Inaugural Suzanne Bernier Lecture in Skeletal Biology

The inagural Suzanne Bernier Lecture in Skeletal Biology will be held this Friday, May 9^th from 2:00-3:00 pm in Auditorium A, University Hospital (3^rd floor) featuring Dr. Kenneth Yamada, Chief of the Laboratory of Cell and Developmental Biology, NIDCR, National Institutes of Health. Dr. Yamada's talk is titled "New Dimensions and Dynamics of Cell-Matrix Interactions."

Tissues in the body are made up of cells and supporting material known as the "extracellular matrix". The extracellular matrix provides support and anchorage for cells, separates tissues from one another, and it is essential for cell movement. The extracellular matrix is also a source of cellular growth factors and the interactions of cells with the extracellular matrix is essential for cell growth and wound healing. The extracellular matrix guides cell movements during the development of organisms, as well as in tumor invasion and metastasis.

Immediately following the lecture, the Skeletal Biology Laboratories, lower ground floor, DentalSciencesBuilding, will host an open house and reception, at which the Suzanne Bernier Memorial Award will be presented.

The lecture series and award honors Dr. Suzanne Bernier, a wonderful colleague, collaborator and mentor, who passed away last year.

Suzanne obtained her PhD in Physiology from McGillUniversity and carried out postdoctoral studies at the National Institute of Dental Research in Bethesda. Dr. Bernier was recruited to The University of Western Ontario in 1997 with the support of a Scholarship from The Arthritis Society. She joined the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, and was a member of the CIHR Group in Skeletal Development and Remodeling. Dr. Bernier was also a founding member of the Canadian Arthritis Network, and participant in the New Emerging Team studying Pain and Fatigue in Osteoarthritis. At Western, Dr. Bernier's research focused on the effects of extracellular matrix and inflammatory mediators on chondrocytes. While battling breast cancer, Suzanne was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure in 2006.