Yaw (Chris) Siow

Research Scientist

My research supports the Vision and Mission of AAFC:

(1) Evidence-based agri-food: Elucidation of the biochemical and molecular mechanisms of extracts or compounds isolated from agri-food and herbal medicine, using cell culture and animal models; (2) Analyses of food and natural health products by chromatographic fingerprinting and bioassays; (3) Knowledge translation and promotion of science-based Agri-food and herbal medicine in prevention and treatment.

Current research and/or projects

  • Defining new health attributes of Canadian lingonberry for domestic and emerging markets
  • Enhancing the sustainable development of lingonberry with health benefits in northern and Indigenous communities

NEW: Growing Guide for Lingonberries as mentioned in The Western Producer: Scientist sets out to increase lingonberry acres 

To download:

1) Go to: https://www.sbrc.ca/siow

2) Click on the Lingonberries tab

3) Click on the PDF links to download the language version required

Acknowledgment : These PDF were creatively designed by Monika Lavallée of the Public Affairs Branch of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

 

Research and/or project statements

Lab’s mission: To develop innovative strategies for health maintenance and disease management through innovative value-added agri-food products.

Current Research Program at CCARM: Characterization and mapping the health attributes of native Canadian berries (wild and cultivated lingonberries, cultivated cranberries & blueberries, ginseng berries). This includes establishing fast and sensitive assays for determination of their antioxidant capacities and their effectiveness in protecting the different organs (heart & kidney) from oxidative stress-induced injuries, resulting from dysregulated cell signalling and an inflammatory response. Experiments utilized cutting edge instruments at CCARM to analyse samples obtained from established cell model system and laboratory rodents.

Professional activities / interests

  • Associate Editor, Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology

  • Grant Review and Journal Peer Reviews

  • Thesis Supervisory/Advisory Committee (PhD, MSc, BSc (Hons)) & Supervisor of summer/co-op students

  • Co-Chair, St.Boniface Hospital Research Centre Safety Committee and Biosafety Sub-Committee

Education and awards

Education & Training:

  • BSc (Hons) in Biochemistry (University of Regina)

  • PhD in Biochemistry (University of Manitoba)

  • Post-doctoral training (The Rockefeller University, NY) with Nobel laureate Paul Greengard

  • Post-doctoral training (University of British Columbia)

  • Research Assistant Professor (Department of Pharmacology & School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong)

  • Assistant Professor (Department of Physiology, University of Manitoba)

Awards

  • Outstanding Researcher Award, University of Hong Kong

  • University of Hong Kong Research Fellow Award

International experience and/or work

  • Conference Organizer

  • Symposium Organizer, Chair & Speaker

  • Keynote/Landmark/Plenary Speaker

Key publications

  1. Isaak, C.K., Wang, P., Prashar, S., Karmin, O., Brown, D.C.W., Debnath, S.C., Siow, Y.L. (2017). Supplementing diet with Manitoba lingonberry juice reduces kidney ischemia-reperfusion injury. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, [online] 97(9), 3065-3076. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.8200

    2017 - View publication details

  2. Sid V, Shang Y, Isaak CK, Siow YL and O K (2017) Regulation of hepatic inflammation by folic acid in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). 3rd Annual Northern Great Plains Lipids Conference, Winnipeg, June 3-4, 2017

    2017 - View publication details

  3. Shang, Y., Khafipour, E., Derakhshani, H., Sarna, L.K., Woo, C.W., Siow, Y.L., Karmin, O. (2017). Short Term High Fat Diet Induces Obesity-Enhancing Changes in Mouse Gut Microbiota That are Partially Reversed by Cessation of the High Fat Diet. Lipids, [online] 52(6), 499-511. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11745-017-4253-2

    2017 - View publication details

  4. Amarakoon SB, Jayaraman B, Siow YL, Prashar S, Shang Y, O K and Nyachoti M (2017) Effect of dietary supplementation of plant-based products on oxidative status of weanling piglets. 2017 Animal Nutrition Conference of Canada, May 10-11, 2017 Quebec City, Canada

    2017 - View publication details

  5. Grant, J., Ryland, D., Isaak, C.K., Prashar, S., Siow, Y.L., Taylor, C.G., Aliani, M. (2017). Effect of Vitamin D3 Fortification and Saskatoon Berry Syrup Addition on the Flavor Profile, Acceptability, and Antioxidant Properties of Rooibos Tea (Aspalathus linearis). Journal of Food Science, [online] 82(3), 807-817. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1750-3841.13646

    2017 - View publication details

  6. Isaak, C.K., Petkau, J.C., Blewett, H., Karmin, O., Siow, Y.L. (2017). Lingonberry anthocyanins protect cardiac cells from oxidative-stress-induced apoptosis. Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology, [online] 95(8), 904-910. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjpp-2016-0667

    2017 - View publication details

  7. Victoria Sid, Yaw L. Siow, and Karmin O (2017) Role of folate in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology, In Press

    2017 - View publication details

  8. Debnath, S.C., McKenzie, B.D., Bishop, G.A., Dixon, P., Siow, Y.L. and Simms, D. (2016). “Production and improvement of small fruit crops native to Newfoundland and Labrador.”, Symposium Program Book, 3rd Biennial Symposium: Our Food, Our Future – Research that Feeds Newfoundland and Labrador, November 02-03, 2016, St. John’s, NL, Canada; p. 13 (http://www.ourfoodourfuture.ca/agenda).

    2016 - View publication details

  9. Wong, A., Isaak, C.K., Prashar, S., O, K., and Siow, Y.L. (2016) Correlations between common antioxidant assays. University of Manitoba Undergraduate Research Poster Competition, October 27, 2016 Winnipeg, Canada.

    2016 - View publication details

  10. Debnath, S.C., McKenzie, B.D., Bishop, G.A., Dixon P., Mills A., Anderson S. and Siow, Y.L. (2016). “Innovative technologies to accelerate industry transition from “wild” to cultivated cool climate small fruit crop production systems.”, Abstract Book, Joint Annual Conference for the Canadian Society of Agronomy and the Canadian Society for Horticultural Science, July 24-26, 2016, Montreal, QC, Canada; p. 25 (https://www.regonline.ca/builder/site/tab3.aspx?EventID=1812036).

    2016 - View publication details

  11. Sarna, L.K., Sid, V., Wang, P., Siow, Y.L., House, J.D., O, K. (2016). Tyrosol Attenuates High Fat Diet-Induced Hepatic Oxidative Stress: Potential Involvement of Cystathionine β-Synthase and Cystathionine γ-Lyase. Lipids, [online] 51(5), 583-590. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11745-015-4084-y

    2016 - View publication details

  12. Bhusal, A., Isaak, C.K., Aliani, M., Siow, Y.L., and Brown, D.C.W. (2016) A comparative study of the antioxidant potential and metabolic profiling of lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis idaea) from Northern Manitoba and Newfoundland. Therapeutic Applications of Functional Food and Bioactives, April 21-23, 2016 Winnipeg, Canada

    2016 - View publication details

  13. Isaak, C.K., Wang, P., Prashar, S., Wong, M.H., O, K., Brown, D.C.W., Debnath, S.C., and Siow, Y.L. (2016) Lingonberry juice consumption protects the kidney against ischemic-reperfusion injury. Therapeutic Applications of Functional Food and Bioactives, April 21-23, 2016 Winnipeg, Canada

    2016 - View publication details

  14. Siow, Y.L., Isaak, C.K., Prashar, S., Wong, M.H., Bhusal, A., O, K., Brown, D., Debnath, S., Ross, K., Blewett, H., Aliani, M., and Utioh, A. (2016) Health benefits of emerging crops in Canada. Therapeutic Applications of Functional Food and Bioactives, April 21-23, 2016 Winnipeg, Canada. Invited Speaker.

    2016 - View publication details

  15. Sid, V., Wu, N., Sarna, L., Shang, Y., House, J., Siow, Y.L.., and O, K. (2016) Regulation of AMPK and hepatic metabolism by folic acid supplementation in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Experimental Biology 2016, April 2-6, 2016 San Diego, USA, FASEB J. 30(1 Suppl): 870.3

    2016 - View publication details

  16. Shang, Y., Derakhshani, H., Sarna, L.K., Siow, Y.L.., Khafipour, E., and O, K. (2016) Impact of dietary fat on murine gut microbiota and fatty liver. Experimental Biology 2016, April 2-6, 2016 San Diego, USA, FASEB J. 30(1 Suppl): 1258.1

    2016 - View publication details

  17. Shang, Y., Siow, Y.L., Isaak, C.K., Karmin, O. (2016). Downregulation of Glutathione Biosynthesis Contributes to Oxidative Stress and Liver Dysfunction in Acute Kidney Injury. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, [online] 2016 http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/9707292

    2016 - View publication details

  18. Debnath, S.C., Anderson, S., Bishop, G.A., Dixon, P.L., McKenzie, D.-L., Mills, A.A.S., and Siow, Y.L. (2015). Developing innovative technologies to accelerate industry transition from 'wild' to cultivated cool climate berry crop production systems. Project ID: 13-1155; Research Project Annual Report 2014-2015., AAFC Science and Technology Branch. (Report)

    2015 - View publication details

  19. Siow, Y.L., Debnath, S.C., Brown, D.C.W., Blewett, H.J., and Rossebnath, R. (2015). Lure of the lingonberry: win-win for northern agriculture and heart health., Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

    2015 - View publication details

  20. Siow, Y.L., Debnath, S.C., Brown, D.C.W., Blewett, H.J., and Rossebnath, R. (2015). "Lingonberries the next super fruit.", Farm Focus, April 1, 2015.

    2015 - View publication details

Research facility

Route 100, Unit 100-101
Morden, MB R6M 1Y5
Canada

Affiliations

  • Adjunct Professor, Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba

  • Founding Board Member, Canadian Institute of Chinese Medicinal Research

  • Member, American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

  • Lifetime Member, Society for Chinese Bioscientists in America

Language

English