In BC, more than 74,000 adults have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and 10,000 patients require hospitalization each year for related illnesses, such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Lung inflammation is the defining symptom of COPD, and may also be responsible for its progression and complications, including lung cancer and vascular disease. Currently, there are few effective therapies available to treat COPD. This unit’s research will bring together basic scientists, clinicians and epidemiologists to focus on identifying and understanding the complex inflammatory cascades of COPD. The team’s ultimate goal is to find new strategies and therapies to improve health outcomes of patients with COPD.
Year: 2006
BC Team to Study the Origins of Asthma and Allergy
This award funds the creation of a research team focused on studying the genetic, immune and environmental factors that lead to allergic diseases and asthma. The team’s goals will be to identify factors and pathways that influence development of allergies; assess the environmental agents relevant to asthma and allergies; support the development of allergic diseases personnel; partner with national and international researchers to secure sustainable research support; and advance knowledge of allergic diseases.
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Interdisciplinary Team Generating Research on Complex Patients to Develop Innovative Solutions
This award funds the creation of a transdisciplinary team studying health issues of complex patient groups with multiple illnesses, and varied ethnicities and socio-economic backgrounds. The goal is to examine the health status and trajectory of these patients by integrating research about the social determinants that affect their health, such as education, housing status, and income level.
Developmental Neuroscience Research Team for Behavioural Self Regulation
This award supports the development of a team of clinicians and researchers addressing gaps of understanding about the causes of developmental disorders including Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder and Conduct Disorder. These gaps include the electrophysiological processes underlying problems in social development, such as self-regulation, that affect children diagnosed with these disorders.
The British Columbia Fatigue Research Group
This award funds the creation of a research team focused on understanding fatigue associated with neurologic and neuromuscular disorders. The goal is to develop an interdisciplinary approach to research, exploring the prevalence of fatigue among individuals with disabilities, how and to what extent the condition influences function and quality of life, what are the costs to society and the health system and, ultimately, how to improve treatment.
PREDICT: Personalized Response Determinants in Cancer Therapy
This award supports the development of an interdisciplinary team that embeds research into front line cancer care. The goal is to develop a blood and DNA bank from consenting patients with newly diagnosed cancer, to serve as a resource for studying the causes of cancer as well as responses to, and outcome of, cancer therapies.
Collaborative Research Team for the Study of Bipolar Disorder (CREST.BD)
This award funds the development of a multidisciplinary research team focused on examining and developing a knowledge base on the role of psychosocial factors in bipolar disorder. The goals include: identifying research priorities within the field of psychosocial issues in bipolar disorder; ensuring the team has the skills and expertise to address these priorities; identifying and establishing partnerships with existing organizations; developing research plans and a patient-centered research agenda; and identifying opportunities for sharing and leveraging resources.
Oncology Nutrition
This award supports the creation of a team focused on advancing research in a new and emerging field: oncology nutrition. Through conferences, educational sessions and workshops, the team aims to achieve key goals that include: identifying research priorities and resources; identifying partners for individual and multi-centre projects; and gaining consensus on research design and methodology. Other goals include mentoring cancer care staff and developing a database within cancer treatment centres for future research.
BC Southern Interior Health Services Research Team (BCSIHSR)
The BCSIHSR plans to focus on research to improve the range and quality of services provided to the frail elderly in the Central Okanagan sub-region of Interior Health, where more than 20 per cent of the population is 65 or older. The Team’s research program includes evaluating the costs and quality of services currently provided within Interior Health; developing and implementing an evidence-based decision-making process to reallocate resources among program options; and evaluating outcomes, including quality of care measures. This award funds a program of four workshops to help BCSIHSR develop research capacity, identify research priorities, refine approaches and methods, and prepare funding applications.
The Operations Research Team in Cancer Care
This award supports the development of a multidisciplinary research team focused on applying operations research methods to improve access to cancer treatments. Initially the team will focus on access to radiation therapy, which is used by half of all cancer patients. The team’s objectives will be to develop operations research models that enhance access to radiation therapy and improve clinical outcomes; test and validate the models; and apply the research to improve access to cancer treatments in general.