Changes in treatment approaches for people with severe asthma have ushered in a new era for this patient population, and one that could see decreased negative side effects from long-term oral corticosteroid (OCS) use, according to research led by Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute investigator Dr. Mohsen Sadatsafavi.

“I hope that these results will encourage policymakers to continue to work towards further reducing maintenance OCS use, and for other researchers to pursue additional studies to monitor the use and impact of medications such as biologics.”

Particles from diesel exhaust worsened allergic reactions to ragweed, according to the results of a study led by Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI) researcher Dr. Chris Carlsten. The first-of-its-kind study also demonstrated the effectiveness of the fexofenadine hydrochloride medication against symptoms of allergic rhinitis. 

Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI) is proud to support tomorrow’s research leaders with the Top Graduating Doctoral Student Award and the Rising Star Award. These awards recognize outstanding efforts by VCHRI research trainees in research excellence, service as role models, and other contributions to the Vancouver Coastal Health research community. 

The 2021 Top Graduating Doctoral Student award recipients are:

When it comes to participating in health research, 39-year-old Vancouverite Kyle Gieni is not your average study participant. Not only has he volunteered for more than 50 studies about spinal cord injury (SCI), but he has also helped develop new studies and get research grants to move projects forward. Gieni, a wheelchair user since 2003, admits that while he is heavily involved in research for the greater good of the SCI community, he also participates for the personal health benefits.

With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the global community—including health care providers—had to shift gears from providing in-person services to offering more remote options. Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute clinician-scientist Dr. Kendall Ho was one of those leading the charge, spearheading the launch of the HealthLink BC Emergency iDoctor-in-assistance (HEiDi) service shortly after the start of the pandemic.

Sheila Kerr knows the importance of keeping her joints strong. The 65-year-old retired physiotherapist and education coordinator developed osteoarthritis (OA) from a childhood injury and genetic predisposition. After decades of managing her symptoms by leading a healthy lifestyle, Kerr recently participated in a research study on shoe-worn insoles for people with knee OA to explore options that could provide more support for her knees.

“One thing you learn about osteoarthritis is that there are a whole host of tools you can use to manage your condition,” says Kerr. 

A study co-led by Dr. Kevin Hay from Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI) and Dr. Natasha Kekre at The Ottawa Hospital is investigating the use of specialized chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cells to treat CD19 positive (CD19+) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).