| Your Health Research Dollars at Work 2006-2007 |
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Regional Profiles
Research Successes
Knowledge Translation
| Health Research Results Updates |
Everyone ages differently and knowing how you are aging can help you make decisions about your health. CIHR-supported researcher Dr. Arnold Mitnitski of Dalhousie University has developed a mathematical model to predict how your health will change as you get older. Dr. Mitnitski and his colleagues have found that by measuring the number of health "deficits" an elderly person has, they can calculate his or her "biological" age, in effect, the estimated remaining lifespan of different body parts and components. They tested the mathematical model by studying the health of a large group of seniors over a five-year period. Doctors could someday use this type of model to help their patients avoid disease and maintain their quality of life as they age.
A team of CIHR-funded researchers from the University of Toronto has identified a drug that halts Alzheimer's disease in mice. The drug, a sugar-like substance known as "scyllo-cyclohexanehexol", blocks the accumulation of a toxic peptide called amyloid-beta in the brains of lab mice. Amyloid-beta kills brain cells and triggers the formation of the neuritic plaques that are characteristic of Alzheimer's. Dr. JoAnne McLaurin and her colleagues have obtained permission from Health Canada to proceed with human trials of this promising new drug.
Drs. Ian MacKenzie and Howard Feldman at the University of British Columbia have identified a gene that, when mutated, causes an inherited form of early-onset dementia. The disorder, known as frontotemporal dementia (FTD), usually strikes between the ages of 50 and 60 and is inherited in about 50% of cases. FTD gradually impairs a patient's ability to speak and can result in dramatic behaviour changes. The mutations discovered by Drs. MacKenzie and Feldman prevent the progranulin gene from generating enough of the progranulin protein, which is necessary to keep brain cells alive. This CIHR-funded discovery could lead to new screening tests and treatments for FTD.
Manitoba First Nations women are about two times more likely to have a hip fracture than non-Aboriginal women. Research from the First Nations Bone Health Study, a collaboration between the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and the University of Manitoba (UofM), has found that First Nations women in the province have lower-than-expected bone density. The study, led by CIHR-supported researcher Dr. William Leslie of UofM, also found lower vitamin D levels, which are thought to weaken bone (vitamin D helps absorb calcium so it gets into bones). This information is useful for health authorities to start raising awareness among First Nations women concerning the need to increase consumption of vitamin D.
Doctors have to deal with the effects of cancer after it is diagnosed, but new research by Dr. John Dick of the Princess Margaret Hospital, University of Toronto, will help cancer specialists understand how this disease unfolds from start to finish. There has been growing evidence that a small number of cancer cells, so-called cancer stem cells, help the cancer grow and renew even in the face of radiation and other therapies. With the help of CIHR funding, Dr. Dick and his team successfully implanted these types of cells into mice, which then developed cancer. This result supports the theory that cancer stem cells drive the development of tumours, and also provides a powerful new tool to better understand cancer and find ways of defeating it.
Toronto-based Amorfix Life Sciences Ltd. was nominated as a Technology Pioneer 2007 by the World Economic Forum, the only Canadian company, of a total of 47 nominees, selected for this year's award. The company also cracked the Top 50 list of companies on the TSX Venture Exchange for 2006. Amorfix builds on the CIHR-funded discoveries of Dr. Neil Cashman of the University of British Columbia and Dr. Marty Lehto of the University of Toronto that will help to diagnose and treat neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's.
Despite the great advances that researchers have made in the treatment of mood disorders, depression is still a life-long battle for many people. Dr. Zindel Segal, a CIHR-funded researcher based at the University of Toronto, recently published a study suggesting that short-term emotional stress can trigger depression relapse in patients who have undergone previous treatment. By gaining a better understanding of the factors that predispose a patient to recurring depression, doctors may be able to more effectively treat this very common mood disorder.
Malfunctioning nerves may play a role in the development of type 1 diabetes. Drs. Michael Salter and Hans-Michael Dosch, researchers at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, have discovered that malfunctioning nerve cells produce chemicals that trigger the immune system to destroy the insulin-producing islet cells of the pancreas. By killing the nerves with a chemical derived from chili peppers, the researchers were able to cure diabetes in mice. Drs. Salter and Dosch hope to begin testing this procedure in humans by 2008.
Falling is a real and dangerous risk for seniors, leading to broken bones and an end to independent living. Dr. Stephen Perry of Wilfred Laurier University has recently translated his basic research on human movement into a product that may prevent these falls and, in doing so, save many seniors' lives. As we age, we often lose sensation in our feet, making it difficult to stay balanced. With the help of CIHR funding, Dr. Perry and his colleagues have developed a simple and inexpensive special shoe insole called the Sole SensorTM. The insole has a slight ridge along its outer edge that alerts seniors when they are losing their balance. This device promises to reduce the frequency of fall-related injuries. The Sole SensorTM will be available from Ontario-based Hart Mobility in 2007.
Researchers at Laval University are looking for the best ways to put our genetic know-how to work in the fight against breast cancer. Genetic screening may help save many lives, but it is expensive and time-consuming. Dr. Jacques Simard and his team are trying to find an effective way to identify high-risk populations that would benefit most from screening for mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2, two genes commonly linked to breast cancer. In a study of 256 French-Canadian families from around Quebec, Dr. Simard identified eight new mutations linked to breast cancer and tested the effectiveness of three mathematical models for predicting breast cancer risk. His results indicate that doctors should test patients with a family history of breast cancer for common breast cancer gene mutations, and then use the mathematical models to determine which patients should receive further testing.
Making changes to health-care practices takes several steps, such as collecting evidence to support the use of new procedures and, just as important, making sure these new clinical practices become part of the daily routine in hospitals. A study by CIHR-supported researcher Dr. Nancy Edwards of the University of Ottawa suggests that leadership from the nursing community plays a major role in the success or failure of new clinical guidelines. Successful leaders closely monitor clinical outcomes, help individual nurses use the guidelines, ensure ongoing education and serve as positive role models. Information from the research project will help nursing administrators develop practical guidelines that the nursing community can use to encourage these leadership qualities.
Newborns in hospitals are getting fewer infections thanks to innovations by Dr. Shoo Lee, a CIHR-supported researcher at the University of Alberta and head of the Canadian Neonatal Research Network, which links neonatal units in hospitals across Canada. Dr. Lee used a process known as quality improvement to increase awareness among Network members of specific risks for hospital-acquired infections. The results of the research project included recommendations on how to change practices to reduce the chance of infection. Examples included better use of antibiotics and better attention to feeding tubes or other lines among babies identified as high risk. Among hospitals participating in the project, the infection rate dropped by nearly 50% over two years.
Clogged arteries may have just gotten a lot easier and a lot less expensive to treat. A team of researchers at McMaster University has found that angioplasty, a popular procedure for unblocking coronary arteries, is no more effective than medication and lifestyle changes when it comes to preventing heart attacks and stroke. This CIHR-funded study, led by Drs. Koon Teo and William Boden, could result in big savings for the health-care system. In 2003-04, doctors performed 167 angioplasties for every 100,000 Canadians over the age of 20.
Researchers estimate that HIV infection rates in sub-Saharan Africa could be reduced by up to two-thirds if male circumcision becomes standard practice. An international team of researchers, including Dr. Stephen Moses at the University of Manitoba, conducted a large study in Kisumu, Kenya, where 18% of the men and 25% of the women are HIV positive. Dr. Moses found that circumcised men in that community were 53% less likely to contract the deadly virus than uncircumcised men. The project, co-funded by CIHR, confirms the results of previous research. The findings of these studies have collectively resulted in the World Health Organization developing recommendations regarding male circumcision.
A CIHR-supported research team has found a way of encouraging the immune system to keep working even in the presence of HIV. Dr. Rafick-Pierre Sékaly of the University of Montreal discovered that high levels of the HIV virus prompt the body to overproduce a protein called PD-1 which, in turn, sends a message to the immune system cells to stop working. However, the research team also found a way to block this protein, in effect, turning back the clock and improving the chances that the body will eliminate the virus. The new discovery could eventually lead to new treatments in the ongoing fight against HIV/AIDS.
A group of CIHR-funded researchers at McGill University led by Dr. Sandra Dial showed that widely-used drugs for suppressing excess stomach acid, such as heartburn medications, can increase a person's risk of Clostridium difficile infection. Researchers originally thought that C. difficile infections were most common in hospitalized patients receiving antibiotics. However, it appears that non-hospitalized individuals taking medications to reduce stomach acidity also face an increased risk of infection. The theory is that changing acid levels in the stomach encourages the growth of C. difficile bacteria. These findings may help physicians protect their patients against a potentially fatal bacterial infection.
Indigenous knowledge may be of benefit in treating diabetes, according to CIHR-supported research by Dr. Pierre Haddad of the University of Montreal. His study shows that several plant extracts that have been used medicinally for centuries by Cree elders in Northern Quebec can relieve a number of symptoms that are typical of type 2 diabetes, such as frequent urination and increased thirst. With more research, scientific evidence of these traditional cures could one day be used to help reduce the burden of diabetes in Aboriginal communities.
We all know what hunger feels like, but how does our brain tell us we're hungry? Dr. Michiru Hirasawa, a CIHR-funded researcher at Memorial University, is investigating how the chemical messengers in our brains are involved in regulating hunger. In a recent study, Dr. Hirasawa examined how dopamine, a chemical produced by the brain, interacts with a specific type of brain cell to regulate hunger. She found that smaller-than-normal amounts of dopamine excited these cells in the rat brain, causing rats to eat more. However, large amounts of dopamine shut down the cells, curbing the rats' appetites. Dr. Hirasawa and her colleagues believe that a disruption in dopamine signalling could lead to overeating and obesity.
Physical injuries, diabetes, cancer and infections can all result in neuropathic pain, a condition in which a person suffers from constant pain due to nerve damage. CIHR-funded researcher Dr. Yves de Koninck of the Centre de recherche Université Laval Robert-Giffard recently published a study suggesting that a chemical produced by damaged nerve cells may trigger this excruciating condition. Dr. de Koninck's discovery could lead to improved methods for managing pain in patients with nerve damage.
Can a vitamin a day help keep childhood cancer away? According to Dr. Gideon Koren, a CIHR-funded researcher at Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children, moms-to-be may be able to reduce their child's risk of developing cancer by taking prenatal multivitamins. In the first study of its kind, Dr. Koren and his colleagues compiled and analyzed the results of a large number of smaller studies on the same subject. They found that children whose mothers had taken multivitamins fortified with folic acid while pregnant had a reduced risk of developing leukemia, brain tumours and neuroblastoma, three of the most common childhood cancers.
Being in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the hospital can be dangerous to your long-term health according to CIHR-supported researcher Dr. Chaim Bell of St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, especially if you're a senior taking medications for chronic diseases. Dr. Bell studied a group of patients at Ontario hospitals and found that, when discharged from the hospital ICU, one-third of them had at least one of their medications unintentionally discontinued. The new information will help create changes to make sure that patients keep following their daily drug treatment routine.
People suffering from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) need early and aggressive treatment, using a class of drugs that is known to slow progression of this debilitating disease. However, work by CIHR-supported researcher Dr. Diane Lacaille of the University of British Columbia has found that many patients are not receiving the drugs they need, especially if they're being treated by their family doctor. In a study of close to 30,000 patients in B.C. suffering from RA, Dr. Lacaille found that only 10% of those receiving care by family physicians were prescribed disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (called DMARDs) over a five-year period. In comparison, 76% of patients seen by rheumatologists were prescribed these drugs. These findings will help develop new ways to address these gaps in care and improve the lives of Canadians living with RA.
Smokers do pay attention to large, vivid warning labels on cigarette packages. A recent study by Dr. David Hammond at the University of Waterloo found that smokers exposed to large, graphic warnings on cigarette labels were more likely to be aware of the risks of smoking than people exposed to small, text-only warnings. Smokers who had to look at pictorial warnings every time they reached for a cigarette were also more likely to think about quitting. This CIHR-funded study suggests that warning labels are effective and that cigarette packages may be a good place to include contact information for smoking cessation services.
Are your eating habits an indicator of your mental health? Research by CIHR-funded investigator Dr. Simone Lemieux at Laval University found that a woman who eats in response to emotional stress and feels unable to stop is very likely to have a poor self-image, regardless of her weight. These findings suggest that dieting history can be used to identify women who are suffering from low psychological well-being and at risk for depression.
Exposure to high levels of manganese in the air may increase a person's risk of developing Parkinson's disease. Manganese is an essential nutrient that all living things must consume to survive, but too much of this metallic element is toxic. Until 2004, manganese was a common additive in gasoline in Canada. It is still used in many industrial processes, such as steelmaking. In a CIHR-funded study, Dr. Murray Finkelstein of Mount Sinai Hospital recently found that people living near steel factories in Hamilton, Ontario, are more likely to be diagnosed with Parkinson's disease than people who live in areas with lower levels of manganese in the air.
Reoviruses can cause a wide range of respiratory and gastrointestinal problems, everything from diarrhea, to colds and pneumonia. Dr. Randal Johnston of the University of Calgary has developed a weakened strain of the virus which has shown potential for fighting cancer. With CIHR funding, Dr. Johnston will be able to further test this virus and generate the type of data necessary to be able to evaluate the virus's potential as an anti-cancer drug.
Where your water comes from and where your sewage goes may have an important impact on your health. Dr. Kay Teschke of the Department of Health Care & Epidemiology and the School of Occupational & Environmental Hygiene at UBC is studying the water and sewage systems in the town of Langley, a mixed urban/rural community on the outskirts of Vancouver. Concerned about depleting its water supply as its population grows, the town has been mapping all the different ways in which its residents get their water and dispose of their sewage. In a CIHR-funded study, Dr. Teschke is using this data to determine how water source and sewage disposal methods are related to rates of gastrointestinal illness among residents. The results of the study will help public policy makers and engineers prevent future water-borne illnesses.
Drug researchers can learn a lot from the medications that we already use. CIHR-supported researchers Drs. Charlie Boone and Brenda Andrews of the University of Toronto are building a collection of "chemical-genetic interaction" profiles, descriptions of how therapeutic chemicals affect gene activity. These profiles, which the researchers are generating using genetically altered yeast cells, could be used in the future to identify new drugs, determine how those drugs work, and anticipate possible negative side effects. These profiles have already uncovered how a common breast cancer treatment and an anti-HIV drug work.
