Researchers have conducted extensive studies of injection drug use in Vancouver, but few have focused specifically on high-risk youth. Enter Cari Miller. Her Masters research — a sub-study of the Vancouver Injection Drug Users Study (VIDUS) — examined prevalence and incidence of HIV and hepatitis C among more than 200 injection drug users aged 13 to 24. Cari has first-hand experience to draw from. She put in 24-hour shifts as a part-time youth worker with the Vancouver Native Health Underage Safe House. Working with youth — most of whom were drug dependent, female and Aboriginal — has fuelled her passion for research and the urgency for new health policies to support them. Results from the research show high prevalence and exceedingly high incidence rates for HIV and hepatitis C among young injection drug users. Her findings indicate that those at highest risk are female and Aboriginal youth engaged in both drug and sexual related risk, and half of young injectors acquire hepatitis C infection during their first two years of injection drug use. Cari hopes that developing a better understanding of the risk behaviours among these young people will lead to more effective prevention and intervention programs. Ultimately, she would like to see more treatment opportunities for high-risk youth.
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The Perception and Utilization of Herbals and Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAMs) Among Older Adults with Arthritis
Research has shown that a growing number of older adults with chronic illness are turning to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to manage their pain and chronic illness. But little is known about why people choose these approaches, or how use of complementary and alternative medicine is associated with changes in health status over time. Kristine Votova will address these questions by using powerful and cutting edge statistical tools to analyze data from the Longitudinal Panel of the National Population Health Survey. Her research also involves recruiting older adults to participate in focus groups, aimed at illuminating the perceived effectiveness of CAMs. Votova anticipates that this research – combining quantitative and qualitative techniques – will contribute to a better understanding of the use of complementary and alternative medicine and herbals, particularly by older adults.
In vivo trafficking of mutant and wild-type glucocerebrosidase-GFP chimerae
Tessa Campbell’s research has a clear purpose: improving treatment options for Gaucher disease. People with this genetic disorder lack sufficient amounts of glucocerebrosidase, an enzyme the body needs to help recycle old membrane fat. The fat accumulates in certain body tissues such as the spleen, liver, and bone marrow, resulting in problems ranging from anemia to neurological impairment. Enzyme replacement therapy helps to alleviate symptoms for one type of Gaucher disease, but the therapy’s exorbitant cost prevents many from receiving the treatment. Tessa created specially-marked versions of the gene for this enzyme, introduced them into cells, and studied the resulting protein synthesis and trafficking. Tessa also employed cutting edge RNA interference technology to further examine regulation of glucocerebrosidase protein production. Results from the research provide insights about maximizing efficiency of enzyme production and secretion, which could reduce enzyme replacement therapy costs. Results also offer further clues to glucocerebrosidase translational control and shed light upon possible involvement of inhibitory proteins in other cellular pathways.
Role of complement in the antitumor effect of photodynamic therapy and its exploitation for therapeutic gain
Ivana Cecic is investigating a novel strategy in the fight against cancer. Her research concerns the complement system, a series of proteins that help the body protect itself from harm due to infection and injury. During the course of certain diseases, such as heart attack and stroke, complement activates against tissues and can result in life-threatening consequences. Cecic conducted research that revealed complement contributes to the effectiveness of photodynamic therapy, a new method of activating light-sensitive drugs in specific tissues as part of the treatment of a variety of cancerous and non-cancerous lesions. Now she’s examining the potential of harnessing complement’s tissue-destructive power in cancer treatment involving photodynamic therapy. Cecic hopes the research will contribute to more effective treatment of malignant tumours.
Alternative Signaling of the Glucose-dependent Insulinotropic Polypeptide (GIP) Receptor
Jan Ehses is conducting research that may contribute to improved treatment of type 2 diabetes, a form of the disease that occurs most frequently in adults and obese individuals. Ehses has a particular focus on glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), a potent hormone that accounts for at least 50 per cent of the insulin secreted from the pancreas following a meal. Studies have consistently shown that GIP’s ability to cause insulin secretion is compromised in type 2 diabetes. Using state-of-the-art technology, Ehses is investigating the hypothesis that GIP affects tissues through complex intracellular networks, and that the imbalances in metabolism associated with diabetes may affect this transfer of genetic material important for regulation of insulin production. Ultimately, the goal is to provide a map of the numerous ways GIP affects the whole body, leading to information that can be applied to treatment of type 2 diabetes.
Cardiac Myocyte Apoptotic and Anti-Apoptotic Signalling Pathways Following Coxsackievirus B3 Infection
Mitra Esfandiarei has a specific goal: making a significant contribution to treatment of myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) induced by a type of enterovirus (virus that comes into the body through the gastrointestinal tract). One such virus, coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3), causes severe cardiac and pancreatic diseases by directly injuring and killing heart muscle cells. In many cases, CVB3-infected myocarditis leads to cardiomyopathy (destruction of the heart muscle), for which the only available treatment is heart transplantation. Esfandiarei is studying how heart muscle cells can survive in the face of infection by CVB3. She hopes the research will enable novel treatment for viral-induced myocarditis and other cardiac conditions.
Synthesis and Evaluation of a Novel Class of Glycosidase Inhibitors for the Treatment of Type-2 Diabetes
Ahmad Ghavami’s PhD research involved a rare South Asian plant containing compounds that could be helpful in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. The Salacia reticulata climbing plant has been used for centuries in treatment of diabetes in Sri Lanka and India. Researchers have isolated compounds from the plant and demonstrated their effectiveness in inhibiting glycosidases, the enzymes that break down starch into smaller sugars, and finally into glucose. Using the compounds to inhibit these enzymes in people with type 2 diabetes could lower blood glucose concentration, which is critical in treatment of the disease. Ahmad and his colleagues designed a method to synthetically produce the plant’s compounds, together with the next generation analogues, and they tested the inhibitory effects on a wide range of enzymes. More importantly, in vivo studies with rats have shown effective control of blood glucose levels with use of Ghavami’s compounds. Results from the study confirm the effectiveness of the method for designing and synthesizing a new class of molecules that function as glycosidase inhibitors, which can control the breakdown of carbohydrates. These findings were patented, with Ahmad listed as part inventor, and were responsible for securing venture capital and the formation of a spin-off company, Mimos Therapeutics, Inc.
The Role of Homeobox Transcription Factors in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Function
For her Master’s research, Rhonna Gurevich studied the prevention of apoptosis (programmed cell death) in cardiac cells. Now she’s examining the genes that transform normal blood cells into malignant ones in leukemia patients. Gurevich is focusing on hematopoietic stem cells, which can self-renew to produce more stem cells with non-specific function or divide to create highly specialized cells to replace others that die or are lost. Maintaining the balance between stem cell self-renewal and division is a tightly controlled process. Gurevich is investigating how certain genes regulate hematopoietic stem cells, and specifically, how they may cause leukemia by disrupting the normal balance of cell renewal and division. She hopes that increasing knowledge of these genetic alterations can enable development of drugs to treat and potentially cure leukemia patients.
The characterization of bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs) from SH2-containing inositol 5'-phosphatase (SHIP) knock-out mice
In 1996, Dr. Gerald Krystal’s lab identified and cloned a protein named SHIP. Janet Kalesnikoff, a doctoral student studying with Krystal, is examining how SHIP regulates mast cell function. Mast cells are activated by a number of different antigens/allergens, which bind to IgE antibodies on the surface of mast cells. IgE-induced mast cell activation results in the release of chemicals (eg. histamine) which are responsible for the common symptoms of allergic reactions such as hay fever and asthma. Studies in Dr. Krystal’s lab have revealed that SHIP negatively regulates the process of mast cell activation. She hopes this research will ultimately increase the understanding of SHIP’s role in mast cell function and reveal way to reduce the symptoms associated with allergic disease.
Structural Determinants of Kvl.5 Inactivation
Harley Kurata wants to contribute to the development of highly specific drugs with low toxicity for treating arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat). He’s focusing on potassium channels, the proteins that play a critically important role in regulating heartbeat. Because it is difficult to study potassium channels in isolated human heart cells, his research involves cloning genes to create these proteins in the laboratory. Kurata’s goal is to reveal how individual parts of the potassium channels are involved in regulating the channels’ function. He hopes the results can be applied to evaluation of current or potential anti-arrhythmia drugs. He also hopes that studying the effects of drugs on individual potassium channels will lead to new and more effective drugs to regulate irregular heartbeat.