. CSL Behring is a subsidiary of CSL Limited, a biopharmaceutical company with headquarters in <location>Melbourne</location>, <location>Australia</location>. For more information, visit <a href="http://www.cslbehring.com">www.cslbehring.com</a>.</p>
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    Media Contact:
    Laura de Zutter
    1-800-477-9626
    MCS Public Relations





    

For further information: Laura de Zutter of MCS Public Relations, 800-477-9626 Web Site: http://www.med.ubc.ca