A $48 million (USD$36.4) grant has been awarded to researchers at Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI) and the University of British Columbia (UBC) to investigate integrative and implantable technology that could revolutionize how patients recover from traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI).
“We are extremely excited to embark on this journey,” says team lead and VCHRI researcher Dr. Brian Kwon. “Never before has an agency committed funding of this magnitude for spinal cord injury and set such a high bar for not just incremental, but truly transformative solutions.”
This workshop is designed for researchers conducting studies at the point of care. We will focus on how each team can conduct end-of-grant KT, while also briefly outlining the broader scope of knowledge translation including integrated knowledge translation, implementation science, and patient-oriented research. By the end of this workshop, you will have a plan for sharing your research with those who are intended to use it.
The only certainty about the novel coronavirus when it first appeared on the global stage was the uncertainty about how to stop its spread. COVID-19 has no known cure at present, and treating patients who test positive for SARS-CoV-2 has required the insights and knowledge of multiple experts, something Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute researcher Dr. David Sweet recognized early into the pandemic.
Concussions are a leading injury associated with skiing and snowboarding, yet most helmets are not designed to prevent them. Research led by Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI) researcher, Dr. Peter Cripton, could bring about a game-changing re-evaluation of how snow sport helmets are tested and designed.
“A main focus of our study is to establish new testing standards that mimic real-world scenarios,” says Cripton. “This can inform the design of a helmet that protects the wearer from a concussion, along with other traumatic head injuries.”
The immunotherapy based on antibody research being developed by Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute researcher Dr. Horacio Bach could provide short-term protection against the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2. To date, COVID-19—a disease that largely affects the respiratory system—has claimed the lives of over 870,000 people worldwide.
“One of the challenges we face with regards to a potential COVID-19 vaccine is that we do not know if it could offer long-term protection against reinfection,” says Bach.
Vaccination is the best line of defense against meningitis, and determining whether three vaccines used to protect against a leading type of the disease are equally effective is the focus of research being conducted by Dr. Manish Sadarangani, a Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute researcher. His clinical trial aims to inject additional clarity into the administration of meningococcal C vaccines across Canada.
Even the most seasoned weightlifters will feel the burn after pumping iron for a few sets. Their muscles cue their brain to take a break and relax, but for spinal cord and brain injury patients, that muscle-brain connection may be damaged or severed. This disconnect can lead to a painful condition called problematic spasticity, when muscles fire involuntarily and relentlessly.
People with insulin-dependent type 2 diabetes may benefit from meeting with their general practitioner (GP) regularly, even when their symptoms seem to be under control. This recommendation stems from a nationally representative research study out of Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI) that found visiting a GP at least once per year significantly reduced in-hospital time.
Survival rates for prostate cancer patients are high, but a diagnosis often comes with life-changing decisions and consequences for men and their loved ones. A new joint research study on peer navigation could give more prostate cancer patients, as well as their support system, the opportunity to be paired with a prostate cancer survivor or caregiver who can provide emotional and informational support.
