1. To train Canada's leaders in the study of membrane proteins.
2. To develop a cohort of Canadian researchers comfortable on the world stage, with a world-view of research and world class standards for research excellence.
3. To train students to be leaders in academia, biotechnology, pharmaceutical industry or intellectual property management.
4. To foster a group of researchers with international contacts in medical research, pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.
5. To enhance international cooperation in research, in particular with Germany.
The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada has awarded our group with a training program grant as part of the NSERC CREATE program. The $1.6 million investment from NSERC will fund a collaborative training program for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, which will run 2012-2018. Highlights of the program include collaborative visits to our German partners for three to six months, and visits to industrial partners. The training takes place in the labs of the Membrane Protein Disease Research Group (MPDRG), University of Alberta.

Our Events

IRTG/Membrane Protein Disease Research Group holds Weekly Seminars every Thursday morning in Classroom F-2J4.02 Walter Mackenzie Health Sciences Centre. Speakers include graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, invited guest speakers (University of Alberta, National and International) and IRTG/MPDRG Principal Investigators.

Career Development Seriesis a seminar series with the goal of improving the career skills and knowledge of IRTG and MPDRG trainees. These once-a-month seminars are held as Lunch & Learn sessions with light lunch provided. Career Development Series Schedule for 2016.

Membrane Protein Journal Club (Biochemistry 640)/ IRTG Journal Club is held Wednesdays in Room 4-70 MSB at 4:00 pm. The course Biochemistry 640 is a graduate course in the Department of Biochemistry. Presenters usually give a literature review of a paper that focuses on membranes or membrane proteins. Guest speakers present their own work.

IRTG Canada/IRTG 1830 Germany Joint Symposiums are held annually in either Germany or Alberta. The meetings are designed for investigators and student researchers from both groups to partner in discussion and research initiatives. The 7th IRTG international annual meeting 2018 took place in Banff, Alberta on April 8- 11, 2018.

The 8th Joint Meeting will be held in Bostalsee, Germany on September 1-4, 2019 (possibly at the Seehotel Weingärtner)