Canadian patients to benefit from major investment in genomics and precision health research

SOURCE Genome Canada

Women's College Hospital brings accessible BRCA genetic testing to Canadians

Women's College Hospital research study, The Screen Project, provides access to affordable population-based genetic testing

TORONTO, March 28, 2017 /CNW/ - Approximately one in 200 Canadians have a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation which puts women at a higher lifetime risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer, while male mutation carriers are at an increased risk of developing prostate and other cancers. Currently, genetic testing for these gene mutations is only offered to, and covered for, people who meet eligibility criteria based on several factors like a strong family history of cancer. Researchers in the Familial Breast Cancer Research Unit at Women's College Hospital (WCH) will lead a population-based study called The Screen Project that will offer genetic testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations to Canadians at a cost of $165 USD. U.S.-based Veritas Genetics, the global leader in genetic sequencing and interpretation, will be performing the BRCA genetic testing. The study hopes to determine the feasibility of guided direct-to-consumer population-based genetic testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations and also to estimate the number of cancers that would be prevented through such a program.

Hereditary mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene are responsible for five to 10 per cent of breast cancers and 10 to 15 per cent of ovarian cancers. Although knowledge about hereditary cancers has improved, referral rates for genetic testing remain low among primary care physicians. A recent study found that only 23 per cent of eligible ovarian cancer patients were referred for genetic assessment. Research on the underutilization of genetics in clinical care shows that the majority of BRCA mutation-carriers in the population will go undetected.

"The technology for identifying BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation-carriers has improved dramatically since their discovery in the mid 1990s. However, we have not yet achieved our potential in preventing breast and ovarian cancers among women using genetic testing," says Dr. Steven Narod, co-principal investigator and the director of the Familial Breast Cancer Research Unit at WCH. "Population-based genetic testing is a new approach for widespread testing in Canada that we hope will change that paradigm."

Narod is a co-discoverer of BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes and the recipient of the 2016 Basser Global Prize for his work on breast and ovarian cancer genetics.

"The Screen Project aims to address the health gaps in eligibility criteria that currently exist by offering this genetic test to any interested Canadian at a more accessible price," says Dr. Mohammad Akbari, co-principal investigator and director of the Research Molecular Genetics Laboratory at WCH. He led the international team discovered RECQL as the latest breast cancer susceptibility gene in 2015.

Individuals who are interested in BRCA genetic testing can participate in the study by registering online at www.thescreenproject.ca. On the registration site, patients will have access to an informational video and educational materials to learn more about hereditary cancer and genetic testing. Once participants have provided the necessary information and consent, they will be directed to Veritas' website to submit payment and have a saliva collection kit shipped to their home. Those who are unable to afford the cost of the test will be eligible for financial assistance. Saliva samples will then be tested at Veritas' laboratory and the results will be reported to the patient within two to four weeks. Individuals who test positive for the BRCA mutation will be contacted by the Familial Breast Cancer Research Unit at WCH, while those who receive a negative or inconclusive result will receive a report from Veritas Genetics.

"The current barriers to accessing genetic testing in the healthcare system can prevent or delay people from obtaining knowledge that can significantly reduce their cancer risk," says Nicole Gojska, genetic counsellor at Women's College Hospital. "Several options are available to detect cancers early or reduce the risk of cancer from happening. For example, for women, these options can include intensified screening, taking medications to reduce cancer risks or preventative surgery. As genetic testing for cancer predisposition is becoming increasingly more common in clinical practice, men and women with BRCA mutations may also benefit from tailored cancer treatments."

Direct-to-consumer genetic testing needs to be guided by a medical professional with long-term follow-up and management. All participants who are identified as BRCA mutation-carriers through this study will be offered a follow-up consultation with a WCH genetic counsellor to review their test and discuss the implications of their diagnosis. By providing genetic testing that is equitable and accessible to all Canadians, WCH hopes to demonstrate a new model of care for breast, ovarian and prostate cancer prevention that will close the gaps that exist within the healthcare system.

About Women's College Hospital For more than 100 years Women's College Hospital (WCH) has been developing revolutionary advances in healthcare. Today, WCH is a world leader in the health of women and Canada's leading, academic ambulatory hospital. A champion of equitable access, WCH advocates for the health of all women from diverse cultures and backgrounds and ensures their needs are reflected in the care they receive. It focuses on delivering innovative solutions that address Canada's most pressing issues related to population health, patient experience and system costs. The WCH Institute for Health System Solutions and Virtual Care (WIHV) is developing new, scalable models of care that deliver improved outcomes for patients and sustainable solutions for the health system as a whole.

Women's College Research Institute (WCRI) is tackling some of the greatest health challenges of our time. Its scientists are conducting global research that advances the health of women and improves healthcare options for all, and are then translating those discoveries to provide much-needed improvements in healthcare worldwide.

For more information about how WCH and WCRI are transforming patient care, visit www.womenscollegehospital.ca and www.womensresearch.ca

About Veritas Genetics Veritas Genetics is a global leader in providing in genetic testing, interpretation, and storage services to individuals, physicians, and medical researchers. By removing barriers to genetic screening and whole genome sequencing, Veritas Genetics empowers individuals and doctors to make informed lifestyle decisions that help people live longer, healthier lives. The company was recognized by MIT Technology Review as one of the top "50 Smartest Companies" in 2016. Veritas was founded by leaders in genomics from Harvard Medical School and operates globally from its offices in the U.S., Europe and China. Learn more at www.veritasgenetics.com.

SOURCE Women's College Hospital

CYREX LABORATORIES UNVEILS ARRAY 22 IN CANADA FOR UNPRECEDENTED ACCURACY IN ASSESSING SIBO

New Serum Test Identifies Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) to Help Treat Patients Suffering from Irritable Bowels, Malabsorption, Fatigue and More

PHOENIX (MARCH 22, 2017) –Small intestine bacterial overgrowth, or SIBO, is a notoriously challenging disorder to diagnose, due in part to the fact that its signs and symptoms can be confused with many other conditions. For example, many of the millions of people suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) may also have unidentified SIBO, so there is a pressing need for a more accurate assessment of this disorder. Cyrex Laboratories, a clinical laboratory specializing in functional immunology and autoimmune reactivity, is leading the charge with their new Array 22- Irritable Bowel/SIBO Screen.

Array 22 is designed to identify specific bacteria in the small intestine that have migrated from the large intestine, potentially compromising essential barrier integrity and setting the stage for autoimmunity. This serum test is recommended for patients with irritable bowel symptoms, signs of malabsorption such as weight loss, fatty stools or anemia, and conditions such as fatigue, reflux, obesity, food intolerances or skin disorders.

Array 22 assesses potential breach of the intestinal barrier by bacterial cytotoxins and evaluates immune reactivity from their entry into circulation. This cutting-edge serum antibody test improves upon the standard breath tests for SIBO, by not only eliminating the need for exhaustive dietary restriction and collection protocols for patients, but also by providing better specificity and sensitivity.

“With the new Array 22, we’re specifically targeting the immediate need for a more precise evaluation of SIBO to give physicians the most accurate information possible to treat their patients,” said Jean Bellin, president of Cyrex Laboratories. “We’ve developed the Array 22 with the unparalleled quality standards and value that Cyrex Laboratories has become known for throughout the healthcare community.”

Patients suffering from irritable bowels or who suspect SIBO are strongly encouraged to ask their physicians about Array 22. Healthcare providers may request a consultation to discuss testing results with a member of the Cyrex clinical consulting team. Physicians and other licensed healthcare professionals, as well as patients, can learn more about Array 22 and the other unique arrays that comprise the Cyrex System, at www.joincyrex.com.
About Cyrex Laboratories
Cyrex is a clinical immunology laboratory specializing in functional immunology and autoimmune reactivity. Cyrex offers multi-tissue antibody testing for the early detection and monitoring of today’s complex autoimmune conditions. Cyrex develops innovative testing arrays through continuous collaboration with leading experts in medical research and clinical practice. Cyrex technology is built on four pillars of excellence, including the antigen purification system, optimized antigen concentration, antigen-specific validation and parallel testing technology. Cyrex is a CLIA licensed laboratory based in Phoenix, Arizona and holds a Medical Device Establishment License in Canada.

Study Urges Public Health to Embrace Sunlight Benefits

TORONTO – Just weeks after research warned Canadians that vitamin D deficiency was costing Canadian healthcare $12.5B annually by leading to a higher risk of developing life-threatening illnesses, a new study from the US is supporting the Canadian research and challenging conventional sun exposure advice. The study calls for public health organizations to re-evaluate their current message of sun avoidance and to promote non-burning sun exposure for vitamin D and other health benefits.

The recently published study, written by one of the most qualified and diverse groups of researchers in the fields of pigment cell research, photobiology, melanoma research, dermatology and vitamin D, “The Risks and Benefits of Sun Exposure 2016” by David G. Hoel, Marianne Berwick, Frank R. de Gruijl and Michael F. Holick, has found that insufficient sun exposure is an emerging public health risk.

Published in Dermato-Endocrinology, the report says that the current state of the science behind the risks and benefits of sun exposure suggests that public health advice should be changed to recommend that all men, women and children accumulate sufficient non-burning sun exposure to maintain their vitamin D blood levels at 75 nmol/L (30 ng/ml) especially in northern climates. The research goes further, reporting about the positive benefits of vitamin D and outlines how many other photoproducts produced by sunlight exposure are beneficial to our health.

In Canada, lab tests relied upon by doctors, consider the sufficient vitamin D blood level range to be between 75 to 150 nmol/L or higher in some provinces. Currently 65% of Canadians, or 2 out of every 3, do not meet the 75 nmol/L vitamin D blood level and have insufficient vitamin D levels.

“The results of our study show that to live a healthier life, it’s important for North Americans to increase their vitamin D levels through non-burning sun exposure,” says Dr. Michael Holick, Scientific Advisor for the Vitamin D Society and Professor of Medicine at Boston University Medical Center. “Insufficient sun exposure has become a major public health problem, demanding an immediate change in the current sun-avoidance public health advice. Generating vitamin D with non-burning exposure to the sun every day or under artificial UVB sources can help prevent the development of serious diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis and others. Remember that the UV index must be above 3 and your shadow shorter than you are to produce vitamin D from the sun.”

A new Canadian study reported that increasing vitamin D intake could spare 23,000 Canadians premature deaths annually and save Canada $12.5 billion in healthcare spending and associated costs. The study found that Canadians vitamin D levels have been dropping  due to lower sunlight exposure putting more people at risk of life-threatening illnesses.

“More and more research is being published urging individuals to increase their vitamin D levels through non-burning sun exposure,” says Perry Holman, Executive Director of the Vitamin D Society. We need to start looking at UV exposure differently and embrace the benefits while controlling for the risks of overexposure.”

Canadians can get their vitamin D levels checked by their physicians, or online, through a simple 25(OH)D blood test to ensure they aren’t deficient.

About the Vitamin D Society:

The Vitamin D Society is a Canadian non-profit group organized to increase awareness of the many health conditions strongly linked to vitamin D deficiency; encourage people to be proactive in protecting their health and have their vitamin D levels tested annually; and help fund valuable vitamin D research. The Vitamin D Society recommends people achieve and maintain optimal 25(OH)D blood levels between 100 – 150 nmol/L (Can) or 40-60 ng/ml (USA).

To learn more about vitamin D, please visit www.vitamindsociety.org

New Canadian investments in ALS research reflect growing knowledge about the disease and increasing likelihood of effective treatments being developed

ALS Canada and Brain Canada award $4.5 million in research funding; nearly $20 million
invested in ALS research in Canada since 2014's Ice Bucket Challenge

The ALS Society of Canada (ALS Canada), in partnership with Brain Canada, today announced $4.5 million in funding for nine new ALS research projects. This means that since the Ice Bucket Challenge became a social media phenomenon in 2014, nearly $20 million has been invested in Canadian ALS research at a time when it has the potential to make the greatest impact.

ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is a disease that gradually paralyzes the body, leaving people without the ability to move, talk, swallow and eventually breathe. Most people die within two to five years of being diagnosed with ALS because the disease has no effective treatment or cure. However, ALS research has advanced to a point that many ALS research experts believe effective treatments are now a matter of 'when' not 'if.'

"We hear often from people and families living with ALS that the promise of research discovery is something they can be hopeful about. The challenge is that research takes time, which is exactly what people living with ALS don't have – and why the Ice Bucket Challenge has been such a game-changer," said Tammy Moore, CEO of ALS Canada. "Because of the increased funding that the Ice Bucket Challenge has made available, we have been able to make more significant research investments than ever before. We are grateful to Canadians who donated to the Ice Bucket Challenge, to our ALS Society partners across the country and to Brain Canada and the federal government's Canada Brain Research Fund for making this research investment possible."

"Brain Canada's partnership with ALS Canada has enabled greater investment in ALS research, which will in turn accelerate progress towards the development of effective treatments," said Inez Jabalpurwala, President and CEO, Brain Canada Foundation. "In addition, the discoveries that will result from this research funding have the potential to inform how we approach other neurodegenerative diseases with similar underlying mechanisms."

The nine projects include two large-scale, multi-year team initiatives – one of which is using stem cell technology to better understand and potentially treat ALS, while the other is studying in a new way the gene most commonly linked to ALS development – and seven smaller studies that enable investigators to explore out-of-the-box research.

"Five years ago, the breadth of ALS research we are funding today would not have been possible simply because we didn't know enough about the disease to be able to ask the kinds of questions that today's researchers are investigating in their work," said Dr. David Taylor, Vice President of Research at ALS Canada. "The fact that we now have the ability to explore ALS from different angles reflects the growing body of knowledge about the disease and the increasing likelihood of effective treatments being developed."

A research team led by Dr. Guy Rouleau of McGill University and the Montreal Neurological Institute has been awarded $2.2 million to study motor neurons and astrocytes created from people living with different forms of ALS via stem cell technology. Dr. Rouleau and his team, which includes other collaborators at McGill University and the Montreal Neurological Institute as well as Université de Montréal and Université Laval, will study the biology of these stem cells to determine if their characteristics in the laboratory can represent different forms of human disease and further develop them as a potential screening mechanism for therapeutics. The tools and tests created in this project will be valuable for both Canadian and global ALS researchers as new resources to understand the disease and find new ways to treat it.

A research team led by Dr. Janice Robertson of University of Toronto has been awarded $1.6 million to understand whether the most common genetic abnormality in ALS, which occurs in the C90RF72 gene, causes or contributes to the disease through a loss of the gene's normal biological function. The majority of the research community is focusing on how the genetic abnormality in C9ORF72 might lead to an extra, toxic function, but in this five-year study, the team – which includes other collaborators at the University of Toronto as well as Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, McGill University and the Montreal Neurological Institute, and the University of British Columbia – will comprehensively analyze the potential damage to motor neurons lacking C9ORF72, and examine if both loss and gain of function mechanisms combine to cause ALS. This knowledge could fundamentally alter how therapeutics are developed for common forms of ALS as well as frontotemporal dementia (FTD), which often occurs with ALS.

Other projects that have been awarded $100,000 each in funding are:

• Dr. Gary Armstrong at the Montreal Neurological Institute and McGill University is using a state-of-the-art technique in genetic manipulation to create new zebrafish models of ALS for the most prominent genetic cause of the disease, which relates to mutations in the C9ORF72 gene.
• Dr. Neil Cashman at the University of British Columbia is using a unique fruit fly model to study whether a key toxic ALS protein can leap between neurons to explain spread of disease throughout the body.
• Dr. Charles Krieger at Simon Fraser University is studying a substance called adducin that is critically linked to health at the site of connection between motor neurons and muscle, in order to understand whether this substance might represent a target for treatment to slow the progression of ALS.
• Dr. Éric Lécuyer at Université de Montréal is using a unique set of scientific tools to comprehensively analyze the contents of key structures in ALS called stress granules.
• Dr. Marlene Oeffinger at the Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal is studying structures called paraspeckles to understand their content and how they function, as well as how they are altered in neuronal cells that have ALS-causing mutations.
• Dr. Alex Parker at the Université de Montreal is undertaking a study to understand how probiotics slow down the progression of ALS symptoms in worms.
• Dr. Lisa Topolnik at the Centre Hospitalier de l'Université Laval will study how certain neurons called interneurons, which connect to motor neurons in the brain, might be implicated in the early stages of ALS.

All of the research projects  were selected through a competitive peer review process, regarded as the international benchmark of excellence in assessing projects for research funding. The peer review process engages a panel of international experts in ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases in evaluating and ranking all proposed research projects based on their scientific merit and on the potential to most quickly advance the field of ALS research in order to develop effective treatments. All aspects of the peer review process are executed in full partnership with Brain Canada, whose funds are provided through a partnership with Health Canada known as the Canada Brain Research Fund.

Approximately 1,000 Canadians are diagnosed with ALS each year. At any time, there are approximately 2,500 to 3,000 people living with the disease in Canada, and the average cost of caring for one person with ALS is between $150,000 and $250,000. Every day, two to three Canadians will die of ALS.

About Canada's ALS Societies
ALS Societies across Canada fundraise on a regional basis to provide services and support to people and families living with ALS and to contribute to the funding of the ALS Canada Research Program. The ALS Canada Research Program funds peer-reviewed research grants and fosters collaboration amongst Canadian researchers, helping to nurture new ideas and build capacity. ALS Societies advocate federally, provincially and locally on behalf of people and families living with ALS for better government support and access within the healthcare system.

About Brain Canada and the Canada Brain Research Fund 
Brain Canada is a national non-profit organization headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, that enables and supports excellent, innovative, paradigm-changing brain research in Canada. For more than one decade, Brain Canada has made the case for the brain as a single, complex system with commonalities across the range of neurological disorders, mental illnesses and addictions, brain and spinal cord injuries. Looking at the brain as one system has underscored the need for increased collaboration across disciplines and institutions, and a smarter way to invest in brain research that is focused on outcomes that will benefit patients and families. Brain Canada's vision is to understand the brain, in health and illness, to improve lives and achieve societal impact.

The Canada Brain Research Fund is a public-private partnership between the Government of Canada and Brain Canada, designed to encourage Canadians to increase their support of brain research, and maximize the impact and efficiency of those investments. Brain Canada and its partners have committed to raising $120 million, which is being matched by Health Canada on a 1:1 basis for a total of $240 million.  For more information, visit www.braincanada.ca. 

SOURCE ALS Canada

ACE launches JointHealth™ Education

North America's first on-line classroom designed to educate, empower and graduate today's modern arthritis patient

Arthritis Consumer Experts (ACE) today announced the launch of its newest on-line patient education program: JointHealth™ Education. Designed to enable arthritis patients to progress from being a "student" of arthritis to full-fledged "graduate," JointHealth™ Education empowers and equips them to be equal partners on their health care team. As part of the launch, ACE is introducing the first course in the program - JointHealth™ Education: Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) - to help patients and their healthcare providers better understand each other's motivations and goals for the patient's overall treatment and care plan.

"JointHealth™ Education was inspired by many of ACE's members living with an inflammatory arthritis who have told us they lack the communications expertise to have full, satisfying conversations with their rheumatologists on topics such as treatment options during their clinical visits. The program is informed by our organization's participation on a global advisory panel that conducted a survey in 16 countries of rheumatoid arthritis patients and their health care providers. The results illuminate the discord between the needs, concerns and fears of patients compared to the views of their health care providers," said Cheryl Koehn, Founder and President of Arthritis Consumer Experts and a member of the RA Narrative Global Advisory Panel.

Key findings of the RA Narrative Global Patient Survey included:

• The vast majority of RA patients survey indicated they defined treatment success as no longer being in pain and having little to no inflammation, followed by improvement in their overall quality of life; the healthcare provider survey reported that their goals for their patients were achieving disease remission and/or low disease activity;
• More than a third of patients surveyed reported they do not take their RA prescription medication as prescribed;
• Over two-thirds of RA patients reported they felt uncomfortable raising their concerns/fear with the healthcare provider, and over a third strongly agreed or agreed that they worry if they ask too many questions, their healthcare provider would consider them a "difficult patient" and this would affect their quality of care.

These and other important findings from the RA Narrative Global Patient Survey led ACE to seek a made-in-Canada solution that focuses on closing the "communication gap" between RA patients and their rheumatologist to help them work as equal partners in disease management.

"The survey represents the views of 4,000 RA patients around the world and of their healthcare providers in the companion survey, providing ACE the road map for the development of JointHealth Education RA," said Koehn. "This evidence tells us that a patient's perception of their RA and its treatment, as well as their relationship with their healthcare provider, impacts the management and the outcomes of their disease. It shows us that, together, RA patients and their rheumatologists can better communicate and understand one another's views to achieve the best possible outcomes for patients."

JointHealth™ Education provides current, evidence-informed lessons, quizzes and coaching videos through a secure, on-line classroom where they can learn from the comfort of their own home or over the work day lunch hour. The program helps prepare patients to appropriately frame their health concerns and questions with their healthcare provider. Upon successful completion of a course the patient "Graduate" receives a certificate indicating they have the knowledge and communication tips needed to successfully prepare for their medical visit, talk to their health care provider about setting treatment goals and making an overall plan, discuss specific treatments (medication and non-medication forms) to manage and monitor their type of arthritis.

"Canadian rheumatologists have been actively discussing and pursuing ways to improve communication between patients and rheumatologists in order to work together to set treatment goals and establish a treatment plan to achieve the best possible disease outcomes. JointHealth™ Education is a valuable tool not just for patients, but also for rheumatologists – junior and senior, alike – to better assess the wants and needs of patients through their eyes, not just ours as was the case in days gone by," said Kam Shojania, MD, FRCPC, Clinical Professor and Head, Division of Rheumatology, University of British Columbia, and Medical Director of the Mary Pack Arthritis Program.

About Arthritis Consumer Experts

Arthritis Consumer Experts is a national organization that provides free, science-based information and education programs in both official languages to people with arthritis. ACE serves people living with all forms of arthritis by helping them take control of their disease and improve their quality of life through education and empowerment. Founded and led by people with arthritis, ACE also actively advocates on arthritis health and policy issues, through ACE's JointHealth™ family of programs and the Arthritis Broadcast Network, directly to consumers/patients, healthcare professionals, media and government. ACE is guided by a strict set of guiding principles, set out by an advisory board comprised of leading scientists, medical professionals and informed arthritis consumers.

New compound shows promise in treating multiple human cancers

A new compound, discovered jointly by international pharmaceutical company Servier, headquartered in France, and Vernalis (R&D), a company based in the UK, has been shown by researchers at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute and Servier to block a protein that is essential for the sustained growth of up to a quarter of all cancers.

The research presents a new way to efficiently kill these cancerous cells and holds promise for the treatment of blood cancers such as acute myeloid leukaemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma, as well as solid cancers such as melanoma and cancers of the lung and breast. It is published online today in the journal Nature.

The Servier compound - S63845 - targets a protein of the BCL2 family, called MCL1, which is essential for the sustained survival of these cancer cells.

Institute scientist Associate Professor Guillaume Lessene, who led the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute's research team in Melbourne, Australia, said the work provided the first clear preclinical evidence that inhibiting MCL1 was effective in targeting several cancer types.

"MCL1 is important for many cancers because it is a pro-survival protein that allows the cancerous cells to evade the process of programmed cell death that normally removes cancer cells from the body," Associate Professor Lessene said. "Extensive studies performed in a variety of cancer models have shown that S63845 potently targets cancer cells dependent on MCL1 for their survival."

The institute team of Associate Professor Lessene  worked with haematologist Associate Professor Andrew Wei and Dr Donia Moujalled from The Alfred Hospital and Servier scientists, to demonstrate that not only was S63845 effective against several cancer types, but that it could also be delivered at doses that were well tolerated by normal cells.

Dr Olivier Geneste, Director of Oncology Research at Servier, said: "This preclinical research and the identification of drug candidates confirm the potential of MCL1 as a therapeutic target in cancers. S63845 was discovered through collaboration with the fragment and structure based discovery expertise at Vernalis. As part of the ongoing Servier / Novartis collaboration on this target class, clinical development of a MCL1 inhibitor should be launched in the near future."

Associate Professor Lessene said the research provided further evidence of the usefulness of a new class of anti-cancer drugs called BH3 mimetics. "BH3 mimetics inhibit a group of proteins known as the 'pro-survival BCL-2 proteins'," he said. "MCL1 is a member of this protein family, and inhibiting it activates the process of programmed cell death. Walter and Eliza Hall Institute researchers revealed the role of BCL-2 in cancer more than 28 years ago and the essential role of MCL1 for the survival of malignant cells four years ago."

The research was supported through a research collaboration with Servier and through funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (US), Cancer Council Victoria, the Kay Kendall Leukemia Fund, Victorian Cancer Agency, Australian Cancer Research Foundation, the Victorian Government Operational Infrastructure Scheme and the estate of Anthony Redstone.

The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute is the research powerhouse of the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, an alliance of leading Victorian hospitals and research centres committed to controlling cancer.

About Servier 

Servier is an international pharmaceutical company governed by a non-profit Foundation and headquartered in France. With a strong international presence in 148 countries and a turnover of 3.9 billion euro in 2015, Servier employs over 21,200 people worldwide. Corporate growth is driven by Servier's constant search for innovation in five areas of excellence: cardiology, oncology, metabolism, neuropsychiatry and rheumatology, as well as by its activities in high quality generic drugs. Being completely independent, the Group reinvests 25% of Servier's products turnover in Research and Development, and all its profits in its growth.

Becoming a key player in oncology is part of Servier's long-term strategy. Currently, there are nine molecular entities in clinical development in this area, targeting gastric and lung cancers and other solid tumors, as well as various leukemias and lymphomas. This portfolio of innovative cancer treatments is being developed with partners worldwide, and covers different cancer hallmarks and modalities, including cytotoxics, proapoptotics, targeted, immune and cellular therapies.

Research winner sees early intervention as key to pre-empting mental illness

Can we make a difference in a person's lifelong mental health if we reach them early enough?

That's the thinking behind the research being done by Dr. Rudolf Uher, the winner of this year's The Royal-Mach-Gaensslen Prize for Mental Health Research, an annual $100,000 award that celebrates one of the most promising young mental health researchers in Canada and helps fund innovative and progressive studies.

"I am very honoured," said Dr. Uher today at the announcement in the Winter Garden of The Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre. "This prize will be instrumental in furthering my research to potentially reduce the development of mental illness through early intervention," he said.

This "groundbreaking" research could have far-reaching impact, said Dr. Chris Carruthers, Chair of the Mach-Gaensslen Foundation. "Nobody has embarked on such a long-term project that could potentially impact the well-being of people all over the world."

Dr. Uher, co-founder of Families Overcoming Risks and Building Opportunities for Well-Being (Forbow.org) and a Dalhousie University professor, believes that if children are given tools to cope with mental illness early on, there's a greater chance to reduce it significantly as they grow up.

His earlier research found that one in three children of parents with existing mental illness, are likely to have a significant mental illness later in life. Because of this "genetic sensitivity," Dr. Uher believes giving children, as young as 9-years-old, the skills to counter issues like anxiety early will provide a solid foundation for them into adulthood.

Dr. Uher is currently conducting research with more than 300 children, monitoring them as they grow up.

"We found that when people were talking about early interventions it was at a point when it was almost already at a full mental illness," Dr. Uher said. "We weren't treating patients early enough. It's much easier to work with anxiety in a 10-year-old, than psychosis in an adult."

"We wanted to do something about it," said Dr. Uher. "It's why I was attracted to early intervention. We literally are one of the first ones trying it."

"Dr. Uher's work has put Canada in a leadership position," said Dr. Zul Merali, President and CEO of The Royal's Institute of Mental Health Research, affiliated with the University of Ottawa. "This is the kind of forward-thinking we need in order to find real and meaningful solutions to mental illness."

Louise Bradley, President and CEO of the Mental Health Commission of Canada, presented the prize to Dr. Uher.

"Research tells us that psychotherapies and clinical counselling are cost effective, and improve outcomes for many people living with mild to moderate depression and anxiety," says Bradley. "I congratulate Dr. Uher on his important work, which strengthens the case for improving access to services – especially among children and youth – and highlights the need for them to be woven into the public healthcare system."

Over the course of the next year, Dr. Uher will be doing lectures at several universities across the country. He will also be hosting a live chat on Facebook for those interested in discussing the concept of early intervention.

The Royal-Mach-Gaensslen Prize for Mental Health Research was established in early 2015 with a $1 million gift to The Royal from The Mach-Gaensslen Foundation of Canada. This is the second time the annual prize has been awarded.

More information about the prize winner is available at www.theroyal.ca.

 

About The Royal
The Royal is one of Canada's foremost mental health care, teaching and research hospitals. Its mandate is simple: to help more people living with mental illness into recovery faster. The Royal combines the delivery of specialized mental health care, advocacy, research and education to transform the lives of people with complex and treatment resistant mental illness. The Royal's Institute of Mental Health Research is proudly affiliated with the University of Ottawa. The Royal Ottawa Foundation for Mental Health raises funds that support The Royal's work. The Royal places a sharp focus on awareness building through the You Know Who I Am campaign and public education initiatives like Conversations at The Royal and Is It Just Me? Conversations about Youth Mental Health.

About the Mach-Gaensslen Foundation
The Mach-Gaensslen Foundation of Canada honours the lives of Vaclav F. Mach and Dr. Hanni Gaensslen by supporting research related to the fields of cardiology, oncology, and psychiatry. The foundation supports student research at Canadian medical schools. The grants not only enable students to conduct medical research during their time at university, but also encourage them to make research an ongoing part of their careers.

 

CORVALLIS, Ore. – A growing body of evidence suggests that two natural compounds, vitamin D and xanthohumol, have the ability to address imbalances in gut microbiota that may set the stage for obesity and metabolic syndrome - problems that affect about one out of every three adults in the United States.

To explore and identify the specific mechanisms by which these compounds have beneficial effects, researchers in the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University have received a new five-year, $2.64 million grant from the National Institutes of Health.

The possible payoff of this research, they say, may be an entirely new way to reduce or prevent some of the major diseases that are killing millions of people every year, such as heart disease and type-2 diabetes.

The new approach would attempt, using high dose supplementation, to prevent disease from developing, instead of treating it after the fact.

“The benefits of xanthohumol and vitamin D have been clearly shown in laboratory studies to reduce weight gain and improve gut barrier defenses,” said Adrian Gombart, an associate professor of biochemistry and biophysics in the OSU College of Science, and a principal investigator with the Linus Pauling Institute. “These compounds appear to activate nuclear receptors and pathways that may affect microbe composition, and in the process reduce the damage from metabolic syndrome.”

One study published by OSU researchers two years ago in the Journal of Biological Chemistry found that rats given xanthohumol supplements, which are made from hops, had a 14 percent reduction in weight gain, a 25 percent reduction in plasma fasting glucose, and improved lipid metabolism, compared to a control group of rats that ate the same amount of food. They had a higher rate of fatty acid oxidation and energy metabolism. In simple terms, they burned more fat.

In other studies, higher levels of vitamin D status in humans have been associated with reduced risk of obesity, m
etabolic syndrome, cancer, infectious diseases, autoimmune diseases, and other health problems.

Other lead investigators on this research include Claudia Maier, an OSU professor of chemistry; Fred Stevens, a professor in the OSU College of Pharmacy and also a principal investigator with the Linus Pauling Institute; and Balz Frei, a distinguished professor of biochemistry and biophysics, and director of the Linus Pauling Institute.

The OSU researchers believe some of the benefits of vitamin D and/or xanthohumol may be a strong increase in the expression of the cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide, or CAMP gene. The hypothesis to be tested in this research, using animal models, is that higher CAMP levels improve gut epithelial barrier function, reduce inflammation, modify gut microbiota and in the process reduce problems with obesity and metabolic syndrome.

“Some of the benefits we’re seeing are fairly clear and dramatic, and we need to better understand the mechanisms that cause them,” Stevens said.

The compounds may also affect liver function, shutting down metabolic pathways that produce fat and glucose, he said.

Vitamin D can be obtained through either the diet or produced by the skin, with adequate exposure to sunshine. Millions of people who live in temperate zones around the world, however, have been found to have inadequate levels of this vitamin, but this can be corrected by taking a supplement.

Xanthohumol, a flavonoid, is also a natural compound and is found in the hops used to make beer. Researchers point out, however, that the levels of xanthohumol being used in this research greatly exceed any amount that could be obtained by drinking beer.

Direct health care costs arising from obesity and related disorders accounts for almost 10 percent of U.S. health care expenditures each year, the researchers said. The health care costs of diabetes alone were estimated in the U.S. at $176 billion in 2012, and it’s one of the leading causes of death in the nation.