University of Guelph

SATURDAY, Jan. 18, 2025 -- A slice of tasty, stretchy, creamy cheese may soon be easier to come by for those on a dairy-free diet. Researchers in Canada are working to create plant-based cheeses with all the taste and texture of traditional, dairy cheese but with healthier and more sustainable ingredients, according to a new research review published Jan. 14 in the journal Physics of Fluids . Scientists from the University of Guelph and Canadian Light Source Inc. are studying plant-based proteins and their interactions to mimic the melting, stretching and oil-release qualities that make cheese so, well, delicious. "If you wanted to strictly only eat plant-based products, you would end up eating a lot of beans and tofu, which can be little bit boring after a while," study author Alejandro Marangoni , a professor in food, health and aging at the University of Guelph in Ontario said in a news release. "Now, consumers expect essentially the same animal product but with plant-based ingredients, which is very difficult," he added. Marangoni’s team looked at proteins from lentils, faba beans and peas, combining them with oil blends to create a satisfying cheese-like texture. A blend of 25% coconut oil, 75% sunflower oil and pea protein provided a texture that matched, and in some cases outperformed, cheeses made entirely with coconut oil. Researchers found that the interaction between pea protein and coconut oil increased the firmness and maintained the cheese's ability to melt and stretch. What's more, replacing a bit of coconut oil with sunflower oil reduced the cheese’s saturated fat content, creating a healthier product without limiting flavor. "Ultimately we want to improve the nutrition, increase the protein content, and lower the saturated fat content of cheese alternatives," Marangoni concluded. "But keeping all the functionality in there, which includes the melt and the stretch of the 'cheese,' is very difficult." Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.

Dr. Michael Bumby joins XORTX as Chief Financial OfficerCALGARY, Alberta, Dec. 19, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- XORTX Therapeutics Inc. ("XORTX" or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: XRTX | TSXV: XRTX | Frankfurt: ANU), a late-stage clinical pharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative therapies to treat progressive kidney disease, welcomes Dr. Michael Bumby, a biotech/pharma industry veteran, as its Chief Financial Officer replacing James Fairbairn, the Company’s current Chief Financial Officer. Dr. Bumby, DVM, MBA, is currently a director and audit committee chair of MediPharm Labs following their successful acquisition of VIVO Cannabis Inc. where Dr. Bumby was CFO for six years. Dr. Bumby brings over 20 years of finance and leadership experience in the biotech/pharma industry. He had a 14-year career at Eli Lilly, including roles in corporate finance and investment banking at Lilly’s global headquarters in Indianapolis leading international business development activities for early- and late-stage assets, as well as working as a regional CFO in Europe. He left Lilly to move back to Canada and began working as a public company CFO, initially at Antibe Therapeutics which he helped go public via an Initial Public Offering in 2013, and more recently as the CFO of Merus Labs, an international specialty pharmaceutical company where he co-led that company’s acquisition by Norgine B.V. in 2017 for $340 million. Dr. Bumby has experience with TSX, TSX-V and NASDAQ listed companies and has led Human Resources, IT, Legal, and operations functions as well as acted as corporate secretary for a number of public companies. Dr. Bumby holds a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Guelph, a lean six-sigma blackbelt, and an MBA from the University of Toronto. Anthony Giovinazzo, XORTX’s Chairman stated, “We are delighted to welcome Michael as XORTX’s CFO. His dual science-finance background and extensive business and drug development experience will help XORTX meet its near and longer term objectives.” Dr. Davidoff, XORTX’s CEO added, “On behalf of XORTX, I would like to express our gratitude to Jim Fairbairn for his excellence and professionalism in his role as CFO. We will miss Jim as a team member and friend. I look forward to working with Michael. His well rounded background in the biotech/pharma industry will be a valuable asset in the next stages of XORTX’s development.” In connection with the appointment of Dr. Bumby, XORTX has granted, in accordance with the Company’s stock option plan, 13,000 options to purchase common shares of the Company at an exercise price of $1.75 for a period of five years. About XORTX Therapeutics Inc. XORTX is a pharmaceutical company with two clinically advanced products in development: 1) our lead, XRx-008 program for ADPKD; and 2) our secondary program in XRx-101 for acute kidney and other acute organ injury associated with Coronavirus / COVID-19 infection. In addition, XRx-225 is a pre-clinical stage program for Type 2 Diabetic Nephropathy. XORTX is working to advance its clinical development stage products that target aberrant purine metabolism and xanthine oxidase to decrease or inhibit production of uric acid. At XORTX, we are dedicated to developing medications to improve the quality of life and health of kidney disease patients. Additional information on XORTX is available at www.xortx.com. For more information, please contact: Allen Davidoff, CEONick Rigopulos, Director of Communicationsadavidoff@xortx.com or +1 403 455 7727nick@alpineequityadv.com or +1 617 901 0785 Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor Nasdaq has approved or disapproved the contents of this news release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.

LONDON--( BUSINESS WIRE )--Breast Cancer Canada, a national charity dedicated to saving lives through breast cancer research, is proud to announce a significant investment in the future of breast cancer research. The Breast Cancer Canada Translational Research Unit (BCC-TRU) at the London Health Sciences Centre has awarded eight new scholarships and fellowships at Western University for the 2024-2025 academic year, continuing a 25-year tradition of supporting groundbreaking research. This year’s recipients are advancing breast cancer research at London Health Sciences Centre and Western University. Awarded annually through a rigorous review process by Dr. Alison Allan's scientific committee, these scholarships and fellowships honour exceptional scientists, strong mentorship, and groundbreaking research with transformative potential. The recipients are: Zachary Freeman , MSc student in the Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics Noor Rizvi , MSc student in the Department of Biochemistry Jeri Spilberg , MSc student, Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology Lianghong Chen , PhD student, Department of Computer Science Nitara Fernando , PhD student, Department of Medical Biophysics Jared Wootten , PhD candidate, Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics George Xie , PhD student, Department of Biochemistry Dr. Samir Fasih , Clinical Research Fellow, Division of Medical Oncology “As Breast Cancer Awareness Month approaches, this announcement serves as a reminder of our ongoing commitment to progress through science,” says Kimberly Carson, CEO of Breast Cancer Canada. “Through the BCC-TRU lab, we are proud to support London Health Sciences and pleased to celebrate the progress and accomplishments made in breast cancer for the last 25 years. The scholarships are not only an investment in breast cancer research, they are also an investment in the bright minds that will shape the future.” Dr. Samir Fasih, Medical Oncology Clinical Research Fellow, London Health Sciences Centre shares, “Receiving the fellowship from Breast Cancer Canada is a powerful opportunity for me to make progress, accelerate breakthroughs in metastatic breast cancer management, and gain invaluable mentorship from Canadian research experts.” The diversity of talent is matched by the breadth of their research focus. Enrolled in six different academic departments at Western University, these scholars are tackling critical aspects of breast cancer, including understanding, prevention, tracking, and treatment of metastatic breast cancer, as well as exploring precision medicine approaches to improve outcomes. Further details about the award recipients and descriptions of their projects can be found on the BCC-TRU website . To learn more about the projects and the people we fund visit Breast Cancer Canada breastcancerprogress.ca . About Dr. Alison Allan Dr. Alison Allan is the director of Breast Cancer Canada’s Translational Research Unit at London Health Sciences Centre and newly appointed Associate Vice-President (Research) at Western University. Dr. Allan is a distinguished oncology scientist known for her impactful research on breast cancer metastasis and new therapies. Dr. Allan has been a part of and holds a BSc in Molecular Biology and Genetics and a PhD in Biomedical Science from the University of Guelph. About Breast Cancer Canada Breast Cancer Canada is a national charity dedicated to saving lives through breast cancer research. With a focus on precision oncology (personalized care), it is the only national breast cancer organization in Canada that has a clear mandate to raise money for research and advocate and educate on the progress of new research evidence. The organization receives no government funding, meaning all research is funded through the generosity of donors. For more information visit, breastcancerprogress.ca .