First patient treated in world-first cell therapy trial to heal the lungs of preterm babies Ottawa Hospital Research Institute “Researchers have treated the first patient in an innovative clinical trial of a cell therapy that aims to prevent very premature babies from developing a chronic lung disease called bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD).” TAGS: clinical trial, cell therapy, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, CHEO, Stem Cell Network Dr. Falcone to co-lead the Pan-Canadian Network on Long COVID Biomedical Team IRCM “It will also draw on the expertise and experience of more than 300 people, including fundamental and clinical researchers, patients, partners and Indigenous community representatives.” TAGS: long COVID, Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM), Université de Montréal, McMaster University, University of Alberta Too much pruning: A new study sheds light on how neurodegeneration occurs in the brain McGill University Health Centre “A Montreal research team demonstrates how genetic mutations cause brain cell death and inflammation by derailing synaptic pruning …” TAGS: genetic mutation, inflammation, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC), Lady Davis Institute (LDI) How fit is your gut microbiome? University of Calgary “To investigate how exercise shapes the gut microbiota in non-athletes, the study assessed information on the type, time and intensity of exercise in relation to microbiomes in a large cohort of middle-aged adults. Information on body weight, diet and hand-grip strength were also collected.” TAGS: kinesiology, physical activity, microbiome health, University of Calgary Ask an expert: Is my menstrual pain normal, or could I have endometriosis? Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute “Our expert answers questions about the painful condition experienced by 10 per cent of the world female population.” TAGS: endometriosis, menstrual pain, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute

Cutting-edge research goes beyond skin deep GlycoNet “Finding that the skin of people with scleroderma makes a unique sugar, GlycoNet researcher Lisa Willis is developing a way to better identify those at high risk of disease progression.” TAGS: glycomics research, scleroderma, GlycoNet, University of Alberta Prolonged and repeated use of antibiotics has negative effect on gut microbiome and gut resistome in pediatric cancer patients IWK Health “Prolonged and repeated use of antibiotics in children with leukemia and lymphoma can create an environment that favors pathogenic bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes, says recent research out of the IWK.” TAGS: gut health, antibiotic resistance, cancer, IWK Health ALS Canada and Brain Canada invest more than $1.4 million in ALS research grants HRI Portal “Nine projects to advance the ALS research landscape funded through ALS Society of Canada and Brain Canada partnership, with support from the Dr. Jean-Pierre Canuel Fund – SLA Québec …” TAGS: innovative research, grants and funding, ALS Society of Canada, Brain Canada Canadian Organization for Rare Disorders welcomes federal funding for rare drug plan to accelerate access to diagnostics and treatments NewsWire “The Canadian Organization for Rare Disorders (CORD) was extremely pleased to be part of the federal government’s announcement today of the plan to provide up to $1.5 billion over three years to implement the Rare Disease Drug Strategy, as committed in 2019.” TAGS: funding, Rare Disease Drug Strategy, Canadian Organization for Rare Disorders (CORD) Call for cardiovascular research proposals – NBHRF New Brunswick Health Research Foundation “The New Brunswick Health Research Foundation and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of New Brunswick are collaborating on a call for cardiovascular research proposals.” TAGS: cardiovascular research, New Brunswick Health Research Foundation, Heart and Stroke Foundation of New Brunswick

Improving patient care in complex times Canadian Foundation of Innovation “A new lab is developing instructional methods for training healthcare providers to be nimbler in ever-changing circumstances …” TAGS: health care education, medtech, University Health Network, Canadian Foundation of Innovation $2.5M to support kids’ brain health research innovations HRI Portal “Canadian scientists are at the forefront of next-generation neurodevelopmental disability research, enhanced through technology and centered around children, families and community collaboration.” TAGS: neurodevelopmental disabilities, Strategic Investment Fund (SIF), Kids Brain Health Network (KBHN) Honing in on precision treatments for endometriosis Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute “Researchers uncover novel variation in endometriosis genetic mutations and types that could be used to develop a new classification system.” TAGS: endometriosis, Canadian health research, precision medicine, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute Does AI really know best? Exploring the role of artificial intelligence in clinical care Newswire.CA “Hear from two SickKids researchers who are leading the discussion around ethical and care implications of using artificial intelligence in medical decision making …” TAGS: artificial intelligence, ethical AI model integration, innovative research, SickKids Health Canada approved treatment of adult and pediatric patients 12 years and older with chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD)… Sanofi Canada “In Chronic GVHD, transplanted immune cells (graft) attack the patient’s cells (host), leading to inflammation and fibrosis in multiple tissues, including skin, mouth, eye, joint, liver, lung, esophagus and gastrointestinal tract.” TAGS:  graft-versus-host disease, stem cell transplantation, Sanofi Canada, Health Canada

Advisory panel report on federal research support system published Newswire.CA “Report details findings and recommendations on strengthening support system for science and research …” TAGS: Minister of Health, Advisory Panel on the Federal Research Support System, health research and innovation Detecting Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Early – Researchers Create Non-Invasive Tool That Uses Saliva Carleton University “Tackling this combined health and economic challenge is difficult, but researchers at Carleton University’s Department of Electronics believe that early detection of the diseases could be the solution.” TAGS: neurodegenerative diseases, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Carleton University Funding for long COVID research – Long COVID Web network University Health Network  “The $20-million investment will support the “Long COVID Web”, a national team co-led by Dr. Angela Cheung, a Senior Scientist at the Toronto General Hospital Research Institute (TGHRI).” TAGS: research funding, Long COVID Web, University Health Network, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute Gestational diabetes is on the rise and a Canadian study may have found out why Global News “The one-step screening method picks up gestational diabetes at lower sugar levels, meaning health-care providers can pick up more “mild forms” of the …” TAGS: gestational diabetes, screening test, University of Manitoba, University of British Columbia Why are we not prioritizing women’s health research? The Toronto Star “However, minimal research is done on how sex and gender influence health. Perhaps it is no wonder that women experience more severe health outcomes …” TAGS: women’s health, sex and gender, research funding, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) Colorectal cancer and E. coli: new insights UdeM Nouvelles “UdeM researchers have found that a lot of healthy people have a gut bacteria implicated in colorectal cancer, and that a popular supplement for promoting digestive health may have the opposite effect.” TAGS: colorectal cancer, digestive health, gut bacteria, Université de Montréal

Findings of a new research study can help ensure that women with endometriosis who conceive spontaneously receive appropriate care MUHC-RI “Women with endometriosis who conceive spontaneously, that is, without the help of assisted reproductive technologies, seem to be at a higher risk of preeclampsia, according to a new study …” TAGS: endometriosis, preeclampsia, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre Announcing the 2023 Dr. Sterling Clarren Research Award Recipient! CanFASD Blog “We are pleased to announce the recipient of the 2023 Dr. Sterling Clarren FASD Research Award is Danielle Johnston for her research on visual-motor integration, visual perception and motor coordination assessments in children with FASD.” TAGS: fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, innovative research, FASD Research Award, CanFASD Q&A: How smart home technology could improve life for people with mental and physical challenges CBC “A team of researchers at Lawson Health Research Institute say smart home technology might be useful for improving outcomes in people with both …” TAGS: chronic illness, mental illness, smart home technology, Lawson Health Research Institute Sleep disturbances could be an indicator of stroke, study hints Sudbury “A new study in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) has … the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute and the University of Melbourne in …” TAGS: stroke, sleep disturbances, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada How Sebastian is helping deepen CF research at SickKids The Toronto Star “At seven months old, Sebastian was rushed to The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) with dangerously low oxygen levels. He rallied and was sent …” TAGS: cystic fibrosis, patient perspective, Canadian research, Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) Opinion: Lower drug prices are a good thing. Canada’s approach to achieving them was not The Globe and Mail “Everyone would like drugs to be cheaper, but not at the expense of having pharmaceutical companies and their innovative medicines bypass Canada.” TAGS: Canadian innovation, Patented Medicine Prices Review Board, Canadian Health Policy Institute

Cloutier and Hill: The budget must boost Canadian health research Timmins Press “Despite huge gains in health outcomes over time, federal spending on health research has largely been frozen for the last decade.” TAGS: health research, Budget 2023, HealthCareCAN, Lawson Health Research Institute Misfolded proteins and Parkinson’s disease – New insights into Lewy body disorders University Health Network “A study led by Dr. Gabor Kovacs at UHN’s Krembil Brain Institute revealed new insights into the mechanism underlying Lewy body disorders.” TAGS: neurodegenerative diseases, Parkinson’s disease, dementia, Canadian research, University Health Network At last — Developing potential cures for genetic neurodevelopmental disorders BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute “These types of diseases arise from genetic variants that can either be inherited or occur ‘de novo’ — present for the first time in a family member as a result of errors during embryonic development.” TAGS: genetic diseases, rare disorders, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Provincial Health Services Authority Many young Canadians think humanity is doomed – Mental health and anxiety Lakehead University “A pair of Lakehead University researchers recently published an article describing the emotions and anxiety experienced by young Canadians due to climate change.” TAGS: mental health, youth climate anxiety, Canadian research, Lakehead University SFU partners in national biotech hub to accelerate drug development, manufacturing for future pandemics Simon Fraser University “Simon Fraser University is among key partners in a national biotech innovation hub designed to make Canada a global powerhouse for developing …” TAGS: pandemic, immune-based therapies, biomanufacturing, health research, Simon Fraser University Thrombosis research gives patients access to ‘cutting edge’ care Niagara Health “A recent grant from the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute has enabled the Service to launch four clinical trials … give patients access to some of the newest treatments for preventing deadly blood clots.” TAGS: thrombosis, innovative research, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, McMaster University

BC Children’s Hospital leads international quest for answers to severe allergies BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute “They had multiple medical conditions including severe food and drug allergies, asthma and eczema, which led to even further health complications.” TAGS: pediatric immunology, allergies, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Provincial Health Services Authority Government of Canada announces over $7 million to address harms related to substance use in Ontario Canada.ca “With this funding, these projects will help improve health outcomes for people who are at risk of experiencing substance-related harms and overdose by scaling up prevention, harm reduction and treatment efforts across the country.” TAGS: substance use and addiction, Canadian Cancer Society, University Health Network, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Monitoring stress levels from your sweat? Calgary team tests out sensor CTV News Calgary “Researchers at the University of Calgary are testing out a wearable patch that can determine how stressed you are from your sweat.” TAGS: stress levels, innovative research, medtech, University of Calgary New study shows technology could play an important role in mental health support Lawson Health Research Institute “In a study published in MDPI Journal, a team of researchers at Lawson Health Research Institute have shown that the use of technology may assist in better outcomes for those living with both mental health and physical disorders.” TAGS: medtech, mental health, rehabilitation and recovery, Lawson Health Research Institute Lakehead University unveils newest nursing lab Lakehead University “This latest addition to our laboratory capacity further enhances the learning environment for our students as they prepare for careers in health care.” TAGS: nursing, clinical labs, community health care, Lakehead University UPCOMING Healthy Aging: What We Know and Where Research Can Lead Us | March 30, 2023 Canadian Frailty Network (CFN) “AGE-WELL and CFN are doing a joint Twitter Q&A on Thursday, March 30th from 1:00 – 1:45 PM (EDT). Our Scientific Directors, Dr. John Muscedere (MD, CFN) and Dr. Alex Mihailidis (PhD, AGE-WELL), will be responding to questions live during the 45min. event, which will be hosted on AGE-WELL’s Twitter account.”