They benefit us, but we often don’t understand them very well. VCHRI experts explain what we should know about clinical trials. 

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder (FASD)—caused by fetal exposure to alcohol and resulting in changes in cognitive, behavioural and adaptive function—is much more prevalent than previously thought. A major new study out of the US, as well as a subsequent Canadian study, show FASD affects between one and five per cent of children. That means FASD is more common than Down syndrome and as common or more common than autism. Dr. Joanne Weinberg, a neuroscientist who studies FASD, says the new prevalence estimates are highly significant. 

Vancouver-based medical researchers are teaming up with computer engineers to change the way patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) are monitored. A new joint initiative will use smartphone app technology and sensors in patient’s homes to give clinicians a better picture of disease progression from afar. 

Photo above (L-R): Congratulations to Marc Saunders, Meaghan Hume, Vivian Sum, Stephania Manusha and the entire VCHRI team!  

It is a diagnosis that parents never want to receive—the devastating news that their child has cancer. Hope is often directed to the medical system for breakthrough treatments to remove or stop the spread of the disease.

Dr. Torsten Nielsen, clinician-scientist at the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, has dedicated his practice to cancer research and care, including childhood and young adult sarcomas. An uncommon form of cancer that affects mostly the young, sarcomas are malignant tumours found in bones and soft tissues, often in the limbs or abdomen.

Each year, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI) promotes excellence in health research through the annual VCHRI Investigator Awards. These awards recognize outstanding health investigators and support their research efforts through peer-reviewed salary support awards. The awards provide an opportunity for investigators to reduce their clinical practice commitments and build their research capacity to expand the possibilities of improving health research. They are supported by VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation. 

The 2018 VCHRI Investigator Awards recipients are:  

In Canada, as well as globally, chronic pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. The disease—which causes inflammation of the lungs and makes it more difficult to breathe—is life-changing for patients and their families. In more severe cases, trips to the emergency room and regular hospital admissions are all too frequent, putting a great deal of strain on patients, families and the health care system. 

Colourful flowers and tiny buds may be a welcome sign of spring for some. For hay fever suffers, they warn of pending congestion and blooming allergy symptoms. Our researcher and toxicologist Dr. Karen Bartlett has some sage advice to help you cope this allergy season.  

Many people are familiar with toxins—the potentially harmful products found in nature, such as snake venom or poisonous mushrooms. Less might be familiar with toxicants, the man-made products introduced to the environment through human activity.