Innovation Anthology #412:

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Cancer of the pancreas is one of the most difficult cancers to both diagnose and treat.

Standard treatment uses a chemotherapy called gemcitabine. But it doesn’t always work.

Dr. Jennifer Spratlin has received funding from Alberta Innovates Health Solutions and the Cancer Research Foundation to better target treatment for cancer patients who’ve had surgery.

As Dr. Spratlin explains, the key is whether a patient has a genetic biomarker called the hENT1 protein.

DR. JENNIFER SPRATLIN: So we’re looking at patients tumours first, and we’re testing for this protein called hENT1. If they have that protein, we expect that gemcitabine, the standard medicine, would work very well because it can get into cells. If they do not have the protein or there’s a low amount of protein, they would then get the 5FU. And what we’re expecting to see is that by selecting patients out using this biomarker, we would be able to make people live longer because they are getting a chemotherapy that attacks the cancer specifically and personalizes the medicine for themselves.

In a second study, Dr. Spratlin will use the hENT1 biomarker to help determine treatments with fewer side effects for patients with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer.

Thanks today to Alberta Innovates Health Solutions

FOR INNOVATION ANTHOLOGY
I’M CHERYL CROUCHER

Guest

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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: 2011-07-28