Innovation Anthology #376:

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Not only is the absence of the RASS F1 gene linked to cancer, it’s also linked to chronic inflammation.

University of Alberta researcher Dr. Shairaz Baksh is studying the link in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

DR. SHAIRAZ BAKSH: Inflammatory bowel disease has two forms, ulcerative colitis and Crohns disease which are two very prominent diseases in Alberta. We now know in these patients if they have chronic inflammation which is persistent inflammation they can get predisposed to getting colon cancer, colorectal cancer, later in life. And for kids, there’s definitely a predisposition to getting what’s called B cell lymphomas or cancers of the blood.
And so we’re quite interested in understanding inflammation because our idea is that if we can understand and control the inflammation at an earlier step, we can certainly prevent these patients from getting another disease – cancer – later in life. So we’re very interested in that and we now have a gene that’s involved in cancer and inflammation that we can now understand the link between cancer and inflammation.

Dr. Baksh is researching the use of resviritrol, a compound in red wine, as a treatment to turn the RASS F1 gene back on. This could prevent both chronic inflammation and the formation of cancer.

Thanks today to Alberta Innovates Health Solutions

FOR INNOVATION ANTHOLOGY
I’M CHERYL CROUCHER

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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: 2011-02-15