Innovation Anthology #674:

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Tinnitus is that ringing in the ears that accompanies hearing loss.  

 

There’s no cure or effective treatment.

 

But Dr. Michael Kyweriga at the University of Lethbridge hopes his research with mice will change that. 

 

His interest in tinnitus began with the US Marine Corp.

 

Now with funding from Alberta Innovates Health Solutions, Michael is  developing new techniques to determine where tinnitus occurs in the brains of mice.

 

DR. MICHAEL KYWERIGA: What  I want to do is use  these new optigenetic tools at the University of Lethbridge which basically  I just remove a piece of the skull, put a sterile glass cover slip over the window, and then seal it in place with dental acrylic.  And now I can then basically pt a camera right in front of this window and  the transgenic ability of these cells to light up when they fire action centrals.  I can observe the entire auditory cortex over time and  I can watch the brain change into the tinnitus state, and then put the animal into the startling booth and then ask it, what is the sound your tinnitus? 

 

Dr. Michael Kyweriga says it will be some time before his research translates into treatment for humans. 

 

Thanks today to Alberta Innovates Health Solutions

 

FOR INNOVATION ANTHOLOGY,

I’M CHERYL CROUCHER

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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: 2015-03-19