ARCHIVED - Health Research - Investing in Canada's Future 2003-2004

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Regional Profiles – Atlantic Canada

Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) funded health research in New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island

Atlantic Canada at a Glance

While CIHR funding has increased across the country, the Atlantic provinces have seen the greatest percentage increase in funding, an indication that CIHR funding is helping to build research capacity and contributing to research results throughout Canada.

In the past four years, health research institutions in the Atlantic provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island have seen their CIHR funding increase by 86% from $10 million to over $18.7 million. Much of the research that CIHR is supporting in Atlantic Canada focuses on the needs of rural and aging populations as well as on marine and coastal health safety.

Examples of CIHR-funded research excellence in the Atlantic Provinces

Dr. Laurie McDuffee:
Fighting Bone Disease Through Cellular Healing
University of Prince Edward Island

Brittle and broken bones caused by diseases ranging from cancer to osteoporosis or trauma may benefit from new cell-based therapy for bone healing. CIHR’s Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis researcher, Laurie McDuffee, at the University of Prince Edward Island, is using bone cells from adult donor bone and bone-related tissue to expand the cells and stimulate them to become mature bone forming cells (osteoblasts). These cells will then be transplanted into diseased bone. Dr. McDuffee's research will lead to a new bone cell-based therapy that will help doctors treat orthopedic patients. Dr. McDuffee's therapy aims to decrease incidence of disease, improve bone healing and improve the qualityof life for patients with bone diseases.

Dr. Judith Wuest:
Getting Personal about Partners
University of New Brunswick

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) affects 1 Canadian women and takes an eco- toll on our health, social, and legal systems. IPV results in both mental and physical health problems for women. However, the long-term health effects of are not well understood. CIHR Institute of Gender and Health researcher, Wuest, at the University of New Brunswick, is studying the mental and physical health problems experienced by Canadian women who have recently left an abusive partner. Women’s use of health and social services to manage their health problems and the costs of these services will also be examined. Findings may be helpful in identifying more effective ways to assist women who have left abusive partners to improve their health over time.

Dr. Martin Alda:
Understanding the Genetics of Bipolar Disorder
Dalhousie University

Bipolar disorder is a serious mental illness associated with significant morbidity and mortality and is a high cost to society. It has been long recognized that genes play a role in the causation of bipolar disorder, but no such concrete genes have been found yet. CIHR-funded Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction researcher, Dr. Martin Alda at Dalhousie University in Halifax, is conducting a genetic and biochemical studies to identify and characterize genes predisposing for bipolar disorder. Finding such genes will have significant implications for our understanding of the illness, for developing new treatments, and for understanding the role of stress and other factors that can trigger the illness in genetically predisposed individuals.

Dr. Kenneth Kao:
Tackling Cancer Resistance
Memorial University

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the fourth leading cause of death in Canadian women, and treating it is difficult because the tumours become resistant to the drugs used to attack them very quickly. CIHR-Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health, funded researcher, Dr. Kenneth Kao, at Memorial University in Newfoundland is trying to find out why these tumours are resistant to chemotherapy drugs by examining the role played by a pathway that may activate genes that result in this resistance. His work could lead to the development of ways to inhibit this pathway, leading to better ways to treat EOC.

CIHR is committed to encouraging and facilitating the growth of health research capacity in universities and hospitals across Canada.

Through its Regional Partnership Program (RPP), CIHR has provided funding to researchers in provinces that have historically received the smallest portion of health research funding.

Atlantic RPP commitments for Fiscal Year 2002-2003

Province	CIHR Commitment 2002-2003
New Brunswick	$170,098
Newfoundland & Labrador	$906,727
Nova Scotia	$737,145
Prince Edward Island	$151,395
Total	$1,965,365

Corporate Profile

Fusogenix Inc. (Halifax)

Dr. Roy Duncan from Dalhousie University in Halifax received funding from both CIHR’s Proof of Principle Program and Operating Grants in 1999. He founded Fusogenix Inc in Halifax in 2003. Dr. Duncan and his team are investigating the use of Fusion Associated Small Transmembrane (FAST) proteins for delivering bio-active material to host cells for multiple applications. This work has the potential to lead to advanced drug delivery systems for vaccines and cancer therapeutics.
Website: www.fusogenix.com

About the Canadian Institutes of Health Research

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research is the Government of Canada’s premier agency for health research. Its objective is to excel, according to internationally accepted standards of scientific excellence, in the creation of new knowledge and its translation into improved health for Canadians, more effective health services and products and a strengthened Canadian health care system.

For more information, visit: www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca.