While campfires have been banned across BC this summer, many are unaware of the significant risk of burns from BBQs and other sources. Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI) research scientist and plastic surgeon Dr. Anthony Papp wants people to become more aware of a dangerous type of burn called accelerant burns. These burns are caused when using products like gasoline, propane, or butane to start BBQs and bonfires, burn garbage and even manufacture drugs. 

Needle phobia is very real for many people, and the thought of immunizations, or having blood drawn, can send them into a panic. But for transgender (trans) males, that is, individuals who were born considered female but self-identify on the male spectrum, regular injections of testosterone deep into muscle are a necessary pain as part of gender affirming therapy. 

Aside from being a good form of physical exercise, outdoor activities like hiking come with additional benefits from decreased stress levels to improved health and relaxation. However, physical impairments from conditions such as arthritis, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy and stroke can prevent some people from taking advantage of Canada’s many wilderness trails. This is why a team of researchers, led by Ben Mortenson of Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI), examined a longstanding program that helps people with disabilities go on hikes. 

It’s now common practice for politicians, corporate leaders, and legal authorities to use Twitter to share information and anecdotes with the public. Though social media offers speed and access to wider audiences, with it also comes the pitfalls of potentially sharing information that may not be appropriate for the public realm. 

The immortal cell line of Henrietta Lacks, known as HeLa, has had innumerable applications in medical research, from developing a vaccine for polio to new cancer treatments. However, these advances came at an ethical cost, as consent for conducting research on Lacks’ cervical cancer cells was not obtained when her tissue sample was taken in 1951. 

Flash forward to today, and much has changed in ethics research. Groups like BC’s Ovarian Cancer Research Team (OVCARE) are collecting tissue samples to make innovative discoveries, but with the full knowledge and consent of patients. 

This May, the Government of Canada released a “Federal Action on Opioids” plan, part of a push to reduce the unnecessary use of prescription painkillers and combat the growing fentanyl and carfentanil crisis. ICORD researcher Dr. John Kramer has been watching these developments closely, as his latest research may provide inroads for new pain reduction interventions.  

Air pollution is the third most important risk factor for global mortality. “It’s a massive problem,” says Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute scientist Dr. Chris Carlsten. Dr. Carlsten has just completed a review of the latest research linking air pollution from traffic to allergic respiratory disease. The review found allergic disease is on the rise in many regions of the world, particularly in Asia, where traffic pollution is most severe. And the new reality of climate change is making things worse. 

It’s difficult for hospitals to plan for acute care patients in the Emergency setting.  Patients can need care at all hours, with illness ranging from gallstones to appendicitis. For the first time, acute care surgeons across Canada have shared their experiences of a typical day at work. The surgeons recently took part in a 24-hour inventory initiated by researchers with the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI). Dr. Kristin DeGirolamo and her Vancouver colleagues wanted to get a nationwide snapshot of acute care.

Supportive and collaborative research brings benefits to the entire health care system.  Through the Team Grant, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI) is proud to support research mentorships that enable knowledge exchange and relationships to be built between VCH staff and clinicians and experienced researchers. These grants support applied research projects that help VCH health care providers improve their practice through collaboration with researchers who mentor them through the entire process. 

The 2017 Team Grant recipients are: