Month: June 2023

“A new study by researchers at UBC’s Faculty of Medicine and McGill University has revealed that the popular dietary supplement alanine may offer an effective treatment option for people diagnosed with several types of aggressive cancer.

The findings, published in Nature Communications, show alanine’s potential as a treatment for cancers characterized by a dual loss of the SMARCA4 and SMARCA2 genes. These SMARCA4/2-deficient cancers include small cell carcinoma of the ovary, hypercalcemic type (SCCOHT) — a rare and lethal tumour that occurs predominantly in women in their mid-twenties — as well as other malignancies, including a subset of lung cancers.

Currently, there are few effective treatments for these forms of cancer, which are often highly resistant to conventional chemotherapies and have very poor outcomes.

‘Through an unbiased genome-wide screen, our teams identified the key metabolic change that enables the development of the aggressive SMARCA4/2-deficient cancers,’ said Dr. Yemin Wang, an adjunct professor in UBC’s department of laboratory medicine and staff scientist at the BC Cancer, and co-lead author of the study. ‘This finding not only helps us better understand the biology of these cancers, but also provided multiple potential treatment strategies, alone or in combination with chemotherapy or immunotherapy, for clinical validation.’”

Learn more here on “Popular dietary supplement may offer new treatment option for aggressive cancers” via UBC Faculty of Medicine.

Health Canada has recently provided funding to help increase safe and consistent access to abortion services across Canada. As a part of this work, the University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine division of Continuing Professional Development (UBC CPD) is developing new education for primary care providers. This education will provide doctors and other health professionals guidance and insight into intersectionality and the historic, systemic and sustained barriers people face while accessing abortion care (or optimal care) in Canada.

To make this education as impactful as possible, we need to hear from you.

As a health professional working in either primary care or specifically in abortion care, your experience can help us create meaningful education for your continuing professional development.

How to participate

Participate in a virtual 90-minute, paid focus group.

Consider joining a focus group if you:

• Practice in Canada and,

• Regularly provide surgical or medical abortions in your practice as an OBGYN, family physician, or nurse practitioner, midwife, pharmacist, registered nurse or public health nurse

OR

• Are a family physician, or nurse practitioner, working in primary care and do not provide abortion care in your practice

OR

• Are a midwife, pharmacist, registered nurse or public health nurse that often provides education, support, or referrals for abortion care access

Sign up

• Fill out a recruitment survey before June 30, 2023.

If you are selected for a focus group, you will be contacted via email with next steps.

Contact

For questions regarding this project, contact:cpd.education@ubc.ca.

New CIHR Funding Opportunity: Strengthening the Health Workforce for System Transformation

In partnership with CIHR’s Institute of Aging (IA), Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health (IHDCYH), Institute of Population and Public Health (IPPH), the Centre for Research on Pandemic Preparedness and Health Emergencies (CRPPHE), the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council and Michael Smith Health Research BC, this funding opportunity aims to address the current health workforce crisis, a key priority area identified within the IHSPR strategic plan, and advance the Quadruple Aim (improved population health outcomes, better patient and provider experience, and increased value) and health equity.

We encourage you to engage in this exciting new funding opportunity and appreciate your support in spreading the word. Please don’t hesitate to reach out should you have any questions.

Strengthening the Health Workforce for System Transformation Implementation Science Team Grants

Aim: To inform the implementation, evaluation and/or spread/scale (share) of an evidence-informed workforce solution(s) that addresses system level challenges (e.g., system organization, governance, accountability, remuneration, capacity building) that align with one or more of the themes identified in the CAHS Assessment on Health Human Resources to advance the Quadruple Aim and health equity.

Research area(s): In addition to aligning with one or more CAHS Themes, projects must align with one or more of the following research areas: general health workforce, Indigenous health workforce, pediatric workforce, public health workforce, rural and remote health workforce, cancer health workforce, aging workforce, workforce that cares for an aging population and equitable, diverse and inclusive health workforce.

Additional details:

• 14 Implementation Science Team grants are available.
• Each grant = $250,000 per year for 3 years ($750,000 total). 
• Supplemental funding of $375,000 will support the highest overall ranked fundable application to lead the Evidence Support and Knowledge Mobilization Hub for timely dissemination, exchange, and uptake of evidence into policy and practice.
• An information webinar is scheduled for June 27, 2023 at 1 pm EDT| Register here.
• The registration deadline is October 5, 2023
• The application deadline is November 9, 2023.

For more information, please refer to the full funding opportunity on ResearchNet.

“On May 23, Indigenous elders and community members, alongside family members, friends, faculty and staff, gathered at UBC’s First Nations Longhouse to honour and celebrate the incredible achievements of this year’s Indigenous medical school graduates.

This year’s graduates are joining a strong community of more than 130 UBC Indigenous medical alumni who have also graduated from the Faculty of Medicine’s Indigenous MD Admissions pathway and are now providing culturally safe and accessible health care for families and communities across British Columbia (B.C.) and beyond.

The pathway, which began in 2002, serves a pivotal role in encouraging and creating new opportunities for more Indigenous students to study medicine while supporting them on their journey to becoming doctors.”

Learn more about this exciting week via UBC Faculty of Medicine.

“The SYMPLIFY study is the first large-scale evaluation of a multi-cancer early detection (MCED) test in individuals who presented to their GP for diagnostic follow-up for suspected cancer.

The study enrolled 6,238 patients, aged 18 and older, in England and Wales who were referred for urgent imaging, endoscopy or other diagnostic modalities to investigate symptoms suspicious for possible gynaecological, lung, lower GI or upper GI cancer, or who had presented with non-specific symptoms. Participants provided a blood sample, from which DNA was isolated and tested. The most commonly reported symptoms leading to referral were unexpected weight loss (24.1%), change in bowel habit (22.0%), post-menopausal bleeding (16.0%), rectal bleeding (15.7%), abdominal pain (14.5%), pain (10.6%), difficulty swallowing (8.8%) and anaemia (7.1%).”

Learn more on Multi-Cancer Blood Test Shows Real Promise in NHS trial via University of Oxford News.