LifeLabs’ President and CEO receives ‘Top Industry Leader’ award
Toronto, Ontario, Jan. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- We are pleased to share that LifeLabs’ President and CEO, Charles Brown, has received a “Top Industry Leader” award from Life Sciences Voice.
The Top Industry Leaders awards are prestigious and highly sought after. Charles is featured amongst some of the most influential leaders in the industry, including Presidents, CEOs, and other senior executives of life sciences companies. As shared by Life Sciences Voice, these leaders are “driving the industry forward with their remarkable contributions and transformational work.”
“I am truly honoured to receive this recognition. It is a reflection of the tireless efforts of the entire LifeLabs team, who have remained agile, collaborative, and resilient through these challenging times,” says Charles. “From the onset of COVID-19, our team has been on the front lines of the pandemic, supporting health care providers and Canadians. I couldn’t be prouder of this team and this recognition of their contributions.”
Charles was nominated by the Life Sciences Voice community and a research team who choose potential winners from across industry sectors. The group actively tracks industry events and news to assess and select a diverse list of winners who are making a lasting impact in their field of work. This process allows for the discovery and celebration of well-deserving leaders.
"In 2021, the Life Sciences sector has remained in focus and many of the leaders have been in the spotlight trying to solve the crisis created by the COVID-19 pandemic," shared Jean Coolidge, editor-in-chief of Life Sciences Voice, in the official press release. "It has been an unprecedented year and many leaders have found themselves in unknown territory dealing with rapid change and accelerated transformation, while trying to plan for the new normal. The highly dynamic environment has made the decision making extremely difficult and onerous."
Life Sciences Voice is the leading industry publication with a global reach of 2.7 million readers. The award process follows the most rigorous judging process and only the top industry leaders make the cut.
To learn more about the award and the other individuals included in the list, please click here.
About LifeLabs
LifeLabs is Canada’s leading provider of laboratory diagnostic information and digital health connectivity systems, enabling patients and health care practitioners to diagnose, treat, monitor, and prevent disease. We support 20 million patient visits annually and conduct over 100 million laboratory tests through leading edge technologies and our 6,000 talented and dedicated employees. We are a committed innovator in supporting Canadians to live healthier lives, operating Canada’s first commercial genetics lab, and the country’s largest online patient portal, with more than 5 million Canadians receiving their results online. LifeLabs is 100% Canadian owned by OMERS Infrastructure, the infrastructure investment manager of one of Canada’s largest defined benefit pension plans. Learn more at lifelabs.com.
Canadian study reinforces need for hip fracture prevention strategies to help reduce future fracture risks and their associated costs
Study results align with United Nations' focus on maintaining functional independence, reinforces call for better integrated care to prevent hip fractures
The study results reinforce the importance of early hip fracture prevention strategies focusing on adults aged ≥65 and especially amongst those with a recent hip fracture to help reduce the high likelihood of experiencing a future hip fracture and their high social and human costs. Given the rapid ageing of Canada's population, the healthcare costs associated with hip fractures alone are predicted to increase to $2.4 billion by 2041 in Canada alone.i
The findings of this study are also aligned with the United Nations' focus on maintaining functional independence and promoting better integrated care during their Decade of Healthy Ageing.ii
"Hip fractures are often considered one of the most serious types of fracture because they frequently result in a devastating loss of independence and increased mortality," says Dr. Emil Schemitsch, an orthopedic surgeon and one of the study's lead authors. "The results of this study clearly support the need to recognize patients with a recent fracture as very high risk for experiencing a future fracture and treat them accordingly, enhancing our hip fracture prevention efforts, especially following a first fracture."
STUDY RESULTS
Key results of the study included the following:
A hip fracture occurred on average within 1.5 years after any type of prior fracture.
Hip fractures were the most common second fracture (27.8%), occurring in ≥19% of cases after each index fracture site and most frequently (33.0%) after an index hip fracture.
Among all fracture types related to osteoporosis, hip fractures contributed to 1 in 6 fracture-related surgeries and 1 in 7 post-surgical complications (e.g., heart attack, pneumonia and blood clot).
Patients with prior hip fractures are 4x more likely to die within one year post hip fracture than their non-fracture counterparts.iii
As highlighted in a recent report from the Public Health Agency of Canada, <25% of patients with a hip fracture receive some type of an intervention to prevent a future fracture, which is in a sharp comparison to the estimated 80% of patients receiving an intervention after a heart attack to prevent another event.iv
"Patients with osteoporosis who have suffered hip fractures are clearly falling through the cracks," says Dr. Samir Sinha, a geriatrician and director of geriatrics at Sinai Health and the University Health Network in Toronto. "It is critical that we take osteoporosis more seriously and better appreciate how vulnerable patients who have experienced hip fractures are. We need to make it a national priority that these patients receive more appropriate assessment and care given the enormous societal consequences related to hip fractures."
In declaring 2021-2031 the United Nations' Decade of Healthy Ageing, the UN has highlighted four specific areas to improve the lives of older people and their families and communities. Providing more integrated care is one of them and can be a crucial way to help improve both primary as well secondary fracture prevention after a prior hip or other fracture.
In Canada, Fracture Liaison Services (FLS) have been implemented at approximately 50 hospitalsv to ensure that, after an osteoporosis-related fracture, a patient gets assessed for their future fracture risk and, if appropriate, referred to an osteoporosis specialist. In addition, their general practitioner is informed that they had an osteoporosis related event so they can be supported and monitored appropriately.
ABOUT HIP FRACTURES
As common as a heart attack in adults aged ≥ 80 or in women aged ≥ 65, the prevalence of hip fractures is expected to significantly increase due to an ageing population.vi,iii In 2011, Canada's baby boomers began turning 65 years of age and by 2031, 1 in 4 Canadians will be ≥ 65 years of age.vii A hip fracture is sometimes described as a "bone attack", since it is one of the most serious outcomes of osteoporosis.iv,viii
In fact, 1 in 4 Canadian women and 1 in 5 Canadian men aged 65+ living in the community at the time of experiencing a hip fracture were found to enter a long-term care home within 1 year.ix Likewise, 1 in 3 adults aged 50-80 and 2 in 3 aged >80 will require the use of a walking aid within 1 year of their hip fracture surgery.x And although compared to Canadian women, men are 2x less likely to fracture their hip, they are 1.3x more likely to die following a hip fracture.xi
ABOUT OSTEOPOROSIS
Osteoporosis is a skeletal disorder characterized by low bone mineral density (BMD) and increased risk of fragility fracture.xii BMD decreases with age and declines more rapidly during menopause.xiii
In Canada, an estimated 10% of all adults aged >40 years and 21% of post-menopausal women have osteoporosis.xiii,xiv In Canada, osteoporosis is responsible for approximately 200,000 cases of fragility fractures annually.xv As Canada's population ages, the number of osteoporotic fractures is predicted to increase. xvi
In 2014, the annual cost of osteoporosis in Canada was estimated to exceed 4.6 billion CAD.xvii Increased screening of high-risk individuals and treatment-initiation may reduce the rate of fractures and lead to significant cost savings.
Osteoporosis is a largely preventable disease, yet hundreds of thousands of Canadians with osteoporosis still go undetected and untreated.xviii
ABOUT THE STUDY
A cohort of 115,776 patients aged >65 with an index fracture occurring at skeletal sites related to age-related bone loss between January 1, 2011, and March 31, 2015, was identified using health services data from Ontario, Canada, and followed until March 31, 2017.
The primary objective of this study of was to characterize imminent risk of hip fracture by describing the frequency, distribution and median time to subsequent hip fracture, based on the site of initial fracture.
The secondary objectives were to describe the frequency and distribution of fracture-related surgeries, surgery-related complications, healthcare costs and mortality 1 year following a hip fracture, relative to other fracture sites.
This study was financially supported by Amgen Canada.
ABOUT AMGEN CANADA
As a leader in innovation, Amgen Canada understands the value of science. With main operations located in Mississauga, Ont.'s vibrant biomedical cluster, and its research facility in Burnaby, B.C., Amgen Canada has been an important contributor to advancements in science and innovation in Canada since 1991. The company contributes to the development of new therapies and new uses for existing medicines in partnership with many of Canada's leading health-care, academic, research, government and patient organizations. To learn more about Amgen Canada, visit www.amgen.ca.
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i Wiktorowicz ME, Goeree R, Papaioannou A, Adachi JD, Papadimitropoulos E (2001) Economic implications of hip fracture: health service use, institutional care and cost in Canada. Osteoporos Int 12(4):271–278.
iii Brown, J.P., Adachi, J.D., Schemitsch, E. et al. Mortality in older adults following a fragility fracture: real-world retrospective matched-cohort study in Ontario. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 22, 105 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-021-03960-z.
v Kendler, D., Adachi, J., Brown, J. et al. A scorecard for osteoporosis in Canada and seven Canadian provinces. Osteoporos Int 32, 123–132 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-020-05554-2.
viii Siris ES. Patients with hip fracture: what can be improved? Bone. 2006 Feb;38(2 Suppl 2):S8-12. doi: 10.1016/j.bone.2005.11.014. Epub 2006 Jan 9. PMID: 16406848.
ix Nikitovic M, Wodchis WP, Krahn MD, Cadarette SM. Direct health-care costs attributed to hip fractures among seniors: a matched cohort study. Osteoporos Int. 2013;24(2):659-669. doi:10.1007/s00198-012-2034-6.
xSchemitsch EH, Sprague S, Heetveld MJ, Bzovsky S, Heels-Ansdell D, Zhou Q, Swiontkowski M, Bhandari M; FAITH Investigators. Loss of Independence After Operative Management of Femoral Neck Fractures. J Orthop Trauma. 2019 Jun;33(6):292-300. doi: 10.1097/BOT.0000000000001444. PMID: 30801388.
xiv Özlem ALTINDA⁄, Abdurrahman ALTINDA⁄*, Neslihan SORAN, Ahmet DEM‹RKOLHarran Üniversitesi T›p Fakültesi Fiziksel T›p ve Rehabilitasyon Anabilim Dal›, fianl›urfa, Turkey*Harran Üniversitesi T›p Fakültesi Psikiyatri Anabilim Dal›, fianl›urfa, Turkey Quality of Life and Depression in Postmenopausal Women with Osteoporosis Available at http://www.ftrdergisi.com/uploads/sayilar/241/buyuk/61-641.pdf.
xvi Papadimitropoulos EA, Coyte PC, Josse RG, Greenwood CE (1997) Current and projected rates of hip fracture in Canada. CMAJ 157 (10):1357-1363.
xvii Hopkins RB, Burke N, Von KC, Leslie WD, Morin SN, Adachi JD, Papaioannou A, Bessette L, Brown JP, Pericleous L, Tarride J (2016) The current economic burden of illness of osteoporosis in Canada. Osteoporos Int 27 (10):3023-3032.
CALGARY, AB, Jan. 26, 2022 /CNW/ - Universal Ibogaine Inc. (TSXV: IBO) ("UI" or the "Company") a life sciences company with a mission to develop and deliver medicalized ibogaine-centered addiction care, is pleased to advise it has entered into an agreement (the "agreement") with Psygen Labs Inc. ("Psygen") to secure a supply of GMP ibogaine for use in its planned future clinical trial for opioid use disorder and ongoing ibogaine detox treatments at its clinics.
UI is in process of finalizing its pre-clinical trial ("pre-CTA") submission to Health Canada, following which it intends to apply to undertake a clinical trial of ibogaine for use in treatment of opioid use disorder(s). The final approval by Health Canada will require UI to have an approved, secure supply of GMP certified ibogaine to use in the eventual clinical trial process. Psygen is a Canadian company based in Calgary and is a leader in the manufacture of a range of medical grade products being used in the emerging psychedelics-based psycho-therapy field of treatment of anxiety, depression and other mental health issues.
The agreement covers basic terms as to pricing, manufacture, and delivery of ibogaine to UI, and a definitive drug supply agreement is to be finalized in the near future, incorporating such factors as the volume of ibogaine that will be required, based on the ultimate size of the of the patient group required for the planned clinical trials.
Nick Karos - Universal Ibogaine CEO Nick Karos noted "We are pleased to have secured a firm of Psygen's caliber as one of our key partners. Ibogaine has been used in tribal ceremonies in Africa for centuries and has traditionally been sourced for medical use from the root bark of a shrub found in limited areas of the Congo basin in Africa. Psygen has developed a process to manufacture synthetic ibogaine, which will provide a more secure and sustainable source of supply for our trials and a scalable solution for our treatment protocol to help as many people as possible. We look forward to a long-term partnership with Psygen as part of our goal of having ibogaine approved for wide-scale use in opioid detoxification and addiction treatments."
About Universal Ibogaine Inc. UI is a life sciences company, with a mission to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of its ibogaine based drug detox protocol through a Canadian Clinical Trial, and ultimately to utilize that protocol around the globe through future licensing agreements. UI is concurrently developing a state of the art holistic addiction treatment protocol at its Kelburn Clinic that, when paired with the ibogaine detox protocol, is intended to revolutionize the way we treat addiction and drastically improve the lives of individuals and families affected by addiction.
NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release may contain forward-looking statements and information. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plans", "expect", "project", "intend", "will", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "scheduled", "potential", or other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may", "should" or "could" occur. The forward-looking statements and information are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by UI. Although UI believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because UI can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct.
Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks, which include, but are not limited to, risks that required regulatory approvals are not obtained. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable by UI at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information, which speaks only to conditions as of the date hereof. UI does not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to forward-looking information contained herein to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.
Announcing a major donation - BELL LET'S TALK SUPPORTS THE CERVO FOUNDATION AND IMPROVES MENTAL HEALTH CARE IN QUÉBEC'S NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION
$250,000 donation to acquire a 2nd neuromodulation device used in treatment
Doubling the services offered and optimizing access
Facilitating a service corridor for the needs of the Canadian Armed Forces
QUÉBEC CITY, Jan. 26, 2022 /CNW Telbec/ - The CERVO Foundation is pleased to announce a major donation of $250,000 from Bell Let's Talk to facilitate the purchase of a 2nd neuromodulation device at the Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux (CIUSSS) de la Capitale-Nationale which will help develop new avenues for mental health care. The additional device will double the availability of effective treatment for patients with certain psychiatric illnesses who are often resistant to standard treatments.
The donation was announced today as part of Bell Let's Talk Day. In making the announcement, CIUSSS President and Chief Executive Officer Michel Delamarre was joined by Bell Canada's Vice Chair Québec Karine Moses, along with federal Minister of Health and Member of Parliament for Québec, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, the Deputy Premier of Québec, Minister of Public Security and minister responsible for the Capitale-Nationale region, Geneviève Guilbault, and the Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services, Lionel Carmant.
Neuromodulation Neuromodulation or rTMS (Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) has been used for several years for the management of individuals suffering from depressive disorders who are resistant to standard treatments, or as an alternative therapy when antidepressants are contraindicated or poorly tolerated. rTMS uses a magnetic field impulse that penetrates the tissues and induces electric currents, acting on the neuronal activity in a precise cortical region. rTMS consists of inducing pulses in a rhythmic and repetitive manner, which causes cortical inhibition or excitation, without the need for general anesthesia and muscle relaxants associated with electroconvulsive therapy.
The wait for this type of care can be up to 8 months before an evaluation in the form of an assessment conducted by professionals from the CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale in collaboration with Dr. Simon Patry and Dr. Sébastien Proulx, both psychiatric physicians for the CIUSSS. The purchase of a 2nd device will increase access to the service to better meet the needs of the population.
The CERVO Foundation and the CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale are also exploring the feasibility of expanding the use of this device for specific therapies for the segments of the population, including the Canadian Armed Forces to ensure adequate service for the specific needs of their clientele.
Research on Neuromodulation In addition to seeing daily results, researchers at the CIUSSS CERVO Research Centre are interested in indications for rTMS for psychiatric disorders other than major depression, such as schizophrenia, mania, post-traumatic stress disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. The CERVO Foundation works with researchers to analyze current protocols to optimize treatment times.
QUOTES: "There is no health without mental health, and that is why I thank Bell Let's Talk for its support of the CERVO Foundation and its ongoing commitment to mental health research. We are very pleased with the collaboration of the OSI Clinic team and the Canadian Armed Forces so that Canadian military personnel can benefit from this new device and the associated research results."
Jean-Yves Duclos, Canada's Minister of Health and Member of Parliament for Québec
"I am delighted to welcome this latest Bell Let's Talk initiative. This major donation contributes to the government's efforts to provide our health infrastructures with state-of-the-art technological equipment, particularly in the mental health field. In the interministerial mental health action plan that will soon be rolled out, one of the goals is to increase the accessibility of mental health services. To achieve this, we must work on preventing mental health disorders and giving our health and social services network the ability to intervene effectively with the population."
Lionel Carmant, Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services
"I am delighted with the commitment of all the partners to improve services for our citizens in the Capitale-Nationale who suffer from mental health problems. The acquisition of a second neuromodulation device will reduce the waiting time for people who need help now and eventually improve the services offered to other patients. Mental health requires listening, proper care and empathy. Today's announcement is a concrete example of that."
Geneviève Guilbault, Deputy Premier of Quebec, Deputy Premier of Québec, Minister of Public Security and minister responsible for the Capitale-Nationale region
"We are very proud to see the CERVO Foundation, the CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale and the CERVO Research Centre once again stand out in the field of mental health, where there is so much to do. This donation, which will allow for new medical avenues and better access to care for the people of the region, demonstrates the growing - and much needed - attention that must be paid to mental health. Every day, we must continue to talk about it, demystify the stigma and raise awareness about this reality that is becoming more and more important in our daily lives. I am proud to see the dedication of all these professionals and administrators to achieve small miracles and make the CERVO research center one of the most important of its kind in Canada."
Bruno Marchand, Mayor of Québec City
"It's a source of pride for the CERVO Foundation to be able to help in advancing care and above all to ensure that complementary care techniques are more accessible. Thanks to this research, we will have new protocols, but it is above all thanks to the unwavering dedication of our experts to really help patients improve their condition that Dr. Patry's team will finally be able to double intervention and promote the well-being of dozens of additional people in Québec's national capital region. The support of Bell Let's Talk once again makes access to innovative care possible and allows for a possible collaboration with the Canadian Armed Forces and the Operational Stress Injury (OSI) Clinic that aims to create a care corridor adapted to their needs and our reach."
Maryse Beaulieu, Managing Director of the CERVO Foundation
"Bell Let's Talk is proud to collaborate again with the CERVO Foundation and the Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux (CIUSSS) de la Capitale-Nationale to help with the acquisition of a 2nd neuromodulation device. This donation will improve access to mental health care for Quebecers and allow many people to get better."
Karine Moses, Senior Vice President, Content Development and News and Vice Chair, Québec for Bell
"The addition of a second repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation device will allow us to double our treatment capacity for this alternative treatment for psychiatric disorders in the first year. We are pleased with Bell's contribution because accessibility to care is essential and this addition makes it possible to offer a variety of treatments to our users, but above all, optimizes the work of our teams."
Michel Delamarre, President and CEO of CIUSSS-CN
Today is Bell Let's Talk Day: Join the conversation! Today, Bell will donate an additional 5 cents to Canadian mental health programs for every applicable text, local or long distance call, tweet or TikTok video using #BellLetsTalk, every Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Snapchat, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube view of the Bell Let's Talk Day video, and every use of the Bell Let's Talk Facebook frame or Snapchat lens. All at no cost to participants beyond what they would normally pay their service provider for online or phone access.
About the CERVO Foundation The CERVO Foundation has been collecting funds since 1977 in order to contribute to research, knowledge expansion, and improved care and awareness of mental health. Committed to offering hope of recovery to people suffering from neurological diseases or mental illness, the Foundation mainly funds discoveries and innovations to better understand the brain, while also contributing to promising care and teaching initiatives at the Capitale-Nationale CIUSSS.
About Bell Let's Talk The largest-ever corporate commitment to mental health in Canada, Bell Let's Talk is focused on 4 key action pillars – Anti-stigma, Care and Access, Research and Workplace Leadership -and is a driver of Bell for Better. Since its launch in 2010, Bell Let's Talk has partnered with more than 1,300 organizations providing mental health services throughout Canada, including hospitals, universities, local community service providers and other care and research organizations. To learn more, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.
About CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale The CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale offers patients and their families integrated and accessible local health and social services and contributes to improving the overall health of the population in its territory.
Focused on quality, safety and performance, the care and services are based on best practices and innovation as well as on the participation of patients and their families. It mobilizes and coordinates local networks to meet the needs of its entire population.
Affiliated with Université Laval, and in collaboration with educational institutions, it ensures quality teaching and develops cutting-edge knowledge and practices. It also promotes the sharing and dissemination of scientific and clinical knowledge in order to contribute to the improvement of the quality of care and services offered, from the laboratory to the bedside.
The Northwest Territories' commitment to harm reduction is lost with the proposed vape flavour ban
Beamsville, ON, Jan. 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Government of the Northwest Territories had an open consultation regarding the proposed flavour restrictions, that if pursued will be implemented through amendments to the Tobacco and Vaping Products Control Act. In the Canadian Vaping Association’s (CVA) submission filed during the consultation period, the CVA details its opposition to restricting flavoured vaping products and provides evidence of the negative outcomes of flavour bans.
The Northwest Territories have among the highest smoking rates in Canada. As of 2018, 33% of the population age 15 and older were daily or occasional smokers. Given Public Health England has stated that vaping is between 59.7% and 74% effective for quitting smoking when paired with local stop smoking support, it is surprising that the Northwest Territories is considering further restrictions rather than incorporating vaping into their tobacco control strategy.
“It is ironic that the consultation period coincided with National Non-Smoking Week. While harm reduction advocates were encouraging people to quit smoking, the Northwest Territories was considering effectively banning the most effective method to reduce smoking rates. The CVA implores the Government of the Northwest Territories to review the evidence on vaping’s efficacy and the importance of flavours. During a consumer campaign, 90,000 Canadians emailed their Member of Parliament to express the critical role that flavours played in their transition from smoking,” said Darryl Tempest, Executive Director of the CVA.
In addition to incredibly high youth smoking rates, the Northwest Territories has the highest rate of youth hospitalizations caused by substance use, at a rate 5 times the national average. Alcohol, which is known to cause cancer, was the main cause of these hospitalizations followed by cannabis use. The Northwest Territories’ 2018 Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Survey found that 69% of youth aged 15 and older self identified as a current drinker.
“Of course, youth and non-smokers shouldn’t vape, but prevention should be through a strategy of education and enforcement. There is no evidence that banning flavours reduces youth vaping, but there is mounting evidence that flavour bans increase smoking rates. The Northwest Territories has a serious problem with youth alcohol consumption, and yet there is no proposal to ban flavoured alcohol,” said Tempest.
Flavoured vape products have proven to be an effective tool for quitting smoking, but removing flavours reduces their appeal and lessens adoption. Vaping prevalence has a direct correlation to rapid declines in smoking rates; if properly supported, vaping could have a profound effect in regions like the Northwest Territories where smoking rates remain high.
About the Canadian Vaping Association: The Canadian Vaping Association is a registered national, not-for-profit organization, established as the voice for the burgeoning Canadian vaping industry. Founded in 2014, the CVA represents over 200 retail and online vaping businesses in Canada, not including tobacco companies or affiliates. The association is the primary liaison with the federal and provincial governments on all legislative and regulatory issues related to the industry. The primary goal of the CVA is to ensure that government regulation is reasonable and practical, through the strategy of professional proactive communication and education supplied bilingually to health officers, media, and elected officials.
Valentine’s Day Tribute: Memoiron Spousal Grief and Single Parenting Proves Love Endures All
Mobile, AL, January 26, 2022 — Author and political advocate Jason Fisher will release his memoir and testament to true love, To Where You Are, on Valentine's Day 2022. This moving tribute to his late wife details Fisher’s story of discovering unconditional love, dealing with grief and trauma after losing his wife and soulmate unexpectedly, becoming a single parent of a child with a rare disability, and forging a new path forward.
“I spent many years summoning the emotional courage to write this book—our love story. It kept calling to me, and I never gave up because it was a story worth telling,” says Fisher. “The memories that I made with my wife, particularly in the short time we were together with our daughter as a family, are priceless to me.”
The heartache following his young wife’s sudden death led Fisher on a tumultuous journey as a widower and a single father to a 2-year-old daughter with special needs, requiring him to adapt to a world he had never imagined facing. Through his grief and pain, Fisher is reminded of “how special my wife, Mandi, was as a person. She was the brightest star in my universe and taught me so much about the meaning of unconditional love.
“Life is unpredictable and can give you incredibly difficult challenges at times,” he continues. “The road to healing after facing a crisis is rarely straight or paved smoothly. Surrounding yourself with people who amplify the best version of yourself and give you that confidence boost when you need it most is paramount.”
Now seeing the world through a different lens, Fisher committed himself to speaking out when he saw things that needed to change. As he realized the considerable support needed to work full-time and care for a child with a disability, Fisher began to see that changes were needed in government legislation to make a positive, more meaningful difference in people’s lives.
Awakened by a new sense of purpose, Fisher ran for the United States Senate in one of modern history's most watched races. “I wanted to use my personal experience, along with my academic and professional skill set, to give back in a more meaningful way. Mandi was an indirect catalyst and strong motivator for that happening,” he says.
“Through writing this book, and through watching my daughter grow and persevere, I have gained a measure of closure that eluded me for so long,” Fisher adds.
ABOUT JASON FISHER
Jason Fisher is a nonprofit executive, a passionate community advocate and a proud father to his daughter, Mackenzie, who has a rare chromosomal disorder and accompanying disabilities. He was married to his wife, Mandi, for nearly six years before she passed away unexpectedly at the age of 30. You can find him online on Instagram:@towhereyouarebook; Facebook:@JasonFisherToWhereYouAre; or on his website: www.towhereyouare.org.
Alberta Innovates invests in research to tackle growing threat of chronic wasting disease
EDMONTON, Alberta, Jan. 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alberta Innovates is investing $1.25 million in research to understand and address the increasing spread of chronic wasting disease (CWD). This prion disease, seen in Canada, the United States and elsewhere, threatens the agriculture industry, the environment and potentially human health.
CWD is a progressive, fatal nervous system disease caused by prion proteins in the brain that infect animals such as deer, elk and moose in the wild, and can spread to farmed elk and deer. Prions shed by infected animals through their feces, urine and saliva remain infectious in soil for many years, posing a risk of environmental transmission to other cervids. There is also concern CWD might be transmissible to other wild animal species and livestock, and to humans who consume infected meat.
Two projects focus on vaccine development to prevent CWD infections, including a vaccine to prevent the potential spread to caribou, an important food source for Indigenous and northern communities. Three other projects will study various aspects of the transmissibility and progression of CWD – e.g., if it can spread from cervids to other species, the rate of spread, and whether CWD prions could bind with vegetation and contaminate animal forage and Alberta crops.
Quotes
“The aggressive rate of transmission of CWD poses the risk that this disease could soon grow to levels where deer populations will significantly decline and CWD is introduced into new geographical regions, including the ranges of Alberta’s at-risk woodland caribou herds. Research to better understand the disease and advance the development of an effective vaccine will support other science-based strategies used by Environment and Parks to limit the prevalence and spread of CWD in Alberta’s wildlife populations.” – Hon. Jason Nixon, Minister, Alberta Environment and Parks
“Alberta Innovates is committed to supporting chronic wasting disease research to mitigate the spread and understand the transmissibility of the disease. Research in vaccine development and spread of the disease is underway to protect wild and domestic animals as a food source, the environment and the agriculture industry.” – Laura Kilcrease, CEO, Alberta Innovates
“Our commitment to CWD research is good news for producers. This prion disease has debilitated the farmed cervid and hunting sectors for many years and now represents a major threat to Alberta agriculture. The threat of crop contamination with CWD prions shed by cervids is real. The work of researchers is essential to understanding the disease and developing countermeasures. And I am confident in Alberta’s capacity to develop effective disease solutions based on vaccines and genomics.” – Dr. David Chalack, DVM, RDAR Chair
Backgrounder
Projects Alberta Innovates is supporting five projects with a total investment of $1,247,500. Alberta Innovates funding is leveraged by contributions of $792,500 from several other funding sources, including and $521,000 from Results Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR), and $62,500 from Alberta Environment and Parks for total research support of over $2 million. Details of each project are available in this Project Library under Smart Agriculture and Food.
Principal Investigator
Alberta Innovates Support
Project Title
Judd Aiken University of Alberta
$248,000
CWD contamination of vegetation
Sabine Gilch University of Calgary
249,500
Chronic wasting disease transmission to sympatric species
Debbie McKenzie University of Alberta
250,000
Mechanisms of genetic resistance to CWD infection in white-tailed deer and caribou
Hermann Schätzl University of Calgary
250,000
Combining vaccination with genetic resistance to protect caribou against chronic wasting disease
Holger Wille University of Alberta
250,000
Structure-based chronic wasting disease vaccines: Analyzing their mode of action
FAQs
Chronic wasting disease is spreading throughout four Canadian provinces, many U.S. states, parts of Europe and South Korea.
This infectious disease is caused by prions (abnormally folded proteins in the brain). It affects the central nervous system of wild and farmed animals called cervids, e.g., deer, elk, moose, reindeer. CWD has not yet reached caribou habitat in Canada but is expected to.
There is no direct evidence that CWD has ever been transmitted to humans. Some research shows that CWD can be transmitted to primates closely related to humans by feeding them meat or brain tissue from deer and elk infected with CWD. As a result, health organizations, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, advise caution when eating meat from animals harvested from areas where CWD has been found (Alberta Health, Chronic Wasting Disease Overview).
Positivity rate in hunted mule deer tested in Alberta is nearly 15 per cent and is increasing.
CWD prions shed from infected animals are known to remain in the environment for several years.
In addition to threatening health, CWD also threatens food sources (livestock and crop industries, hunting and trapping), and tourism (outfitters).
Alberta Innovates is the province’s largest and Canada’s first provincial research and innovation agency. For a century we have worked closely with researchers, companies, and entrepreneurs – trailblazers who built industries and strengthened communities. Today we are pivoting to the next frontier of opportunity in Alberta and worldwide by driving emerging technologies across sectors. We are a provincial corporation delivering seed funding, business advice, applied research and technical services, and avenues for partnership and collaboration. Learn how albertainnovates.ca
Be Happy Without Faking It: Put These Principles Into Practice Now
Boca Raton, FL, January 26, 2022 — Negative social media posts. Frightening headlines. Workplace challenges. These are all things that Pamela Gail Johnson, the founder of the Society of Happy People, would label “Happiness Zappers,” and they are a fact of life. The good news is these Happiness Zappers don’t have to put a lid on our smiles.
“We will all experience at least one or more Happiness Zapper — unhappiness, stress, fear, chaos or annoyances — each day,” Johnson said in a recent interview. “Much of our happiness is based on how we manage the Happiness Zappers.”
In her enlightening new book, Practical Happiness: Four Principles to Improve Your Life,Johnson paves a pathway toward authentic joy and fulfillment, with actionable strategies, transformational techniques, and real stories about real people who have put Johnson’s principles into practice.
“The Society of Happy People identified 31 types of happiness to help you identify more happy moments when they happen,” she added. “Sometimes, we’re happier than we think we are; we just don’t notice all of the happiness we experience.”
In her book, she details four happiness principles for living an authentically more joyful life:
• Happiness is Personal
• Happiness Zappers Can be Managed
• Happiness Changes as You Change
• Happiness is Bigger Than You Think
These four principles will help readers redefine personal happiness, manage their Happiness Zappers, and become more aware of the happy moments taking place all around them.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Pamela Gail Johnson founded the Society of Happy People in 1998, created the first three globally celebrated happiness holidays, and is the author of Practical Happiness: Four Principles to Improve Your Life. She started her career with Junior Achievement, then worked in the mental health and substance abuse field at the Hazelden Foundation. She was an award-winning salesperson for American Express and Staples, and now helps leaders and teams create happier workplace cultures.
A frequent media guest on ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, radio and podcasts, her work has been covered by magazines, newspapers and online publications.
She divides her time between Dallas, Texas, and Washington, DC.
Seagen Canada Announces Availability of PADCEV® to Treat Advanced Bladder Cancer
PADCEV represents a targeted therapy directed against Nectin-4, a protein highly expressed in certain types of solid tumours, including urothelial carcinoma1
PADCEV is a therapy approved by Health Canada with a demonstrated improvement in overall survival for patients previously treated with platinum-based chemotherapy and immunotherapy2
A recent survey found the majority of Canadians are unaware that bladder cancer has one of the highest recurrence rates3
MISSISSAUGA, ON, Jan. 25, 2022 /CNW/ - Today, Seagen Canada announced the commercial availability of PADCEV®(enfortumab vedotin) for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer (mUC) who have previously received a platinum-containing chemotherapy and programmed cell death receptor-1 (PD-1) or programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitor therapy.2
Bladder cancer affects an estimated 12,000 Canadians each year making it the fifth leading cancer diagnosis in Canada.4Bladder cancer is a disease where cancer cells form in the tissues of the bladder5. Urothelial cancer is the most common type of bladder cancer, accounting for about 90 per cent of all cases.6 The advanced stages of urothelial cancer are often referred to as locally advanced or metastatic.7 Although some locally advanced or metastatic bladder cancers will stop growing, shrink, or even disappear in response to current treatment options, the cancer almost always returns and grows aggressively, shortening life expectancy.8
"Metastatic urothelial cancer is an aggressive disease with limited treatment options and a poor prognosis," says Dr. Srikala Sridhar, MD, Head of the Genitourinary Medical Oncologists of Canada, Professor and Medical Oncologist at the Princess Margaret Cancer, in Toronto. "PADCEV is the first drug beyond chemotherapy and immunotherapy to show a significant survival benefit in metastatic urothelial cancer and as such represents an important therapeutic advance in the field."
The Heath Canada approval of PADCEV was based on an open‐label, randomized, phase 3, multicenter study (EV 301) that enrolled 608 patients (including 52 Canadians) with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer who received prior treatment with a platinum‐containing chemotherapy and PD‐1 or PD‐L1 inhibitor, a type of immunotherapy.2 At median follow-up of approximately 11 months, compared with chemotherapy, enfortumab vedotin met its primary endpoint and improved overall survival (OS) by almost four months (median 12.88 months versus 8.97 months).2
"We've seen first-hand how more treatment options can improve the quality of life for those living with metastatic or advanced bladder cancer," says Michelle Colero, Executive Director, Bladder Cancer Canada. "We are particularly pleased about the approval of enfortumab vedotin as this new treatment alternative offers patients the opportunity to make plans for their future, while dealing with their diagnosis and treatment today."
A recent Seagen Canada survey gauging Canadian's knowledge of bladder cancer, conducted by Leger Research, found that many Canadians have limited knowledge as it relates to the condition. Key survey learnings included:3
less than one third (31%) of respondents knew smoking was a risk factor for bladder cancer;
most respondents (89%) are unaware that bladder cancer has one of the highest recurrence rates among all cancers;
the majority of respondents (60%) did not know that certain occupations, such as painter, plumber or firefighter, can pose a higher risk for developing bladder cancer; and
only four-in-ten (42%) respondents know that bladder cancer is a treatable cancer, relative to some other forms of cancer.
"Seagen is proud of our transformative scientific discoveries that continue to address and support those who live with cancer," says Sandra Heller, General Manager of Seagen Canada Inc. "PADCEV represents our dedication to improving the lives of patients through innovative targeted therapies."
About Bladder Cancer Caught early, a bladder cancer prognosis is excellent for most patients. Caught late, it can be a life-altering or life-ending disease. Once diagnosed, lifetime urology check-ups will be required. Risk factors for bladder cancer include smoking, over 50 years of age and occupational exposures. It also impacts men more than women.9 People with bladder cancer which has spread to other parts of the body (about 10-15% of patients10) have a poor prognosis, with only about 5% living for five years after diagnosis.11
About PADCEV2 PADCEV is an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) that is directed against Nectin-4, a protein located on the surface of cells and highly expressed in bladder cancer. Nonclinical data suggest the anticancer activity of PADCEV is due to its binding to Nectin-4 expressing cells followed by the internalization and release of the anti-tumor agent monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE) into the cell, which result in the cell not reproducing (cell cycle arrest) and in programmed cell death (apoptosis).
For more information, please refer to the product monograph for PADCEV located here.
About Seagen Seagen is a global biotechnology company that discovers, develops, and commercializes transformative cancer medicines to make a meaningful difference in people's lives. Seagen is headquartered in the Seattle, Washington area, and has locations in California, Canada, Switzerland, and the European Union. For more information, visit www.seagen.ca and follow @SeagenGlobal on Twitter.
Rosenberg JE, O'Donnell PH, Balar AV, et al. Pivotal Trial of Enfortumab Vedotin in Urothelial Carcinoma After Platinum and Anti-Programmed Death 1/Programmed Death Ligand 1 Therapy. J Clin Oncol 2019;37(29):2592-600. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31356140/
Bay Area Health Trust supplies Ontario with McMaster Molecular Medium for COVID-19 PCR test kits
HAMILTON, ON, Jan. 25, 2022 /CNW/ - Bay Area Health Trust will be supplying Ontario's provincial labs with its McMaster Molecular Medium (MMM), a molecular transport medium that is a critical component of COVID-19 PCR testing. This is a repeat order of the made-in-Ontario product by the procurement authority representing the Province of Ontario. MMM is on Public Health Ontario's approved list of COVID-19 PCR collection kits.
MMM was developed by researchers from McMaster University and The Research Institute of St. Joe's Hamilton's Disease Diagnostics and Development Group. MMM enable labs to safely increase their COVID-19 testing capacity, thereby returning faster results.
Unlike viral transport media, MMM inactivates the virus so it cannot potentially infect a lab technician while keeping genetic material stabilized and ready for testing. These features are especially important during times of high testing levels, during which efficiency becomes critical.
Another key benefit of using MMM is the ability to pool specimens, which can enable labs to significantly increase their testing capacity. Since most tests produce negative results, only pools that come back with positive results will need to be further tested.
Bay Area Health Trust is continuously working with Ontario-based companies to identify and address its health care related needs. It's plans for MMM include receiving US FDA authorization to enter international markets.
With this order, the Ontario Government continues to support a made-in-Ontario technology that was researched, developed, and manufactured locally.
McMaster Molecular Medium (MMM) is often preferred by labs because the samples arrive non-infectious and ready for testing. MMM inactivates the virus and therefore increases testing capacity because it removes time-consuming steps in the lab.
Bay Area Health Trust returns value to its beneficiaries, which include Hamilton Health Sciences and McMaster University.
"Patient swabs collected in MMM are biosafe, stable, and automation-compatible. MMM saves technologist time and helps keep them safe, while ensuring excellent specimen integrity and test quality," said Dr. Marek Smieja, Chief and Medical Director (Interim), Hamilton Regional Laboratory Medicine Program, Microbiologist and Infectious Diseases Physician, Professor, Dept. of Pathology & Molecular Medicine, McMaster University.
"The importance of PCR testing now and into the future is very topical for obvious reasons and we commend the provincial government for taking this step to secure a made-in-Ontario product," said Peter Kalra, President and CEO of Bay Area Health Trust.
At the intersection of health care, life sciences and business, Bay Area Health Trust is an Ontario-made success story and example of a thriving partnership between hospitals, post-secondary institutions, and the for-profit private sector. Operating life science businesses with the goal of returning value to its beneficiaries, Hamilton Health Sciences, Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation and McMaster University, Bay Area Health Trust promotes entrepreneurship and invests in growth-oriented businesses to support patient care. More information can be found at www.bayareahealthtrust.com.
SOURCE Bay Area Health Trust
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