Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men. Advanced prostate cancer is often treated with androgen withdrawal therapy, which blocks the growth-promoting effects of androgens (such as testosterone). Unfortunately, while this treatment is initially effective in reducing prostate growth, the usual outcome is an untreatable, androgen-independent form of cancer, where the prostate gland grows without androgens. Latif Wafa is investigating how this change to androgen-independent growth occurs. He is focusing on the process in which androgen binds to a receptor that is essential to prostate growth and death. The receptor is believed to continue to have a role in prostate growth even when androgens are blocked. Latif is looking for possible genetic alterations to the receptors, as well as potential changes to other proteins that also interact with the receptors. Ultimately, he hopes to identify new molecular targets to block prostate growth in advanced cancer.
Program: Trainee
Pharmacogenetics of codeine metabolism to morphine in pediatric dental patients
Pharmacogenetics-the study of how genetic makeup affects an individual’s response to drugs-fascinates Evan Kwong. The field addresses the underlying causes of why drugs may affect people differently, bringing the study of genetics into a practical, clinical setting. In the future, having access to a patient’s genetic profile could help clinicians more quickly and accurately select the right therapy. Evan’s research focuses on the common painkiller codeine, which produces pain relief as it is metabolized into morphine by a liver enzyme. A genetic variation in 25 to 40 per cent of people of Chinese descent appears to be associated with decreased function of this liver enzyme. Evan hopes to determine whether people who carry this genetic variation metabolize codeine less effectively. With that knowledge, clinicians could offer other drugs that will be effective.
Effect of a training program on postural reflexes in individuals with chronic stroke: A randomized controlled study
Stroke is the number one cause of neurological disability in Canada. Following a stroke, people may experience paralysis, or loss of motor function, in the muscles controlling one side of the body. As a result, people with stroke can have difficulty maintaining balance when standing or walking. In fact, the incidence of falls among people who have had a stroke has been reported as high as 73 per cent within a six-month period following the stroke. Daniel Marigold is conducting the first study to assess whether an exercise program can improve the reflexes that control balance in people with chronic stroke. He will measure postural reflexes before and after a 10-week training program to see if they improve. Study participants will stand on a large platform, which suddenly moves under their feet. A harness will prevent people from falling and electrodes will measure muscle activity. If this study shows improvement in postural reflexes with training, an exercise program could be implemented in the community to help people with chronic stroke.
Mechanisms of reflexive social attention
In her recent research, Jelena Ristic has shown that young children and adults will automatically shift attention to the direction of another person’s gaze. Gaze following behavior emerges shortly after birth, when babies start to follow their parents’ faces and eyes as a cue to interesting events in their surroundings. Consequently, gaze following has been tied to developmental milestones such as language acquisition and social cognitive development. In contrast to healthy children, children affected by social disorders, like autism, show little interest in the human face and often avoid eye contact. Jelena’s current research with healthy children will help identify how developmental milestones are reached and what parts of the brain are responsible for processing of social stimuli. This knowledge may offer a better understanding of human development in general as well as help identify the possible causes of pervasive social disorders such as autism.
The health care experiences of mothers with serious mental illness
Almost one in five British Columbians will experience mental illness during their lifetime and nearly three per cent of the population suffers from severe and persistent mental illness. Research reveals that mothers with serious mental illness face stigma, isolation, poverty, the challenges of single parenthood, problems accessing affordable and safe housing as well as difficulty finding and keeping employment. The health care system has an important role to play in supporting mothers with serious mental illness. But little is known about the policies and services that are effective in supporting women with serious mental illness. Tasnim Nathoo is exploring the health care experiences of mothers with serious mental illness and the barriers they encounter when trying to access support. Tasnim will use this information to develop recommendations on how BC communities can better structure health services to meet the needs of mothers with mental health issues.
Improved assessment of exposure to regional and traffic-related pollutants and relationship to cardiac arrhythmia
Numerous studies over the last decade have associated air pollution with deaths. While many of those studies showed air pollution leads to respiratory disease, some research indicates air pollution-related deaths may involve cardiovascular conditions. The research suggests that people with chronic cardiovascular diseases are particularly susceptible to air pollution’s adverse health effects. Kira Rich is investigating the impact of air pollution on patients with cardiac arrhythmia (abnormal heart rate) who have implanted cardiac defibrillators. The defibrillators record the timing and duration of heart rhythm disturbances, and the data is regularly downloaded. Kira is comparing the information to air pollution data for Greater Vancouver to determine whether increases in air pollution correlate with increased risk of cardiac rhythm disturbances. She is also analyzing exposure to air pollutant concentrations at different sites to measure the effect on cardiac health.
Chemical high-level disinfection in acute care
Most hospital equipment is sterilized by heat or steam after use. But some types of equipment cannot be heat sterilized and must be disinfected using chemical products, which potentially could place employee health at risk. Karen Rideout is surveying BC hospitals and health care centres to assess current practices for using these chemicals. She is focusing on Glutaraldeyde, the most widely used solution in Canadian hospitals to disinfect endoscopy, bronchoscopy, ultrasound, and other equipment. Karen is also examining several new products to assess potential health effects and evaluate whether or not protective measures could reduce these effects. She plans to use this information to develop guidelines for use of disinfectant products, with the goal of making health care environments healthier.
Therapeutic existential experiences during wilderness exposure: Implications for wilderness therapy programs
Mark Ring already holds a PhD in Biochemistry, but his focus shifted recently to work on a degree in the social sciences. He is now researching the therapeutic benefits of exposure to wilderness. Wilderness therapy has been used to help at-risk groups, such as people with mental illness, adolescent alcohol and drug users, adult female survivors of sexual abuse, and war veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Programs vary greatly, but include some outdoor adventure activity, from wilderness day trips to three-week hiking and kayaking expeditions. Most research has measured the positive impact of wilderness therapy on self-esteem and ability to interact socially. But participants’ first-hand reports suggest a deeper healing process occurs. Mark is interviewing participants to determine how this experience helps people adapt, live more fully, and find greater meaning in life. He hopes this information can help make wilderness programs more effective at improving participants’ emotional and mental health.
Parent-child interactions in families of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Approximately four percent of children in elementary schools suffer from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This disorder places children at an increased risk for developing problems such as antisocial behaviour, substance abuse and career difficulties. Carla Seipp is examining whether parents’ responsiveness to a child may be an important influence on the risks and impairments associated with ADHD. Carla will compare responsiveness during interactions between mothers and sons with ADHD, and mothers and sons with no behavioural difficulties. By focusing on the family environments of children with ADHD, Carla hopes to identify parenting behaviours that could reduce the risks and impairments associated with the disorder.
Conditioned effects in the kindling model of epilepsy
Mild electrical stimulation of various brain sites leads to the development of seizures, which intensify over time. Called the kindling phenomenon, this process has been widely studied as a model of epilepsy, neuroplasticity (learning, memory and various mental disorders) and the interictal (emotional) changes that occur between seizures in certain types of epilepsy. In his previous research, Steven Barnes demonstrated that learning plays a major role in this process. His studies show that rats learn to associate particular environments with seizures and this awareness greatly affects the intensity of seizures and interictal behaviours. People with epilepsy also tend to have more seizures in certain situations than others, a pattern that has not been widely studied. Steven is investigating how conditioning affects these responses. His research will ultimately reveal insights about the role of conditioning in the kindling phenomenon associated with epilepsy.