LONGUEUIL, April 27, 2005 -- Two Canadian university students were recently awarded prestigious scientific scholarships by the Canadian Space Agency's Space Science Program to participate in summer training programs at NASA facilities in Florida. Pratek Khatri, a second-year student in Biomedical Science at the University of Ottawa, and Christopher Lee, completing an Honours Neuroscience Degree at McGill University, were selected to receive the CSA's 2005 Spaceflight and Life Sciences Training Program Scholarship allowing them to take part in a six-week program held at the John F. Kennedy Space Center in Florida. They will participate in the conceptualization, preparation, pre- and post-flight testing, data analysis and report preparation phases of simulated space flight experiments, as well as in NASA Life Sciences research. For more information on the Spaceflight and Life Sciences Training Program Scholarship: http://www.space.gc.ca/asc/eng/sciences/scholarships.asp BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES OF THE CSA SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS Prateek Khatri is a student of Biomedical Science at the University of Ottawa, where he was honoured with the Chancellor's Scholarship for obtaining a 99.7% admission average and displaying exceptional extracurricular involvement. Presently in his second year of studies, he has achieved an A+ in all university courses thus far. As a recipient of the university's Undergraduate Research Scholarship, Prateek began his medical research immediately upon entering university. His research has centred on the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, a membrane protein that plays a critical role in synaptic transmission throughout the nervous system. Elucidation of the structure of this protein has implications for the treatment of conditions such as epilepsy and nicotine addiction. Not only is he fond of intellectually challenging endeavours, Prateek is also active in extracurricular activities within his university community. As founder and president of the University of Ottawa Bioethics Debating Society, he organizes debates concerning ethical issues in scientific research. Christopher Lee is completing an honours Neuroscience program at McGill University this year. He is very active in student leadership, focusing on reforms to the academic program within the faculty of science. He is currently the Vice President (Academic Affairs) of the Science Undergraduate Society. He is also committed to increasing the accessibility of research positions to undergraduate students, as well as the accessibility of medical graduate school information and advising resources to students. For his efforts, Christopher recently was awarded the McGill Scarlet Key as well as the McGill Students' Society Award of Distinction. Christopher's research also focuses on neuroscience. He is currently volunteering in a neurosurgical research laboratory at the Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI). Last summer, he was the recipient of a research award by the Fonds de Recherches en Santé du Québec for his work conducted in the laboratory of Dr. Julie Desbarats, on the role of the immunological molecule Fas in the development of Parkinson's Disease. He will resume this work next year as part of his honours research project. - 30 - For further information: Julie Simard Media Relations Officer Canadian Space Agency (450) 926-4370 julie.simard@space.gc.ca
