Eating disorders affect an estimated three per cent of women, placing them at risk for physiological problems, social and emotional difficulties and disruption to their working lives. Research has shown that the causes of eating disorders are complex, but studies have identified certain psychological and social risk factors, including personality traits such as perfectionism. Brandy McGee is investigating how perfectionism combines with cultural influences to cause eating disorders. She is examining the idea that when perfectionists compare themselves to physical ideals suggested in cultural images such as advertisements, they feel they have failed in the area of appearance, which contributes to eating disorders. The study involves assessing levels of perfectionism, eating attitudes and eating behaviour of participants. The research will help in the development of preventative health care programs and improve understanding of the psychosocial and cultural issues affecting health.
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Barriers to access and willingness to participate in an intervention program to reduce the incidence of HIV and Hepatitis C among drug dependent youth
In her Masters research Cari Miller showed there is a high prevalence and incidence of HIV and Hepatitis C among young injection users in Vancouver. Those at highest risk for HIV are young females and Aboriginal youth. Her research suggested that preventing infection requires a complex response, addressing risky drug and sexual behaviours. Cari is building on her earlier research to investigate the barriers to accessing current prevention tools such as clean needles and condoms. As well, she is examining the willingness of youth to participate in a behavioural intervention to reduce the risk of HIV and Hepatitis C. The research will inform policy on current methods of prevention and possibly help to develop new ones. Cari’s work could also help empower youth to better care for their health and for the health of their peers.
Tracking the B-cell repertoire associated with the broadly-neutralizing antibody response in HIV-1 infection
The progression from HIV infection to AIDS occurs because the body’s immune system fails to control replication of the virus. While broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNtAb) are unable to clear an established infection, they have shown promise in providing protection against the contraction of HIV. However bNtAb have proven to be extremely difficult to generate by immunization. Marinieve Montero is studying the antigenicity and immunogenicity of the HIV-1 transmenbrane glycoprotein gp41, to which several bNtAb are directed. Her work will involve an exhaustive biochemical characterization of the gp41 protein presentation in the context of membranes, and the analysis of the bNtAb response generated after immunization of animals. The results from her study will improve the understanding of the biology of bNtAb production, and may be a valuable aid in the design of successful vaccine candidates and immunization methods.
Molecular dissection of neural stem cells
Damage to the central nervous system caused by conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, stroke and spinal cord injuries was once considered irreversible. But recent scientific advances suggest neural stem cells may hold the key to restoring the damaged area of the brain, giving hope to people suffering from these devastating conditions. Scientists have discovered that transplanted neural stem cells have the ability to reproduce themselves and become mature cells capable of performing nervous system functions. However, isolating these cells has proven difficult since researchers have yet to find markers that identify neural stem cells. Barbara Murdoch is working to identify proteins specific to the surface of neural stem cells so she can study their growth requirements. By solving this puzzle, scientists will be able to more effectively use neural stem cells for therapies that promote nervous system recovery.
Developmental changes in pain expression in infants
Assessing infant pain for clinical or research purposes is challenging because infants are unable to talk about their pain. However, infants can communicate distress and pain in a number of ways, including facial activity, body movement, crying and changes in physiological responses. Rami Nader is studying how pain expression changes during the first year of life, when infants undergo a particularly rapid rate of growth and development. He is also investigating the link between parents’ assessments of pain and factors that influence those assessments. Improved understanding of how infant pain expression changes and what influences parents’ reports of pain will contribute to refinement and development of more developmentally appropriate measures of pain.
The role of intraepithelial lymphocytes in cutaneous immunity and in the generation of psoriasiform pathology
Seborrheic dermatitis and psoriasis are chronic, inflammatory skin conditions that are extremely difficult to treat. Despite extensive research, the cause of these conditions is not known, although they have been linked to impairment of normal immunological response. Darryl Oble is investigating whether a genetic defect that renders cells unable to signal the immune system to repair damage predisposes people to developing inflammatory skin conditions. Similar genetic issues are involved in other immunologically-based diseases, such as Type 1 diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, cancer and other conditions. As a result, this research could help explain how these diseases develop, lead to more successful treatments for a variety of conditions and reduce side effects.
Understanding low-income mothers' efforts to provide safe home environments for young children
Unintentional injuries represent the leading cause of death for children and youth under the age of 20. For children under five, approximately half of all deaths due to unintentional injuries occur in and around the home. Research shows that children living in low-income families are at greatest risk for home injuries. Studies also show that parental attitudes towards safety issues vary greatly, and that there are discrepancies between attitudes and taking action to prevent injuries. However, little is known about parents’ underlying values about safety and injury risks to young children and how these values fit into the broader social context of children and safety issues. Lise Olsen is exploring low-income mothers’ experiences with safety issues in the home. Using ethnographic methods, including interviews and observations, the study will provide insight about the everyday challenges of keeping young children safe from injuries at home. Ultimately, Lise hopes the research contributes to the design of appropriate and relevant injury prevention programs and policies.
Enhancing access to health care for marginalized groups through a study of relationships between street nurses and the people they serve
In previous research, people experiencing marginalization such as those living with mental illness, HIV/AIDS, illicit drug use and homelessness have reported very negative experiences with the health care system. These experiences can result in delays seeking treatment and greater future costs to the health care system. At the same time, these groups have reported positive experiences with street nurses (registered nurses who work on the street). Bernadette Pauly is assessing the nature and quality of health care relationships between street nurses and their clients, and how health and social policies and organizational structures affect these relationships. Increasing understanding of these relationships, along with factors in the environment where street nurses provide care, could ultimately reveal ways to improve health care delivery for marginalized groups and, ultimately, their health.
Agonist-specific Ca2+ signalling micro-domains in vascular smooth muscle cytoplasm and mitochondria
Building on his earlier research, which was supported by a MSFHR Trainee Award, Damon Poburko is now investigating the mechanisms involved in mitochondrial regulation of calcium. An average cell has several hundred mitochondria, which provide the energy for cells to function properly. Research has shown mitochondria are involved in programmed cell death, or apoptosis, when they take up large, toxic loads of calcium. In addition, mitochondria sense calcium changes, allowing them to tailor energy production to cell needs. Mitochondria also help regulate intracellular calcium levels, which determine blood vessel constriction in vascular muscle. The findings should help explain how vascular tone is regulated, and how blood is shunted to different parts of the body as needed. Ultimately, this research may lead to the development of new therapies to treat vascular diseases.
The Development of Joint Attention within Parent-infant Interaction
The development of children’s thinking and successful participation in healthy social interaction depends on their ability to share attention with others. Called joint attention, this ability begins to emerge by a child’s first birthday and enables them to learn about people, language and ways of thinking. Infants in whom this developmental milestone is delayed are often from at-risk groups, such as low birth weight children. The delay is also associated with autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and language impairment. By studying observable aspects of joint attention, Timothy Racine is testing whether the parent-child relationship affects its development. In particular, he aims to identify the age at which infants begin to direct others’ attention with pointing gestures, and whether parents with a supportive style of interacting have infants who point meaningfully at an earlier age. Results from the study could help in the education and training of parents on appropriate ways of establishing joint attention in both normally developing and at-risk infants.