MaRS

Longevity in a can

We recently reported the finding that small amounts of glucose have a horrendous effect on the lifespan of the nematode worm C. elegans.  Another report has just been published which underlines the critical role of nutrition in longevity.

Zhang and colleagues at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York have reported that in two species (mice and C. elegans), a 30% reduction in daily calories extends lifespan significantly.  This in itself is not news – considerable data has been generated showing that caloric restriction has a dramatically beneficial effect on lifespan and diseases of aging (e.g. cancer, diabetes).  Caloric restriction doesn’t seem to depend on what type of nutrient is lowered – the total calorie count is key.

The big finding here was that in two very different species (i.e. mammal and nemotode) the same genes were responsible for the extension of lifespan.  The CREB-binding protein (CBP/cbp-1) gene was the key player – indeed, blocking the CBP gene switched off all the improvements to lifespan normally seen from limiting calories.

Money from the feds

Lack of money is a chronic and critical problem facing high tech start-ups.  A recent report by Thomson Reuters, research partner for the CVCA, Canada’s Venture Capital & Private Equity Association, confirmed that the situation has continued to deteriorate during the past year. Declining investments meant that Q3 2009 showed the weakest level of venture capital activity recorded in 14 years.  In the first nine months, investments fell to $682 million, a year over year decline of 36% compared to 2008.  Among Canada’s regions Ontario was particularly hard hit, with a dramatic 87% drop in disbursements.  Analysts predict that total venture capital financing for 2009 may fall below $1 billion, a low not experienced since 1995.

Against this backdrop and continuing volatility in global markets, the federal government has continued to inject venture capital into small and medium-sized enterprises through BDC, the Business Development Bank of Canada.

At BDC Venture Capital Day, a November 16th forum at MaRS, a panel of BDC venture capital managers explained recent federal funding announcements:

Aging: Our next big mission

Look around you and chances are you’ll notice that Canada’s population, along with the rest of the world, is aging rapidly. While this isn’t news for most of us, it’s certainly becoming a popular topic, with the first wave of the infamous Baby Boomers turning 65 next year. They say “time flies” but this generation’s flight time will result in a heavy impact.

Aging affects us all and the aging of our society presents a sobering challenge. Within the next 10 years, Canadians over the age of 65 will outnumber those under the age of 15. If the present yearly growth in life expectancy continues through the 21st century, most babies born after 2000 will celebrate their 100th birthdays.

The future's so bright...

Last week, we held the inaugural MaRS Future of Medicine conference here at the MaRS Centre in Toronto. This major partnering event attracted over 170 attendees including representatives from Agfa Healthcare, AstraZeneca, Baxter, Bayer, Cellular Dynamics, GE Healthcare, GlaxoSmithKline, iPS Academia Japan, Merck, Roche and Sanofi Pasteur.

Why did so many industry delegates make the trip to Toronto? Perhaps to witness first-hand the incredible innovations that Ontario groups have been making in stem cell science and oncology – the main themes of the event.

Recently, one of my digital media clients was featured in the Globe and Mail.  Bitstrips is an online comic book that is created by the you, the user.   Their free online toys make it fast, fun and easy to create awesome comics with any character, including you and your friends!  I created this comic in under 10 minutes and in case you haven’t met me…  I actually kinda look like that!

While the free site is awesome, what Bitstrips created in their Bitstrips for Schools site is even better.  They have created a tool for teachers that enables them to engage students in a creative manner using digital media while promoting reading, writing and media literacy.  This is an exciting way for students to acquire much needed literacy in a medium they understand and enjoy.