Innovation Anthology #115: Professor

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Age related macular degeneration is one of the major causes of blindness in seniors. About one quarter of all people over 75 will develop this vision problem.

That’s why prevention is the key for Dr. Yves Sauve, an electro-physiologist at the University of Alberta.

He’s researching a link between a decline in omega 3 fatty acids, in particular DHA, and the onset of macular degeneration.

Dr. Sauve’s research uses specially bred mice. Some are fed DHA and some are not. Then Dr. Sauve measures the electricity their eyes produce when exposed to bright flashes of light. And he records changes in their eyes over time.

DR. YVES SAUVE: Let me just tell you the good news is that we fed the mice and we found we could preserve that electrical current to a better value so it doesn’t go down as fast. So we can see a benefit of feeding our mice. Now we’re trying to understand why is it doing it? Why is it good?

Dr. Sauve’s research suggests nutrition plays an important role in preventing macular degeneration.

Thanks today to the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research.

FOR INNOVATION ANTHOLOGY, I’M CHERYL CROUCHER

Note:  AHFMR is now called Alberta Innovates Health Solutions

Guest

Mohamed Gamal El-Din, PhD, PEng,

Faculty of Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, mgamalel-din@ualberta.ca

Sponsor

Alberta Innovates Health Solutions

Alberta Innovates (formerly Alberta Innovates – Health Solutions)

As the newly formed Alberta Innovates corporation, we still fund top quality, internationally competitive health research and innovation activities to improve the health and wellbeing of Albertans. We provide leadership for Alberta’s health research and innovation enterprise by directing, coordinating, reviewing, funding and supporting research and innovation.

Working with our many partners  in the health system, we ensure that research achieves innovation in care, policy and practice, and that the needs of patients and clinicians influence research.

Our background

Alberta Innovates consolidation was launched November 1, 2016.

Alberta Innovates – Health Solutions

Alberta Innovates – Health Solutions was established as part of the Alberta Innovates system by an Act of Legislation of the Government of Alberta. It is a agency  of the Government of Alberta. We receive a yearly allocation from the Ministry of Health and report through the ministry to the people of Alberta.

Our Mandate and Roles document reflects our role and responsibilities and outlines the government statues and regulations with which we comply.

Alberta’s Health Research and Innovation Strategy (AHRIS) sets out Alberta’s health research agenda for the coming decade to ensure our considerable investments in research align with our priority—to improve the health of Albertans.

Program Date: 2008-03-11