2015 CP Has Heart Cardiovascular Research Award
recipients announced
TORONTO, Oct. 23, 2015 /CNW/ - The Heart and Stroke
Foundation and Canadian Pacific (CP) are proud to announce the 2015
CP Has Heart Cardiovascular Award recipients - 10 Canadian
cardiovascular research projects that will receive funding because
of a visionary partnership between the Foundation and CP. This
partnership, announced in May 2015,
is a bold initiative that will move cardiovascular research forward
in Canada, at a time when research
funding from traditional sources has been on the decline.
Through its CP Has Heart community investment program, CP
committed $3 million over three years
to support cardiovascular research with a focus on
multi-generational health. The research projects announced today
cover topics as diverse as preventing heart damage from viral
infections, personalizing treatments for a genetic disorder that
can prove fatal for Canadians under 30, and examining the impact of
fertility drugs on the heart health of women.
"This is the first time in the history of the Heart and Stroke
Foundation that a corporate partner has made such a
forward-thinking investment in Canadian cardiovascular research,"
says David Sculthorpe, CEO of the
Heart and Stroke Foundation. "CP's generous support will
propel medical advances by the Canadian cardiovascular community to
create longer, healthier futures for families from coast to
coast."
Ray Johnson knows first-hand the
impact of medical advances on families. While he was in hospital
recovering from triple bypass surgery, Ray's daughter was admitted
one floor away, in labour. Things quickly became dire when the
baby's heart rate registered off the charts. Baby Atli entered this world with chaotic atrial
tachycardia, an irregular heart beat.
"Thanks to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, both my grandson and
I have benefited from treatments that extend the lives of patients
of all ages," says Ray. He is grateful for each day he spends with
Atli and the rest of his family.
Through its visionary corporate leadership, CP will help to
write more stories like Ray's. The CP Has Heart Cardiovascular
Research Awards will be presented to the recipients at the Canadian
Cardiovascular Congress on Sunday, October
25, 2015 in Toronto.
"The focus of our CP Has Heart program is to improve the heart
health of men, women and children across North America, particularly in those
communities in which our railroad operates," said Mark Wallace, VP Corporate Affairs and Chief of
Staff. "Our partnership with the Heart and Stroke Foundation, and
the CP Has Heart Cardiovascular Awards, means the best minds in
cardiology in Canada can continue
to transform lives and help create healthier communities today and
for the future."
The award recipients were selected through the Heart and Stroke
Foundation's gold standard peer review process. In 2015, 454 grant
applications were received by the Foundation and peer reviewed by
150 volunteer experts. The CP Has Heart Cardiovascular award
recipients represent cardiovascular research excellence in
Canada.
About CP
Canadian Pacific (TSX:CP)(NYSE:CP) is a
transcontinental railway in Canada
and the United States with direct
links to eight major ports, including Vancouver and Montreal, providing North American customers a
competitive rail service with access to key markets in every corner
of the globe. CP is growing with its customers, offering a suite of
freight transportation services, logistics solutions and supply
chain expertise. Visit cpr.ca to see the rail advantages of
Canadian Pacific.
About CP Has Heart
At CP we know that a railroad may serve as the arteries of a
nation, but at its heart is community. That's why through CP Has
Heart, we're improving the heart health of men, women and
children across North America.
Since its inception, CP Has Heart has committed more than
$6 million dollars to heart health
initiatives in communities across Canada. And along the way, we're showing heart
whenever we can. Find out more on www.cpr.ca or
@CPhasHeart.
About the Heart and Stroke Foundation
The Heart and Stroke Foundation's mission is to prevent disease,
save lives and promote recovery. A volunteer-based health charity,
we strive to tangibly improve the health of every Canadian family,
every day. Healthy lives free of heart disease and stroke. Together
we will make it happen. Learn how at heartandstroke.ca.
CP Has Heart Cardiovascular Award 2015
Recipients
Dr. John Dawson, University of Guelph
Hunting the cause of a potential killer
When a competitive athlete suddenly collapses and dies, the cause
is often hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a thickening of the
heart muscle. This study examines how specific proteins can
interact to cause HCM in patients with an inherited defect in the
heart protein cardiac actin, with a goal to prevent and treat this
life-threatening condition.
Dr. John Eikelboom,
McMaster University
Creating better outcomes for patients on blood thinners
Blood thinning medications to reduce the risk of clots are
routinely used to prevent heart attack and stroke, but they can
also cause bleeding. This study will identify the risk factors for
bleeding in patients receiving these medications, with an aim to
develop new strategies for preventing heart attack and stroke.
Dr. Slava Epelman,
University of Toronto
How can we prevent heart damage from viral infections?
Viral infections can leave the heart damaged and vulnerable to
develop heart failure in adults and children. This study examines
the role of the heart's own immune cells in battling viral
infections and how they may actually contribute to heart damage
through inflammation, with an aim to find new therapies to protect
the heart from damage.
Dr. Paul Kubes, University of Calgary
Microscopic technology will reveal keys to preventing blood
vessel damage
Damage to the inner lining of blood vessels occurs in many types of
cardiovascular disease, yet we don't fully understand how or why
this happens. Using sophisticated microscopes, this study examines
the potential role of the body's own defenses in causing this
damage which could lead to more targeted treatments to prevent
blood vessel damage.
Dr. Gregoire Le Gal,
University of Ottawa
Building a better test to detect dangerous blood clots
When blood clots form in the leg veins, a fast, accurate diagnosis
is critical to avoid the potentially fatal risk of clots travelling
to the lungs. This study investigates a more accurate age-adjusted
test to help doctors diagnose and treat clots faster, saving lives
and preventing unnecessary blood-thinning therapy for patients who
don't need it.
Dr. Shubhayan Sanatani, University of
British Columbia
Reducing the toll of a deadly heart defect
A heart rhythm disorder known as CPVT can kill as many as half of
those who have it by age 30. We know little about it, and who is at
highest risk for cardiac arrest and sudden death. This study is the
first to address CPVT on a large scale by establishing a detailed
registry of patients, including family history and blood samples,
and could save lives through personalized treatments.
Dr. Richard Schulz,
University of Alberta
Targeted drugs could help promote better recovery from heart
attack
When blood flow to the heart is blocked in a heart attack,
permanent damage and eventual heart failure can result - both from
the blockage and from its removal to restore normal flow. This
investigation of how the protein MMP-2 contributes to heart injury
could lead to identifying inhibitor drugs to prevent heart failure
and save lives.
Dr. Craig Simmons,
University of Toronto
Finding a treatment for diseased heart valves
When heart valves are diseased they stop functioning properly,
putting strain on the heart. This study investigates if a molecule
called CNP can help slow the progression of calcific aortic valve
disease, with a long-term goal to improve patients' quality of
life.
Dr. Jacob Udell, University of Toronto
Do fertility drugs affect women's heart health?
More Canadian women are using fertility drugs to get pregnant, yet
we know little about their long-term effects. This is the first
study of the association between fertility treatment failure and
the risk of cardiovascular events that could lead to saving the
lives of more Canadian women.
Dr. Shi Wu Wen, University of Ottawa
Could fertility treatments be linked to heart defects in some
pregnancies?
Congenital heart defects occur when the heart or nearby blood
vessels don't develop normally before birth, affecting about 3,000
pregnancies each year in Canada.
This study is focused on the impact of assisted reproductive
technology to determine whether babies born to obese mothers are
more likely to have congenital heart defects than those born to
non-obese mothers.
SOURCE Canadian Pacific