Innovation Anthology #479:

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The animal studies of Dr. Gerlinde Metz show that effects of stress experienced in the womb can be transmitted through several generations.

Her work at the University of Lethbridge is part of a major study on pre-term births.

Now her team hopes it can use this information to predict health problems for future generations.

DR GERLINDE METZ: Potentially if we know the risk factors that are linked to disease later in life, we could find predictor factors. So what we are doing right now, for example, we are collecting placenta samples at birth and we can take those and analyze them, And then we can go and investigate if we find any predictor factors that are linked to disease later on in life. Once we know about predictors of diseases, we can to try to find intervention. And I could imagine a number of different avenues of how to do this. In rats, again, it would be a huge potential to explore some of these interventions that could be used later on to prevent diseases.

Dr. Metz says this trans-generational stress effect is also an adaptive response to a changing environment.

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: 2012-06-12