February edition, 2006
In this issue:
International News
CIHR and China forge closer research ties
CIHR and the National Natural Science Foundation of China have forged a new partnership to encourage more collaborative research between Canada and China. Canadian researchers will have access to $450,000 annually to partner with their Chinese peers in six areas: infectious diseases, neurosciences, diabetes and obesity, cardiovascular health, genetics and child/youth health. Funding will start this year.
CIHR-supported Research
Vaccine shows promised in fighting hepatitis C
Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan have developed a vaccine candidate for hepatitis C - a disease for which no vaccines are yet available. "This offers a very promising approach to preventing liver disease caused by the virus and to ultimately eliminating it from the body," says Dr. Bhagirath Singh, Scientific Director of the CIHR Institute of Infection and Immunity. The study was published in this month's Journal of General Virology.
Ottawa team closer to finding MS treatment
An important finding by researchers at the Ottawa Health Research Institute could lead to new and more effective therapies for multiple sclerosis (MS), stroke and traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries. Led by Dr. Peter Stys, the team unraveled the mystery of how myelin - the fatty sheath that surrounds nerve fibres in the brain - becomes damaged among people with MS. The research results were published in a recent online issue of the journal Nature.
Vaccine doses could be smaller, less toxic
A new technique developed at the University of British Columbia has the potential to make vaccines less toxic by reducing the amount given. Dr. Wilfred Jefferies found that boosting the production of TAP, an immune system component, can make smaller doses of vaccines more effective. Potential benefits include reduced side effects and the capacity to immunize more people. The CIHR-funded study was published in the Dec. 30 issue of Pathogens.
In the Pipeline
Chimpanzee feces could reveal origins of HIV
Dr. Hendrik Poinar at McMaster University is studying ancient DNA in fossilized chimpanzee feces to discover the origins and evolution of HIV. A better understanding of the evolution and gene sequences of HIV could lead to the development of effective vaccines. Dr. Poinar, an expert in the chemical and molecular analysis of fossilized feces, recently made headlines for his work in mapping a portion of the woolly mammoth's genome.
Studying the effects of herpes on transplant patients
Dr. George Zahariadis, a medical virologist at the University of Alberta, is embarking on a two-year project to learn more about herpes and why transplant patients, people with AIDS and those undergoing cancer treatment are so vulnerable to the disease. "We want to learn how the virus manipulates the immune system, and how it turns off the immune response in cases of rejection."
From lab to market
New technique measures lead in the bone
CIHR-supported Dr. David Fleming, an assistant professor of physics at Mount Allison University, Sackville, NB, is using gamma- and X-rays to show the effects of long-term lead exposure among humans. Current blood tests only reveal recent lead contamination. Dr. Fleming's system makes Mount Allison one of only two locations in the world with such capabilities. The system could be tested in hospitals in the near future.
Clinical trials
Firefighters participate in heart disease study
About 1600 middle-aged firefighters from Calgary and three other municipalities are participating in a unique study that could one day help doctors predict who is at risk for a heart attack or stroke. Dr. Todd Anderson at Foothills Hospital, Calgary, along with drug manufacturer Pfizer, have been tracking the firefighters' health since 1999. Their research could lead to a routine test for measuring the function of blood vessel linings. Information from this test can show if someone is at risk of a heart attack or stroke. The test could one day become as routine as those done for blood pressure and cholesterol.
Helping women and their babies survive pregnancy
About 40 women are receiving a new treatment that could minimize the risk of pre-eclampsia - the most common cause of death among pregnant women in North America and a frequent cause of many complications and death for fetuses and newborn children. Dr. Peter von Dadelszen at the B.C. Women's Hospital has teamed up with drug manufacturer Eli Lilly to test a protein-based compound that could safely prolong pregnancies and assist in the mother's recovery after delivery. Data from the study will provide the basis for a larger international clinical trial that is planned.
Upcoming events and news leads
January is Alzheimer's awareness month
How does the quality of life for Alzheimer's disease patients change as the condition worsens? Dr. Gary Naglie, a researcher at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, aims to find out through a study with participants from memory disorder clinics in Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Whitby, Toronto, Hamilton, London, Calgary and Vancouver.
Feb. 12, 2006: Sexual and reproductive health awareness day
Dr. Marion Jean Doull at the University of Ottawa is leading a CIHR-funded project examining the sexual health, relationships and practices of young Canadian women and their ideas about power and traditional gender roles within these relationships.
Feb. 13-17, 2006: Antibiotics awareness week
University of Calgary researcher Dr. Marie Louie is studying whether antimicrobial-resistant E. coli bacteria are showing up in our water supply and, if so, why. Her CIHR-funded work will have important implications for protecting human health.
Feb. 14, 2006: Valentine's Day
Does your sweetheart really need all those sweets?
Try saying "I love you" this Valentine's Day without loading your loved one up with fattening chocolates and candies. Dr. Diane Finegood, Scientific Director of the CIHR Institute of Nutrition, Diabetes and Metabolism, who studies obesity, is available to suggest some healthy alternatives for Valentine's Day.
For more information on any of the above story leads, please contact:
Marie-France Poirier
Media Relations
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Phone: (613) 941-4563
Cell: (613) 447-4794
mediarelations@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
This e-newsletter is a new initiative from CIHR aimed at providing media with new health research story ideas. If you would prefer to be removed from this list, please reply to this email and indicate 'remove' in the subject line. If you would like to sign-up, please visit the media centre at www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca.
