Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research • T riennial Report 1996 OUR MISSION We support a c ommunity of researchers who generate knowledge that improves the health and quality of life for Albertans and people throughout the world. u ii in i r i n i m i ii u i i if ni u r iii i i i i 1 1m m i v iiin i i i n 0366672798-T5J3S4-BR01 Our long-term commitment is t o fund basic patient and health research based on international standards of excellence and carried ALBERTA HERITAGE FOUNDATION out by new and established investigators and FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH researchers in t raining. 3125-10180 101 ST NW EDMONTON AB T5J 9Z9 TABLE OF CONTENTS Chairman's and President's Message 4 Crossing the Gap . . . Between the Known and Unknown 6 Scientific and Financial Information 54 List of AHFMR Personnel 65 Financial Statements for 1 996 69 Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research 3125 ManuLife Place 10180-101 Street Edmonton, Alberta T5J 3S4 Phone: (403)423-5727 Fax: (403)429-3509 email: [email protected] Website: http://www.sas.ab.ca/ahfmr This document contains the Triennial Report for 1992/93, 1993/94, and 1994/95, and financial and scientific information making up the 1996 Annual Report. Research described also includes Photos on pages 11, 18, 31, and 51 reprinted by special permission from the book 1996 activities. This is O ur Work: The Legacy of Sir William Osier by Ted Grant, 5 Span Books, Pakenham, Ontario October 1996 stage paid Port pay e taied in C anada si p oke au Canada tints* Reply ReponM d'affaires 366672798 01 Crossing thle ( Jap.. Ki Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research Triennial Report for 1992/93 to 1994/95 and Annual Report for 1995/96 AHFMR TRIENNIAL REPORT I CROSSINQ THE QAP . . . Between the Known and the Unknown AHFMR's support and leadership has enabled Alberta to become one of the 10 top medical research centres in North America. Working with Alberta universities and other partners, we have fostered a w orld-class community of scientists who are learning why the body breaks down, how it can be repaired, and how to prevent disease. Now the challenge is t o achieve the same excellence in health research, where the laboratories are the communities we live in and the places we go for health care. AHFMR has leapt into that challenge. v AHFMR TRIENNIAL REPORT The gap between what we know and what we do Qetting the knowledge is o nly halfway there. The final challenge is to use it, t o close the gap between what we know and what we do, so our health care is b ased on research evidence about what works best. This is A HFMR's leadership challenge today. As in the past, working with our many partners, we will succeed for Albertans. AHFMR TRIENNIAL REPORT ;] l f j CROS AHFMR has accepted the challenge of helping Alberta sustain a quality healthcare system, based on new knowledge about our bodies and research evidence about what care works best. The Trustees of the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research are pleased to present this Triennial Report, describing how we are meeting that challenge with innovative programs in health research and continued success in basic science programs. Our core business has always been supporting biomedical research to identify causes of diseases and new ways to prevent or control them. We have relied on a n ational and international network of advisors to ensure we fund excellence, and as this report demonstrates, the scientists have rewarded Albertans with outstanding success. Their contributions to understanding health and to improving patient care have earned them honors and additional funding from around the world. Each year they bring to Alberta millions of outside research dollars from public and private sources - more than two dollars for every AHFMR dollar invested - and their expertise is in demand by collaborators the world over. To further close the gap between what we know and what we do, AHFMR is b uilding on success in biomedical research and expanding health research activities. Our innovative S.E.A.R.C.H. program has been enthusiastically embraced by the Alberta Regional Health Authorities, who recognize it m eets the need to provide their people with the skills to use research findings and to conduct studies related to regional programs. To increase the capacity for quality health research, AHFMR also created a Population Health Investigator Award category. New investigators include a lawyer examining the commercialization of genetics and a s ociologist investigating women's health. In 1995, Alberta Health entrusted AHFMR with added responsibilities in health research. Under a c ollaborative agreement, the Foundation conducts health technology assessment for Alberta, administers the health research funds for the Department, supports a program to facilitate the dissemination of research findings, and coordinates the development of a provincial health research agenda. 4 AHFMR TRIENNIAL REPORT T H E *H! 1 P This collaboration gives the Foundation another opportunity to serve the province, and we are confident it w ill Increase Alberta's reputation as a national leader in research related to health care. The Foundation is f ortunate to be led by a dedicated Board of Trustees who keep the Foundation fiscally responsible, yet flexible to meet Alberta's needs in changing times. These Trustees acknowledge Dr. Matt Spence's enthusiastic and able leadership, and the contributions of his hard working staff. The story of the Foundation's success is t he story of the dedicated scientists who produce the knowledge, and the many partners who work with us in supporting researchers. (See page 61.) We are particularly grateful to our major partners: the Universities of Alberta, Calgary, and Lethbridgc, and their affiliated hospitals, the Qovernment of Alberta, the Alberta Cancer Board, the Alberta Regional Health Authorities, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, the Medical Research Council of Canada, and the National Cancer Institute of Canada. We also acknowledge the contributions of those who advise us in Dr. Matthew W. Spence our decision-making and serve on our many committees. We invite all Albertans to add their thanks and applause for the people who are crossing the gaps to help keep us healthy. Dr. Matthew W. Spence, M.P., Ph.D. Alvin Q. Libin President and CEO Chairman AH FMR Trustees Calgary Alvin Q. Libin (Chairman) Roderick Fraser, Ph.D. Margaret Mrazck, R.N., B.Sc.N., Donald R. Seaman, B.Sc. Calgary President, The University of Alberta M.H.S.A., L.L.B., Edmonton Thomas K Biggs, B.Sc. K. Murray Fraser, B.A., L.L., L.L.M. CBaevlegralreyy Ann MacLeod Arthur F. W ilson, M.D., M.Sc, F.RCP.(C) Coronation President, The University of Calgary Edmonton Paul T. Davenport, B.A., M.A., Ph.D. Paul V. C/reenwood, M.B., Ch.R. Nellie A. Radomsky, Ph.D., M.D. (until tunc 1993) President M.R.C.P., F.R.C.P.(Q, Edmonton Red Deer The University of Alberta (until tanuory 1995) AHFMR TRIENNIAL REPORT CROSSINQ THE QAP . . . Between the Known and the Unknown in Heart Disease Corinne Swinarton ii AHFMR TRIENNIAL REPORT wine "Never look back to cover a track Just enjoy today I ii nliiir liiwrli You cant make or borrow or pay for tomorrow 1 E dmonton and Calgary are centres for major multi-centre national and or any other day." international trials ot new therapies for heart disease. This is t he motto of the "Lueky Tickers, " C algarians who live with a 1 E dmonton and Calgary patients have access to the newest treatments for potentially fatal heart problem called "ventricular tachycardia" (VT). They are inspired by vivacious Corinne Swinarton, who helps them conquer the heart disease. fear and live joyously for today. 1 T he U of C is a t esting and development centre for state-of-the-art pacemaker devices. ' U of A and U of C cardiologists attracted $48 million in outside operating funds for projects. For six years, Mrs. Swinarton has had VT "heart attacks" - as many as seven 1 N ew understanding of congestive heart a m onth when she feels stressed with life's events. She's alive because she failure. carries inside her a battery-operated rescue device that monitors and regulates ' N ew techniques to measure and control her heart rhythms. If s he has an attack, her pacemakcr/defibriHator machine life-threatening chaotic heart rhythms. delivers a life-giving shock to readjust her heart's electrical activity. The device 1 I nsight into what initiates heart attacks at t he cellular and molecular levels. also records the time and strength of all attacks, for the doctor's review during check-ups. 1 N ew information about why defibrillation (shocking the heart to Mrs. Swinarton lives with the device because of the research and clinical re-adjust dangerous heart rhythms) expertise of Dr. Anne Qillis and colleagues at the University of Calgary. works for some patients and not others. ' I nitiated new studies of how hormonal "I f eel so fortunate to have Dr. Qillis. She is an exceptional doctor and an changes in menopause affect blood flow and risk of heart disease. exceptional person," says Mrs. Swinarton. AHFMR Scientist awarded Heart and Mrs. Swinarton also helps the healing process for other VT patients, Stroke Foundation Chair. through her work in the "Lucky Tickers" support group. She remembers her own • E xperimental post-stroke therapies to trip through the fiery furnace of fear when she first suffered attacks. minimize brain damage. Identified patterns in how physicians "I t ell people, I've been there. I k now how you feel.' Mostly I l isten to them treat high blood pressure, high and remind them how fortunate we are to be alive when only about 20% of cholesterol, and heart failure. people live through VT. We have doctors who really know what they're doing U of A team received $450,000 over and we have these machines and drugs to control the rhythms. We're more three years from Ciba-Geigy Canada fortunate than people who are walking around with this problem and don't Ltd. to tackle the problem of know it." reperfusion injury when blood flow is r eturned to damaged areas after a h eart attack. AHFMR TRIENNIAL REPORT "We are on the leading edge of evaluating new technologies, and we have an enormous impact on the development of future therapies, Being at the leading edge means we offer better treatments to patients than would be otherwise available. If w e don't know the right therapy for patients, we invite them to participate in a clinical trial to discover what can work for them — " Dr. Anne Qillis, Cardiologist, University of Calgary Dr. Anne Gillis "There are 30 of us and the Foundation has funded all of us at crucial times in our career." Dr. Hank Duff, Head, Cardiology Research Qroup, U of C "After three years, our survey showed more patients were prescribed cardiac drugs which have been proved effective in clinical trials, and fewer were prescribed drugs that have not been proven effective." Dr. Koon Teo, Head, Epicore (cardiac) Research Qroup, U of A "AHFMR has developed a climate conducive to recruiting many bright young scientists, and in cooperation with the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Alberta, assured them of the support necessary to become leaders in their fields. Albertans are fortunate." Mr. John Paquet, Executive Director, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Alberta 8 AHFMR TRIENNIAL REPORT