About Us

The annual Canadian Lipoprotein Conference brings together basic and clinician scientists from Canadian as well as international research institutions to present their recent, unpublished findings in the field of lipid and lipoprotein metabolism.

Lipoproteins are complex, biochemical structures found in many animals from insects to humans whose primary function is to transport hydrophobic molecules such as cholesteryl esters (CE) and tricylglycerols (TAG) between the tissues of the body. To achieve this goal, CE and TAG are coated by a shell of amphipathic lipids (i.e. phospholipids, cholesterol) and proteins (i.e. apolipoproteins) to fom discoidal or spherical particles of various sizes which are soluble in the circulation (see figure). In addition to the structural component of lipoproteins, numerous proteins and signalling pathways are involved in the synthesis, secretion, modification and clearance of lipoproteins.

The first CLC was held in 1976 at Geneva Park, Lake Couchiching, ON. David Rubinstein and George Steiner were the senior founders, along with Allan Sniderman and Yves Marcel as the junior founders.

Camp Kitchikewana was a very rustic and spartan venue with rooms like dormitories, cold water showers and basic Canadian food, with ketchup as the main sauce ingredient. In 1977, the CLC moved to the Far Hills Inn (Val Morin, QC) in the Laurentians north of Montreal. This small inn is famous for its cross country skying, lots of trails and beautiful fall colors. The restaurant there was outstanding, especially in comparison with Camp Kitchikewana. For that reason, the CLC returned to the Far Hiils Inn twice more until they were not able to accomodate the growing number of conference attendees. Since then, the conference has been held at many venues throughout the country and slowly expanded the number of attendees.

Despite its growth however, the conference still boasts an intimate atmosphere and fosters collaboration throughout the Canadian lipid and lipoprotein field.

DAVID RUBENSTEIN LECTURESHIP

Biography¹

David Rubenstein completed his undergraduate degree, PhD and MD degrees at McGill University in Montreal, where he later became a professor in the Department of Biochemistry (1960-1977), before accepting the Chair of Biochemistry at Dalhousie University in Halifax (1979-80).

David Rubinstein’s diverse research activities and achievements reflected his incessant intellectual curiosity and his boundless working capacity. He began his scientific career with studies on the metabolism of human erythrocytes under the able tutorship of O. F. Denstedt, his Ph.D. advisor at McGill University, followed by studies on the regulation of fatty acid metabolism in adipose tissue and lipid metabolism in the lung, as well as numerous contributions regarding the nature and physiological effects of growth hormone and prolactin in collaboration with J. C. Beck’s research group at the Royal Victoria Hospital. It was, however, his interest in the effect of carbon tetrachloride on hepatic lipid metabolism that eventually led him into the area of lipid transport and lipoproteins. As an already experienced and accomplished investigator when embarking on this new course of inquiry in the late sixties, Rubinstein found in the complexity of plasma lipoproteins a new challenge and stimulus for his scientific instinct and curiosity and devoted the rest of his life to a systematic exploration of the metabolic aspects of this system. By following his own instinct and intuition, undisturbed by vagaries and fashions of the times, by willingly taking a road “less traveled by,” Rubinstein brought fresh ideas, revealed new facts, and contributed significantly to present views about the formation and degradation of lipoproteins.
¹Adapted with permission from P Alaupovic (1981) Can J Biochem 59: 565-579
© Canadian Science Publishing or its licensors

SIMON-PIERRE NOËL LECTURESHIP

Biography

Simon-Pierre Noël, a native of Quebec, received his undergraduate education in Biochemistry at the University of Montreal in 1971. First introduced to the lipoprotein field by his brother, a cardiologist, Simon-Pierre was a summer student in the lab of Yves Marcel at the Clinical Research Institute of Montreal, who encouraged him to continue in the field and do a PhD in Biochemistry under the supervision of David Rubinstein, then, professor of Biochemistry at McGill University, whom he had met at CLC meetings. His thesis described the catabolism of lipoproteins in the perfused liver. During his studies he became friends with Peter Dolphin, who was a postdoctoral fellow in David’s lab. After graduating, Simon-Pierre was awarded a fellowship by the Medical Research Council of Canada to do his postdoctoral training in the lab of Richard Havel, Director of the Cardiovascular Research Institute at the University of California at San Francisco.

Simon-Pierre returned to Montreal in 1979 and was appointed assistant professor in Biochemistry at the University of Montreal. He continued to work on the hepatic catabolism of lipoproteins and contributed to the training of young scientists, including Louise Brissette and Paul Roach. Simon-Pierre was recognized for his work on lipoprotein metabolism and for his support and mentoring of students. While coaching them in science, he would also introduce them to the cuisine of different countries, his personal hobby. Simon-Pierre was quiet and poised by nature, but at the CLC, he would engage in passionate scientific debates, that often ended in the bar in the company of Peter Dolphin and others. Simon-Pierre died on the 5th of February 1987 after a short illness. The Simon-Pierre Noel Memorial Lecture was instituted by the CLC membership to commemorate his contributions to lipoprotein science and to the Canadian Lipoprotein Conference. His named lectureship is awarded to emerging scientists , who like him are becoming recognized for their scientific discoveries, as well as to established scientists recognized for the importance of their work.

PHYSICIAN SCIENTIST LECTURESHIP