The Friday Files - news to inform and inspire
Our inspiration this week comes from Dr. Karol Nowicki-Osuch, whose research has enormous potential to save lives through early detection and treatment of cancer. Karol is now entering the independent research phase of his Canada-UK Foundation Post-Doctoral Fellowship, and is spearheading a research partnership between Cambridge University, the Aparicio Laboratory at BC Cancer Research Centre in Vancouver, the Institute for Cancer Dynamics (IICD) at Columbia University & New York Genome Center (NYGC).
Dr. Karol Nowicki-Osuch
Karol spoke to us to explain his research, saying, "Over recent years, DNA sequencing technologies have come of age and a growing number of methods are used in basic biology as well as clinical settings. However, even though the promise of a $1000-per-sample human whole genome sequence (WGS) has recently been met, the cost is still prohibitive for routine clinical application and the WGS technologies are used only in a specialised setting, including targeted therapies in cancer research. Despite the cost, WGS and other DNA sequencing technologies pave the way to the future of personalised cancer therapies where each patient gets individual treatment based on the properties of their tumours. A new avenue in cancer research is studies of individual cancer cells. To democratise personalised therapy approaches, novel, much cheaper technologies are required. If successful, my technology would decrease the cost of single-cell DNA analysis 10-fold and, ultimately, provide an opportunity for the application of personalised medicine at a much more affordable price, changing people’s lives."
Developing the Next Generation of Global Innovators. Promoting the careers of talented young postdoctoral researchers who are from or have a strong interest in Canada, the Canada-UK Fellowships empower future world-leaders in their fields. Piloted with the University of Cambridge's Office for Postdoctoral Affairs, the Fellowships' first cohort was in 2018. Our goal is making Fellows career-ready through an 18-month detailed programme of exposure to leading innovation and entrepreneurship training in the UK and Canada. The pilot programme has been successful in cultivating a cadre of motivated and strategic early-career researchers with international experience and top-level skills. Over the coming weeks we will meet more of the Canada-UK Fellows, and learn of their successes and challenges.
We are currently working to expand the Post-Doctoral Fellowship beyond the Cambridge University pilot and to look at how the programme can be responsive to challenges in the current environment. For more information on our awards programme and how to apply, visit our website. For more information about this research or supporting research programmes, you are warmly welcomed to be in touch.
What can design offer for equity, effectiveness, and excellence in global health?
How can we both understand problems, and act in the world?
Led by the above questions, the Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Researchat York University recently hosted the discussionDesign Principles for Critical Problem-Solving in Global Mental Health, bringing Canadian-born designer Bruce Mau in conversation with James Orbinski (Director, Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research), Sarah Bay-Cheng (Dean, School of Arts, Media, Performance and Design at York), and Irene Chong (Professor, School of Creative Arts & Animation at Seneca College).
Spread from Bruce Mau: MC24 showing core design principles
The greater the problem, the worse the crisis, the harsher the experience – the more significant the design opportunity.
Earlier this year Mau publishedBruce Mau: MC24, Bruce Mau’s 24 principles for designing Massive Change in your life and work with Phaidon presenting the core principles behind his projects, whether they be books, institutions, brands, or social programs. One such principle, Always Search for the Worst, expressed in the above statement, encapsulates the 2020 zeitgeist. Mau gives it an optimistic, yet pragmatic, spin, in that he sees an opportunity for fundamental and responsible change in the design of the world (and not the world of design). The conversation foregrounded the Dahdaleh Institute’s commitment to a radically different approach to global health. To tackle the discussed challenges Mau underlined the foregrounding of empathy, proper assessment and resource allocation, and desired outcome, as foundations for proper change.
Named as an Honorary Royal Designer for Industry by the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) in 2011 in London for his achievement in graphic design, Mau subsequently crystallised his 24 motivating tenets for his design into the recent book. He envisions his work more generally beyond graphic design, embracing what he terms “life-centred design.” With the core belief that design can change the world, the book aims to captivate a wider audience who is seeking to transform our way of living on the planet with a more holistic, ecological, and responsible approach. For more information onBruce Mau: MC24, listen to this interview with Tim Marlow (CEO and Director, Design Museum), and also explore Mau’s Massive Change Network. [This story contributed by Stefan Zebrowski-Rubin, Digital Communications Consultant]
Recruitment of Policy Leaders, Government of Canada.
Do you aspire to make a difference to Canada's international or domestic policies or programmes? We received the following news item from Dr. Jonathan Heeney, on behalf of our friends at the Cambridge Canadian Club. This may be of interest to some of our Canadian readers, but act quickly, the deadline is fast approaching on November 8.
"Each year, the Government of Canada’s Recruitment of Policy Leaders (RPL) program recruits accomplished Canadians with the potential to lead positive change and make significant contributions to Canada’s federal public service. Successful candidates are hired into a variety of mid- to senior-level positions, launching directly into a stimulating and diverse career as a policy leader.
The program is very competitive, recruiting applicants with an outstanding record of academic excellence, a deep interest in public policy, policy-relevant experience, initiative and leadership. There is no standard academic background, but all candidates must hold (or be nearing completion) a Master’s degree or a Doctoral degree in any discipline, or a law degree, complemented by an undergraduate degree in any discipline."
For more information and the link to apply, please visit: www.canada.ca/recruitment-policy-leaders.
In the spotlight this week is Gabrielle Shaw, Vice Chair of the Canada-UK Foundation.
Gabrielle Shaw started her career in journalism and advertising before founding Gabrielle Shaw Communications (GSC) in 1996. She used her passion for purpose-driven companies to create a global brand communications agency that specialises in retail, travel, sustainability, wellness & beauty, and arts & culture. Gabrielle leads the agency’s private client and family office practice, working on reputation management as well as legacy projects for HNWI. In 2018, she launched the Accelerator Programme to support young businesses, especially those with a sustainability focus or female founders.
Gabrielle sits on the advisory board of HURR Collective, the UK’s leading peer-to-peer fashion rental platform and has been instrumental in fuelling behavioural change and inspiring UK consumers to change their views on fast fashion. She has previously worked as a mentor for the Walpole Brands of Tomorrow Programme.
While based in London with her husband and two daughters, she remains closely connected to Canada, and her summer home in Chester, Nova Scotia.