COMMUNITY REPORT

2017 was a special year at the University of Saskatchewan. From cutting-edge medical research to our successes in Indigenous engagement and reconciliation, we are proud of the meaningful change we are making in the province and beyond and want to share it with all of you. Our relationships with the communities we serve are more important now than they’ve ever been, and we are committed to continuing to grow and honour those relationships. We will continue to be courageous and confront the world’s biggest challenges such as curing infectious diseases, addressing food and water security, and finding sustainable energy solutions Please enjoy some of the stories that have made 2017 a special year. We have much to be proud of and so much more to look forward to in 2018.

Warm regards, Peter Stoicheff President and vice-chancellor

A natural solution to cleaning oil-soaked landscapes

A natural strain of fungus—named TSTh20-1—discovered by a U of S research team, led by biology professor Susan Kaminskyj, could have the power to clean oil spills and return life to the world’s oilsands. The unique strain of fungus not only breaks down petrochemical residues but when its spores are applied to plants, those plants grow and thrive on coarse tailings.

Improving Indigenous health outcomes

Working to improve Indigenous health care in the province are two new recruits to the U of S College of Medicine—Dr. Alexandra King, an internal medicine specialist who recently assumed the inaugural Cameco Chair in Indigenous Health; and Malcolm King, a nationally recognized leader in Indigenous health research who serves as the Saskatchewan Centre for Patient-Oriented Research scientific director.

Becoming water

U of S Sculpture and Extended Media professor Susan Shantz is proving sustainability isn’t just for the scientists. Shantz connected with the School of Environment and Sustainability and found a kindred spirit in researcher Graham Strickert. Their shared interest in community-based and engaged work helped lead to the development of the interdisciplinary course—ART 356.3: Becoming Water, which connects science with art to deepen students’ awareness of key issues related to water.

Tackling one of Saskatchewan’s biggest health challenges

Renowned multiple sclerosis (MS) researcher Dr. Michael Levin— the new $8.4-million U of S Chair in Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Research—will lead a drive toward a cure for MS. Rates of MS, a debilitating disease of the central nervous system, are among the highest in the world in Saskatchewan and Canada, making this area of health research so important for our province.

Health care, anywhere

Dr. Ivar Mendez, unified head of the Department of Surgery at the U of S and Saskatchewan Health Authority, is embracing technological innovations to improve the patient experience, particularly for those in underserved and remote communities. He spearheaded an initiative that brought remote sensing robots to northern communities in Saskatchewan and recently turned his interest to another emerging technology: Google Glass.

Building towards a breast cancer breakthrough

Researchers at the U of S and the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency are organizing clinical trials for a new breast cancer treatment discovered in the province. This would mark a potential first with a cancer-related investigation going from bench to trial within Saskatchewan. The team hopes that the next phase of clinical trials will be initiated within the next two years.

The New York Times comes to campus

The U of S was featured in The New York Times, showcasing our successes in Indigenous engagement and reconciliation. Set during the annual Graduation Powwow, The New York Times spoke with those involved in campus efforts to increase Aboriginal initiatives, including President Peter Stoicheff, former Chancellor Blaine Favel, and Indigenous and gender studies professor Priscilla Settee.

Insecticide research takes flight

Research at the U of S is the first study to show that imidacloprid (neonicotinoid) and chlorpyrifos (organophosphate)—two of the most widely used insecticides worldwide—are toxic to seedeating songbirds. The research also shows these chemicals can directly affect songbird migration. This research could have major implications for regulatory decisions for these pesticides. Working together to create synthetic antibiotics An interdisciplinary team of researchers from the U of S and University of Regina has created a potent new synthetic antibiotic that in the lab was proven to be effective against several drugresistant pathogens such as the bacteria responsible for staph infection and other difficult-to-treat human infections. The findings could have the capacity to regain some ground on the antibiotic resistance problem.

Student shines thanks to donor support

Jennifer McGillivary, a Plains Cree First Nations woman, became the first U of S student to receive the Dr. Gerri Dickson Leadership in Reconciliation Award—a $2,500 annual award in support of nursing education for students who are actively engaged in furthering reconciliation initiatives. Before Gerri Dickson (BSN’69, PhD’97) passed away in 2016, she and her husband Dr. Murray Dickson established the award with a $25,000 donation.