The SHRF 2022-2023 Solutions Program Recipients Announced
SHRF has announced the recipients of the 2022-2023 Solutions Program - including the recipients of the Lung Health Focus Area funding to support groundbreaking research that improves the management of lung diseases and enhances quality of life for those affected. Join us in congratulating our grant recipients and supporting lung health research in our community!
Lung Saskatchewan is pleased to be a funding partner on the Solutions Program.
For details regarding the full announcement please visit SHRF Announcement.
Lung Cancer Research
Drs. Oleg Dmitriev; Franco Vizecoumar; and Andrew Freywald; University of Saskatchewan
Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer related deaths in Saskatchewan and in Canada as a whole.
Lung cancer describes the growth of abnormal cells inside the lung. These abnormal cells divide and grow more quickly than normal cells to form a tumour.
In their project titled A Novel Biomarker for Personalized Chemotherapy of Lung Cancer, principle investigators Dr. Oleg Dmitriev, Dr. Franco Vizecoumar, and Dr. Andrew Freywald will be studying the effects of cancer drugs on a protein seen in lung cancer. The goal of this research is to understand how to better target treatment using specific drugs to allow for improved management of lung cancer.
Hope for the Future
It is the hope of this team that their research will help identify new medications that will effectively treat lung cancer in the future.
Cystic Fibrosis Research
Dr. Mohan Babu; University of Regina
CF occurs 1 in 3,000 newborns and affects more than 100,000 individuals worldwide. Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease that mainly affects the digestive system and the lungs. In the lungs, CF causes the production of thick mucus in the airways. This thick mucus blocks the airways and makes those living with CF more prone to bacterial infections. Treating these infections requires antibiotics, and often those on repeated courses of antibiotics can become antibiotic resistant and therefor not as effective.
In his project titled Peptide Therapeutics for Cystic Fibrosis, principle investigator Dr. Mohan Babu will be studying new antibacterial therapies needed to treat CF patients that suffer from lung infections.
Hope for the Future
It is the hope of Dr. Babu and his team that this research will help identify new drug therapies for CF patients in Saskatchewan and Canadians at large.
Asthma Research
Drs. Anas El-Aneed; Darryl Adamko; University of Saskatchewan
Asthma is the most common illness of children and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the third leading cause of death in adults worldwide. In these diseases, the airways can become inflamed and obstructed, and require drug treatments. Deciding on who to treat, when to treat, or how to adjust the dose of medications for those who are already prescribed drugs, can be difficult. There is a need for a better and more accessible test to measure inflammation that can help diagnose airway diseases and help adjust the amount of medicine needed to manage the disease.
In their project titled Improved Diagnosis of Lung Diseases Using Urine Tests, principle investigators Dr. Anas El-Aneed and Dr. Darryl Adamko will be studying a new test that can be done easily in a doctor’s office that will help diagnose and better guide treatment for those living with asthma and COPD.
Hope for the Future
It is the hope of this team that this research will not only diagnose airway diseases better than available techniques but will also help guide decisions on adjusting the amount of medicine a patient needs.
Tuberculosis Research
Drs. Aneesh Thakur; Azita Haddadi; University of Saskatchewan
Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by the mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria. TB spreads through droplets from coughs or sneezes of someone who has an active TB infection. TB most commonly affects the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body. The Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccine is currently the only vaccine available, but it does not protect the lungs from TB.
In their project titled Elucidating How to Design Vaccines That Can Induce Protective Immunity in the Lungs, principle investigators Dr. Aneesh Thakur and Dr. Azita Haddadi will be studying a strategy to help protect the lining of the lungs better against TB.
Hope for the Future
It is the hope of this team that this research will significantly improve the global efforts to enhance the induction of vaccine-induced mucosal immunity and provide better protection against TB in the lungs.
Rural and Remote Healthcare Research
Drs. Shelley Kirychuk; Kerry McPhedran; Lori Bradford; and Wanda Martin; University of Saskatchewan
Housing and house conditions on First Nations communities are important determinants of health for community members.
In their project titled Enhancing Wellness in our Miyo Wāskahikan, principle investigators Dr. Shelley Kirychuk, Dr. Kerry McPhedran, Dr. Lori Bradford, and Dr. Wanda Martin from the University of Saskatchewan will bring together First Nations community leaders and members, academics, home builders and home-maintenance providers, wellness providers, training and program development providers and policy influencers in the address and redress of this significant determinant of health outcomes.
Hope for the Future
It is the hope of this team that this research will help to develop, action, and evaluate a framework to address and redress on-reserve housing builds and housing maintenance for better health outcomes.
