Suniya Kukaswadia

As a former astronaut, now assistant professor in the University of Toronto's department of surgery and hospital chief executive officer, Dr. Dave Williams has a unique perspective on health care.

Today, Williams is using lessons he learned in space to transform care as president and CEO of Southlake Regional Heath Centre. He spoke to writer Suniya Kukaswadia about the promise of Big Data, the future of medicine and the intersection of science and science fiction.

Do you think big data will change medical research in the future?

Big data presents opportunities for using large databases of information to provide diagnostic support to clinicians. The ICU is a good example. We can monitor patients using physiologic sensors to record heart rate, urine output and blood pressure as opposed to relying on one-on-one interactions between the health care professional and patient to gather the data and make decisions.

Imagine if we can use computers to do this in the future instead of people. It sounds like something out of Star Trek or 2001: A Space Odyssey.

In the aerospace world, for example, aircraft have on-board data monitoring systems that help the crew ensure everything is working properly. The clinical data is there but now we have the opportunity through analytics to apply this information to health care.

What inspired you to become an astronaut and a physician?

It goes back to 1961 when Alan Shepard went to space. I remember watching it on TV and thinking ‘that’s incredible! That’s what I want to do.’ But at that time Canada didn’t have an astronaut program. I decided to focus on the underwater world instead, and became passionate about scuba diving.

At age 12 I was considered young for the course and I had to pass both the physical and theoretical tests to get my scuba certificate. The theory involved advanced physics and a lot of physiology. I became interested in looking at how the body adapted to functioning in extreme environments – whether it was underwater or in space. That’s one of the reasons why I became a physician.

While many see me as an astronaut, an aquanaut and a physician, I would actually characterize myself as an exploration scientist who is passionate about how the body performs in a wide-range of environments. My passion is helping people working in those environments optimize their performance.

How does one role inform the other?

Both working in space and in health care requires understanding how teams work together in environments that are intolerant of error. The consequences of a mistake in space can be catastrophic. The same is true in clinical practice. If you were going in for surgery you would want to know that the operating room is a zero-fault-tolerant environment where your clinical team achieves success and avoids errors.

Both careers are also data driven and science-enabled. Our understanding of scientific principles has helped us explore space, and the same is true for medicine. We’re using science and engineering to drive the development of new technology to deliver state-of-the-art health care in space. Similarly, technological innovation is transforming the way in which medical care is delivered on Earth. There have been remarkable changes in the treatment of a number of different diseases over the course of my career, all driven by research and innovation. For instance, it is exciting to see how the application of space robotics to the development of surgical robots is transforming modern surgery.

One of the reasons why I became a hospital CEO was to see whether we could take the lessons learned from aerospace about the importance of innovation, safety and quality and bring them into health care.

Have you been able to apply any of those lessons at Southlake?

Yes, very much so. One of the elements of high reliability organizations is creating a culture of safety. At Southlake we have a very vibrant culture called the Southlake Way. It is defined by our core values of putting patients first, honouring our commitments, pushing the envelope and giving a damn. We just added a new core value called ‘speak up’ which is an extrapolation of what we do in the aerospace program. During a space flight we want crew members to speak up if they see something that they are concerned about. The same applies to health care, where we are seeing the concept integrated into the use of surgical checklists.

How do you think science fiction influences medical devices?

I think science fiction is a driver that challenges us to consider what might be possible. It is based on science portrayed from a fictional perspective. If you think back to the SciFi from the 1960s, you’ll recognize some of the devices that are in use today such as body-worn sensors that collect physiologic data and stream it to hand-held devices. Metaphorically it’s very similar to the Tricorder from Star Trek.

During my first space flight in 1998, I had to take a pill that was actually an AM frequency radio hooked up to a temperature sensor. It was used to monitor my core body temperature. The data was then sent via radio signals to a receiver I wore on the outside of my body and then downloaded to a research team in mission control.

SciFi is great at getting us to think about biocompatible devices. Currently, we’re seeing glimpses of the fictional ‘bionic person’ with people who have artificial implants. Take ventricular assist devices. In the 1950s and 60s those would be considered science fiction, but they are a reality today. I’m interested to see where biocompatible devices will take us in the future.

What are some of the big challenges facing health care today in your opinion?

I think we need to transition from a health and disease model to a wellness model. I trained as a physician when rest and recovery was a routine part of a hospital stay. Patients were admitted to the hospital to be treated and then rest and recover. That’s now evolving into a system where patients are admitted to the hospital when they need access to sophisticated technology to diagnose or treat a condition followed by early mobilization. Where possible I think care needs to be transferred back to the community with supports to help patients return to their optimum level of function.

How can the health care model shift towards a wellness-focused approach?

We’re already seeing the shift in my opinion. Patients and their families are better engaged in individualized care plans developed by interprofessional teams. We’re also creating new technologies to help empower patients to get more involved in their care. Technology will definitely speed up the transition to a more wellness-focused approach. I think this model will also help us confront some of the economic factors we face in health care today.

What are some unique health issues faced by astronauts?

Astronauts in space face the same challenges we face while we age. Their rate of bone loss can be anywhere from one to two per cent per month. This becomes problematic if an astronaut has been in space for an extended period of time. They also face issues with muscle wasting and aerobic deconditioning. We don’t use our legs much while in space. After a space flight it takes some time to adapt to a gravitational environment and regain your terrestrial legs.

NASA uses bed rest when it does research to understand the impact of these changes on an astronaut’s body. When some elderly patients are admitted to the hospital, we may keep them in bed for extended periods of time depending on their condition and need for care in the community. That’s like sending someone to Mars.

On my first space flight we wore a wrist device that monitored our activity levels. Imagine if we monitored activity levels of patients in hospitals, and physicians started prescribing minimum levels of activity to make sure people weren’t becoming deconditioned. We’re much more aware of the need for early mobilization in health care. I’m very excited to see our physiotherapists working together with respiratory therapists to help recovering ICU patients on ventilators walk around.

We know physical activity is crucial in the space program, but that’s something that’s fallen off the radar in the traditional health and disease model of care. Activity, diet and sleep are all critical in the wellness model.

Where do you see health care going?

Our imagination will be the limit, but I think we will use more and more technology in the delivery of innovative community-based care. However, one thing to consider is whether or not humans will remain an earth-living species, or will we be a space faring species. We know people want to go to Mars. Our ability to live on Mars will be based on us developing technology to drive biologic sustainability. Biologic change is measured in centuries whereas technologic growth is much faster. I think health care in the future will be based on technology optimizing physiologic function.

What do you think humans in 100 years will look like?

I think fundamentally the human form will continue to look the way it does today. But I wouldn’t be surprised if people continued to grow taller and have better physical conditioning. I also think we’ll see more bionics. We have some interesting advancements even now. In the past we haven’t been able to do much for adults who lose their sight. But now we’re seeing the emergence of light sensors that interact with the central nervous system to give people a rudimentary pattern of light recognition.

Suniya Kukaswadia is a writer with the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto.

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�Թϱ�� medical residents help Ontario coroner's office

sgupta — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 14:25:02 +0000

�Թϱ�� medical residents help Ontario coroner's office sgupta Tue, 04/14/2015 - 10:25

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diagnostic images courtesy the Faculty of Medicine

Suniya Kukaswadia

Author legacy

Suniya Kukaswadia

Conducting, observing and assisting autopsies, visiting crime scenes and observing court testimony – those are just a few of the challenges faced by University of Toronto medical residents this year.

It's the first time it's been done anywhere in Canada, organizers say.

This year, the Ontario Forensic Pathology Unit and the Faculty of Medicine’s departments of medical imaging and laboratory medicine and pathobiology worked together to help residents gain forensic radiology experience. And, as the diagnostic radiology residents rotated through the provincial forensic pathology unit, they worked with forensic pathologists to analyze medical images (CT and MRI) to help determine better approaches for autopsies.

Ontario's Provincial Forensic Pathology Unit conducts post-mortem examinations on people who have died suddenly and unexpectedly. Since moving to a new facility in 2013, the unit has integrated advanced tools such as full-body CT scans and MRIs into their practice. Forensic pathologists use these studies to plan their postmortem examinations and to provide evidence during criminal proceedings.

While forensic pathologists are experts at performing autopsies and determining how and why people die, most of them don’t have formal radiology training.

That’s where the radiology residents come in.

“Radiology residents really benefit from participating in this rotation. They get to be medical imaging consultants, improve their communications skills and work collaboratively in a high-stakes environment,” says Dr. Eric Bartlett, program director for the Diagnostic Radiology Residency Program and an assistant professor in the department of medical imaging. “Their medical expert skills are tested and they’re rewarded with pathology correlation of the imaging findings.”

Forensic pathologists, residents, fellows and other trainees at the Forensic Pathology Unit gain valuable knowledge in medical imaging from the diagnostic radiology residents who help pathologists decide how best to conduct autopsies based on the imagery.

The residents, on the other hand, gain exposure to a range of trauma and untreated diseases across all age groups and expertise in post-mortem radiology – a field that can be very different from radiology for the living. The residents also see pathology in real time shortly after making a radiologic diagnosis, something that is impossible in a clinical setting.

“We’re really excited to host diagnostic radiology residents at our facility. We believe the experience will promote interdisciplinary learning, and develop relationships between the two diagnostic specialties for years to come,” says Professor Michael Pickup, a forensic pathologist and post-mortem imaging lead at the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service. He is also an assistant professor in the department of laboratory medicine and pathobiology.

Bartlett says he hopes to expand the rotation to allow all residents to rotate through forensic radiology during their residency.

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Indigenous leaders, health care providers to gather at �Թϱ��

sgupta — Fri, 30 May 2014 13:39:04 +0000

Indigenous leaders, health care providers to gather at �Թϱ�� sgupta Fri, 05/30/2014 - 09:39

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Inuit girls play street bat and ball

Jim Oldfield

Suniya Kukaswadia with files from Jim Oldfield

Suniya Kukaswadia

Author legacy

Suniya Kukaswadia with files from Jim Oldfield

Topic

Subheadline

Conference seeks to address health inequities in Indigenous populations

The Canadian government needs to do more for our Indigenous populations – that’s the message of a recent report by the United Nations that calls the government’s efforts to improve the overall health, safety and living conditions of Indigenous populations “insufficient”.

The UN report says there is a growing gap in the wellbeing of Indigenous populations compared with non-Indigenous Canadians. As well, Indigenous women and girls remain vulnerable to abuse.

To address these and other disparities, Aboriginal health experts, care providers and community members from all over Canada are coming together for the 2014 Indigenous Health Conference.

The conference is an opportunity for health professionals to share experiences and discuss ways to build trust, improve quality of care and enhance cultural competency, and is the first of its kind hosted by the University of Toronto. Most of the conference committee and speakers are from Indigenous backgrounds. The event includes a job fair to help health care providers find opportunities in under-resourced, remote and rural communities.

Professor Anna Banerji — who has spent two decades working with Indigenous peoples — created the event. Her extensive research showed that Inuit babies in Canada’s North have the highest rate of lung infection in the world, due — among other reasons — to cigarette smoke exposure, overcrowded housing, poor nutrition and long distances to health facilities.

More recently, Banerji showed that giving Inuit babies antibodies against a virus called RSV would be cheaper than treating them in hospital — findings that changed Canadian Paediatric Society guidelines on prevention of RSV among the Inuit.

However, those guidelines have not yet been implemented. Banerji, an assistant professor in the Department of Paediatrics and Dalla Lana School of Public Health and Director of Global and Indigenous Health Continuing Professional Development, says the delay is rooted in a double standard persistent in Canada’s health care system.

“We have plenty of resources to go around, yet we tolerate Indigenous children starving in this country. It’s unacceptable that we allow these conditions to exist even though we can afford to do better,” says Banerji.

Indigenous children receive less funding per capita for education than non-Indigenous children in Canada.

Banerji explains Indigenous peoples experience significant health disparities on every major indicator, including lower life expectancies and higher infant mortality rates. She feels colonization and a history of trauma compound sustained malnutrition, poverty and lack of access to adequate care.

“The average Canadian doesn’t know about the abuse that took place in residential schools; that treaties were “negotiated” with chiefs and elders who didn’t speak or understand the language; and that Indigenous populations were confined to small areas and were not allowed to leave without permission from the Crown,” says Banerji, who was appointed to the Order of Ontario in 2012 for her work on respiratory diseases in Inuit children and refugee health.

Misconceptions about how Indigenous populations seek care also contribute to the problem. In general, First Nations, Inuit and Métis Canadians have a holistic view of health that takes their communities, environment, families, elders, ancestors and future generations into account. Focusing on the biomedical aspect of health addresses only a small piece of the puzzle for many Indigenous peoples.

“We have to build trust by listening to Indigenous peoples. We need to foster dialogue, stop colonization and negotiate in good faith,” says Banerji. She hopes the conference will help Indigenous and non-Indigenous healthcare professionals explore challenges and possible solutions.

“There’s a lot of healing that still needs to take place. Together we can stop the legacy of colonization.”

The conference will take place every other year, alternating with the North American Refugee Health Conference. Abstracts are currently being accepted.

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Millions of working Canadians struggle to afford food: �Թϱ�� report

sgupta — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 11:34:02 +0000

Millions of working Canadians struggle to afford food: �Թϱ�� report sgupta Thu, 02/06/2014 - 06:34

Suniya Kukaswadia

Author legacy

Suniya Kukasawdia

Topic

Subheadline

Aboriginal and black households among hardest hit

Four million Canadians, including 1.15 million children, are living in households where it is sometimes a struggle to put food on the table, researchers at the University of Toronto have found.

And most of those households are sustained by working adults - including self-employed, salaried and hourly workers.

Nearly one in eight households is affected by food insecurity, which is defined as inadequate access to food because of financial constraints. At its mildest level, food insecurity means worrying about feeding yourself and your family before your next paycheque. As the problem gets worse, people can’t afford to have balanced meals. Then they begin to skip meals, cut portion sizes and eventually go days without eating, all because they can’t afford the food they need. Those affected often face physical and emotional hardships which compromise their health.

The study was led by �Թϱ��’s Valerie Tarasuk and her team at PROOF, a research project that identifies effective policy interventions to address household food insecurity.

Building on a report they released last year, the team analyzed municipal data for the first time. Researchers found Halifax had the highest incidence of food insecurity, with one in five households affected. It was followed by Moncton, Guelph and Barrie.

The report continues to chart some disturbing trends across the country. Food insecurity has persisted or grown in every province and territory since 2005; 2012 rates in Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Quebec, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories were the highest since Health Canada began monitoring the problem.

The team also discovered that 28 per cent of black and Aboriginal households reported some form of food insecurity — more than double the national average.

“Food insecurity takes a very real toll on people’s physical and mental health. Four million Canadians are now affected and the number keeps growing. We need to act now to address this problem,” says Tarasuk, a Nutritional Sciences Professor at the Faculty of Medicine.

Some key points from the report include:

There are 600,000 more Canadians affected by food insecurity now than in 2007-2008
62.2 per cent of food insecure homes are working households
70 per cent of households on social assistance are food insecure, with 29 per cent experiencing severe deprivation
45 per cent of households in Nunavut reported some level of food insecurity

The report, released today, is available here.

Suniya Kukasawdia is a writer with the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto.

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2013 Mats Sundin Fellows named

sgupta — Thu, 22 Aug 2013 10:34:49 +0000

2013 Mats Sundin Fellows named sgupta Thu, 08/22/2013 - 06:34

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Mats Sundin with Fellows Sophie Petropoulos at left and Jessica Weidner at right (photo courtesy the Canadian Embassy in Sweden)

Suniya Kukaswadia

Author legacy

Suniya Kukaswadia

Topic

Experts agree that a mother’s health and lifestyle during pregnancy can have a lasting impact on a child’s development. But just how crucial are those initial days after conception?

This is just one of the many questions Mats Sundin Fellow Sophie Petropoulos is looking to answer.

Petropoulos is one of two postdoctoral fellows awarded the 2013 Mats Sundin Fellowship in Developmental Health, an elite exchange initiative between the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Medicine and the Karolinska Institute (KI) in Stockholm, Sweden. Jessica Weidner from KI will be conducting research at �Թϱ��. She will be looking at the effects of Toxoplasma gondii — also known as the cat litter parasite — on fetal development.

The new fellows were announced August 20th during a ceremony held at the Canadian Embassy in Stockholm.

Former Toronto Maple Leafs captain and National Hockey League superstar Mats Sundin worked with other donors to help start the fellowship, which provides advanced postdoctoral training in human development. One candidate from each university will complete up to two years of postdoctoral research at the other’s institution. (Learn more about the Sundin fellowships.)

The program is managed by the Fraser Mustard Institute for Human Development, a first-of-its-kind research institute that explores how the first 2000 days of life impact future development and growth. Experts in health, social sciences and education work together to determine what factors lead to chronic and non-communicable conditions such as obesity, diabetes, learning disabilities and anxiety disorders. (Read more about the Fraser Mustard Institute for Human Development.)

“I’m most excited about learning from leading researchers in the field of human development, and working with new, cutting-edge single cell RNA sequencing technology," said Petropoulos. "I’m confident this fellowship will take my research and the field to the next level."

During her fellowship, Petropoulos will focus on determining the genetic blueprint during the first seven days of human development. This is a critical time because the embryo divides from a single cell into a group of cells which eventually become the fetus and placenta. Adverse environmental factors such as stress can have a major impact on the growth and development of both the fetus and placenta, potentially increasing the child’s susceptibility to diabetes, obesity and anxiety disorders later in life.

“This research will provide further insight into the mechanisms that regulate normal development, as well as shed light on how these genes are influenced by the environment. The answers we uncover will help us develop the tools and interventions needed to ensure optimal health as the child grows,” said Petropoulos.

A postdoctoral fellow, Petropoulos is co-supervised by Professor Stephen Matthews, chair of the Department of Physiology and a member of the Fraser Mustard Institute for Human Development and Professor Moshe Szyf at McGill University

“The research Sophie and Jessica conduct during their fellowships will help us better understand the origins of various psychological and physical conditions. The discoveries made both here at �Թϱ�� and at Karolinska can fundamentally change our understanding of human development,” said Matthews.

Suniya Kukaswadia is a writer with the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto.

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A taste of university for high school students: lectures, labs, dissections

sgupta — Thu, 01 Aug 2013 09:36:04 +0000

A taste of university for high school students: lectures, labs, dissections sgupta Thu, 08/01/2013 - 05:36

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Working in a dentistry lab is just one of the opportunities for students in the Summer Mentorship Program (photo courtesy SMP)

Suniya Kukaswadia

Author legacy

Suniya Kukaswadia

Subheadline

Summer mentorship program in its 19th year

Trey Robinson is going places. The charming, confident high school senior is eager to help others, and through this year’s Summer Mentorship Program, he’s discovering how a career in health can help him do just that.

An honour roll student, Robinson is one of 48 high school students participating in the 2013 Summer Mentorship Program (SMP), an outreach initiative run by the Faculty of Medicine’s Office of Health Professions Student Affairs.

Now in its 19th year, the program provides students from traditionally underrepresented communities with the opportunity to discover careers in health professions — including medicine, social work, pharmacy, dentistry, and nursing — by pairing them with current �Թϱ�� students, faculty and staff.

“My guidance counsellor suggested I apply to the Summer Mentorship Program, and I’m very happy I did. I’m exploring different career paths, networking with health professionals and discovering new opportunities. The other day we made dental moulds. I couldn’t do that in high school,” says Robinson.

More than 600 students have graduated from the Summer Mentorship Program since it first began in 1994. Of the 238 SMP alumni that were sampled in a recent survey, 96 per cent have completed or are pursuing at least one university degree. Just over 80 alumni are pursuing a professional program in the health sciences, with 22 of them having completed or working towards a medical degree.

“SMP speaks to the Faculty’s mission of social responsibility and leadership while being a transformative and meaningful experience for so many of the students. We look forward to continuing our relationship with these students after they have completed the program,” says Ike Okafor, senior officer, Service Learning and Diversity Outreach Office of Health Professions, Student Affairs.

SMP students take part in a variety of health-related activities including dissecting cow eyes, working with cadavers to learn about the body’s various systems and doing hands-on placements in hospital. They also visit the University’s various health-related faculties and departments such as the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, Physician Assistant Program and Medical Radiation Sciences Program.

Through partnerships established this year, students also participated in placements at TAIBU Community Health Centre—which provides primary health care services to the GTA’s black community — and Anishnawbe Health Toronto, a care centre that works to improve the well-being of Toronto’s Aboriginal population. The program also introduced grants for students from the Aboriginal community — made possible by the Access Empowerment Council — to cover living expenses and transportation to and from Toronto.

Sessions on engineering research and the legal implications of health were also added, with support from �Թϱ��’s law and engineering faculties.

“The Access Empowerment Council has made a five year pledge — with hopes to continue beyond — to empower Aboriginal youth through the Summer Mentorship Program. They will benefit from this unique opportunity and return to their communities as confident citizens and future ambassadors,” says Diana Alli, president of the council.

For Robinson, SMP is an opportunity to do what he loves most — learn.

“My SMP mentors have a wealth of knowledge and they’re always willing to share it. It’s very inspiring to see them setting and achieving huge goals such as becoming doctors, dentists or nurses,” says Robinson, who is considering dentistry as a potential career path.

Jessica Lee, another SMP participant, shares Robinson’s sentiments. A recent high school graduate of Aboriginal-Vietnamese decent, Jessica’s experience in the Faculty’s anatomy labs is exactly what she needs before starting her Kinesiology degree in the fall.

“Initially I was a bit freaked out while working with real human body parts, but the things I’ve learned will come in handy during my university studies,” Lee remarks.

The enthusiasm of students like Robinson and Lee inspires Professor Herbert Ho Ping Kong (Department of Medicine) to take SMP participants under his wing. An internist at University Health Network, Ho Ping Kong has been a mentor in the program for over 15 years. He enjoys working with students who complete placements at Toronto Western Hospital.

“It’s really encouraging and remarkable when you see former SMP students who have gone on to medical school and beyond,” he says.

Suniya Kukaswadia is a writer with the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto.

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Almost 4 million Canadians struggle to afford food

sgupta — Thu, 25 Jul 2013 10:55:48 +0000

Almost 4 million Canadians struggle to afford food sgupta Thu, 07/25/2013 - 06:55

Suniya Kukaswadia

Author legacy

Suniya Kukaswadia

Topic

A new report by researchers at the University of Toronto shows that almost four million Canadians are struggling to put the food they need on the table because of food insecurity.

“The impact of this situation on children, families, communities, the health care system and our economy cannot be overstated,” said Dr. Valerie Tarasuk, a nutritional sciences professor at �Թϱ��’s Faculty of Medicine and principal investigator for PROOF, an international team of researchers committed to the reduction of household food insecurity.

The report, which examined the state of food insecurity in Canada, states that 3.9 million Canadians struggled to afford enough food in 2011, an increase of close to half a million compared with 2008. Of those that went hungry in 2011, 1.1 million were children.

Food insecurity is the inadequate or insecure access to nutritious, healthy food because of financial constraints. For those affected, the consequences can include physical and emotional hardships, as well as the associated compromises to their health and well-being.

The report was prepared by PROOF, a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)-funded research program initiated to identify effective policy interventions to address household food insecurity. The project was led by Dr. Tarasuk, who said the findings should be a wakeup call for government.

“The problem is not under control and more effective responses are urgently needed," Tarasuk said. "The cost of inaction is simply too high.”

Some key points from the report include:

Nearly one in eight Canadian households experienced food insecurity in 2011.
With the exception of Newfoundland and Labrador, food insecurity has persisted or grown in every province and territory since 2005.
One in six children in Canada lived in a household affected by food insecurity in 2011.
Nunavut, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick had the highest prevalence of children living in food insecure households at 57%, 27% and 25% respectively.

Until now, the main window into the problem of food insecurity has been food bank utilization statistics. However, the report’s findings show that extent and distribution of food insecurity is far greater than food bank use indicates.

Future PROOF work will explore data on the linkages between the incidence of food insecurity and trajectory of chronic disease, as well as the long-term impact on child development.

“Our findings uncover the harsh reality of inadequate access to food," Tarasuk said. "PROOF will continue to gather detailed information on the nature, extent, and human and economic cost of food insecurity. By arming ourselves with the right data, we will be able to develop achievable solutions to ensure the health and well-being of all Canadians."

Suniya Kukaswadia is a writer with the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto.

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How disease-related proteins work; a "truly momentous" discovery

sgupta — Mon, 08 Jul 2013 13:29:46 +0000

How disease-related proteins work; a "truly momentous" discovery sgupta Mon, 07/08/2013 - 09:29

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Professor Igor Stagljar of the Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research (photo by Sam Motala)

Suniya Kukaswadia

Author legacy

Suniya Kukaswadia

Topic

University of Toronto researchers are helping demystify an important class of proteins associated with disease—a discovery that could lead to better treatments for cancer, cystic fibrosis and many other conditions.

Professor Igor Stagljar of the Faculty of Medicine’s Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, and his team have developed the first road map for an important group of proteins known as ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter proteins.

“Our discovery shows how ABC transporter proteins affect cancer and other diseases, and this knowledge can help us develop better, more targeted drugs," said Stagljar. "This is truly momentous."

The ABC transporter proteins are crucial components of every cell, and are also involved in tumor resistance —when cancerous tumours become resistant to drug therapy.

Scientists have struggled to understand how these proteins work and communicate with other proteins but Stagljar and his team, including first author Dr. Jamie Snider, have solved the mystery by using something called Membrane Yeast Two-Hybrid (‘MYTH’) technology to see how these transporter proteins interact with other vital components in the cell.

“Cell systems are complex and we need to have a solid grasp of how the individual pieces fit together in order to understand why certain diseases occur and how to best treat them,” says Stagljar, who is also cross-appointed to the Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics.

ABC transporter proteins act as cellular gatekeepers by retaining nutrients and expelling toxins from the cell. If these proteins are not working properly, it can cause a number of diseases including: cystic fibrosis; age-related macular degeneration; Tangier disease; and Dubin-Johnson syndrome.

ABC proteins can also cause cancer cells to reject chemotherapy drugs which makes treatment less effective.

The study was published July 7, in Nature Chemical Biology.

Suniya Kukaswadia is a writer with the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto.

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Gonorrhea and HIV linked, �Թϱ�� researchers find

sgupta — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 11:51:22 +0000

Gonorrhea and HIV linked, �Թϱ�� researchers find sgupta Tue, 06/04/2013 - 07:51

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Human Immunodeficiency Virus (image by C. Goldsmith, P. Feorino, E. L. Palmer, W. R. McManus, courtesy Centre for Disease Control,)

Suniya Kukaswadia

Author legacy

Suniya Kukaswadia

Topic

University of Toronto researchers have discovered a molecular link that explains why gonorrhea increases transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) between sexual partners.

It's a landmark discovery that could lead to better treatments for both conditions.

Each year, five million new HIV and more 100 million new gonorrhea infections are reported worldwide. However, while scientists have always known gonorrhea increases the infectiousness of HIV, they didn’t know why.

The study solves the mystery by discovering a long sought-after molecular link between the two sexually transmitted infections, says Scott Gray-Owen, a professor in the Faculty of Medicine’s Department of Molecular Genetics (pictured right) and senior author of the study.

“Gonorrhea is a global epidemic that spreads at astonishing rates, and emerging antibiotic-resistant strains are difficult to treat. Our discovery helps explain the relationship between gonorrhea and HIV, which could significantly impact the treatment of both infections,” says Gray-Owen.

When a person becomes infected with gonorrhea during sexual intercourse, the bacteria releases a molecule called heptose phosphate into their genital tract. Their body recognizes the heptose phosphate as a threat, and sends white blood cells to try to combat it.

However, if this person is already carrying HIV — even if it’s dormant — the process can actually activate the virus, which may otherwise be hiding in immune cells. This makes the person more infectious and increases the risk that they’ll transmit HIV to other partners.

“We discovered that the immune process meant to fight gonorrhea actually drives HIV replication,” says Gray-Owen. “This discovery is a game-changer that can help us tackle two very large global health crises. By effectively treating gonorrhea we may be able to stop the spread of HIV.”

The study was published June 3 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) of the United States of America.

Suniya Kukaswadia is a writer with the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto.

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Renowned �Թϱ�� Alzheimer’s researcher wins prestigious international health award

sgupta — Tue, 14 May 2013 15:34:03 +0000

Renowned �Թϱ�� Alzheimer’s researcher wins prestigious international health award sgupta Tue, 05/14/2013 - 11:34

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Professor St George-Hyslop accepted the BIAL Award in Medical Sciences on May 14 (photo courtesy Faculty of Medicine)

Suniya Kukaswadia

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Suniya Kukaswadia

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World-renowned molecular geneticist Professor Peter St George-Hyslop, director of the University of Toronto’s Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, has won one of Europe’s top health awards for his pioneering work on the roots of neurodegenerative diseases.

The BIAL Foundation is honouring St George-Hyslop with a BIAL Merit Award in Medical Sciences, one of the world’s most prestigious awards for health research. Europe’s equivalent of Canada’s Gairdner Awards or the United States’ Lasker Awards, the BIAL Merit Award recognizes written work that has major scientific relevance.

St George-Hyslop’s winning research paper, Translating Discoveries in Basic Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Molecular Genetics into Transformative Approaches to the Diagnosis and Treatment of Currently Incurable Neurodegenerative Dementias, explores the key role that the discovery of genes with disease-causing mutations played in understanding the molecular pathogenesis of these diseases.

It described the creation of useful model-organisms bearing these disease-causing mutations. Finally, it outlined the ongoing efforts to translate knowledge about the disease mechanism into potential diagnostics and disease-modifying therapies.

“I am honoured to work with some of the world’s finest researchers who are dedicated to helping millions of people around the world through the advancement of knowledge and accelerated research and discovery on neurodegenerative diseases,” says St George-Hyslop. “There’s a lot of work that still needs to be done, but together we are an innovative force for progress on one of the century’s most significant health challenges.”

St George-Hyslop—also Director of UHN’s Memory Clinic—has produced an extensive body of research that focuses on understanding the causes and molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Frontotemporal Dementia.

By discovering two genes responsible for early-onset Alzheimer’s, St George-Hyslop and his team have made early diagnoses and treatment of the disease possible, often before brain damage occurs. They are currently taking some of the knowledge about the molecular mechanisms of the disease that were uncovered by their genetic studies, and using this information to develop novel diagnostics and treatments.

“Professor St George-Hyslop leads a wonderful team that has made extraordinary discoveries. This latest recognition is another indicator of the impact and importance of his work, and a most fitting tribute to Peter’s brilliance, vision, and dedication,” says University of Toronto President David Naylor.

“Groundbreaking discovery requires intensive investigation, and, with Professor St George-Hyslop’s leadership, the Tanz Centre’s relentless approach to pursuing these discoveries will help solve the mystery of complex neurodegenerative illnesses,” says Faculty of Medicine Dean Catharine Whiteside.

Portuguese President Aníbal António Cavaco Silva (pictured above) presented St George-Hyslop with his Merit Award on May 14, 2013 in Porto, Portugal.

Suniya Kukaswadia writes for the Faculty of Medicine.

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Suniya Kukaswadia

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