The Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry is home to groundbreaking research, pushing the boundaries of medical knowledge in the pursuit of making lives better. Here's a brief roundup of research projects that have recently received welcome support.
Vivian Mushahwar receives funding from the U.S. Department of Defense
In December 2019, we brought you the story of Vivian Mushahwar and her work to map the human spinal cord and develop micro implants that could restore the ability to stand and walk in patients with spinal cord injuries.
After Mushahwar's work caught the attention of the U.S. Department of Defense, she was recently awarded $2 million from the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs' (CDMRP) Spinal Cord Injury Research Program. Her project, "Preclinical Testing of Intraspinal Microstimulation for Restoring Walking After Severe SCI" builds upon her prior work in spinal cord mapping and micro implantation.
"I'm very excited to receive this funding because it will let us develop and test the fully implantable micro-device," said Mushahwar, a professor in the Department of Medicine and Canada Research Chair in Functional Restoration. "This funding will allow us to approach the regulatory authorities, Health Canada and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, within three years to discuss what needs to be done to secure the necessary approvals for first-in-human testing."
James Shapiro, Greg Korbutt, Esme Dijke and Andrew Pepper successful in Round 1 funding from Stem Cell Network
Edmonton has long been an important location when it comes to diabetes research, and researchers in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry continue to pursue innovative approaches as they work towards a cure.
James Shapiro, Greg Korbutt, Esme Dijke and Andrew Pepper from the Department of Surgery are part of a team led by Christina Nostro and the Toronto Stem Cell Group on a project entitled "Co-localized hiPSC-derived Beta Cells and Immunosuppression-loaded Micelles as a Novel Approach for T1D Treatment." The project was recently awarded $600,000 from the Canadian Stem Cell Network.
In Type 1 diabetes, immune cells destroy beta cells in the pancreas, which impacts the pancreas' ability to produce insulin. Shapiro, Korbutt, Dijke and Pepper are taking a novel approach to the problem by using new beta cells created from stem cells, or hiPSC-derived beta cells, in combination with tiny particles of immunosuppressive drugs.
"We are excited to be working with Dr. Nostro and the Toronto Stem Cell group in advancing innovative cell-based treatments for diabetes," said Shapiro. "The Canadian Stem Cell Network has been incredibly helpful in bringing the country together in these efforts."
Rachel Khadaroo receives $1 million to continue work with elderly patients
For elderly patients, emergency surgery can bring additional risks, particularly following the surgery. Recently, surgeon and associate professor in the Department of Surgery, Rachel Khadaroo, completed a study investigating whether redesigning the hospital care patients receive after emergency surgery could improve outcomes. She found that for patients who received elder-friendly care, major complications and deaths were reduced by 19 per cent, the average length of stay in hospital was three days shorter, and more patients returned home rather than needing continuing care.
Now Khadaroo has been awarded a $1-million grant from Alberta Innovates to continue her work to improve the results of elder patients after an operation, including reducing infection risk. Khadaroo's project combines a bedside reconditioning program (BE-FIT), the global End PJ Paralysis movement and the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery care pathway. The project will also be co-designed with patients, which Khadaroo hopes will help in uptake and the sustainability of elderly patient mobility while in hospital.
"I am very excited to receive this funding because we have the opportunity to improve the lives of our patients," she said. "I look forward to this not only having an impact during our study but to change the standard of care we provide to surgical patients forever."
Vivian Mushahwar receives funding from the U.S. Department of Defense
In December 2019, we brought you the story of Vivian Mushahwar and her work to map the human spinal cord and develop micro implants that could restore the ability to stand and walk in patients with spinal cord injuries.
After Mushahwar's work caught the attention of the U.S. Department of Defense, she was recently awarded $2 million from the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs' (CDMRP) Spinal Cord Injury Research Program. Her project, "Preclinical Testing of Intraspinal Microstimulation for Restoring Walking After Severe SCI" builds upon her prior work in spinal cord mapping and micro implantation.
"I'm very excited to receive this funding because it will let us develop and test the fully implantable micro-device," said Mushahwar, a professor in the Department of Medicine and Canada Research Chair in Functional Restoration. "This funding will allow us to approach the regulatory authorities, Health Canada and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, within three years to discuss what needs to be done to secure the necessary approvals for first-in-human testing."
James Shapiro, Greg Korbutt, Esme Dijke and Andrew Pepper successful in Round 1 funding from Stem Cell Network
Edmonton has long been an important location when it comes to diabetes research, and researchers in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry continue to pursue innovative approaches as they work towards a cure.
James Shapiro, Greg Korbutt, Esme Dijke and Andrew Pepper from the Department of Surgery are part of a team led by Christina Nostro and the Toronto Stem Cell Group on a project entitled "Co-localized hiPSC-derived Beta Cells and Immunosuppression-loaded Micelles as a Novel Approach for T1D Treatment." The project was recently awarded $600,000 from the Canadian Stem Cell Network.
In Type 1 diabetes, immune cells destroy beta cells in the pancreas, which impacts the pancreas' ability to produce insulin. Shapiro, Korbutt, Dijke and Pepper are taking a novel approach to the problem by using new beta cells created from stem cells, or hiPSC-derived beta cells, in combination with tiny particles of immunosuppressive drugs.
"We are excited to be working with Dr. Nostro and the Toronto Stem Cell group in advancing innovative cell-based treatments for diabetes," said Shapiro. "The Canadian Stem Cell Network has been incredibly helpful in bringing the country together in these efforts."
Rachel Khadaroo receives $1 million to continue work with elderly patients
For elderly patients, emergency surgery can bring additional risks, particularly following the surgery. Recently, surgeon and associate professor in the Department of Surgery, Rachel Khadaroo, completed a study investigating whether redesigning the hospital care patients receive after emergency surgery could improve outcomes. She found that for patients who received elder-friendly care, major complications and deaths were reduced by 19 per cent, the average length of stay in hospital was three days shorter, and more patients returned home rather than needing continuing care.
Now Khadaroo has been awarded a $1-million grant from Alberta Innovates to continue her work to improve the results of elder patients after an operation, including reducing infection risk. Khadaroo's project combines a bedside reconditioning program (BE-FIT), the global End PJ Paralysis movement and the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery care pathway. The project will also be co-designed with patients, which Khadaroo hopes will help in uptake and the sustainability of elderly patient mobility while in hospital.
"I am very excited to receive this funding because we have the opportunity to improve the lives of our patients," she said. "I look forward to this not only having an impact during our study but to change the standard of care we provide to surgical patients forever."