Manitoba Researchers Take Top Manning Innovation Award for Tools to Unlock
Molecular Secrets from Barley to SARS

U of M Proteomics Gurus to be Honoured with National Award

WINNIPEG, Sept. 3 /CNW/ - The winners of this year's $100K Encana Principal Award from the Ernest C. Manning Awards Foundation were announced today at Winnipeg's Fort Garry Hotel by Foundation Trustee Ida Albo and Manitoba Chapter Chair Harry Schulz. University of Manitoba scientists, Drs. Ken Standing and Werner Ens, will receive their award in Ottawa later this month. The coveted innovation prize, one of the largest in Canada, recognizes the researchers' pivotal advancements in technologies to study proteins, as seen in analytical equipment used by biology and medical research labs around the world.

Instruments using the Manitoba innovations have been employed in a wide range of proteomics research, including drug development and disease studies, as well as agricultural applications. Collaborations the Standing-Ens group itself has participated in include evaluations of cancer treatments, studies of tissue transplant rejection, understanding disease resistance in wheat, and recently, development of improved methods of biofuel production. The Standing-Ens research team was the first to describe SARS virus proteins, thus providing key evidence about how the virus infects cells.

"There is widespread evidence and agreement that there is a critical need for more innovation in Canada," says Ida Albo, Trustee of the Ernest C. Manning Awards Foundation. Albo adds, "encouraging, supporting and celebrating Canadian innovation contributes to strengthening the capacity of Canadians." The Foundation, named after the former Alberta Premier, has provided over $4.2 million in awards, celebrated 225 adult and youth award winners and has had over 2,500 nominations in its 29-year history.

Premier Greg Selinger and University of Manitoba Vice President of Research Dr. Digvir Jayas were present to pay tribute to the winners at today's announcement, made at 10:00 AM at the Fort Garry Hotel. This is the sixth time the Manning Innovation Awards have honoured Manitoba's own. Previous wins include three Young Canadian Awards, two Innovation Awards and a Principal Award in 1989 to Dr. Frank Gunston, who pioneered total knee arthroplasty.

The work of Standing and Ens has played an integral role in the transformation of mass spectrometry into an effective tool to study proteins. This work began in 1979 as research that they hoped would someday change the study of medicine — though they did not anticipate it being a money-making venture. Under their direction, the Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry Laboratory made sophisticated advances in protein analysis. An eventual partnership with health and life science company MDS Sciex (now part of AB SCIEX) led to a series of internationally patented innovations and commercialized mass spectrometry instruments.

Dr. John Wilkins is the Director of the Manitoba Centre for Proteomics and Systems Biology and conducts a wide range of studies in biology, including biomedical research. He notes, "the really exciting thing about proteomics, mass spectrometry and the systems approach is that they have such broad perspectives, they permeate all aspects of biology." Wilkins adds, "what Ken and Werner have done with the instruments that they've developed is to make it really practical for biologists such as myself to be able to probe biological systems in a way that I never thought would be feasible within the lifetime of my scientific career."

The Standing-Ens research team continues to provide mass spectrometry technologies that are being developed and licensed even today.

Standing and Ens will receive their award in Ottawa on September 17^th, in front of an audience of Canadian innovators, elected officials, educators and business leaders at a gala hosted by Senator Pamela Wallin, OC, Preston Manning, CC and Bernard Lord. 

The Ernest C. Manning Awards Foundation (www.manningawards.ca) recognizes the importance of Canadian innovation in strengthening our nation's capacity to compete in the global economy. The Foundation annually supports and celebrates Canadians with the imagination to innovate and the stamina to succeed.

NOTE TO MEDIA:

For broadcast quality video clips and B roll of Drs. Standing and Ens go to http://rcpt.yousendit.com/932129561/a76dca65bdb1392bc87e1b5516fef876&rcpt

or

http://umanitoba.ca/admin/public_affairs/videos/ENS_STANDING.mov 

For photos go to http://rcpt.yousendit.com/939086447/2a1bba78de80e19ea23e487d6f2d9965&rcpt

For Media Backgrounders go to http://rcpt.yousendit.com/939906689/9865f6ae5c3c019d33116f65d161c773&rcpt

For further information:

University of Manitoba
Sean Moore, Communications Officer: M(204-880-8035)/[email protected]

Ernest C. Manning Awards Foundation
Bruce Fenwick, Executive Director: M(403-390-9148)/T(403-645-8288)/[email protected]