www.ghbn.
or g
Bio-Matrix
n Spring 2009
A cancer first
for Hamilton
Hamilton is the first
site in the world to
get GE Healthcare’s
prototype technologies
for use in a molecular
breast-imaging research
program. Hamilton
researchers will design
and lead clinical trials to
evaluate processes that use
molecular imaging probes to
target breast cancer.
The earlier tiny tumours are
found, the better healthcare
professionals can intervene.
Trials will be geared towards
high-risk women who are
not currently well served by
mammography.
GE Healthcare chose
Hamilton because of the
city’s many links with
the cancer research
community and because
of its new Centre for
Probe Development and
Commercialization, as well
as the city’s oncology and
nuclear medicine programs.
Inside –
n Turning our eyes
to the future
[page 2]
nB
 AHT – a
business model
for healthcare
[page 3]
nL
 etting bugs do
the cleanup job
[page 4]
nS
 ome bravos,
some boos
greet budget
[page 5]
n vo l u m e 3 n is s u e 1
Vineland plants new roots
The renovation signs are everywhere and the master
planning consultants will be there soon. As the Mark
Twainism goes, reports of the death of Vineland research
station “are greatly exaggerated”.
Just ask Jim Brandle, the new chief
executive. “Vineland Research and
Innovation Centre,” beams Dr. Brandle,
“is the Phoenix rising out of the
ashes of the old horticultural research
institution that used to be here.”
The agricultural icon – its roots going back to 1906 –
seemed ready to be plowed under only five or six years
ago. In May 2004, Linda Bramble of Brock University’s
cool climate wine institute lamented “the demise of
the Vineland Research Station” in speaking to a Senate
committee in Ottawa.
But government and industry money and action,
including a key Ontario report that urged the seeds
of renewal, led three years ago to a renaissance at
Vineland. On the drawing board is a $40 million
complex, designs on a world-class reputation, perhaps
even a think tank within the Niagara biosphere.
New scientists and technical employees, as many as 90
staff members in the next few years, are being attracted
to the Jordan Harbour site. The reach is international:
Vineland’s science advisory committee includes members
from Australia, Israel, the U.S., and the Netherlands.
Vineland Research and Innovation Centre is a private,
not-for-profit operation. That means it works with
government – both federal and provincial researchers
are on site on Vineland’s 200 acres (80 hectares)
– with academia, and with industry.
That also means Vineland will commercialize its research
and create revenue-bearing partnerships. New tenants
include the Hoogendoorn greenhouse horticultural giant,
the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association, and the
Foreign Affair winery, headed by Ontario Chamber of
Commerce president Len Crispino.
Golden Horseshoe
Biosciences Network
“You want
to be big in
the world,
you want to
be the best,”
says Dr. Brandle.
“And in order to do that, you have
to play out there in the world... What we hope to create
is this perpetual innovation machine.”
The research plans are ambitious and they are green. They
include a focus on more environmentally benign production
– for example, by developing biological strategies that
require less pesticide use or by creating tough-as-Canadian
ornamentals that grow in cooler temperatures or in lower
light ranges, thus requiring less energy.
Vineland scientists want to add value to horticultural and
ornamental products. If you can make a crop more drought-
resistant, for example, you use less water and the product
stays fresher longer in a store. Working at the molecular
level, researchers hope to enhance cosmetic, flavour, and
nutritional traits.
Vineland is also looking at working with new technologies,
such as sensors that detect plant stresses and use of
automation controls, that will reduce planting and harvesting
costs in a labour-intensive industry, maximize yields, and
bump up profit margins.
The idea is that even small gains in plant sciences and
agricultural efficiency can reap large returns on the farm
or in the greenhouse. Vineland is playing in a big field. The
horticultural sector alone, estimates Agriculture and Agri-Food
Canada, represented $5.4 billion in farm cash receipts in 2007.
There are other models of agricultural and horticultural
research centres out there. But Vineland’s innovators can
look just down the highway or up against the escarpment
for a renaissance model that has thrived on knowledge and
innovation: Canada’s turnaround wine industry.
“It’s a success so why aren’t we learning from that?” asks
Dr. Brandle. “Why can’t we do the same with our flowers
and our fruits?

Mac
technology
a winner
A Toronto-area company,
using technology
licensed from McMaster
University, is one of three
winners of the second
annual Innovations@Work
Awards competition.
VitaSound Audio, whose
principals have key Hamilton
and Burlington-area ties,
integrates disparate
technologies from different
sources to deliver custom-
fitted hearing enhancement
and protection devices.
Some of the company’s
devices are based on
neurocompensator-based
hearing aid advancements
developed by McMaster
engineering and
neuroscience researchers.
VitaSound leaders
include chairman Mark
Chamberlain, formerly
of Wescam, and Gora
Ganguli, Philippe Pango,
and Keith Gordon, all
of whom were at one
time with Gennum
Corporation, of
Burlington.
VitaSound is based
in Concord, north
of Toronto. The
Innovations@Work
Awards event is run
by Rogers Cable
Communications
and Profit
Magazine.
2
www.ghbn.or g
Turning our eyes to the future
When a new organization In effect, we are becoming an integral part of the Golden
is set up – we began Horseshoe’s economic engine. And it’s fair to say that we
life in 2005 – much have only started to do the work we believe is needed
of the energy in to create a vibrant and successful biosciences industry in
the first two or so the region.
years is focused on
building structure, So, with positive reinforcement in hand, we’re set
setting goals, plotting to keep delivering our programs to you, such as our
new directions, and just Innovation Café™ series, the Clinical Trials program for
generally networking. Medical Devices and Diagnostics companies, and events
like CrossBorder: Seeding Medical Technologies, and
At some point, however, it’s time to rally the Research2Receptor.
troops and see not only how far you’ve come
but also where you may have missed your marks.
Then, turning eyes forward again, you dare to
imagine where you might head tomorrow and
the best ways to get there.
“The first two years
And so on November 21 last year, the Golden
Horseshoe BioSciences Network held a strategic
retreat for its board of directors and the diverse
I think really have
group of bioscience industry partners that make
up this network and its players, people from
been setting the
Niagara to Toronto and north of the capital city.
The participants were asked to provide
stage and I think the
feedback on several topics to assist the
network in planning for its future. This year is best is yet to come.”
important for our network. GHBN and its RIN
colleagues as well as all members of the ON – Dr. Elsie Quaite-Randall,
Commercialization Network (OCN), including MILO (McMaster Industrial Liaison Office)
OCE and the MaRS Discovery Group, are
undergoing a review by the Ministry of Research
and Innovation to determine our roles and
funding allocation for the next funding cycle.
We anticipate hearing from MRI in the coming We look forward to launching new programs with new
months. But what was clear from our retreat partners in novel formats and will be telling you about
was that the network has done a great job at these in the next few months, both here in Bio-Matrix
establishing its role as a pathfinder and connector and on our leading-edge web portal at: www.ghbn.org
in the Golden Horseshoe region, providing We know many challenges lie ahead, particularly in the
assistance in linking with various agencies and highly uncertain climate of this economic downturn. But
organizations to attract funding and the knowledge with the relationships we have built and those that we
resources to support businesses and to drive the look forward to developing, we are determined to keep
economy. the network growing and doing what you have told us
we do best – helping you to be successful! n
We were recognized as a source of education to
entrepreneurs and researchers, providing knowledge Darlene Homonko is Executive Director of the
about developing companies in the bioscience and Golden Horseshoe Biosciences Network.
biotechnology sectors. The network is also seen as
a main driver in promoting collaboration within the
community, helping to make the links in an ever-
expanding chain.
 www.ghbn.or g

BAHT - a business model for healthcare

The power of innovation and the pursuit of new revenue example, has helped legal
areas are key elements in growing a business. But an and engineering firms
unusual enterprise, in an almost-anonymous brick house switch from paper to
near Chedoke hospital in Hamilton, is building its own electronic records – a
distinct brand within a commercial segment: the business shift subject to the
of healthcare. exacting standards Mac
of Ontario’s Freedom research
Bay Area Health Trust is leveraging the astonishing
range of hands-on medical and research expertise within
of Information and
Protection of Privacy Act.
chairs
Hamilton Health Sciences and McMaster University. With renewed
five stand-alone business units, those hands reach across Ontario is slowly moving towards electronic
both industry sectors and national borders. medical records. BAHT should benefit in terms of Ottawa has renewed
future consulting and conversion business – it’s funding for the holders
Need help in designing a hospital or the systems inside it? too early to tell yet – from the $500 million of three Canada
There are BAHT people available. Want to package a new announced in the January federal budget for Research Chairs at
drug for a clinical test? Again, you can turn to BAHT. Need Canada Health Infoway. Ottawa’s goal is to have McMaster University,
to go digital with your documents, or maybe you want 50 per cent of Canadians with an electronic a federal investment of
to learn if you’re subject to a disease that imperils your health record by 2010. almost $4 million.
vision? BAHT can assist.
BAHT has gone global with its healthcare Jeffrey Weitz, chair
“I don’t know whether there is anybody else like us,” says consulting operation, in working with holder in Thrombosis,
president and CEO Beth Manganelli. “But clearly, in our architectural, medical-systems, and other
and Pavlos Kanaroglou,
little business group, there are very eclectic specialities. professionals to help design hospitals in Beijing
occupant of the chair in
. . . I haven’t heard of a hospital (system) doing this.” in China and the United Arab Emirates, for
The mandate, adds director of finance and business example. Those countries seek to offer healthcare Spatial Analysis, were
development Paul McCracken, “is to scan for business that is consistent with North American standards. each awarded $1.4
opportunities and act upon them.” million for their Tier 1
International revenues also beckon within the positions. Gregory Slater,
The five units of the health trust, itself created in 2002, research logistics unit, says McCracken. That lab in the Environmental
are: the Hamilton Hospitals Assessment Centre, Bay Area packages and distributes – as well as looking Isotope Biogeochemistry
Records Conversion, Bay Area Research Logistics, Bay after blinding controls – drugs involved in clinical research chair, was
Area Consulting, and a new unit, Bay Area Genetics Lab trials. A current trial involves a worldwide heart-
awarded $500,000 for
involved in genetic tests. The first test available is for age- risks study run out of Hamilton’s Population Health
related macular degeneration. The potential is large for Research Institute. his Tier 2 chair.
biomarker analysis for other diseases.
The Canada Foundation
The assessment centre was the seed of BAHT,
for Innovation also
The trust has “a lean group” of perhaps 40 core employees, formed in 1990 to offer such services as
says Manganelli, a former hospital administrator. And psychological evaluations, physical demands provided Weitz and
some of the business units have access to hundreds of analysis, and catastrophic assessment. Clients range Slater $325,515 and
fee-for-service medical and related professionals and from auto and disability insurance firms, to the $64,000 respectively
specialists – most, but not all, in Hamilton area. Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, employers, for infrastructure
and lawyers. n related to their
BAHT’s business-of-healthcare case is made clear on its research chairs.
Internet home page (www.baht.ca), which notes that it
McMaster has 68
is “an entrepreneurial organization focused on delivering
Canada Research
business solutions that support healthcare services
and research.” That means it will compete for services Chairs.
wherever it can gain contracts.

In fact, the trust has gone beyond operating rooms into

business board rooms. Its records conversion unit, for

BAHT is an entrpreneurial organization

3
delivering solutions that support healthcare
services and research.
 www.ghbn.or g
What we build up, we break down. And when we
rebuild again, sometimes we must purify or at least
New
research
leaders named
Both McMaster and
Brock universities
have new research
leaders as they head
into 2009. At McMaster,
Fiona McNeill has been
appointed Associate Vice-
President of Research,
responsible for identifying
and anticipating funding
opportunities in both the
public and private sectors.
Dr. McNeill will also design
indicators that measure
how well the school is
doing in research activities
and take a leading role in
looking at research ethical
policies and nominations
for prizes and awards.
Brock University’s
new Vice-President
of Research is Liette
Vasseur, a leader in
climate change and
sustainable development
fields.
Dr. Vasseur has done
environmental work,
including community-
based ecosystem
management, in
several countries,
such as China,
Vietnam,
nutrients such as nitrogen and potassium, along with the
Cambodia,
pumped-in oxygen. This kind of biostimulation was used
Panama,
and Brazil
4
Letting bugs do the cleanup job
detoxify the land we are putting to new uses.
So, at a petro-plant, gasoline and oils might soak into
the soil. At a factory, chemicals might make their way
into groundwater. At a containment facility, hazardous
waste might leach into adjacent properties.
In many cases, mechanical means are the tool of
choice in cleaning up despoiled lands, normally
termed brownfield sites. Dig it up, cart
it away. But sometimes, we assign
the job to nature. When that
happens, the agents in the
cleanup crew – environmentally
benign organisms – can be as
tiny as five micrometres. (One
micrometre equals one millionth
of a metre.)
Bacteria were enlisted when property
owners from Burlington and the City of
Hamilton – a national leader in brownfields
conversions – put up a multi-unit housing project
near Lake Ontario on a two-hectare (five-acre)
site that once contained a gas station. Testing had
revealed high levels of petroleum hydrocarbons in
the sandy soil.
Enter Bluewater Environmental and their
bioremediation system. Using in-situ injection
wells, the Sarnia-area company pumped in
dissolved oxygen riding on hydraulic plumes. And
part of that flow consisted of aerobic microbes,
such as facultative bacteria, breaking down and
metabolizing organic contaminants.
These bio-agents – natural soil bacteria are also
present, multiplying rapidly as treatment occurs –
can tackle chemicals such as crude oil, petroleum
hydrocarbons, fuels, and solvents. The contaminants
are in turn transformed into non-volatile substances,
such as carbon dioxide, methane, fatty acids, and water.
To accelerate growth, the microrganisms are fed
following the grounding of the Exxon Valdez off Alaska
in 1989 when fertilizer applications were applied to the
contamination area to stimulate growth of indigenous
oil-degrading microorganisms.
In general, microbial remediation involves natural
attenuation, biostimulation and/or bioaugmentation.
All three processes rely on the ability of the minute
organisms to break down the complex molecules of
chemicals in biohazardous waste and to use these
simpler molecules to build cell parts.
Prokaryotes – bacteria and archaea – are
typical agents used in bioremediation
strategies. Among the more common
genera of bacteria involved in
biodegradation of oil products are
nocardia, pseudomonas, acinebacter
and arthrobacter. Treatment often occurs
with more than one genus used.
But eukaryotes, such as fungi and algae,
can also be used to biotransform or biodegrade
contaminants in soil and water. Rhizosphere bacteria
associated with alfalfa plants, for example, can be used
to treat ground water contaminated by low levels of
volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Bioremediation can also occur off-site. A company
might excavate, treat and dispose contaminated soils
using environmentally sustainable methods. The soils
are normally spread in piles on a treatment pad for
processing, the pad system having a bio-barrier to protect
against leachate or toxic material seeping out.
Not only is bio-cleanup often quicker and more
efficient than removal of contaminated soil and water,
it is generally far less costly. City of Hamilton business
development consultant Carolynn Reid told a builders’
conference last year that initial estimates for traditional
dig-and-dump cleanup at the Beach Blvd. site exceeded
$1 million. On-site bioremediation cost less than half that
amount, with the city picking up part of the tab. n
 www.ghbn.or g

Some bravos, some boos greet budget

Federal budget 2009 was a lightning rod for attention
from the bio-community. The budget gained applause for n Research Canada
its shovel-in-the-ground intentions but boos rained down – an Alliance for
for its lack of funding for science in the lab. Discovery: Dr. Mohamed Karmali
“The lack of new
World-renowned geneticist Michael Hayden, at the investment in the
University of British Columbia, noted the admirable job nation’s research
Karmali
Ottawa had done on directing infrastructure money. But and innovation engine, honoured for
cell biology star, Anthony Pawson, of the University of however, is concerning; his work
Toronto, called the reduced funding for genomics research notably the absence of additional
McMaster University
“extremely serious”. base funding for the Canadian Institutes of
professor Mohamed
Health Research (CIHR), the other granting
Karmali will receive
And McMaster University stem cell institute leader Mick councils and Genome Canada.”
the 2009 BD Award
Bhatia told the Globe and Mail that enhanced funding
for Research in Clinical
and recognition of science by the Obama government n Martin Godbout, president and CEO of
Microbiology when
might yet prove to be a magnet that lures Canadian Genome Canada: “It’s like we fell between
he stands before the
researchers to the U.S. the chairs. This was an infrastructure budget,
American Society for
and so money went into that, but we got
Microbiology in May.
The January 27 budget directed more than $1.5 Billion nothing.”
to science and technology in general. About $750 million Dr. Karmali, a professor
was allocated to updating research infrastructure for n Genome Canada news release: of pathology and molecular
Canadian Foundation for Innovation projects and $250 “Genome Canada is pleased with the federal medicine, was honoured
million over two years went to the maintenance of federal government’s 2009 budget in which millions for leading-edge research
laboratories. will be invested in research infrastructure over that has impacted clinical
the next two years. This is good news for the microbiology as well
The Harper government set $200 million over two years scientific community across the country that as gastroenterology,
for the National Research Council’s Industrial Research needs to be at the cutting-edge of research nephrology, infectious
Assistance Program. And it directed $500 million to infrastructure and new technologies . . . “ diseases and epidemiology.
Canada Health Infoway to accelerate implementation of
electronic medical records (EMR). n Canadian Medical Association Journal Among other discoveries,
editorial: “Budget 2009 may foreshadow he was foremost in
As a whole, response to the budget was generally the decline of the science and technology recognizing the role of the
apprehensive. The comments above were typical of strategy . . . The unmistakable message from pathogen, Campylobacter
reactions from many research science and technology Finance Minister Jim Flaherty is that science is jejuni, in childhood
quarters, either in the wake of the budget or just prior unimportant in Canada’s economy.” enteritis, and identified
to that document coming down. The following quotes or Shiga toxin-producing
general comment offer a flavour of that reaction. n Association of Faculties of Medicine of Escherichia coli, which
Canada: “AFMC is concerned, however, that can cause severe kidney
n BioteCanada, in a call for action issued prior to the budget does not do enough to ensure that complications.
the budget: ”Unless action is taken in the 2009 federal Canada emerges from our current fiscal challenges The award honours
budget to assist the Canadian industry, the consequences in a global leadership position in science and a distinguished
will likely be substantial job losses of highly skilled technology, and research and development – the scientist for research
labour, and a loss of intellectual capital and global engine of the economy of tomorrow.” accomplishments
competitiveness.” that underlie
n Canada’s Venture Capital and Private important
n Canadian Medical Association president Robert Equity Association: “There are increasingly fewer applications
Ouellet: “Today’s announcement, rightly aimed at foreign investors coming into Canada. A key obstacle in clinical
supporting the front lines of health care, will lead to is that Canada’s international tax system deters microbiology.
better, more efficient care and will help Canada shake off foreign investors, thereby putting the country at a
its laggard status in terms of the use of EMRs compared disadvantage.” n
to other countries.”
5

Casting a
green Net
at Mac
McMaster University is
taking its practical and
educational commitment
to sustainable living to
the Internet.
The school has set up
a website – http://
www.mcmaster.
ca/sustainability/ –
features information on
environmental issues such
as energy, waste and water,
as well as social issues,
such as health and well-
being. The site also notes
campus-oriented matters,
such as sustainability
initiatives, alternative
transit and green space.
Mac’s sustainable
successes include five
buildings oriented to LEED
(Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design)
designations, rainwater-
harvesting initiatives,
a green purchasing
policy, and locally
grown food sold at
Bridges Café. Some
meals on campus
are even sold in
biodegradable take-
out containers.
6 Bio-Matrix is a quarterly newsletter published by GHBN. Director and editor: Darlene Homonko
www.ghbn.or g
Innovation Night – Share your Passion Inaugural hes community day
Date: Wednesday, April 1, 2009 Date: Thursday, May 7, 2009
Time: 7:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Location: McMaster Innovation Park
Location: London Tap House, 3rd Floor Address: 175 Longwood Road South, Hamilton
Address: 31 John Street South, Hamilton For more information visit:
For more information: www.innovationnight.ca www.hamiltonchamber.on.ca
Events listing
Golden Horseshoe venture forum OCE Discovery days
Date: April 8, 2009 Date: May 11-12, 2009
Time: 7:30 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Location: Royal Botanical Gardens
Location: Toronto Metro Convention Centre
Address: Toronto
Address: 680 Plains Road West, Burlington For more information visit:
For more information visit: www.ghvf.ca www.ocediscovery.org
Innovation Café Series McMaster innovation showcase
Changing Space for a Creative Class Date: June 18-19, 2009
Date: Wednesday, April 22, 2009 Location: McMaster Innovation Park
Time: 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.  Address: 175 Longwood Road South, Hamilton
Location: Paperbox Studios For more information visit:
Address: 302 Cumberland Ave., Hamilton http://milo.mcmaster.ca/showcase
For more information visit: www.ghbn.org
Bio international convention 2009
Biofinance 2009 Heal, Fuel, Feed the World
Date: April 28-30, 2009 Date: May 18-21, 2009
Location: Toronto Marriott Eaton Centre Hotel Location: Atlanta, GA USA 
Address: 525 Bay Street, Toronto Location: Paperbox Studios
For more information visit: www.ghbn.org Address: 302 Cumberland Ave., Hamilton
For more information visit: www.ghbn.org
2nd annual Hamilton economic summit
Date: Wednesday, May 6, 2009 Cross Border
Location: Crown Plaza Hotel Date: June 23, 2009
Address: 150 King Street East, Hamilton Location: Buffalo, NY, USA
For more information visit: www.ghbn.org For more information visit: www.ghbn.org
n McMaster leads heart attack-predictive study globally
McMaster University professor Sonia Anand is among genotyping of more than 1,500 single nucleotide
Feature research
researchers that have identified genes associated in polymorphisms from 103 genes. SNPs are single-base
many diverse ethnic groups with the risk of having pair variations in DNA that occur within genes and
heart attacks. sometimes change protein production or alter gene
The work offers the promise of a simple predictor expression.
blood test that may save potential victims and that The research results link four genes with high
may lead to drug or related intervention to lower cholesterol levels, particularly those of a specific
the risks. The research looked at more than 8,000 protein, ApolipoproteinB, tied to the so-called ‘bad
persons in five ethnic groups who offered their cholesterol’. In the study, researchers concluded 13
DNA for analysis. common SNPs were associated with heart disease
The work led by Dr. Anand, a researcher within the risk factors and one variant was independently
Population Health Research Institute, led to the associated with the risk of a heart attack. n
Contact Golden Horseshoe Biosciences Network
McMaster University, Michael G. DeGroote Centre for Learning & Discovery
5105-1200 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, CANADA L8N 3Z5
n Ana Paredes Office Administrator/Incubator Assistant – Tel: 905-525-9140 Ext. 26602 Fax: 905-528-3999
n Darlene Homonko Executive Director – Tel: 905-525-9140 Ext. 26609 Web: www.ghbn.org
Writer: Mike Pettapiece Graphic Design: Nadia DiTraglia