The $7 million in research funds jointly announced by Alberta Innovates – Health Solutions and the Alberta Cancer Foundation could potentially result in new state-of the-art treatment and care for cancer patients.
“This funding is for leading edge research that is being done in this province and ultimately it is intended to help with patient care. This research makes a big difference! It means that cancer treatments here are the most technologically advanced treatments you can get anywhere,” said Pam Valentine, vice president of Alberta Innovates – Health Solutions.
The group funds research and innovations in health treatments. It is the body that administers the $500-million Alberta Cancer Prevention Legacy Fund.
The research grant announced this week is for work in three categories: funding for ongoing research programs, High Risk for High Return research and Bridge Funding for Pilot and Limited Term Projects.
Recipients are already actively involved in research that is directly involved in cancer and are presently working at the universities of Alberta, Calgary and Lethbridge.
The High Risk for High Returns Grants are exciting because, although there is proven research behind them, the researchers that have been awarded funding are working in new areas and the scientists’ theories might or might not work.
“High Risk for High Returns grants are project-based. They are short term and generally they are for less money but the research is at the forefront or leading edge of research anywhere in the world,” Valentine said.
For example, Dr. Jennifer Spratlin at the University of Alberta Oncology Department is doing innovative work that aims to find better treatment for pancreatic cancer patients. The research is deemed “risky” because it is so new and because it’s known that only five per cent of pancreatic-cancer patients survive. But Spratlin has done previous research in the field and it’s hoped clinical trials funded by this grant will determine the best drug to use for each patient.
In the Cancer Bridge and Pilot and Limited Term Projects grant category, Calgary-based children’s oncologist Dr. Aru Narendran will work with University of Calgary chemist Jurgen Gailer to test the blood of small cancer patients. The scientists hope to find ways to mitigate the side effects children can experience, including hearing loss, kidney toxicity and adverse effects on the brain.
“This is also innovative research, but they need bridge funding to take them to the next stage of development. Their research needs to be sustained, perhaps until they have evidence that is fully fleshed out to prove they either move forward or perhaps to find out that their theories don’t work,” Valentine said.
In total 27 researchers received the funding awards, including 13 at the University of Alberta.
