FoMD in the News

A round-up of news stories featuring the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry

ROSS NEITZ - 19 April 2018

This is a round-up of relevant news and media stories involving the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry. We appreciate you relaying information which is relevant to faculty members in your respective areas.

TOP STORY

Innovators Magazine: Precision cancer cures a step closer

Basil Hubbard

The holy grail of gene-editing tech that can provide effective treatment for people suffering from diseases-including cancers-has moved a step closer. The breakthrough by researchers at the University of Alberta relates to a molecule that can enhance the accuracy of CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, a system that can reprogramme genes which are defective. The research was led by Basil Hubbard, an assistant professor of pharmacology at the U of A. Coverage also appears on Global News Edmonton, Biotecnika, Daily Trust, News Medical and PharmaLive.

RESEARCH

University of Alberta receives $1.5M in federal funds for 11 science projects

Eleven U of A scientists are sharing nearly $1.5 million in federal government funding. Glen Jickling, an assistant professor with the Department of Medicine, is highlighted in the story as receiving $160,000 in funding for his research on genomics and genetics of stroke and neurological disease. Coverage also appears on CTV and Markets Insider.

BBC News: Does vaginal seeding boost health?

In a story about vaginal seeding and the infant microbiome, the work of U of A professor of pediatrics Anita Kozyrskyj is referenced. She is analysing data on about 3,500 families in the Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development (CHILD) Study. One of its findings is that the microbiomes of three-month-olds is far richer and more diverse if there is a pet in the house. Related coverage also appears on BBC Radio 4.

Health Medicine Network: 'Molecular Microscope' System Safer, More Effective in Heart And Lung Transplant Biopsies

Early clinical trial findings of a 'molecular microscope' system, developed by U of A transplant physician Philip Halloran and his colleagues for heart and lung transplant biopsies, indicate it is more precise and more accurate than conventional methods.

EXPERT

CBC News: OxyContin maker to appeal judge's decision to reject $20M Canadian settlement

Hakique Virani, a specialist in public health and clinical addiction medicine at the U of A, gives expert comment in a story about how Purdue Pharma, the manufacturer of OxyContin, intends to appeal a Saskatchewan judge's recent decision not to approve a $20-million class-action settlement with Canadians who became addicted to the prescription drug and their families.

National Post: I'm a fitness app addict but I know they sabotage my workouts

Story about the pros and cons of using fitness apps includes comment from U of A professor of pulmonary medicine Michael Stickland.

Good Times Magazine: Your health questions

Thomas Jeerakathil, a professor of neurology at the U of A, gives expert comment about what transient ischemic stroke is and how it is treated.

European Pharmaceutical Review: Sensitive new assay detects hepatitis B infection in single liver cells and serum

In an accompanying commentary Fan Shen with the U of A's Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology observed that quantification of serum cccDNA and HBV-DNA "is an important finding and could lead to earlier diagnosis of HCC and more accurate prediction of chronic HBV progress in a noninvasive manner."

PEOPLE, PARTNERSHIPS AND EDUCATION

Edmonton Journal: Edmonton area's Physician of the Year on life, death and a career in family medicine

The Physician of the Year award for the Edmonton area this year belongs to Melanie Currie of Spruce Grove, who can tell you a great deal about life, death and making a career as a family doctor. She trained at the U of A, then practised in Lac La Biche for three years before moving to Spruce Grove, where she's been an owner-operator of the Westgrove Clinic, which has 14 doctors.

The Conversation: Informal caregivers need better support

In an opinion piece about the need to provide support to caregivers, the work of Wendy Duggleby, professor of nursing and oncology at the U of A, is cited. Duggleby and her team developed My Tools 4 Care, a resource which provides web-based support to caregivers.

The Gateway: New U of A Hospital program for transgender Albertans reduces wait times

The Gender Program housed at the U of A Hospital is the first of its kind in Alberta. It aims to create a single hub where transgender individuals can access health-care services including mental health support, hormone-replacement therapy and surgery. The program is led by the Department of Psychiatry's Michael Marshall, who is working to bring more medical professionals into the field by creating fellowships and postgraduate education opportunities for health-care providers interested in transgender health.