September 28, 2023
Chang lab pursues sensory studies into evolution of the multifunction rhodopsin protein with $2M grant
Some proteins can detect light. Others are sensitive to temperature. Some act as taste receptors. Opsin proteins can do it all. Professor Belinda Chang and colleagues have received $2 million in funding to demystify how a single class of protein can execute and retain such a broad variety of…
August 7, 2022
Professor Chang’s Research Featured in The Atlantic
Dr Sarah Dungan was interviewed about her work in Professor Chang's lab on reconstructing ancestral rhodopsin in cetaceans. The story was published in the Atlantic as "What Did Ancient Whales See?" (external link).
June 29, 2022
Whales evolved swiftly to become deep divers
Surprising details about the transition of early whales from living on shore to diving down to feast on deep-dwelling prey have been revealed by Dr Sarah Dungan and Professor Belinda Chang of EEB and CSB. Their pivotal result shows that early whales had visual systems adapted to deep diving, firmly…
June 23, 2022
Long-term Research at CSB supported by NSERC Discovery Grants 2022
Congratulations to five researchers at CSB who have earned Discovery Grants starting in 2022 from the National Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC). This program supports ongoing programs of research with long-term goals over five years rather than supporting a single short-term…
June 29, 2021
Synthetic biology circuit from Chang lab may lead to IBD treatment
A new probiotic yeast, engineered at the University of Toronto and extensively tested at Bringham & Women’s Hospital (BWH) was designed using synthetic biology to sense and respond to inflammation, and has been shown to reduce IBD in mice. Inflammation can be a healthy response to infection…
February 26, 2021
Resurrected proteins reveal evolutionary history of Amazon River fish
As the Andes mountains were rising 15-20 million years ago, the freshwater Amazon basin became flooded with seawater. This event provided an opportunity to adapt to a freshwater habitat for marine species carried along with the seawater. University of Toronto Professors Belinda Chang and Nathan…