WINTER 2014 | VOLUME 1 The Museum as Muse

1 ResearchLIFE. UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA. WINTER 2014 | VOLUME 1. The Museum as Muse INSIDE: STUART MURRAY. PUTTING ATHLETES'. RIGHTS FIRST. LIFE AND DEATH FOR. MOMS & BABIES. MESSAGE. FROM THE VICE-PRESIDENT. (RESEARCH AND INTERNATIONAL). Human rights are essential for the creation of a just, egalitarian and peaceful society. This statement reflects the vision the University of Manitoba has for the future, a vision that will allow us to continue to meet the needs of an ever-changing world. Human rights education, research and outreach form the basis of all of our interactions with our students, our staff and our community.

2 In this issue you will read about research that focuses on specific aspects of human rights that have implications for citizens of our own country and many others around the globe. In 2013, the university was honoured to be chosen by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada to host the National Research Centre on Residential Schools. The centre will play a key role in the preservation of all statements, documents and other materials collected during the Commission's five-year mandate. The opening of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg in 2014 has many of our researchers and graduate students working alongside the curatorial staff at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights on exhibits.

3 Our cover feature story The Museum as Muse will give you a sneak peak at some of the collabora- tive research projects they are readying for the opening. Turn the pages of this issue and learn about research that impacts the communities we live in, from water and sanitation, to how age-friendly those communities are, to putting the rights of athletes first. You will notice the magazine has what we are hoping you will find a refreshing new look, as well as a fresh perspective on some of the issues facing us today. Digvir S. Jayas, PhD, PEng, PAg, FRSC. INSIDE WINTER 2014 | VOLUME 1.

4 17. 15 INSIGHTS. 23 29. Stuart Murray, president and CEO of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights 10. 17 DIVING IN. Ethicist Sarah Teetzel challenges sport to put athletes' rights first. By KATIE CHALMERS-BROOKS. 23 LIFE AND DEATH. Researchers (and moms) Maryanne Crockett and Lisa Avery talk about their fulfilling and frustrating journey to keep new THE Museum AS MUSE mothers and their babies alive on the other side of the world. By KATIE CHALMERS-BROOKS. The Canadian Museum for Human Rights has turned out to be a perfect match for many University of 29 JUST DO IT.

5 Manitoba researchers. By HELEN FALLDING A plan to make our cities age-friendly is the just thing to do. By ANDREA DI UBALDO. Spotlight on Centres & On the Books of Just the Ideas to ResearchLIFE CONTRIBUTORS. Katie Chalmers-Brooks, Andrea Di Ubaldo, Helen Fallding, RETURN UNDELIVERABLE Janine Harasymchuk, Stewart Hill, CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO: Angela Jajetovic, Shawn Jordan, Bev Pike, Mariianne Mays Wiebe UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA. PHOTOGRAPHY. Office of the VP (Research and Cover: Canadian Museum for International). Human Rights 207 Administration Building Inside: Lisa Avery, Kendra Campeau, Winnipeg, MB Canada R3T 2N2.

6 Pamela Campeau, Katie Chalmers- Tel 204-474-7300. Brooks, Daniel Gwozdz, Mike Latschi- slaw, Sheila Spence, Special Collections Archives (University of Manitoba), VICE-PRESIDENT (RESEARCH. Archives of the Truth & Reconciliation AND INTERNATIONAL). Commission of Canada. Digvir S. Jayas Member of the University Research EDITOR. Magazine Association: Janine Harasymchuk DESIGN. Relish New Brand Experience Inc. ISSN# 1918-144. HAPPENINGS. TRAVELING. IN THE RIGHT. DIRECTION. Christine Wu's work with Motor Coach Industries Ltd. (MCI) will shift into overdrive thanks to more than $1 mil- Mike Latschislaw lion in funding from the major manufacturer and NSERC.

7 Since 2007, the professor of mechanical and manufacturing engineering has been collaborating system for vibration testing is time Working closely with Motor Researcher with MCI, the leading builder consuming; being able to develop Coach Industries, the work of Christine Wu with collaborator Jim of intercity coaches in Canada and an automated testing system would Dr. Wu and her team will lead to MacDonald (MCI). the United States. mean significant time and cost sav- safer rides for passengers on buses Her work finds ways to reduce ings as well as more reliable results.

8 And similar large vehicles and will the laboratory testing period during The faster a new technology can strengthen Canada's reputation production without sacrificing safety leave the laboratory and enter pro- as a technical innovator in this or the integrity of the data gather- duction, the better it is for industry. field, said NSERC president ing. For example, MCI's current Suzanne Fortier. n In a November submission to the journal PLOS Genetics, a A breakthrough team of researchers at the U of M revealed both the genetic mutation that appears to cause amyotrophic lateral scleroris in the fight (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, as well as results of experiments they performed that could yield a treatment that against slows its progression.

9 Roughly 80 per cent of ALS the finding in people with ALS, ALS. sufferers die within two to five that process gets blocked, creating a years after diagnosis. runaway train effect and too much At the heart of the discovery is a protein within the cell. That build up genetic mutation, which disrupts disrupts normal cell function and the auto-regulation function of what causes cell death of the motor is known as TLS protein. In healthy neuron; the latter creating the cells, TLS protein production has a gradual loss of function in the arms, built-in mechanism whereby some legs and eventually the throat and of it travels back to the nucleus diaphragm of people with ALS.

10 Of the cell telling it to halt further The experiments Hicks and his production. But according to Prof. colleagues conducted in the lab Katie Chalmers-Brooks Geoff Hicks who led the gradu- have applicability beyond ALS. ate students and fellows from the treatment as similar TLS protein Manitoba Institute of Cell Biology mutations that trigger its develop- and the university's Regenerative ment also play a role in cancer. n Medicine Program responsible for Historic agreement signed on NATIONAL ABORIGINAL DAY. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) has chosen the University of Manitoba to become the permanent host of a National Research Centre to house the statements, documents and other materials gathered by the Commission during its five-year mandate.