The Cancer Research Institute of Northern Alberta (CRINA) is delighted to share the news that a combined $7-million in gifts will establish a new Dianne and Irving Kipnes Chair in Lymphatic Disorders at the University of Alberta.
The first of its kind in Canada, the Dianne and Irving Kipnes Chair will help to drive research in Alberta that affects fundamental changes in the care of patients suffering underreported, under-recognized, and under-diagnosed medical problems in the lymphatic system such as lymphedema.
Alleviating suffering from this debilitating condition of lymphedema is a particular passion for Dianne Kipnes who has experienced lymphedema during her journey as a survivor of cervical cancer.
A $5-million donation from the Dianne and Irving Kipnes Foundation establishes the Chair. In addition, the University Hospital Foundation (UHF) and their community of donors have matched a gift of $1-million made by the Kipnes Foundation through the University Hospital Foundation, increasing the total commitment to his chair to $7-million.
"I want to thank Dianne and Irv for their generosity and vision as well as acknowledge the leadership of the Dean in the U of A's Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, Richard Fedorak, in facilitating this partnership and combination of these gifts," said CRINA co-director David Brindley.
"CRINA will be involved in the search and selection of the Chair who will become a member of CRINA," added Brindley. "Our aim is to create an environment at the University of Alberta in which lymphatic diseases research will flourish for the benefit of our community." CRINA will also held to adjudicate awards provided by the donation for trainees who will perform work on lymphedema projects.
Lymphedema is a poorly understood chronic condition of localized fluid retention and tissue swelling caused by a compromised lymphatic system. The disease can be genetically inherited. It is particularly difficult for children and can be acquired as a consequence of surgery, trauma, cancer therapy, inflammation or infection of the lymphatic system.
While prevalence is difficult to estimate, according to the Alberta Lymphedema Network, approximately 300,000 people in Canada are affected by lymphedema. It has been estimated to affect nearly 60 per cent of cancer patients, and as high as 80 per cent of breast cancer patients who received a mastectomy. If left untreated, there is often a risk of loss of limb function as well as the onset of chronic infections. Current treatments include manual drainage using a specialized form of massage and wrapping limbs. Some European centres are also experimenting with lymph node transfer, a form of auto-transplantation.
CRINA will partner with the U of A Department of Oncology on the international search for a suitable candidate. It is expected that the endowed chair will work collaboratively with multi-disciplinary scientists across the province and beyond to drive innovative new research forward.
CRINA promotes and integrates interdisciplinary cancer research across the University of Alberta. Consisting of more than 120 research groups, CRINA is the largest institute of this kind in Western Canada. The members of CRINA are committed to improve the understanding of cancer and associated diseases, to prevent unnecessary cancers and to advance the treatment and outcomes of cancer patients.