Viral Anxiety and Panic Attack App Offers Free Premium Access to Help with Increased Anxiety around COVID-19
Rootd is the #1 ranked mobile app for panic attack & anxiety relief on both iOS and Google Play, has over 270,000 downloads in over 100 countries, and was featured in the latest special edition of Time Magazine: The Age of Anxiety
Rootd, a leading anxiety and panic attack app, announced today that it is offering free premium access to its complete content for companies and individuals worldwide. This offer comes as a direct response to heightened anxiety and uncertainty caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic.
“Rootd started with the goal of being an always-accessible resource for anyone struggling with panic attacks or anxiety. Providing Rootd for free as we navigate the current global situation feels like the most natural and essential thing to do”.
Rootd’s founder Ania Wysocka was motivated to create the Rootd App when she was struck by panic attacks in her last year of university. Far away from home and with no family doctor around, her first instinct was to reach for her phone to find an app that could help her process what was happening. Unfortunately, there was no such solution out there at the time.
Now, less than four years later, and having overcome many obstacles in female entrepreneurship, Ania leads the #1 rated app for Panic Attack & Anxiety Relief, and continues working relentlessly to help others not feel alone in their journeys to overcome anxiety.
Rootd’s therapist-approved features include:
A panic button for when individuals are actually going through a panic attack
Lessons on understanding panic attacks and anxiety, as well as short term and long term changes a person can make in their life to manage anxiety and feel more in control
A deep breathing tool (most people with anxiety tend to be shallow breathers)
A body scan tool (for a form of active meditation)
A journal tool (for better communication with counsellors)
Guided visualizations and soothing nature sounds
And a gamified stats page so that users can track progress and celebrate successes.
To redeem the free premium access offer, anyone is invited to visit covid19reponse.rootd.io where they can immediately sign up to be granted 45 days of free, no commitment access.
“Dealing with anxious thoughts can be difficult for anyone, and adding on a feeling of isolation as we practice social distancing can increase the difficulty we are faced with” says Wysocka. “By providing in-the-moment panic and anxiety relief my hope is that we can reduce the negative impact of isolation and support those who are currently struggling with mental health impacts of COVID-19.”
In addition to its in-the-moment panic attack relief Rootd encourages users to take on both short-term and long-term goals to learn to effectively manage their anxiety in the long run. The app is available in English, French, Portuguese, Polish and will soon be available in Spanish and Mandarin.
Rootd
Rootd is a female created and led panic attack and anxiety app used by over 270,000 users around the world. The app (available on iOS and Google Play) blends attractive and engaging design, with content and features designed to help users during all stages of managing panic attacks and anxiety.
“Had my first panic attack the other day. Thought I was dying. Never ever believed in anxiety before. I hold my hands up and apologise to all those who do suffer. It's real. With all this madness that’s going on this app helped me...thank you.”
Jenna W. Mar 19, 2020
“Rootd has helped me regain control over my PTSD flashbacks and anxiety induced panic attacks. Learning the "why" of my anxiety through the lessons has been empowering, Breathr has helped me over my lunch break to de-stress from my work, Visualizr is my go-to mindfulness tool, and the Rootr is always there for me when things get out of control.”
Samantha S. Mar 24, 2020
“The panic button is so helpful to hear reassuring statements when I can't keep my feet on the ground, I couldn't thank the creators of this app enough. It’s helped me get through a few hard times when I had no one to reach out to for verbal support. It helped me feel less afraid during the moment. Thank you.” The Days Apr 10, 2020
“I've recently discovered the Rootd app and I LOVE it. My anxiety is very low-level but the app is super helpful at focussing my mind and helping dissolve any anxious thoughts. I volunteer for a crisis text line service and have recommended the app to them as I feel it's invaluable. Especially helpful in the current climate. Thanks again for making Rootd”
Kate C. Mar 18, 2020
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2020 Earth Day: DaVinci Roofscapes Recycles 1+ Million Pounds of Waste Per Year with Net Zero Landfill Scrap
LENEXA, KAN. – Eight years ago DaVinci Roofscapes began its recycling program. Now, on the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, the composite roofing manufacturer announces the company has reprocessed and re-used more than 7,000,000 pounds of polymer scrap as part of the company’s environmental initiative.
“As our manufacturing operations have increased over the years, naturally so has the output of waste materials,” says Bryan Ward, vice president of operations at DaVinci Roofscapes in Lenexa, Kan. “However, the big news is that we can recapture almost all of the waste and reprocess it as starter roofing shingles. In 2019 alone, we reprocessed 1,071,994 pounds of scrap materials. This effort has resulted in a net zero landfill scrap from our facility for the third year in a row.”
Dedication to recycling efforts and investments in state-of-the-art blending systems have helped DaVinci Roofscapes achieve and maintain its remarkable net zero landfill scrap goal. The company anticipates adding production capacity in 2020 while still maintaining its commitment to environmental stewardship.
“We’re focused on a net zero landfill scrap goal into the future,” says Ward. “Recycling and reusing is our way of life at this facility.”
Commitment to the Environment
DaVinci Roofscapes manufactures composite slate and shake roofing tiles for residential and commercial projects. An industry leader in color offerings, the company has 27 unique color blends and more than 50 stock colors.
Each time the manufacturing operation changes color runs, there is a transitioning period between colors. Those transition tiles are “off spec,” and cannot be used. Those are the tiles that are pulled out, segregated by color, ground up and then reprocessed into starter shingles, which are generally unseen on a roof. All DaVinci tiles are 100 percent recyclable, whether in the manufacturing plant or after seeing decades of use on a home.
“We are continually making advancements in our operations,” says Ward. “Recently we upgraded and invested more than $700,000 in new systems. These advanced machines reduce scrap and downtime associated with color changes on our lines. The investment in the new systems is just another way we’re focusing on positive manufacturing techniques with an eye toward environmental stewardship.
“Earth Day is the ideal time for us to share our recycling news each year. It’s truly amazing that we’ve been able to recycle and reuse more than seven million pounds of polymer scrap at our facility. In a significant way, we’re putting the landfill people out of business because we have such a solid record of recycling our scrap!”
DaVinci Roofscapes, a Westlake Chemical company (NYSE: WLK), operates under Royal Building Products. The experienced team members at DaVinci Roofscapes develop and manufacture industry-leading composite slate and shake roofing and siding systems with an authentic look and superior performance. DaVinci leads the roofing industry in the greatest selection of colors, tile thickness and tile width variety. The company's reliable products have a limited lifetime warranty and are 100 percent recyclable. All DaVinci high-performing roofing and siding products are proudly made in America. For information call 1-800-328-4624 or visit www.davinciroofscapes.com.
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No More Excuses: 4 Small Changes to Make in Your Life for Weight Loss
Many people around the world struggle with weight loss. It's a common problem that is more complex than it seems, as different approaches work better for different people. If weight loss is one of your goals, making these four small changes to your lifestyle can deliver results over time.
Incremental Increases In Exercise
Beginning a new exercise routine can be daunting and difficult to maintain, which is why many people attempt to start one only to fail later. The secrets to success are to not overdo it and to find ways of exercising that you enjoy. For example, playing a sport is a fun way to exercise. When it comes to workout routines, start small and gradually increase intensity and duration to experience the best possible outcome.
Drink More Water And Fewer Sugary Drinks
Sugar isincreasingly viewed as a significant culprit in weight gain and retention. Plain water, on the other hand, has significant health benefits without the added calories. It improves mental cognition, organ function, blood pressure and, yes, weight loss. The simple change of reducing the amount of sugary drinks you consume and replacing them with water is almost guaranteed to help you shed at least some pounds.
Eat A More Balanced Diet
Eating a balanced diet that contains reasonable portions of grains, fruits, vegetables, meat and dairy is another small change you can make to help control your weight. You will feel full longer and be less tempted to snack, therefore consuming fewer calories. Most people do not eat enough fruits and vegetables especially, so these are areas to focus on. Another diet-related change that can help includes eating several small meals a day instead of fewer big ones.
Substitute Healthier Choices
A final small change you can make is to replace things like salad dressings, dairy products, mayonnaise and snack foods with lighter alternatives. This can include low-fat or no sugar added products. You can substitute things like carrots, hummus or whole grain breads as well. In some cases you might not be able to taste the difference or even prefer the healthy alternative, which can be a great boon to your weight loss strategy. Enlisting adoctor to help can be an excellent option for crafting a diet plan that works for you.
Losing weight can seem an insurmountable challenge, but it's important to remember that it is a marathon, not a sprint. Small changes are much easier and more sustainable to make than larger shifts, so it is smart to employ them wherever possible. Over time, the odds are good that you will start to see results.
Arthritis Research Canada/Arthrite-recherche Canada collaborates on global initiative to respond to COVID-19 Pandemic
VANCOUVER, April 15, 2020 /CNW/ - Arthritis Research Canada/Arthrite-recherche Canada is collaborating with the COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance on an international initiative collecting information on rheumatology patients with COVID-19 from around the world. By gathering data specific to rheumatology patients, the Alliance will gain important insights on how COVID-19 impacts rheumatology patients, and more specifically, how autoimmune diseases and immunosuppressive medications influence the risk of infection and the outcomes of COVID-19.
Arthritis Research Canada is pleased to announce that our Associate Scientific Director, Dr. Diane Lacaille, is the Regional Canadian Lead on the COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance. "By collecting world-wide data and analysing it in real time, this important research will inform treatment recommendations specific to rheumatology patients," Dr. Lacaille said. "Simply put, we will be able to answer our patients' questions on what to do with their immunosuppressive medications, based on real data about their medications' safety and efficacy. Currently we assume it is better for people to stay on their immunosuppressants because the severe manifestations of COVID-19 are due to the immune system's reaction to the virus, but it would be very useful to have real data confirming this."
A separate initiative by the COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance, is collecting information from adults (and parents of children) with rheumatic diseases to gain a better understanding of how the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting people living with rheumatic diseases. If you would like to participate, please visit https://rheum-covid.org/patient-survey/.
There are currently over 6 million Canadians, young and old, who struggle with one or more of the 100 types of arthritis. This collaboration is significant to Arthritis Research Canada's scientific team as they work to address the current COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on people with arthritis.
ABOUT ARTHRITIS RESEARCH CANADA: Arthritis Research Canada is the largest clinical arthritis research institution in North America. Our mission is to transform the lives of people living with arthritis through research and engagement. Led by world-renowned rheumatologist, Dr. John Esdaile, Arthritis Research Canada's scientific team of over 100 are creating a future where people living with arthritis are empowered to triumph over pain and disability. Within British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec, Arthritis Research Canada is leading research aimed at arthritis prevention, early diagnosis, new and better treatment, and improved quality of life.
SOURCE Arthritis Research Canada
5 of the Best Ways to Do Strength Training Indoors
From illness to inclement weather, there are many reasons you might be unable to get out of the house and exercise. However, you don’t have to let your gains deteriorate because you can’t hit the gym. Are you looking for exercises to keep you in shape at home? Here are five of the best ways to maintain your physique when you’re stuck indoors.
Body Weight Exercises
Did you know you can get in your workout without a single piece of equipment? Body weight exercises are a great strength training solution you can do anytime and anywhere. Try push-ups to tone your arms, planks for your core and squats to build your leg and thigh muscles. If you can’t get in your daily ride, try bicycle crunches for a full-body burn.
Pull-up Bar
You have probably spent many hours doing pull-ups, chin-ups and leg raises on a bar in your gym or local park. You can have a pull-up bar in your own home for a small cost and a few hours of installation work. For safety’s sake, never attempt to do pull-ups on tension rods like the one that holds up your shower curtain.
Home Gym
Why go out to the gym when you can have your own setup at home? If you have an unused spare room, a home gym is a great way to utilize that space. Incorporate a variety of strength training equipment like free weights, benches and plate machines for a well-rounded workout.
Strength Bands
Are you trying to put together a home gym on a budget? Strength bands are a very affordable way to tone up. These bands take advantage of resistance to help you get a muscle-building workout at a fraction of the cost of weights. They also take up very little space so you can exercise anywhere.
Lift Household Items
You don’t need special equipment to lift heavy. Everyday items that you have around the house offer a free alternative to weights for cash-strapped and busy lifters alike. Try a pair of cans for dumbbells, a gallon of milk for a kettlebell or a large sack of flour for bench presses.
Remember, safety always comes first when working out at home. Keep children and pets out of your workout space to prevent injuries, make sure equipment is properly installed and keep your phone in reach when working out alone. Maintain a stock of medical supplies like bandages and medications in case you get injured.
Overcome the Elevation: 4 Tips to Help You Beat Altitude Sickness
Even though altitude sickness usually isn’t a life-threatening problem, the symptoms can make everyday activities practically unbearable. If you plan on being at a high altitude in the near future, then you might want to come up with a plan for battling altitude sickness so that you can continue to function normally.
Acclimate Slowly
One of the most effective ways to avoid altitude sickness entirely is to acclimate as slowly as possible. Those who plan on engaging in physically strenuous activities at a high altitude should try to arrive a few days early. While every person is slightly different, the average individual is going to almost fully acclimate to a high altitude within one to three days. After a few days, your body should begin producing plenty of additional red blood cells.
Boost Your Carbohydrate Intake
As your body acclimates to the new altitude, it is going to burn an incredible amount of calories. If you traditionally follow a low-carbohydrate diet, then you might want to make some temporary changes. Eating plenty of carbohydrates throughout the day should minimize the symptoms of your altitude sickness and provide you with plenty of energy.
Try Canned Oxygen
Another tactic that could help you relieve some of the symptoms of altitude sickness is using a pure canned oxygen supplement. Those cans will provide you with a quick dose of concentrated oxygen, and that can mitigate the symptoms almost immediately. Canned oxygen is going to be especially beneficial if you don’t have time to acclimate to the new altitude. You should also consider packing a few of those cans in your backpack or gear bag if you plan on hiking or camping.
Stay Hydrated
One of the most common mistakes that people make when dealing with altitude sickness is not drinking enough water. Because of your nausea, keeping anything in your stomach could be very difficult, but you must make sure that you are drinking plenty of water. That being said, drinking too much water can be dangerous as well, and that is why you should keep a close eye on the color of your urine. Urine that is relatively clear usually means that you are adequately hydrated.If you have tried these few problems and are still struggling with altitude sickness, then you might need to see a medical professional. Chronic altitude sickness can be caused by serious underlying health
HealthSpace Begins Setup to Deploy COVID-19 Contact Tracing Platform for the State of Hawaii
VANCOUVER, April 15, 2020 /CNW/ - HealthSpace Data Systems Ltd. (the "Company" or "HealthSpace") (CSE:HS) (Frankfurt:38H) (OTC:HDSLF) is pleased to announce it has begun the configuration setup for the State of Hawaii (the "State" or "Hawaii") to utilize the Company's HSCloud Suite platform for COVID-19 contact tracing across the state.
Hawaii reached out to HealthSpace in hopes of scaling up their current contact tracing efforts. Following a demonstration of the platform, Hawaii agreed to begin working with HealthSpace on April 9th in order to set up their own version of the daily questionnaire that will go out to those potentially exposed. Hawaii will initially pilot the platform internally before releasing it within the State to automate their contact tracing efforts. Most agencies are able to complete their setup within two weeks. Upon sign off from Hawaii, the platform is ready to be deployed immediately. The Company is providing use of the platform on a gratis basis for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic and intends to enter into a long term arrangement after successful usage during the COVID-19 emergency, and the pandemic subsides.
HealthSpace also is working with Okanogan, Washington to extend their implementation of HSCloud Suite and My Health Department to be utilized by healthcare providers in the area to directly input new COVID-19 patients. This will provide streamlined data collection with less error and redundancy. My Health Department will serve as a secure conduit for direct interaction between public health officials and healthcare providers, providing more accurate and real-time assessments of the situation on the ground.
HealthSpace CEO, Silas Garrison commented "I am pleased to see the outpouring of interest in our new contact tracing platform and that our suite of products can provide real benefit in a time of great need. We are working with agencies across North America to continually offer our solutions as a means of gaining better control and insights into the COVID-19 situation as it unfolds. We are poised to help agencies expand their own efforts and accelerate the reach of contact tracing."
HealthSpace Data Systems Ltd.
HealthSpace is a government Software as a Service (SaaS) company focused on providing efficiencies to state and local government agencies through its powerful enterprise cloud and mobile platform. Over the last decade, HealthSpace has successfully developed both cloud and mobile applications currently serving over 500 state and local government organizations across North America. HealthSpace offers one of the only self-serve enterprise suites for government, providing greater power to the end-user. Further, HealthSpace now delivers its government grade technologies to private businesses enabling them to gain visibility and predictability into their own organizations and move from a reactive to a proactive operational status. HealthSpace continues to deliver focused service and innovative solutions to government organizations, while expanding into commercial enterprise verticals to enable new customers with proactive environmental health best practices and policies. HealthSpace has now entered into the FinTech space by creating a payment platform that streamlines the intake of government revenue for the agencies it serves.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "pipeline", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although HealthSpace believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in forward looking statements. HealthSpace expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
SOURCE HealthSpace Data
dentalcorp donates significant shipment of personal protective equipment to local hospitals in fight against COVID-19
TORONTO, April 15, 2020 /CNW/ - dentalcorp, Canada's largest network of dental practices, announced today it has donated a substantial supply of gloves and surgical masks to two Toronto hospitals—The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and North York General Hospital—to help combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
The donation was made in response to the nation's urgent need for personal protective equipment (PPE) to support front-line healthcare workers in the battle against the virus. The scarcity of critical supplies in recent weeks—N95 masks in particular—has raised cause for concern among healthcare workers.
"As a healthcare company, providing safe and effective care to our communities is our utmost priority," said Graham Rosenberg, dentalcorp's Founder and CEO. "We are indebted to our brave healthcare practitioners who are working tirelessly on the front lines every day to help keep us safe. And we are committed to providing support in any way we can to help flatten the curve."
"We are grateful to corporate leaders like dentalcorp for their continued commitment to improving child health, especially during these unprecedented times," said Kevin Goldthorp, President and Chief Development Officer at SickKids Foundation. "Their generous donation of essential personal protective equipment supports ongoing measures for COVID-19 preparedness at SickKids and will help ensure that front-line staff can continue to provide the best possible care."
"Leadership in times of crisis can take many forms and thinking beyond corporate self-interest is but one. This donation made by the dentalcorp team will directly support those on the front lines facing COVID-19, day in and day out," said Terry Pursell, President & CEO of North York General Foundation. "Donations of PPE are essential to meet this crisis head on, and on behalf of the community we serve, we are profoundly grateful."
In a bid to quell the spread of the virus, regulatory authorities across the country mandated dental practices to temporarily close their doors and pause all non-essential services, reserving treatment for emergency cases only.
With over 450 dental practices across Canada, dentalcorp is uniquely positioned to leverage its significant resources and relationships with suppliers to help support the healthcare industry during this turbulent time.
"We understand the dire need for personal protective equipment, and we are working diligently with our suppliers to secure more materials for local hospitals," said Rosenberg. "We will continue to donate and offer our support as we work through this crisis together."
Learn more about dentalcorp's commitment to help fight the spread of COVID-19 here.
About SickKids FoundationEstablished in 1972, SickKids Foundation raises funds on behalf of The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and is the largest charitable funder of child health research, learning and care in Canada. Philanthropy is a critical source of funding for SickKids – one of the world's foremost paediatric health-care institutions. Thanks to the generosity of the community, and as a result of a record-breaking year in fundraising, SickKids Foundation generated an unprecedented $159 million for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2019. For more information, please visit sickkidsfoundation.com.
About North York General Foundation Constantly redefining what it means to be a 'community hospital', North York General is a multi-site acute, ambulatory and long term care network for our diverse community, an incubator for applied research, an innovation spring board in the health care landscape and destination for philanthropy. At North York General Foundation, we support raising and stewarding funds for our incredible Hospital. Building on the success of our $180 M 'Campaign for North York General', we are driving towards the future, planning and investing in programs and infrastructure that will transform how our Hospital is making a world of difference to our community and beyond. For more information, please visit nyghfoundation.ca.
About dentalcorp dentalcorp is focused on acquiring and partnering with leading, growth-oriented general and specialist dental clinics across Canada. Our unique value proposition allows our dentist Partners to retain their clinical autonomy and professional independence while we inspire them to achieve ambitious personal and professional growth. Our unprecedented strategic insights and expertise place our Partners at the forefront of delivering optimal patient care.
SOURCE dentalcorp
COPING WITH COVID-19 IN MONTH 2
Brain Health Expert Shares Why Evolving Mental & Physical Health Strategies is Crucial for Sustainability
It's been nearly one month since the first-shelter-in place order was announced and today, 80% of Americans have hunkered down, quarantining themselves to their homes. We have learned to adapt to isolation in many ways. We've upped our hygiene game, we wear face masks, and we've become pros at Zoom video chat. But now that we are in the second month of isolation, we find ourselves encountering new issues. Last week the death toll was higher than ever and as the grim news continues, it's easy to lose motivation, letting grief, frustration, and boredom turn our vigilance into complacency.
According to Brain Health Expert Aneesh Chaudhry, in order to continue these practices long term, our coping strategies must be ever-evolving.
"What motivated us to maintain mental and physical health in the first few weeks, may not be the same thing that works now and that's okay. The important part is that people recognize that and adjust their strategies..."
...says Chaudhry, who has devoted his career to researching physiology and the brain-body connection. As the death toll rises, many people find themselves losing steam and motivation. Death is never an easy thing to cope with especially now that we must grieve in isolation. According to Chaudhry, the only way to process this trauma is to move through it, working to change the brain in a positive way to deal with it.
"The emotional toll of COVID-19 is even more threatening as time goes on. Thankfully, the brain is a resilient and malleable structure that can rebuild itself through neuroplasticity..."
...says Chaudhry. As the founder of SoulPhysio Lifestyle, a brain health clinic and integrative healthcare network, Chaudhry, along with a team of physicians, psychologists, and other health care professionals, work to improve mental and physical wellness through lifestyle modification that addresses the mind, body, and spirit.
We have been given loads of advice for maintaining physical and mental health in quarantine; (from understanding proper hygiene practices, cooking and eating nutritious foods, staying active by taking walks, dancing, doing yoga, or exercise videos, to mindfulness activities like journaling and meditating, establishing daily routines, and limiting 24/7 news intake. We also know that "staying connected" and maintaining relationships is key to avoiding emotional isolation.) According to Chaudhry, this advice is still relevant, but over time we must pivot because having purpose and direction is key.
Aneesh Chaudhry is sharing why evolving mental and physical health strategies is crucial for sustainability in month 2. He has brain-based tips and actionable advice people can use to cope with grief while in isolation and improve mental and physical health during the pandemic.
COVID-19: The IRIC community comes together thanks to IVADO's support
MONTREAL, April 15, 2020 /CNW Telbec/ - In the context of the global pandemic, investigators from the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC) of the Université de Montréal are adapting their skills and their knowledge to work towards finding creative and bold solutions to counter COVID-19.
As a result of a spontaneous call for proposals initiated by IVADO, to support certain digital intelligence initiatives, research teams from HEC Montréal, Polytechnique Montréal and the Université de Montréal (including IRIC), will be able to rely on funding, scientific support and access to various resources to lead projects related to this scourge.
"In biomedical and pharmaceutical research, data can potentially accelerate certain discoveries. In fact, laboratory experiments require time, but analyzing data using digital intelligence results in guiding research and quickly identifying possible solutions. In view of the current emergency, the alliance between data science and biomedical research is therefore crucial. With this call for projects by IVADO, we can directly support the efforts of digital health investigators, who are coming together to propose solutions to the COVID-19 crisis and whose work creates a great deal of hope" points out Barbara Decelle, Health Research Advisor at IVADO.
Among the proposals retained, IRIC proudly announces the commitment of François Major, bioinformatics pioneer and Principal Investigator at the RNA Engineering Research Unit (ribonucleic acid), in this fight against the pandemic. His team is striving to develop a molecular modelling protocol in order to quickly produce RNA structural virus data. The goal is to use that data to identify drugs, including those already on the market, which could prevent replication of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, at issue in the COVID-19 pandemic.
"RNA is dynamic, it moves until it adopts a structure that serves its purpose, like a dancer who strikes a pose that enables him to interact at a specific moment with his partner. Out of all the possible movements and all of the versions of the virus, our unique algorithms deduce the poses that are essential to its replication and that can be targeted using drugs. I can't put into words the excitement that the funding of this project has generated within my team. IVADO's decision shows how important fundamental research results are in mastering the RNA "dance", applied here to counter the COVID-19 virus", explains François Major.
We should also mention the additional commitment of the laboratory headed by Michael Tyers, Principal Investigator at the Systems Biology and Synthetic Biology Research Unit, in its efforts against COVID-19, this time in collaboration with the team headed by Yoshua Bengio, Scientific Director of the Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute (Mila) and of IVADO. The project selected, also supported by scale ai and the Andrea Lodi Chair, aims to identify novel molecules that target proteins in the SARS-CoV-2 virus, a prerequisite step for drug development. To do so, the investigators and their teams will use neural networks to automatically assess billions of potential molecules, the most promising of which will be evaluated in biological assays and then progress towards drug development.
Other IRIC allies are behind a project aimed at providing the scientific community with an interactive platform that can predict potential targets for a COVID-19 vaccine. The platform, which uses the capacity of an artificial intelligence algorithm, was developed by Tariq Daouda during his Ph.D. studies at IRIC in the labs headed by Claude Perreault and Sébastien Lemieux. The algorithm is used to predict which parts of the virus will be exposed at the surface of the infected cells and thus generates a list of potential targets to exploit in the creation of a vaccine. Made available to the research community, this platform would help accelerate the development of COVID-19 vaccines, as well as vaccines for other emerging viruses.
"I'm delighted to be able to apply the research that I carried out at IRIC in a concerted effort to fight COVID-19. By making our results available to the scientific community, we hope to significantly accelerate the development of a vaccine" adds Tariq Daouda.
About the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC) of the Université de Montréal
An ultra-modern research hub and training centre located in the heart of the Université de Montréal, the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer of the Université de Montréal was created in 2003 to shed light on the mechanisms of cancer and discover new, more effective therapies to counter this disease. The IRIC operates according to a model that is unique in Canada. Its innovative approach to research has already led to discoveries that will, over the coming years, have a significant impact on the fight against cancer.
IVADO is the fruit of an initiative of HEC Montréal, Polytechnique Montréal and the Université de Montréal. With the support of its ecosystem linking the academic, industrial and institutional sectors, IVADO develops leading-edge expertise in the various fields of digital intelligence (including data science, artificial intelligence and operational research) and helps transform novel scientific discoveries into concrete applications, economic opportunities and benefits for society.
