prionet canada 2011/12 annual report - english

Annual Report 2011 / 2012

year VII

REFLECTIONS

Understand. Assess. Prevent.

OVERVIEW

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Understand, assess, preventPrioNet Canada was launched by the Government of Canada’s Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE) program in 2005, in response to the estimated $6 billion in economic losses that Canada suffered when domestic BSE was identified in Alberta in 2003. Seven years later, classic prion related problems such as CWD, surveillance of BSE, and threats to the food and blood supply remain a significant concern for Canada.

PrioNet Canada has achieved international attention for scientific advances and risk management strategies directed at controlling prion diseases, and is now directing capacity into therapeutic solutions for prion-like diseases of aging, such Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and ALS.

Receptors and solutionsPrioNet plays a coordinating role bringing together various government agencies, policy makers, industry and research communities to develop strategies for monitoring and controlling prion diseases. This approach allows PrioNet to capitalize on strengths in basic, applied, and social science research to find practical solutions for the problems posed by prion diseases and other neurodegenerative disorders.

SupportPrioNet is made possible by the Networks of Centres of Excellence, the Canadian government’s innovative science and technology program, a joint initiative of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, and Industry Canada. The program represents a unique partnership among universities, industries, and government to deliver socioeconomic benefits for all Canadians.

PrioNet proudly acknowledges host support from the University of British Columbia and Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

PrioNet Canada Annual Report 2011 / 2012 REFLECTIONS

A unique disease agent The term “prion” was coined 1982 by then-future Nobel Laureate Dr. Stanley Prusiner at the University of California in San Francisco.

The proteinaceous infectious particle (prion) was hypothesized to have a very unique mechanism of infectivity. Unlike viruses or bacteria that need genetic material such as DNA or RNA to cause disease, prions act as a template to convert normal prion proteins into toxic disease agents.

Correctly-folded proteins in our cells adopt one particular structure in order to carry out their normal function. Contact with a prion not only triggers a loss of the normal function, but also triggers conversion to more infectious prion protein. Infectious prions can be generated by a spontaneous prion protein misfolding event, genetic mutation in the prion protein gene, or infectious prions being transmitted between individuals or between species.

A greater understanding of how the prion converts to the infectious misfolded form and how prions are toxic to neurons leading to cell death will open the door to developing treatments and preventive options for prion and prion-like diseases.

Prion and prion-like diseasesPrion diseases—also known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE) —are fatal, infectious diseases in humans and animals with “sponge-like” brain tissue associated with neuronal degeneration. In animals, the most common of these diseases include scrapie in sheep and goats, bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE, also commonly known as “mad cow disease”), and chronic wasting disease (CWD) in deer and elk. Some examples of prion diseases in humans include Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), variant CJD (vCJD), and inherited prion disease due to mutations in PRNP, the gene that encodes the prion protein, such as familial CJD, Gerstmann–Sträussler–Scheinker syndrome and fatal familial insomnia.

Recent research is identifying links between the biological mechanisms of prion diseases and other neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).While each of these diseases manifests itself in a different way, the hallmark of all is a progressive neurodegeneration associated with accumulation of misfolded protein aggregates in the brain.

THE PRION

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CONTENTS Click to go to section:

1 OVERVIEW

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS

3 EXECUTIVE MESSAGE

4 KEY IMPACTS

9 RESEARCH

14 EDUCATION & TRAINING

18 KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE & OUTREACH

21 RESEARCH PROJECTS

28 PARTNERS

30 NETWORK COMMUNITY

34 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Contact InformationPrioNet CanadaSuite 200, 2386 East MallGerald McGavin BuildingUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V6T 1Z3tel: 604-222-3600 fax: 604-222-3606 e-mail: [email protected]: www.prionetcanada.ca

Designbasic elements design

Writers & EditorsNeil Cashman, Sandra Haney, Alison Palmer, Michelle Wong

REFLECTIONSyear VII

PrioNet Canada Annual Report 2011 / 2012

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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EXECUTIVE MESSAGE

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It was a tremendous year. We launched our Knowledge Mobilization program, funding four projects across Canada that will study existing PrioNet projects and how their outcomes are impacting Canadians. We also launched Open Call IV that supported 11 research projects across Canada involving 55 researchers. PrioNet appointed a new Executive Director, Dr. Michelle Wong, who was promoted from her role as Director of Scientific Programs and Training. We co-hosted PRION 2011: New World in partnership with the Alberta Prion Research Institute in May of 2011—the first time this prestigious international congress event was held outside of Europe since its inception over a decade ago. And finally, we prepared for our application of renewal funding to the Networks of Centres of Excellence.

The renewal process was a challenging, yet satisfying, exercise that enabled us to reflect on what we have accomplished and chart a direction for the future. Despite our efforts and accomplishments over the last seven years, it is with great sadness that we witness PrioNet, as a Network of Centres of Excellence, come to a close in 2012. We are, however, confident the exemplary research we have helped support will flourish for many years to come through new opportunities.

“Reflections” is the theme of this final annual report—with the impacts of our efforts from this past year and previous years highlighted in this report. PrioNet’s approach of leveraging its multidisciplinary research program for maximum results, engaging with national and international partners, training highly skilled people for Canada’s workforce, and translating knowledge into practical solutions to derive maximum socioeconomic benefit is a uniquely Canadian solution that has produced significant impacts to help solve the problems of prions and prion-like diseases.

PrioNet’s achievements has put Canada at the global forefront of prion research, which has been made possible only by its community of scientists, students, and other young professionals networking with stakeholders and partners. On behalf of every individual or group who have benefited from our activities, PrioNet wishes to thank each and every member of the network community for their contributions over the last seven years. We know Canada will continue to benefit from the knowledge our network has created well into the future, and we look forward to seeing what remains to be discovered in this crucial field of research.


Dr. David DolphinChair, Board of Directors

Dr. Neil R. CashmanScientific Director

PrioNet is a uniquely Canadian solution that has produced significant impacts to help solve the problems of prions and prion-like diseases.

EXECUTIVE MESSAGE Chair and Scientific Director

√ Return to Contents

4PrioNet Canada Annual Report 2011 / 2012

√ Return to Contents KEY IMPACTS

KEY IMPACTS PrioNet by the numbers

Over its seven year mandate, PrioNet Canada has:

• Built a prion research community in Canada: • Quadrupled the number of Canadian prion researchers, from 29 in 2005 to 122 in 2012

• Engaged industry, government and non-government partners from 20 in 2005 to 94 in 2012

RESEARCHERS 2005 2012

PARTNERS 2005 2012

25 50 75 100 1250

• Trained the next generation of research leaders: • Engaged over 300 graduate students, post-doctoral fellows and young professionals

• Granted 292 training awards

• Advanced our understanding of prion diseases: • Saw a five-fold increase in prion research projects, from 7 in 2005 to 40 in 2012

• Produced over 680 publications

• Facilitated the exchange of knowledge: • Held a total of 65 events, 31 national and 34 international, 10 through the the NCE’s International Partnerships Initiative

• Garnered over 370 media mentions across online and print news, radio and television

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In just seven years, PrioNet has created the kind of knowledge that will continue to benefit Canadians well into the future. Like parts of a complex puzzle, PrioNet discoveries, assembled together, have helped to answer some of the major risk, socioeconomic, and biological questions surrounding prion and prion-like diseases. A selection of these successes are presented here as a reflection on the network’s discoveries, growth, and interconnectedness.


RESEARCHREFLECTIONS


This network influenced Canadian policymakers to adopt a framework on the management of BSE

Risk communication and knowledge transfer have been two cornerstones of PrioNet’s research program. Led by Dr. Daniel Krewski, Director of the R. Samuel McLaughlin Centre for Population Health Risk Assessment at the University of Ottawa and Associate Scientific Director of PrioNet, the BSE Integrated Risk Management Framework (IRMF) was developed to help inform Canadian and international policy makers on the risk assessment and management of BSE. This framework gives policymakers the capacity to quantitatively estimate the potential of disease spread in cattle and the extent of human exposure. The IRMF provides clear guidance on how to maintain Canada’s BSE risk status, which promises to improve Canada’s reputation in the international beef trade.

Dr. Daniel Krewski, University of Ottawa

KEY IMPACTS



This network developed strategies to mitigate the environmental impacts of BSE and CWD

Dr. Trent Bollinger and his team at the University of Saskatchewan, together with partners in the Government of Alberta and Saskatchewan Environment, integrated their social structure, environmental exposure, and spatial movement findings with results of ongoing CWD surveillance programs for wild deer in Saskatchewan and Alberta. This work helps to develop predictive models that will inform strategies to better manage the disease, such as vaccination programs.

Dr. Trent Bollinger,University of Saskatchewan

Dr. Norman Neumann from the University of Alberta collaborated with researchers from the United States and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada to better understand patterns of transmission and deposition of infectious prion materials in the environment. Using a technology called protein misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA), Dr. Neumann and his team were able to help inform decontamination strategies for controlling the spread of CWD and minimize the impact of the disease on humans and animals.

Dr. Norman Neumann, University of Alberta

PrioNet member Dr. David Bressler and his team from the University of Alberta, in partnership with Sanimax, have converted specified risk materials (by-products from the beef industry) into useful materials such as non-food packaging, shipping materials and large-volume insulation. The added-value of Dr. Bressler’s conversion technology will benefit Canada’s beef and related industries, while at the same time helping to decontaminate these potentially infectious materials.

Dr. David Bressler,University of Alberta

KEY IMPACTS

7PrioNet Canada Annual Report 2011 / 2012 REFLECTIONS

This network has significantly improved our understanding of the molecular mechanism of protein misfolding to cause disease

Proteins are generally thought to be stable structures that fold in a specific way to perform their function; however, the cellular form of the prion protein has major regions that have no stable structure. Dr. Avi Chakrabartty from the University of Toronto and collaborators such as Dr. Julie Forman-Kay at the Hospital for Sick Children found that more regions of disordered structure could hold the key to better understanding the implications of proteins in cell death or the elusive mechanisms of aggregation and subsequent conversion of the normal prion protein to the disease-causing form.

Dr. Avi Chakrabartty, University of Toronto

This network aligned major stakeholders, including Aboriginal communities, towards a solution for CWD

Dr. Stéphane McLachlan, University of Manitoba

The Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Research Centre and its provincial and federal stakeholders called on PrioNet to lead an initiative to update and refine a strategy document for managing CWD in Canada. PrioNet, Alberta Prion Research Institute and agencies directly engaged in managing CWD in wildlife and livestock and in protecting public health convened and after iterative consultations and meetings developed “A Proposal for Canada’s National Chronic Wasting Disease Strategy” for Canadian policy makers.

Dr. Stéphane McLachlan of the University of Manitoba and his pan-Canadian team of more than 20 researchers is partnering directly with Aboriginal communities to study the impacts of CWD in wild animals on their livelihoods, linking traditional knowledge with western science. Their work has illuminated new and better ways to share information among affected communities, scientists and government, and is helping to secure Aboriginals’ traditional knowledge and food systems.

Dr. Ellen Goddard,University of Alberta

PrioNet researcher Dr. Ellen Goddard at the University of Alberta is collaborating with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Health Canada, and the Public Health Agency of Canada to develop a set of effective risk management policies and strategies to control the spread of CWD in Canada, building on the success of the “BSE Integrated Risk Management Framework”.

KEY IMPACTS

RESEARCHREFLECTIONS




This network has worked with industrial partners to embark on diagnostic, vaccine, and therapeutic strategies for these disorders

PrioNet’s Scientific Director Dr. Neil Cashman at the University of British Columbia had a major finding identifying “prion epitopes”, parts of the misfolded protein that can be exploited as potential therapeutic or diagnostic targets in prion disease. The commercial potential of this finding lies in the fact that vaccine antibodies will bind selectively to the infectious misfolded prions, but not to the normal prion protein; since the antibodies recognize only specific parts of the disease-causing prions, there is potential to apply them to multiple prion diseases.

In this year alone, Dr. Cashman also signed a collaborative research agreement with Cangene Corporation to develop his work on immune-based therapies for Alzheimer’s disease, discovered a key link between prions and the neurodegenerative disease ALS, and was part of an international research team from Canada, France and the United States that discovered that women who are injected with urine-derived fertility products may be at a higher risk of developing prion disease due to the presence of at least the normal prion protein in the products.

Dr. Andrew Potter, University of Saskatchewan

Dr. Scott Napper and Dr. Andrew Potter, both of the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization-International Vaccine Centre (VIDO-InterVac) and the University of Saskatchewan, are applying Dr. Cashman’s “prion epitope” knowledge and working in partnership with PREVENT and Amorfix Life Sciences to develop vaccines for CWD. If successful, these vaccines could potentially save Canada hundreds of millions of dollars in management costs for CWD, and help to halt the disease in North America.

Together with Dr. Steven Plotkin at the University of British Columbia, Dr. Cashman’s group developed a computational algorithm that identifies regions of proteins that are thermodynamically most likely to unfold. This algorithm will be used to design the active components of potential vaccines against prion disease and other neurodegenerative disorders.

Dr. Neil Cashman, University of British Columbia

KEY IMPACTS

• Published in high impact journals such as Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and promoted research outcomes through media releases generating over 100 mentions in major newspapers, radio and news television

Nobel Laureate Dr. Stanley Prusiner

• Hosted the international PRION 2011 congress highlighting Canadian contributions to prion research


RESEARCH

√ Return to Contents RESEARCH

2011/2012 Highlights

• Funded 11 new projects involving 55 researchers from across the country through its Open Call IV

• Launched its “Knowledge Mobilization Program” supporting four projects to ensure knowledge created by our work is informed by receptor needs and reaches the right audience

India

Netherlands

Switzerland

Germany

France

USA

Edmonton 14

Calgary 1

Winnipeg 3

Sherbrooke 2

Montreal 2

Ottawa 3Toronto 3

London 1

Vancouver 6

Victoria 1

Brazil

Guelph

Quebec City 1

Saskatoon 3

Lethbridge



RESEARCH

COLLABORATIONSRESEARCH

As of March 31, 2012 PrioNet’s network included 27 universities and institutions, 40 active projects, 122 Scientific Members and 47 national and international collaborators along with 94 different partners working together to improve our understanding of prions and to develop approaches for preventing prion diseases in Canada and around the world.

2011/2012 40 active projects


RESEARCH THEMES


PrioNet’s three integrated research themes provide the framework to manage the projects and their outcomes:

THEME I

Prion EcologyThis theme addresses prion contamination in affected environments by fostering the growth of a new industry to dispose and develop value-added products for BSE specified risk materials, identifying models for CWD transmission, and creating solutions for controlling CWD such as vaccine development.

Theme Leader: Frederick A. Leighton, University of SaskatchewanAssistant Theme Leader: Judd Aiken, University of Alberta

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THEME II

Prion BiologyThis theme seeks an understanding of how the prion protein misfolding causes disease, which will help quantify the risks and develop treatments or preventive options for prion and prion-like diseases.

Assistant Theme Leader: Xavier Roucou, University of Sherbrooke

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THEME III

Prion Preparedness and PreventionThis theme aims to prevent or effectively manage prion disease risks for Canadians. Projects are determining the impacts of CWD on user groups such as Aboriginal communities, characterizing the contagion patterns for CWD in wild deer, and developing an integrated risk management framework.

Theme Leader: Ralph Matthews, University of British ColumbiaAssistant Theme Leader: Daniel Krewski, University of Ottawa

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RESEARCH

PROJECTS BY THEME

THEME IPrion Ecology

THEME IIIPrion Preparedness and Prevention

THEME IIPrion Biology

INVESTMENT BY THEME

THEME IPrion Ecology

THEME IIIPrion Preparedness and Prevention

THEME IIPrion Biology

STRATEGIC PROGRAMSPrioNet has established a robust prion research enterprise in Canada through the following strategic programs, with details on the projects available on pages 21 to 27.

OPEN CALL PROJECTSPrioNet has Funds large-scale projects that address the most pressing challenges in prion and protein misfolding disease research.

BOOTSTRAP, the Business Opportunity Support and Technology Assessment ProgramFosters technology development through an integrated academic-industry partnership.

HIGH IMPACTSupports research urgencies or projects with significant scientific gain or socio-economic impact.

PROOF OF PRINCIPLEHelps prion researchers advance discoveries towards commercialization.

RECRUITMENTFacilitates the development of Canada’s prion research community by recruiting high-caliber prion scientists.

KNOWLEDGE MOBILIZATIONInvestigates the process of putting available prion research knowledge into service for society. It ensures that scientific knowledge is informed by receptor needs and reaches the right audience.



ACTIVE PROJECTS IN 2011/2012

THEMES Open Call High Impact Recruitment Bootstrap or Proof of Knowledge TOTAL Bootstrap-IDeal Principle Mobilization

THEME I: Prion Ecology 3 1 4

THEME II: Prion Biology 13 5 1 2 3 24

THEME III: Prion Preparedness 6 2 4 12 & Prevention

22 7 1 3 3 4 40

100 20 30 40

YEAR 1 2005 / 06 Core 7

YEAR 2 2006 / 07 Core Open Call 17

YEAR 3 2007 / 08 Core Open Call High Impact 18

YEAR 4 2008 / 09 Core Open Call High Impact Recruitment 31

YEAR 5 2009 / 10 Open Call High Impact Recruitment Bootstrap 32

YEAR 6 2010 / 11 Open Call High Impact Recruitment Bootstrap Proof of Principle 41

YEAR 7 2011 / 12 Open Call High Impact Recruitment Bootstrap Proof of Principle Knowledge Mobilization 40

PRIONET RESEARCH PROGRAM GROWTH

PLATFORM FACILITIESPrioNet’s four platform facilities provide access to leading edge resources that foster and catalyze prion research results:

Animal Models and Transgenesis Platform (David Westaway, University of Alberta) Develops targeted transgenic and knockout mice for biological studies.

Pathogenesis and Bioassay Platform (Neil Cashman, University of British Columbia) Provides access to experimental models of prion disease in biocontainment.

Chronic Wasting Disease Tissue Bank (Frederick A. Leighton, University of Saskatchewan)Provides access to retained and catalogued materials from the Canadian CWD surveillance program.

Prion Protein and Plasmid Production, PrP5 (David Wishart, University of Alberta)Produces recombinant prion proteins, amyloidogenic proteins, plasmids, transformed cells, as well as advice and protocols for recombinant protein production.

Monoclonal Antibody Platform (Biotechnology Research Institute – National Research Council of Canada)This independent service provides high-quality custom-made monoclonal antibodies.

• Partnered with NeuroPrion from Europe to send students to attend an intensive Canadian European two-day workshop for “Young Researchers Training in Science Communication”

Training PrioNet’s highly qualified personnel (HQP) represent students, post-doctoral fellows, young research associates and assistants and other trainees working on PrioNet and prion related research—the next generation of prion research leaders. PrioNet offers various training programs for the professional development of HQP. Last year, PrioNet’s training initiatives focused its seven programs into two topic clusters: “Go Far” which enhances training experience through conference, workshop or exchange support, and “Speak Up”, which fosters effective science communications.

EDUCATION & TRAINING


• Writing and publishing two issues annually of the Prioneer newsletter informing student and other young professionals of PrioNet programs, training opportunities, and other news

• Offered two regional Career Fairs to 60 attendees in Edmonton and Ottawa

67 training awards were granted





√ Return to Contents EDUCATION & TRAINING

PrioNet Student and Young Professional Association The cornerstone of PrioNet’s training program is the Student and Young Professional Association (SYPA), a connected and engaged community of over 300 graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, technicians, and research associates based in 13 cities across the country and actively involved in the Network.

The SYPA Council, which governs the SYPA membership, is a motivated team of over ten engaged volunteers from across the country working with PrioNet to enhance the technical and professional experience of trainees. They provide guidance on the development of PrioNet programs and events, represent the SYPA membership at both the PrioNet Committee and Board level, and inform the SYPA community about new program developments and offerings. SYPA enhances the training experience of Canada’s burgeoning young prion scientists and has helped them to prepare for future careers contributing to Canada’s knowledge economy.

SYPA Council 2011/2012

Chair: Deena Gendoo, McGill UniversityVice-Chair:Amrit Boese, University of Manitoba

CommunicationsandGovernanceCommitteeJulie Proft, University of CalgaryNishandan Yogasingam, Canadian Food Inspection Agency

EventsCommitteeIrene Oviedo Landaverde, Canadian Food Inspection AgencyFei Yang Liu, University of TorontoRory Shott, University of Alberta Roger Ma, University of Calgary

TrainingandProfessionalDevelopmentCommitteeAnna Majer, University of ManitobaAntanas Staskevicius, Canada Food Inspection Agency

Member Distribution2011-2012 (bycity)

Sherbrooke 20

Montreal 6

Ottawa 26

Toronto 32

London 20Kingston 1

Calgary 27

Edmonton 90

Saskatoon 19

Winnipeg 31Lethbridge 6

Victoria 4

Vancouver 20




Launching the careers of the next generation On November 18th, 2011 in Edmonton and March 2nd, 2012 in Ottawa, PrioNet presented the “SYPA Career Workshop and Fair” events, opportunities for the network’s graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, and young professionals to develop career skills, make connections with potential employers, and learn about the career experiences of other researchers.

The events welcomed a total of over 60 attendees, and included invited speakers from industry, academia, government, science communication, patent law, and non-governmental organizations. Attendees reported leaving the event feeling better informed about their career options, and better connected with potential employers, having taken advantage of the chance to interact with speakers at breaks and during the interactive fair component of the day. Podcasts were made available and posted on PrioNet’s website to help disseminate the valuable career information shared at the session.

“The speakers were all excellent and represented some of the best agencies and companies that could be potential employers.”

“The event opened my mind to other career opportunities outside academia.”



Art meets science As a graduate from McMaster University, Nishandan Yogasingam has volunteered his talent and passion for art and design towards various SYPA and PrioNet events as well as the SYPA Prioneer newsletter over the last number of years. He works as a molecular biologist for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency the Ottawa prion lab performing research and diagnostics. When he was a young, Nishandan was an aspiring comic book artist and painter. Strangely it was his “love of art that brought him into the molecular sciences” when he was tasked with building a 7-foot model of DNA’s double helix as part of a school assignment. Nishandan feels the relationship between art and science is that both have the objective of investigation. Science—the investigation of facts and principles, and art—the investigation of nature and humanity through sound, solid or paint. Nishandan has volunteered many hours sharing his craft with SYPA and the broader prion community producing beautiful and memorable creations to enhance our programs.

Nishandan Yogasingam from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency

Training exchange provides new experience Jason Yau, a PhD student of Dr. Simon Sharpe at the University of Toronto, received a PrioNet training award to travel to one of Canada’s leading-edge effort to study, treat, and prevent prion diseases—the Centre for Prion and Protein Folding Diseases (CPPFD) at the University of Alberta. Opened in 2006 and led by Dr. David Westaway, the CPPFD houses scientists at the forefront of research into prion diseases and other neurodegenerative disorders. Jason traveled to Edmonton to learn various tissue culture techniques in Dr. Valerie Sim’s Laboratory at the Centre. He studied the harmful effects of protein aggregates in cell and brain slice cultures as a model system to look at toxicity in disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. On top of his scientific skills sets acquired on his visit, Jason’s eyes were opened to a new level of learning and experience made available at the Centre with its goal to advance the knowledge of prion disorders while simultaneously creating a training ground for future prion scientists. For example, trainees present weekly on their latest experimental data at communal meetings with feedback from investigators and peers. Guest lecturers are also invited to share their latest advancements in prion research from around the world. Jason took away the experience of a extraordinary learning environment fostering scientific creativity and trainee development.

Jason Yau is a PhD student with Dr. Simon Sharpe at the University of Toronto

Oligomers being studied under the microscope.


PRION 2011 t-shirt design



KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE & OUTREACH

• PrioNet held or participated in 11 major events interacting with thousands of participants from around the world



• PrioNet issued four major press releases generating 100 stories in print and broadcast media including major Canadian newspaper and radio

• PRION 2011, held in May 2011 in Montreal, was the first time this international congress was hosted outside of Europe

• Twitter @prionet doubled its followers to 115, representing government agencies, universities, researchers and the global prion community



EVENTS


PrioNet offers or supports numerous events, directly or in-kind, to help facilitate communications and knowledge exchange relevant to its network, partners, or the community at large.

YoungResearchersTraininginScientificCommunicationMay 14-15, 2011Montreal, Quebec

SYPADayatPRION2011May 15-16, 2011Montreal, Quebecwww.prion2011.ca

PRION2011:NewWorldMay 16-19, 2011Montreal, Quebecwww.prion2011.ca

CJD2011andCJDFoundationFamilyConferenceJuly 8-10, 2011Washington, D.C.www.cjdfoundation.org

PrioNetSYPACareerWorkshopandFair–EdmontonNovember 18, 2011Ottawa, Ontariowww.prionetcanada.ca/training

NetworksofCentresofExcellenceAnnualMeetingDecember 5-7, 2011Ottawa, Ontariowww.nce-rce.gc.ca

JointPrioNet/APRINetworkingandCollaborationMeetingJanuary 17-18, 2012Vancouver, BCwww.prionetcanada.ca

AAASAnnualMeetingFlatteningtheWorld:BuildingaGlobalKnowledgeSocietyFebruary 16-20, 2012Vancouver, BCwww.aaas.org

ManagingtheFutureRiskofBSE–ForesightWorkshopFebruary 22-24, 2012Banff, Albertawww.prionetcanada.ca

PrioNetSYPACareerWorkshopandFair–OttawaMarch 2, 2012Ottawa, Ontariowww.prionetcanada.ca/training

PrionScience:Brazil&CanadaMarch 7-8, 2012São Paolo, Brazilwww.prionetcanada.ca




PRION 2011: Gathering the global prion community PrioNet Canada and the Alberta Prion Research Institute were proud co-hosts of the PRION 2011: New World international congress in Montreal in May—held for the first time outside of Europe. The congress, organized by an international steering committee, gathered nearly 600 delegates from 29 different countries, representing academia, government, industry and the not-for-profit sector. From the plenary by Nobel Laureate Dr. Stanley Prusiner and spirited “hot topic” panel sessions, to the 58 oral and 290 poster presentations, the congress was a vibrant four day success. The Student and Post-doctoral Fellow Poster Competition saw an impressive total of 146 participants across the congress’ three themes evaluated by an international team of 25 judges.

The congress centered on four major themes Prion Biology, Prions in Affected Environments, Managing Prion Disease Risks, and Prion-like Propagation and Protein Misfolding. The latter theme, which was incorporated into the PRION program for the first time this year, represents the expansion of the prion research field to encompass other neurodegenerative diseases that exhibit prion-like propagation mechanisms. The following organizations were instrumental to helping make PRION 2011 such a success: Health Canada, The Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency, ProMetic Biosciences, Biosphere Technologies, Neotope Biosciences, Biogen Idec, and GE Healthcare.

PrioNet partners with Brazil A delegation of Canadian researchers headed to São Paolo, Brazil, on March 7-8, 2012 for meetings to help find solutions to illnesses that know no borders: prion diseases and other neurodegenerative disorders. The group of seven PrioNet scientists, from the University of British Columbia, University of Alberta, Western University, McGill University, and the National Research Council of Canada participated. This knowledge exchange was organized to foster scientific and commercial collaboration between Canada and Brazil, and to create a tremendous opportunity to engage an international partner identified by the Canadian government as a key market for collaboration.

Nearly 75 attendees, including representatives from the Canadian Consulate, the Brazilian Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, International Science and Technology Partnerships Canada, the Foundation for Research Support of the State of São Paulo, private-sector companies, and scientists from Canada and Brazil, participated in a showcase of research developments in prion and neurodegenerative research. These developments ranged from the role of cell signaling in neurodegeneration to new molecular targets which help stop the progression of ALS.

Dr. Marco Prado, who was recruited to Canada from Brazil in 2008, is a PrioNet Scientific Member and Professor at the Robarts Research Institute at Western University was an instrumental part of this inaugural meeting. “We know this event will help build research collaborations required to secure global partnerships and attract talent to Canada to grow our knowledge economy.”

PrionScienceBrazil & CanadaSÃO PAULO 2012 MARCH 7, 8

“The scientific program was truly exceptional with presentations and posters from so many leading thinkers in this highly complex and rapidly widening field of misfolding proteins. As an observer, I remain concerned that prions will continue to constitute an unknown, and potentially serious, threat until their biology can be fully understood.”

– Dr. John Webb, Director of Emerging Science, Maple Leaf Foods


RESEARCH PROJECTS

√ Return to Contents RESEARCH PROJECTS / THEME I

THEME I

Prion EcologyTheme Leader: Frederick A. Leighton, University of SaskatchewanAssistant Theme Leader: Judd Aiken, University of Alberta

Open Call II

Development of Models of CWD Transmission and Risk at Multiple Spatial Scales: population effects and social networksPrincipal Investigator: Trent Bollinger, University of Saskatchewan Co-Investigators: David Coltman, University of AlbertaFrederick A. Leighton, University of SaskatchewanFrançois Messier, University of SaskatchewanCheryl Waldner, University of SaskatchewanCollaborators:Catherine Cullingham, University of AlbertaEvelyn Merrill, University of AlbertaNathaniel Osgood, University of SaskatchewanErin Rees, University of Montreal

Open Call IV

Chronic Wasting Disease StrainsPrincipal Investigator: Debbie McKenzie, University of Alberta Co-Investigators:Judd Aiken, University of AlbertaDavid Westaway, University of AlbertaValerie Sim, University of AlbertaCollaborators: Qing Zhong Kong, Case Western Reserve University, USALing Jun Li, University of Wisconsin, USAGlenn Millhauser, University of California, Santa Cruz, USA

Open Call IV

Development of an Oral Vaccine for Chronic Wasting DiseasePrincipal Investigator: Scott Napper, University of Saskatchewan Co-Investigators:Trent Bollinger, University of Saskatchewan Neil Cashman, University of British Columbia Philip Griebel, Vaccine and Infectious Disease OrganizationFrederick A. Leighton, University of SaskatchewanNate Osgood, University of Saskatchewan Andrew Potter, Vaccine and Infectious Disease OrganizationSuresh Tikoo, Vaccine and Infectious Disease OrganizationCheryl Waldner, University of SaskatchewanMurray Woodbury, University of SaskatchewanPartner: PREVENT

Bootstrap-IDeal

Development of Value-Added Applications Derived from Rendering By-product Streams, including Specified Risk Materials Principal Investigator: David Bressler, University of AlbertaCollaborators:Phillip Choi, University of AlbertaAnthony Yeung, University of AlbertaKen Vander Vleuten and Dave Zuliani, Sanimax CorporationPartners: Alberta Prion Research Institute, Sanimax


RESEARCH PROJECTS / THEME II

Open Call II

Prion Protein Conversion in Disease: the “Demiglobule” Hypothesis Principal Investigator: Neil Cashman, University of British Columbia Co-Investigators: Andre Marziali, University of British ColumbiaSteven Plotkin, University of British ColumbiaBrian Sykes, University of AlbertaDavid Westaway, University of AlbertaDavid Wishart, University of Alberta

Open Call II

Evolutionary Analysis and Conformational Modeling of Prion Proteins and Prion Protein-like Molecules Principal Investigator: Paul Harrison, McGill University Co-Investigator: Jacek Majewski, McGill UniversityCollaborators: Ted Allison, University of AlbertaGerold Schmitt-Ulms, University of TorontoRamanathan Sowdhamini, National Centre for Biological Sciences, IndiaJerome Waldispuhl, McGill University

Open Call II

Protein Kinases as Potential Therapeutic Targets in Prion Diseases Principal Investigator: Luis Schang, University of Alberta Co-Investigators: Stephanie Booth, University of ManitobaStefanie Czub, Canadian Food Inspection Agency Xavier Roucou, University of SherbrookeCollaborators:Judd Aiken, University of AlbertaFrank Jirik, University of CalgaryAllen Herbst, University of Alberta


THEME II

Prion BiologyAssistant Theme Leader: Xavier Roucou, University of Sherbrooke

Open Call II

Identification of miRNA Driven Regulatory Circuits Involved in Prion-Induced Neurodegeneration Principal Investigator: Stephanie Booth, University of Manitoba Co-Investigators: Leluo Guan, University of AlbertaStephen Moore, University of AlbertaLuis Schang, University of AlbertaCollaborators: Arnold Kell, Steacie Institute - National Research Council of CanadaCarol Lavigne, Public Health Agency of CanadaDirk Motzkus, German Primate Centre, GermanyManjuanth Swarmy, Harvard Medical School, USAAlain Thierry, Sysdiag-UMR/Bio-Rad, France

Open Call II

Discovery and Characterization of Novel Interactions Involving PrP and Related Proteins Principal Investigator: John Glover, University of Toronto Co-Investigators: Igor Stagljar, University of TorontoDavid Williams, University of Toronto




Open Call III

Oligomeric PrPres and Amyloidogenic PrP Fragments: their molecular structure, toxicity, and role in prion disease pathogenesis Principal Investigator: Valerie Sim, University of AlbertaCo-Investigators: Stephanie Booth, University of ManitobaRégis Pomès, University of TorontoSimon Sharpe, Hospital for Sick ChildrenPeter Tieleman, University of CalgaryDavid Westaway, University of AlbertaCollaborators:Byron Caughey, NIH/NIAID Rocky Mountain Laboratories, USAJay Ingram, formerly of Discovery Channel Canada

Open Call IV

Structural Proteomics of Prion AggregatesPrincipal Investigator: Christoph Borchers, University of Victoria Co-Investigators:Lars Konermann, Western UniversityDavid Wishart, University of Alberta

Open Call IV

Prion-like Propagated Misfolding of SOD1 in ALS PathogenesisPrincipal Investigator: Neil Cashman, University of British ColumbiaCo-Investigators: Ted Allison, University of AlbertaEmil Pai, University of TorontoSteven Plotkin, University of British ColumbiaScott Prosser, University of TorontoDavid Wishart, University of Alberta

Open Call IV

Identifying Novel Regulators of Cell-to-Cell Prion-like Propagation of α-Synuclein Pathology in Parkinson’s Disease Principal Investigator: Edward Fon, McGill UniversityCo-Investigator: Robert Screaton, University of OttawaCollaborators and Partner: Centre for Drug Research and Development

Open Call IV

Upstream and Downstream Partners of the Prion Protein as Therapeutic Targets in Prion Diseases and Alzheimer’s Disease Principal Investigator: Marco Prado, Western UniversityCo-Investigators: Neil Cashman, University of British ColumbiaVania Prado, Western UniversityStephen Ferguson, Western UniversityJane Rylett, Western UniversityRobert Bartha, Western UniversityRavi Menon, Western UniversityMichael Strong, Western UniversityJohn F. MacDonald, Western UniversityJames Wing-Yiu Choi, Western UniversityCollaborators:Vilma Martins, CIPE-A.C. Camargo Hospital, BrazilGlaucia Hajj, CIPE-A.C. Camargo Hospital, Brazil

THEME II / PRION BIOLOGY




Open Call IV

Alt-PrP, the Novel Polypeptide Encoded within the Prion Protein Gene Prnp: function in prion disease and potential as a biomarker Principal Investigator: Xavier Roucou, University of Sherbrooke Co-Investigators: Aru Balachandran, University of Guelph Michael Coulthart, Public Health Agency of CanadaDavid Knox, Public Health Agency of CanadaCollaborator:Human Rezaei, French National Institute for Agricultural Research, France

Open Call IV

Physiological Travel of Prion Proteins and Pathophysiological Delivery of Misfolded Cargo: relationship to prion infections and Alzheimer’s disease Principal Investigator: Gerold Schmitt-Ulms, University of Toronto Co-Investigators: Graham George, University of SaskatchewanDavid Westaway, University of Alberta

Open Call IV

Misfolding Pathways of Mammalian PrP: defining the structural basis for prion disease susceptibilityPrincipal Investigator: Simon Sharpe, The Hospital for Sick Children Co-Investigators: Avi Chakrabartty, University of Toronto Julie Forman-Kay, The Hospital for Sick Children Scott Napper, University of SaskatchewanEmil Pai, University of TorontoShoshana Wodak, The Hospital for Sick Children

Recruitment

Linking Prion Fibril Stability and Prion InfectivityPrincipal Investigator: Jörg Gsponer, University of British Columbia Co-Investigators:Neil Cashman, University of British ColumbiaHongbin Li, University of British ColumbiaCollaborator: Jens Pahnke, University of Rostock, Germany

Bootstrap-Ideal

Testing potential chemical chaperones for prions with single-molecule spectroscopies Principal Investigator: Michael Woodside, University of Alberta Collaborator: Nils Petersen, University of AlbertaPartners: Alberta Prion Research Institute, ChemRoutes, National Institute of Nanotechnology – National Research Council of Canada

Bootstrap

Exploitation of PrP Misfolding Epitopes in TSE Vaccines and Cancer Immunotherapies Principal Investigator: Neil Cashman, University of British ColumbiaCollaborators: Andrew Potter, PREVENTYuzhou Wang, University of British Columbia Dawn Waterhouse, University of British ColumbiaPartners: Amorfix Life Sciences, PREVENT

High-Impact

Structural Characterization of the Fab Fragments of Three PrPC-specific Antibodies and the Complexes with their Epitopes on the PrPC

Principal Investigator: Michael James, University of Alberta Co-Investigator: Nat Kav, University of AlbertaCollaborator: Adriano Aguzzi, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland





High-Impact

A Stress-Regulated Cryptic Out-of-Frame Polypeptide Encoded in the Prion Protein Gene in Higher MammalsPrincipal Investigator: Xavier Roucou, University of Sherbrooke Co-Investigators: Aru Balachandran, University of Guelph Michael Coulthart, Public Health Agency of CanadaCollaborator:Gerard Jansen, Eastern Ontario Regional Laboratory

High-Impact

Novel Intercellular Mechanisms for Alzheimer and Prion Diseases to Interact: disease spreading as a unique therapeutic target Principal Investigator: Ted Allison, University of AlbertaCo-Investigator: Xavier Roucou, University of Sherbrooke

High-Impact

AAV-mediated Expression of Single Chain Antibodies Against Misfolded proteins in Biophotonic Mouse Models of ALSPrincipal Investigator: Jean-Pierre Julien, Laval University Co-Investigator: Jasna Kriz, Laval University

High-Impact

Regulation of NMDA Receptors by Prion Proteins: implication for Alzheimer’s DiseasePrincipal Investigator: Gerald Zamponi, University of Calgary

Proof of Principle

An Amyloid-β Oligomer Specific Epitope: Target for Alzheimer Disease Therapy and Propagation PathogenesisPrincipal Investigator: Neil Cashman, University of British ColumbiaCo-Investigators:Xavier Roucou, University of SherbrookeWeihong Song, University of British ColumbiaCollaborators:Jean-Philippe Deslys, Atomic Energy Commission, FranceHuman Rezaei, French National Institute for Agricultural Research, France

Proof of Principle

Identification, Characterization and Development of Novel Inhibitors of Prion Protein ConversionPrincipal Investigator: David Wishart, University of Alberta Co-Investigator: Neil Cashman, University of British Columbia

Proof of Principle

Vaccination of mice against prion disease using attenuated PrP oligomersPrincipal Investigator: David Wishart, University of Alberta Co-Investigator: Neil Cashman, University of British Columbia



RESEARCH PROJECTS / THEME III

Open Call III

In Land and Life: Multi-Scale Implications of Chronic Wasting Disease for Aboriginal Communities and Other StakeholdersPrincipal Investigator: Stéphane McLachlan, University of ManitobaCo-Investigators: Carol Amaratunga, University of OttawaGwendolyn Blue, University of CalgaryCarmen Fuentealba, University of CalgarySusan Kutz, University of CalgaryJuan Carlos Rodriguez-Lecompte, University of ManitobaShirley Thompson, University of ManitobaCollaborators:Oscar Illanes, University of CalgaryRyan Brook, University of CalgaryJoyce Slater, University of ManitobaPartners: Cote First Nation, Keeseekoose First Nation, Paul First Nation, Yellowhead Tribal Council

Open Call III

Characterizing Patterns of Contagion and Transmission of Chronic Wasting Disease in Cervids Principal Investigator: Norman Neumann, University of Alberta Co-Investigators:Judd Aiken, University of AlbertaMike Belosevic, University of AlbertaAru Balachandran, University of GuelphTrent Bollinger, University of SaskatchewanSylvia Checkley, University of AlbertaCollaborators:Eva Chow, Alberta Agriculture and FoodCatherine Graham, Canadian Food Inspection AgencyGordon Mitchell, Canadian Food Inspection AgencyMargo Pybus, Alberta Sustainable Resources DevelopmentMichael Samuel, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA

Knowledge Mobilization

Rhetoric and Knowledge Mobilization in Prion Research Across CommunitiesPrincipal Investigator: Heather Graves, University of AlbertaCo-Investigator: David Wishart, University of Alberta


THEME III

Prion Preparedness and PreventionTheme Leader: Ralph Matthews, University of British ColumbiaAssistant Theme Leader: Daniel Krewski, University of Ottawa

Open Call II

The Political Economy of Testing and Traceability Systems in Prion Disease Risk Management Principal Investigator: Ellen Goddard, University of Alberta Co-Investigators:Tomas Nilsson, University of AlbertaSven Anders, University of AlbertaJames Rude, University of AlbertaCollaborators:Andreas Boecker, University of GuelphJanneke de Jonge, Wageningen University, NetherlandsLeigh Maynard, University of Kentucky, USA

Open Call II

Developing an Integrated Model of Risk Estimation of BSE and vCJD in CanadaPrincipal Investigator: Daniel Krewski, University of Ottawa Co-Investigators:Susie ElSaadany, University of OttawaRobert Smith?, University of OttawaCollaborators: Noel Murray, Canadian Food Inspection Agency


The Social Dimensions of Knowledge Mobilization: an ex post facto analysis of how PrioNet biology knowledge moves through societyPrincipal Investigator: Nathan Young, University of OttawaCo-Investigator: Xavier Roucou, University of Sherbrooke



Open Call IV

Integrating Resource Selection, Movement and Group Size Models to Predict and Communicate Chronic Wasting Disease Risk for Elk with Co-occurring White-tailed DeerPrincipal Investigator: Ryan Brook, University of Saskatchewan Co-Investigators: Trent Bollinger, University of SaskatchewanDouglas Clark, University of SaskatchewanPatricia Farnese, University of Saskatchewan Philip McLoughlin, University of SaskatchewanPaul Paquet, University of CalgaryJames Roth, University of ManitobaPartners & Collaborators: Parks Canada, Manitoba Conservation, Saskatchewan Environment, Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve, Prince Alberta Model Forest, Ebb and Flow First Nation, Keeseekoowenin First Nation, Sandy Bay First Nation, Waywayseecappo First Nation, Gamblers First Nation, Rolling River First Nation, Tootinawaziibeeng First Nation, Red Earth First Nation, National Park Service, Earth Rhythms Inc., Manitoba Agricultural Services Corp.

Open Call IV

Development of an Integrated Risk Management Framework for Chronic Wasting DiseasePrincipal Investigator: Ellen Goddard, University of Alberta Co-Investigators:Judd Aiken, University of Alberta Wiktor Adamowicz, University of Alberta Aru Balachandran, University of GuelphDaniel Krewski, University of OttawaFrederick A. Leighton, University of SaskatchewanLouise Lemyre, University of Ottawa Frithjof Lutscher, University of OttawaStéphane McLachlan, University of ManitobaBrenda Parlee, University of AlbertaRobert Smith?, University of Ottawa

High Impact

Understanding the Importance of Caribou in the Diets of Households in Selected Communities in Northern CanadaPrincipal Investigator: Ellen Goddard, University of AlbertaCo-Investigator: Brenda Parlee, University of AlbertaCollaborator: Sangita Sharma, University of Alberta

High Impact

Eliciting Expert Opinions to Address Uncertainties Associated with the Risks of Chronic Wasting DiseasePrincipal Investigator: Daniel Krewski, University of OttawaCo-Investigators:Susie ElSaadany, Public Health Agency of CanadaRobert Smith?, University of OttawaFrithjof Lutscher, University of Ottawa


In Land and Life: Knowledge Mobilization, CWD, and Aboriginal Communities in Saskatchewan and AlbertaPrincipal Investigator: Stéphane McLachlan, University of ManitobaCo-Investigators: Ryan Brook, University of SaskatchewanEmily Jenkins, University of SaskatchewanFrederick A. Leighton, University of SaskatchewanPartners: Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation, Cote First Nation, Keeseekoose First Nation, Paul First Nation, Poundmaker First Nation


Scientific Knowledge as a Social Process – A Case Study of Knowledge Mobilization, Transfer and Implementation in a Prion Biology Research ContextPrincipal Investigator: Ralph Matthews, University of British ColumbiaCo-Investigator: Neil Cashman, University of British Columbia

THEME III / PRION PREPAREDNESS AND PREVENTION

RESEARCH PROJECTS / THEME III


PARTNERS√ Return to Contents

PARTNERS (cash and in-kind) As of March 31, 2012

UNIVERSITIES Case Western Reserve UniversityEmory UniversityHeinrich Heine University DüsseldorfLaval UniversityMcGill UniversityMississippi State UniversityUniversity of AlbertaUniversity of British ColumbiaUniversity of CalgaryUniversity of CaliforniaUniversity of ExeterUniversity of GuelphUniversity of KentuckyUniversity of ManitobaUniversity of MarylandUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillUniversity of Ontario Institute of TechnologyUniversity of OttawaUniversity of RostockUniversity of SaskatchewanUniversity of SherbrookeUniversity of TorontoUniversity of VictoriaUniversity of Wisconsin-MadisonUniversity Health NetworkWagenigen UniversityWestern University

INDUSTRY Agilent Technologies Inc.Amorfix Life Sciences Ltd.Biogen Idec Inc.Canadian Cattlemen’s AssociationCangeneChemRoutes Corp.GE Healthcare BiosciencesMerck SeronoNeotopeProMetic BiosciencesRx&D, Canada’s Research-Based Pharmaceutical CompaniesSanimax Industries Inc.ServierTEVA Canada InnovationTaylor and FrancisThermo Fisher Scientific

PrioNet’s strategic research partner is the Alberta Prion Research Institute (APRI) Alberta Innovates – Bio Solutions (www.prioninstitute.ca), that provides a value-added strategic federal provincial alliance. The partnership has been an integral resource for prion research in Canada, especially for building capacity and expertise in Alberta. Beyond research, PrioNet collaborates with APRI on significant knowledge translation endeavors, such as PRION 2011—the major international prion conference, public outreach, training opportunities for students and other young professionals, and the development of scientific and policy meetings.


√ Return to Contents PARTNERS

PARTNERS (cash and in-kind) As of March 31, 2012

GOVERNMENT Agriculture and Agri-Food CanadaAlberta Agriculture and Rural DevelopmentAlberta Centre for Prions and Protein Folding DiseasesAlberta Innovates - Health SolutionsAlberta Livestock and Meat AgencyAlberta Prion Research Institute, Alberta Innovates - Bio SolutionsAlberta Sustainable Resources DevelopmentCanadian Food Inspection AgencyConsumer and Market Demand - Agricultural Policy Research NetworkBC Cancer AgencyBC Centre for Disease ControlBiotechnology Research Institute – National Research Council of CanadaEastern Ontario Regional LaboratoryGenome AlbertaGovernment of YukonHealth CanadaManitoba Agricultural Services CorporationManitoba ConservationOntario Graduate Scholarship ProgramParks CanadaPublic Health Agency of CanadaProvince of Manitoba - Manitoba Centre of ExcellenceProvincial Laboratory for Public Health - AlbertaSaskatchewan EnvironmentSaskatchewan Health Research FoundationSteacie Institute - National Research Council of Canada

OTHER Advanced Foods and Materials NetworkA.C. Camargo HospitalAlexis Nakota Sioux NationAlzheimer’s Society of London and MiddlesexAtomic Energy CommissionCanadian Cooperative Wildlife Health CentreCentre for Drug Research and DevelopmentChildren’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research InstituteCJD FoundationCompute CanadaCote First Nation

OTHER continuedDiscovery Channel CanadaEarth Rhythms, Inc.Ebb and Flow First NationFondation André-DelambreFrench National Institute for Agricultural ResearchGamblers First NationGerman Primate CenterHeart and Stoke Foundation of AlbertaThe Hospital for Sick ChildrenJustice Institute of British ColumbiaKeeseekoose First NationKeeseekoowenin First NationMcLaughlin Research InstituteMontreal Neurological Institute and HospitalNational Centre for Biological SciencesNational Institute for NanotechnologyNational Park ServiceNeurological Health Charities CanadaNeuroPrion AssociationNIH/NIHAID Rocky Mountain LaboratoriesPan-Alberta Metabolomics PlatformPan-Provincial Vaccine EnterpriseScience and Technology Park of BizkaiaPaul First NationPoundmaker First NationPrince Albert Model ForestR. Samuel McLaughlin Centre for Population Health Risk AssessmentRed Earth First NationRiding Mountain Biosphere ReserveRolling River First NationSandy Bay First NationSão Paulo Research FoundationSysdiag-UMR/Bio-RadTootinawazibeeng First NationUniversity HospitalUniversity Hospital FoundationVaccine and Infectious Diseases OrganizationVancouver Coastal Health Research InstituteWaywayseecappo First NationWestern General HospitalYellowhead Tribal Council


NETWORK COMMUNITY√ Return to Contents

NETWORK COMMUNITYFULL SCIENTIFIC MEMBERS University of AlbertaWiktor AdamowiczJudd AikenTed AllisonSven AndersLorne BabiukMike BelosevicDavid BresslerPhilip ChoiDavid ColtmanMohamed Gamal El-DinEllen GoddardHeather GravesLeluo GuanMichael JamesJack JhamandasNat KavAndriy KovalenkoLiang LiDebbie McKenzieNorman F. NeumannBrenda ParleeNils PetersenJames RudeLuis SchangValerie SimMavanur SureshBrian SykesDavid WestawayDavid WishartMichael Woodside

University of British ColumbiaJane Buxton Bonnie Henry Neil CashmanJörg GsponerWilliam JiaHongbin LiAndre MarzialiRalph MatthewsSteven PlotkinWeihong Song

University of CalgaryGwendolyn BlueSylvia CheckleyStefanie CzubCarmen FuentealbaFrank JirikSusan KutzPaul PaquetAlan SmartJosephine SmartPeter StysPeter TielemanShigeki TsutsuiRobin M. YatesGerald Zamponi

University of GuelphAru Balachandran Gordon Hayward

The Hospital for Sick ChildrenJulie Forman-KayRégis PomèsSimon SharpeShoshana Wodak

Laval University Jean-Pierre JulienJasna Kriz

McGill UniversityEdward FonPaul HarrisonJacek Majewski

University of ManitobaStephanie BoothStéphane McLachlanJuan Carlos Rodriguez-LecompteJames RothShirley Thompson

University of Ontario Institute of TechnologyJohn Samis

University of OttawaCarol Amaratunga Susie ElSaadanyGerard JansenDaniel KrewskiWilliam LeissLouise LemyreFrithjof LutscherRobert Screaton Robert Smith?Michael TyshenkoNathan Young

University of SaskatchewanTrent BollingerRyan BrookDouglas ClarkPatricia FarneseGraham N. GeorgePhilip GriebelEmily JenkinsFrederick A. LeightonPhilip McLoughlinScott NapperNathaniel OsgoodAndrew PotterSuresh TikooCheryl WaldnerMurray Woodbury

University of SherbrookeXavier Roucou

University of TorontoAvijit ChakrabarttyJohn GloverLewis KayEmil PaiScott ProsserGerold Schmitt-UlmsIgor StagljarDavid Williams


√ Return to Contents NETWORK COMMUNITY

FULL SCIENTIFIC MEMBERS continued

University of VictoriaChristoph Borchers

Western UniversityRobert BarthaStephen S.G. FergusonLars KonermannJohn F. MacDonaldRavi MenonMarco PradoVania PradoJane RylettMichael StrongJames Wing-Yiu Choy

ASSOCIATE SCIENTIFIC MEMBERS Alberta Agriculture and Rural DevelopmentEva Chow

Canadian Food Inspection AgencyCatherine Graham

Public Health Agency of CanadaMichael CoulthartDavid Knox

Queensland Alliance for Agriculture & Food InnovationStephen Moore

COLLABORATORSAdriano Aguzzi, University Hospital Zurich, SwitzerlandJudd Aiken, University of AlbertaTed Allison, University of AlbertaAndreas Boecker, University of GuelphRyan Brook, University of CalgaryByron Caughey, NIH/NIAID Rocky Mountain Laboratories, USAPhillip Choi, University of AlbertaEva Chow, Alberta Agriculture and FoodCatherine Cullingham, University of AlbertaJean-Philippe Deslys, Atomic Energy Commission, FranceCatherine Graham, Canadian Food Inspection AgencyGlaucia Hajj, CIPE-A.C. Camargo Hospital, BrazilAllen Herbst, University of AlbertaOscar Illanes, University of CalgaryJay Ingram, formerly of Discovery Channel CanadaGerard Jansen, Eastern Ontario Regional LaboratoryFrank Jirik, University of CalgaryJanneke de Jonge, Wageningen University, NetherlandsArnold Kell, Steacie Institute - National Research Council of CanadaQing Zhong Kong, Case Western Reserve University, USACarol Lavigne, Public Health Agency of CanadaLing Jun Li, University of Wisconsin, USAVilma Martins, CIPE-A.C. Camargo Hospital, BrazilLeigh Maynard, University of Kentucky, USAEvelyn Merrill, University of AlbertaGlenn Millhauser, University of California - Santa Cruz, USAGordon Mitchell, Canadian Food Inspection AgencyDirk Motzkus, German Primate Centre, GermanyNoel Murray, Canadian Food Inspection AgencyNathaniel Osgood, University of SaskatchewanJens Pahnke, University of Rostock, GermanyAndrew Potter, PREVENTMargo Pybus, Alberta Sustainable Resources DevelopmentErin Rees, University of MontrealHuman Rezaei, French National Institute for Agricultural Research, FranceMichael Samuel, University of Wisconsin - Madison, USAGerold Schmitt-Ulms, University of TorontoJoyce Slater, University of ManitobaRamanathan Sowdhamini, National Centre for Biological Sciences, IndiaManjuanth Swarmy, Harvard Medical School, USAAlain Thierry, Sysdiag-UMR/Bio-Rad, FranceKen Vander Vleuten, Sanimax CorporationJerome Waldispuhl, McGill UniversityYuzhou Wang, University of British ColumbiaDawn Waterhouse, University of British ColumbiaAnthony Yeung, University of AlbertaDave Zuliani, Sanimax Corporation


NETWORK COMMUNITY√ Return to Contents

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chair: David Dolphin, Professor Emeritus, University of British ColumbiaVice-Chair: Bhagirath Singh, Director, Centre for Human Immunology, Western University Scientific Director: Neil Cashman, PrioNet Canada/University of British Columbia (non-voting)Executive Director: Michelle Wong, PrioNet Canada (non-voting)

David Bailey, President, Genome Alberta Ted Bilyea, Consultant, Ted Bilyea and Associates Robert Clarke, former Assistant Deputy Minister, Public Health Agency of Canada John Culley, former Director, Office of Intellectual Property and Commercialization, Agriculture and Agri-Food CanadaFouad Elgindy, Senior Program Manager, Networks of Centres of Excellence (observer) Deena Gendoo, McGill University - PrioNet SYPA Representative (non-voting)John Hepburn, Vice President Research and International, University of British Columbia (host institution) Jay Ingram, Science Communication Consultant, former co-host / producer Discovery Channel CanadaKevin Keough, Executive Director, Alberta Prion Research Institute, Alberta Innovates – Bio SolutionsDaniel Krewski, Associate Scientific Director, PrioNet Canada/University of Ottawa (non-voting) Dennis Laycraft, Executive Vice President, Canadian Cattlemen’s Association Shannon MacDonald, Vice-President Public Affairs and Partnerships, Rx&DStephen Morgan Jones, Director General, Science Partnerships Directorate - Agriculture and Agri-Food CanadaMarco Prado, Western University (scientific member participant)

Business Advisory Committee Chair: John Culley, former Director, Office of Intellectual Property and Commercialization, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Stephen Morgan Jones, Agriculture and Agri-Food CanadaDennis Laycraft, Canadian Cattlemen’s Association Michelle Wong, PrioNet Canada (observer)

Executive Committee Chair: David Dolphin, Chair - PrioNet Board of Directors David Bailey, Genome Alberta Ted Bilyea, Ted Bilyea and Associates Neil Cashman, PrioNet Canada/University of British Columbia (non-voting) John Culley, former Director, Office of Intellectual Property and Commercialization, Agriculture and Agri-Food CanadaStephen Morgan Jones, Agriculture and Agri-Food CanadaBhagirath Singh, Western University Michelle Wong, PrioNet Canada (non-voting)

Finance, Audit, and Compensation Committee Chair: Bhagirath Singh, Western University David Dolphin, Chair of PrioNet Canada Board of Directors (ex officio) John Hepburn, University of British Columbia Dennis Laycraft, Canadian Cattlemen’s Association Mark Vernon, University of British Columbia

Governance Committee Chair: Stephen Morgan Jones, Agriculture and Agri-Food CanadaDavid Bailey, Genome Alberta David Dolphin, Chair of PrioNet Canada’s Board of Directors (ex officio)

Scientific Strategy and Policy Committee Chair: David Bailey, Genome Alberta Neil Cashman, PrioNet Canada/University of British Columbia (non-voting) David Dolphin, Chair of PrioNet Canada’s Board of Directors (ex officio) Dennis Laycraft, Canadian Cattlemen’s Association Bhagirath Singh, Western University Michelle Wong, PrioNet Canada (non-voting)


√ Return to Contents NETWORK COMMUNITY

RESEARCH MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE Chair: Steve Withers, University of British Columbia Judd Aiken, University of Alberta Conrad Brunk, University of Victoria Neil Cashman, University of British Columbia Fouad Elgindy, Networks of Centres of Excellence (observer) Matt Farrer, University of British ColumbiaEdward Fon, McGill University J.P. Heale, University-Industry Liaison Office, University of British Columbia Bob Hills, Health CanadaDaniel Krewski, University of Ottawa Frederick A. Leighton, University of SaskatchewanRalph Matthews, University of British Columbia Stéphane McLachlan, University of ManitobaXavier Roucou, University of Sherbrooke Primal Silva, Canadian Food Inspection Agency Michelle Wong, PrioNet Canada (observer) Rickey Yada, University of Guelph

Education CommitteeChair: Neil Cashman, PrioNet/University of British ColumbiaAnna Majer, University of Manitoba (Student Representative) Stéphane McLachlan, University of Manitoba (Member at Large, Social Sciences) Alison Palmer, PrioNet Canada (non-voting) Xavier Roucou, University of Sherbrooke (Member at Large, Basic Sciences) Josephine Smart, University of Calgary (Member at Large, Social Sciences) Antanas Staskevicius, University of Sherbrooke (Student Representative) David Westaway, University of Alberta (Member at Large, Basic Sciences) Rickey Yada, University of Guelph (External Member) Michelle Wong, PrioNet Canada (observer)

Platform Review Sub-Committee Judd Aiken, University of Alberta J.P. Heale, University of British Columbia Xavier Roucou, University of Sherbrooke Rickey Yada, University of Guelph

SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY COMMITTEENeil Cashman, Scientific Director, PrioNet Canada/University of British Columbia (ex-officio) Byron Caughey, NIAID Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institutes of Health (United States) Jean-Philippe Deslys, Prion Research Group, Atomic Energy Commission (France) Linda Detwiler, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University (United States) Nikolay Dokholyan, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (United States) Matt Lobley, Centre for Rural Policy Research, University of Exeter (United Kingdom) Detlev Riesner, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (Germany) Robert G. Rohwer, School of Medicine, University of Maryland at Baltimore (United States) Michael D. Samuel, Wisconsin Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, University of Wisconsin-Madison (United States) Lary Walker, Yerkes National Primate Research Center and Department of Neurology, Emory University (United States) Robert G. Will, National Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Surveillance Unit (Scotland)

STAFFNeil Cashman, Scientific DirectorMichelle Wong, Executive Director Shaunne Davidson, Office ManagerAngela Fang, Accounting and Administrative AssistantLeslie Grad, Director of Scientific ProgramsSandra Haney, Director of Communications and MarketingAlison Palmer, Communications and Training ManagerShumsheer Sidhu, Finance Manager


√ Return to Contents FINANCIAL STATEMENTS / march 31, 2012

FINANCIAL STATEMENTSIndependent Auditor’s Report

To the Directors of PrioNet Canada

We have audited the accompanying financial statements of PrioNet Canada, which comprise the statement of financial position as at March 31, 2012 and the statements of operations and cash flows for the year then ended, and the related notes including a summary of significant accounting policies.

Management’s responsibility for the financial statementsManagement is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of these financial statements in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles, and for such internal control as management determines is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

Auditor’s responsibilityOur responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit. We conducted our audit in accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing standards. Those standards require that we comply with ethical requirements and plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free from material misstatement.

An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The procedures selected depend on the auditor’s judgment, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal control relevant to the entity’s preparation and fair presentation of the financial statements in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity’s internal control. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements.

We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.

OpinionIn our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of PrioNet Canada as at March 31, 2012 and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year then ended in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles.

Emphasis of matterWithout qualifying our opinion, we draw attention to note 3 in the financial statements which describes matters and conditions that indicate the existence of a material uncertainty that may cast significant doubt about PrioNet Canada’s ability to continue as a going concern.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLPChartered AccountantsJune 21, 2012



STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION As at March 31, 2012

2012 2011 $ $Assets Current assets Cash held in trust by UBC 1,343,336 3,208,722Cash held at bank 129,901 67,527Accounts receivable 28,850 40,000Unspent research grants paid to participating institutions 1,083,345 1,155,395Prepaid expenses 41,029 190,664 2,626,461 4,662,308 Furniture and equipment (note 5) 15,337 26,418 2,641,798 4,688,726

Liabilities Current liabilities Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 88,468 84,711 Deferred contributions (note 6(a)) 2,407,892 4,509,869 Deferred capital contributions (note 6(b)) 15,337 26,418 2,511,697 4,620,998 Unrestricted funds 130,101 67,728 2,641,798 4,688,726

Approved by the Board of Director

Dr. David Dolphin, Chair Dr. Bhagirath Singh, Director

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.



STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS For the year ended March 31, 2012

2012 2011 $ $Revenue Grant from NCE (note 6(a)) 7,166,499 6,378,813Grant from Host Institution (note 6(a)) 81,178 150,005Other sources of funds 127,301 65,691Amortization of deferred capital contributions (note 6(b)) 15,381 15,367 7,390,359 6,609,876

Expenses Administrative 9,381 15,168Depreciation of furniture and equipment 15,381 15,367Insurance 21,170 21,219Professional fees 137,712 161,400Rent 66,366 63,816Repairs and maintenance 20,091 25,348Research and training (note 8) 6,066,916 5,415,679Salaries and benefits 542,537 549,299Supplies 24,800 32,780Travel, meetings and workshops 423,632 284,494 7,327,986 6,584,570 Excess of revenue over expenses for the year 62,373 25,306 Unrestricted funds - Balance brought forward 67,728 42,422 Unrestricted funds - Balance carried forward 130,101 67,728




STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS For the year ended March 31, 2012

2012 2011 $ $ Cash flows from operating activities Excess of revenue over expenses for the year 62,373 25,306 Add: Non-cash items Depreciation of furniture and equipment 15,381 15,367 Recognition of grant revenues (7,247,677) (6,528,818) Amortization of deferred capital contributions (15,381) (15,367) (7,185,304) (6,503,512)

Changes in non-cash capital working capital items Accounts receivable 11,150 87,062 Unspent research grants paid to participating institutions 72,050 (171,590) Prepaid expenses 149,635 (166,450) Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 3,757 (319,924) Deferred contributions received 5,150,000 5,150,000 5,386,592 4,579,098 (1,798,712) (1,924,414) Cash flows from investing activities Furniture and equipment acquired (4,300) (3,012) Decrease in cash (1,803,012) (1,927,426) Cash - Beginning of year 3,276,249 5,203,675 Cash - End of year 1,473,237 3,276,249



√ Return to Contents NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS / march 31, 2012

1 Nature of operations

PrioNet Canada (PrioNet) is a not-for-profit program under the Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE) where PrioNet’s operations began on November 1, 2005. On April 13, 2006, PrioNet was formally incorporated under the Canada Corporations Act. PrioNet was established to respond to the potential risk of mad cow and other prion diseases in Canada. PrioNet, under the International Partnership Initiative (IPI), continued to focus on enhancing outreach initiatives by extending the geographical range of the network to encompass international partners. PrioNet pursues its mission by distributing awards to its principal investigators through their participating institutions for approved research projects.

Under a funding agreement and amended funding agreement between PrioNet and the NCE, PrioNet was awarded a grant of $20,696,000, of which $19,900,000 was the initial NCE funds and $796,000 was the additional IPI funds awarded. On top of this $19,900,000 from the NCE, PrioNet also received $100,000 from the NCE to prepare the initial application, which was applied against the $5,000,000 received in the first year of funding. The initial NCE funds were paid over a period of four years, and as at March 31, 2009, the full $19,900,000 had been received. The full amount of the two-year IPI award was paid as of March 31, 2008 and a one-year carry forward was granted by the NCE to fully expend the award by March 31, 2010. PrioNet was successful in its mid-term review and was approved a continuation of its initial award for an additional $15,000,000 under an amendment to the funding agreement to be paid in full by March 31, 2012. On August 11, 2011, PrioNet submitted a renewal application for a second cycle of funding for $35,000,000 over a seven-year period. However, the application was not renewed by the NCE due to the budget cut back at the federal level.

The NCE program is a program of the Government of Canada jointly administered by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) in partnership with Industry Canada. PrioNet’s International Scientific Advisory Committee and Research Management Committee are responsible for reviewing research proposals and for making recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding research projects, including the addition and termination of projects.

2 Summary of significant accounting policies

Basis of accountingThese financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) for not-for-profit organizations. PrioNet follows the deferral method of accounting for contributions.

Cash held in trust by UBCBased on the funding arrangement between PrioNet and the NCE, the grant is to be administered by the University of British Columbia (UBC). In addition, PrioNet has a bank account to hold any unrestricted funds.

Unspent research grants paid to participating institutionsResearch grants paid to the participating institutions are deferred on the statement of financial position and when the participating institution incurs costs, they are recognized as an expense. These amounts reflect the unspent portion of grants paid.

Furniture and equipmentFurniture and equipment are recorded at cost and depreciated on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives at the following annual rates: Furniture 20% Computers 30%

Cash and cash equivalentsPrioNet considers all highly liquid investments that have little or no interest risk or credit risk to be cash equivalents. Due to the short time to maturity of the cash equivalents, their carrying amounts approximate their fair values.



Revenue recognitionIn fiscal 2006, PrioNet entered into an agreement with the NCE program to receive funding of $20,696,000 over an initial period of four years. During fiscal 2009, PrioNet had a successful mid-term review by the NCE which awarded PrioNet $15,000,000 as a continuation of its existing award over an additional three years. Under the terms of the agreement, this funding will be directed to the granting of awards to participating institutions and the payment of PrioNet’s operating and capital expenditures. When received, the restricted contribution is deferred and recognized as revenue in the year in which the related expenses are incurred by PrioNet or the participating institution. Restricted contributions applied toward the purchase of furniture and equipment are deferred and amortized to revenue on a straight-line basis at a rate corresponding with the amortization rate for the related furniture and equipment. Unrestricted contributions are recognized as revenue in the current period if the amount to be received can be reasonably estimated and collection is reasonably assured.

Grant from Host InstitutionOn September 6, 2005, the Host Institution Agreement was signed between PrioNet and UBC and the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority. The agreement provides a cash grant as well as in-kind support. Gifts in kind are not recorded in the financial statements and include legal service coordination; payroll, purchasing, and grant management; and management of intellectual property, IT support and web hosting services. UBC will continue to support PrioNet in fiscal 2012-2013 in the amount of $15,000 as well as provide in-kind support as described previously.

Financial instrumentsPrioNet has adopted the provisions of Section 3855, Financial Instruments - Recognition and Measurement, and Section 3861, Financial Instruments - Disclosure and Presentation, of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants (CICA) Handbook, as they apply to not-for-profit organizations.

The standards require that all financial assets and liabilities be measured at fair value with the exception of investments held to maturity, loans and receivables, and other liabilities that are measured at amortized cost using the effective interest rate method. Cash, accounts receivable, and accounts payable and accrued liabilities are measured at amortized cost.

Use of estimatesThe preparation of financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those reported. Items requiring the use of management estimates include useful lives of furniture and equipment.

Employee future benefitsDuring fiscal 2007, PrioNet staff became eligible to join the UBC staff pension plan. The UBC staff pension plan provides benefits based on 2% of the average best three years’ basic salary multiplied by the number of years of contributory service, less an adjustment to Canada Pension Plan contributory earnings. PrioNet’s contribution for staff is approximately 6% of salary. In the event of funding deficiencies, PrioNet’s contributions remain fixed and benefits for members may be reduced. Accordingly, PrioNet expenses contributions to this plan in the year the contributions are made. Benefit security for employees is improved by the plan maintaining a contingency reserve. The contingency reserve recommended by the plan’s actuary and approved by the pension board and Canada Revenue Agency is 40% of liabilities.

Contributions made during the year were $29,487 (2011 - $33,353).



3 Going concern

These financial statements have been prepared using Canadian GAAP applicable to a going concern which assumes that PrioNet will be able to realize assets and discharge liabilities in the normal course of business for the foreseeable future. In the course of its operations, PrioNet has sustained negative cash flows from operations. As of March 31, 2012, PrioNet had cash held in trust by UBC of $1,343,336, which includes support from the host institute, to be used to fund NCE related research expenditures and related activities and unrestricted cash of $129,901. Working capital totals $2,537,993, with deferred contributions of $2,407,892, leaving an unrestricted fund balance of $130,101. The ability of PrioNet to continue as a going concern is dependent on its ability to obtain funding to support the research of Prion. The main source of funding received was from the NCE that concluded as of March 31, 2012 and has not been renewed. Management has secured sufficient cash flows from the Host instituted to continue operations to March 31, 2013; however, subsequent to this date no additional funding has been secured. Management continues to solicit funding from the federal government and other sources to continue operations beyond March 31, 2013. As a result, there are events and conditions that cast significant doubt about the validity of the assumption that PrioNet can continue as a going concern. These financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty, and these adjustments could be material.

4 Future accounting pronouncements

In December 2010, the CICA in conjunction with the Accounting Standards Board (“AcSB”) issued new accounting standards for not-for-profit organizations. Going forward, private sector not-for-profit organizations will be required to adopt either Part I of the CICA Handbook - International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) or Part III of the CICA Handbook - Accounting Standards for Not-for-Profit Organizations. These requirements will be effective for years beginning on or after January 1, 2012.

PrioNet will be adopting Part III of the CICA Handbook - Accounting Standards for Not-for-Profit Organizations for its fiscal year ending March 31, 2013. The financial reporting impact of the transition is currently under review.

5 Furniture and equipment

2012 2011 Accumulated Net book Net book Cost depreciation value value $ $ $ $ Furniture 37,391 28,688 8,703 14,264Computers 61,151 54,517 6,634 12,154 98,542 83,205 15,337 26,418



6 Deferred contributions

Deferred contributions represent unspent grants for operating expenses and capital purposes.

a) Deferred contributions relating to expenses of future periods 2012 2011 $ $ Balance - Beginning of year 4,509,869 5,891,699

Contributions received during the year Grant from CIHR 2,500,000 2,500,000 Grant from NSERC 2,000,000 2,000,000 Grant from SSHRC 500,000 500,000 Grant from Host Institution 150,000 150,000 5,150,000 5,150,000 9,659,869 11,041,699 Amounts recognized as revenue during the year (7,247,677) (6,528,818) Amounts applied toward furniture and equipment purchased during the year (4,300) (3,012) Balance - End of year 2,407,892 4,509,869

b) Deferred capital contributions relating to furniture and equipment 2012 2011 $ $ Balance - Beginning of year 26,418 38,773 Allocation of deferred contributions (note 6(a)) 4,300 3,012 Amounts amortized to revenue (15,381) (15,367) Balance - End of year 15,337 26,418

7 Related party transactions and economic dependence

Since PrioNet’s inception on December 23, 2005, PrioNet has been awarded a total grant of $35,000,000 under the NCE program. An additional $796,000 of the IPI award was granted to PrioNet in March 2007. The amounts received from these granting agencies represent a significant portion of funds received by PrioNet and have been disclosed in note 6. As part of the NCE agreement, PrioNet has one director representing UBC.



8 Expenses

PrioNet disburses funds to the principal investigators of the project to their host institutions. As at November 2011, PrioNet discontinued the practice of allowing the principal investigator to sub-grant their award to the co-investigators on the research project. Moving forward, PrioNet will disburse funds directly to the co-investigators on the projects as directed by the principal investigators. Funds are held in trust by the institutions and as expenses are incurred they are expensed by PrioNet. During 2012, the expenses for research and training totalled $6,066,916 including $5,473,170 of expenses incurred from funds transferred to institutions for research. An additional $593,746 of expenses was incurred and expensed by the administrative centre through joint initiative and training programs.

Balance Current Current Balance March 31, Funds Year Year March 31, 2011 Returned Grant Expenditures 2012 $ $ $ $ $ Institution - Master grants Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario - - 70,000 18,944 51,056Hospital for Sick Children - - 243,000 189,265 53,735University of Alberta 675,440 - 1,162,201 1,577,335 260,306University of British Columbia 151,613 - 1,197,900 1,076,425 273,088University of Calgary 16,000 - 172,000 188,000 -University of Ottawa 31,068 (67) 379,000 334,172 75,829University of Saskatchewan 7,944 - 597,350 487,307 117,987University of Toronto 116,402 - 131,500 247,879 23University de Sherbrooke 89,124 - 208,000 297,124 -McGill University 37,712 - 230,000 255,385 12,327University of Manitoba 14,500 - 242,150 87,101 169,549University of Victoria - - 246,848 211,950 34,898University Health Network - - 28,500 24,298 4,202Laval University - - 200,000 200,000 -University of Western Ontario 15,592 - 292,738 277,985 30,345 1,155,395 (67) 5,401,187 5,473,170 1,083,345 Administrative centre expenditures Stakeholder meetings 24,469 Network meetings 97,957 Renewal 149,125 International Collaborations 106,634 Contingency 58,135 Training programs 157,426 Total research and training 593,746 6,066,916



9 Capital

PrioNet defines its capital as the amounts included in unrestricted funds, deferred contributions and deferred capital contributions.

PrioNet’s objectives when managing its capital are to safeguard its assets and its ability to continue as a going concern, while ensuring sufficient funding is available to ensure it can continue to fulfill its mission as set out in note 1.

PrioNet has certain external restrictions on the use of deferred contributions and deferred capital contributions, as set out in note 6. PrioNet has internal control processes to ensure that the restrictions are met prior to the utilization of these resources and has been in compliance with these restrictions throughout the year.

10 Financial instruments

PrioNet is not exposed to significant credit, interest rate or currency risk.

Annual Report 2011 / 2012

year VII

REFLECTIONS

Understand. Assess. Prevent.

prionet canada 2011/12 annual report - english

Documents

term prion

infectious prion protein

normal prion proteins

prion protein gene

classic prion related

infectious prions

industry canada

infectious diseases