UCalgary Medicine Fall 2013

Nephrology research: changing the way we view and treat kidney disease

Vol. 5 / Issue 2Friendship fuelling philanthropy

UCalgary

MEDICINEFACULTY OF MEDICINE FALL 2013

A fly’s eye view inside the lab

UCalgary

MEDICINEFALL 2013

FACULTY OF MEDICINE

DEPARTMENTS

MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN 2

RESEARCH

Radon gas explored by cancer researcher 8 What is the gut? 14 Discovery could lead to new treatment options for IBD patients 27

EDUCATION

Welcome to the pack 16

Student run clinic beneficial: study 16

SERVICE TO SOCIETY

Q & A with Dr. Anne M. Gillis 18

What is a geneticist? 20

Good reads 22

Prestigious role leads to SACRI changes 22

In the community 23

In the news 24

Awards and recognition 26

ALUMNI

Alumnus takes skills overseas 17

Meet Dr. Roxanne Goldade, 2013 Alumna of Distinction 28

FALL 2013 ISSUE

01UCALGARY MEDICINE FALL 2013

PM Agreement No. 41095528

Return Undeliverable Canadian Addresses to:University of Calgary Faculty of Medicine, Communications and Media Relations

7th Floor, TRW Building 3280 Hospital Drive NW Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6

RESEARCH

A fly’s eye view inside the lab 10

FEATURES

RESEARCH

Nephrology research: changing the way we view

and treat kidney disease 3

PHILANTHROPY

Friendship fuelling philanthropy 6

Look for this icon for more content found exclusively online at

medicine.ucalgary.ca/magazine

WANT MORE?

VOLUME 5 | ISSUE 2

UCalgary Medicine is published two times a year by the University

of Calgary Faculty of Medicine, providing news and information for and

about our faculty, staff, alumni, students, friends and community.

For more information contact:

MANAGING EDITOR

Kathryn Kazoleas

T 403.220.2232

E [email protected]

EDITORIAL TEAM

Jordanna Heller, Director, Communications and Media Relations

Marta Cyperling, Manager, Media Relations

Amy Dowd, Manager, Internal Relations

Aisling Gamble, Communications Advisor, Events and Recognition

Amanda Fisher, Communications Coordinator

Dr. Jon Meddings

VICE-DEAN

Dr. Glenda MacQueen

SENIOR ASSOCIATE DEANS

Dr. Gerald Zamponi, Research

Dr. Jocelyn Lockyer, Education

Dr. Ronald Bridges, Faculty Affairs

ASSOCIATE DEANS

Dr. Ebba Kurz, Undergraduate Health and Science Education

Dr. Bruce Wright, Undergraduate Medical Education

Dr. Jennifer Hatfield, Global Health and International Partnerships

Dr. Doug L. Myhre, Distributed Learning and Rural Initiatives

Dr. Maureen Topps, Postgraduate Medical Education

Dr. Tara Beattie, Graduate Science Education

Dr. Lara Cooke, Continuing Medical Education and Professional Development

Dr Ray Turner, Research Grants

Dr. Michael Hill, Clinical Trials

Dr. Janet de Groot, Equity and Professionalism

Dr. Kamala Patel, Faculty Development

Dr. Paul Schnetkamp, Research Infrastructure

Dr. Samuel Wiebe, Clinical Research

DESIGN

Combine Design & Communications

PHOTOGRAPHY AND ILLUSTRATIONS

Todd Buchanan, Amanda Fisher, iStock photo, Trudie Lee,

Don Molyneaux, Janelle Pan, Bruce Perrault

FREE COPY / ALUMNI UPDATE

To receive a free copy of UCalgary Medicine

please call 403.220.2819 or email

[email protected]

The Faculty of Medicine is committed to staying

in touch with our alumni. Please update your contact

information at our website alumni.ucalgary.ca

(CLICK ON “UPDATE YOUR INFO”)

FACULTY OF MEDICINE ALUMNI

FEATURED IN THIS ISSUE ARE:

Dr. Matthew James, Dr. David Campbell, Gerald

Zamponi, PhD, Dr. Eric Smith, Dr. Bill Ghali,

Dr. Wes Jackson, Dr. Breanne Everett, Dr. Nicola

Wright, Dr. Roxanne Goldade, Dr. R. Bruce Lampard

CONTENTS

ON THE COVER

Fruit flies in a lab.

UCalgary

MEDICINEFALL 2013

FACULTY OF MEDICINE

DEPARTMENTS

MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN 2

RESEARCH

Radon gas explored by cancer researcher 8 What is the gut? 14 Discovery could lead to new treatment options for IBD patients 27

EDUCATION

Welcome to the pack 16

Student run clinic beneficial: study 16

SERVICE TO SOCIETY

Q & A with Dr. Anne M. Gillis 18

What is a geneticist? 20

Good reads 22

Prestigious role leads to SACRI changes 22

In the community 23

In the news 24

Awards and recognition 26

ALUMNI

Alumnus takes skills overseas 17

Meet Dr. Roxanne Goldade, 2013 Alumna of Distinction 28

FALL 2013 ISSUE

PM Agreement No. 41095528

Return Undeliverable Canadian Addresses to:University of Calgary Faculty of Medicine, Communications and Media Relations

7th Floor, TRW Building 3280 Hospital Drive NW Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6

RESEARCH

A fly’s eye view inside the lab 10

FEATURES

RESEARCH

Nephrology research: changing the way we view

and treat kidney disease 3

PHILANTHROPY

Friendship fuelling philanthropy 6

Look for this icon for more content found exclusively online at

medicine.ucalgary.ca/magazine

WANT MORE?

VOLUME 5 | ISSUE 2

UCalgary Medicine is published two times a year by the University

of Calgary Faculty of Medicine, providing news and information for and

about our faculty, staff, alumni, students, friends and community.

For more information contact:

MANAGING EDITOR

Kathryn Kazoleas

T 403.220.2232

E [email protected]

EDITORIAL TEAM

Jordanna Heller, Director, Communications and Media Relations

Marta Cyperling, Manager, Media Relations

Amy Dowd, Manager, Internal Relations

Aisling Gamble, Communications Advisor, Events and Recognition

Amanda Fisher, Communications Coordinator

Dr. Jon Meddings

VICE-DEAN

Dr. Glenda MacQueen

SENIOR ASSOCIATE DEANS

Dr. Gerald Zamponi, Research

Dr. Jocelyn Lockyer, Education

Dr. Ronald Bridges, Faculty Affairs

ASSOCIATE DEANS

Dr. Ebba Kurz, Undergraduate Health and Science Education

Dr. Bruce Wright, Undergraduate Medical Education

Dr. Jennifer Hatfield, Global Health and International Partnerships

Dr. Doug L. Myhre, Distributed Learning and Rural Initiatives

Dr. Maureen Topps, Postgraduate Medical Education

Dr. Tara Beattie, Graduate Science Education

Dr. Lara Cooke, Continuing Medical Education and Professional Development

Dr Ray Turner, Research Grants

Dr. Michael Hill, Clinical Trials

Dr. Janet de Groot, Equity and Professionalism

Dr. Kamala Patel, Faculty Development

Dr. Paul Schnetkamp, Research Infrastructure

Dr. Samuel Wiebe, Clinical Research

DESIGN

Combine Design & Communications

PHOTOGRAPHY AND ILLUSTRATIONS

Todd Buchanan, Amanda Fisher, iStock photo, Trudie Lee,

Don Molyneaux, Janelle Pan, Bruce Perrault

FREE COPY / ALUMNI UPDATE

To receive a free copy of UCalgary Medicine

please call 403.220.2819 or email

[email protected]

The Faculty of Medicine is committed to staying

in touch with our alumni. Please update your contact

information at our website alumni.ucalgary.ca

(CLICK ON “UPDATE YOUR INFO”)

FACULTY OF MEDICINE ALUMNI

FEATURED IN THIS ISSUE ARE:

Dr. Matthew James, Dr. David Campbell, Gerald

Zamponi, PhD, Dr. Eric Smith, Dr. Bill Ghali,

Dr. Wes Jackson, Dr. Breanne Everett, Dr. Nicola

Wright, Dr. Roxanne Goldade, Dr. R. Bruce Lampard

CONTENTS

ON THE COVER

Fruit flies in a lab.

Message from the Dean

MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN MEDICINE.UCALGARY.CA/MAGAZINE

As this summer’s devastating floods are

still front of mind for so many Albertans,

I was very proud to see how our university

united. In the aftermath of this crisis,

our faculty members, staff and students

came together as volunteers and to

collectively donate nearly $7,000 to the

Red Cross relief effort, as well as hundreds

of pounds of food to the Campus Food

Bank. For those still struggling, I’m hopeful

things will soon return to normal or

as close to as possible.

As an institution, we’re still working

hard to achieve our Eyes High strategic

goals. As we move closer to hitting

that mark, and in support of our newly

developed medicine research priorities,

we are enthusiastically preparing to open

an important dialogue regarding our

own Faculty of Medicine strategic plan.

With an anticipated launch date of June

2014, this new plan will more definitively

reflect our growing investment in the bold

and enterprising research, and teaching

professionals who are central to our

continued development.

Our success as a Faculty remains

invariably tied to our community, within

our walls and beyond. With tremendous

gratitude, we recently received a very

generous gift from Dianne and Irving

Kipnes to fund lymphedema research—

a condition that often results from cancer

treatment. This $5-million gift will fund

a state-of-the-art lymphatic imaging suite,

support the recruitment of new researchers,

and aid in educational development

in this area.

We are also looking ahead with great

anticipation to spring 2014 when we plan

to open the Advanced Technical Skills

Simulation Lab (ATSSL). This cutting-edge

facility will provide health-care professionals

throughout Alberta with access to

advanced training in a variety of medical

procedures. This initiative wouldn’t

be possible without the generous

philanthropic efforts of its many donors.

The ATSSL is a priority project for the

Faculty of Medicine, and while we are

close to reaching our fundraising goal,

we still have a ways to go. I would

encourage those interested in finding

out more about the project to contact

our Senior Associate Dean of Education,

Jocelyn Lockyer, at [email protected].

Another important date on the

education front is approaching as well

—the deadline for an exciting new

undergraduate award offered through

the Faculty. The Leaders in Health

Sciences Scholarship will provide a select

few incoming students to the Bachelor

of Health Sciences program with $60,000

to fund their four-year degree, as well

as assured admission into our medical

school if they meet program criteria.

The driving force behind the award is

to encourage the development of the

next generation of physician scientists —

medical doctors who also work to

advance research. We’re all eager for the

first intake of these students next fall.

I want to conclude this message by

acknowledging an extremely important

occasion that took place this September.

Every two years our students and faculty

pay their respects and offer their gratitude

to the families of those who chose to

donate their bodies to medical education

through our internment ceremony.

The ceremony is always very moving,

and on behalf of our medical school,

I once again offer my heartfelt appreciation

to all of these families. In helping to train

and to educate our future physicians,

the immense value of this gift cannot

be overstated.

Thanks for reading, and I hope you

enjoy this fall issue of our magazine.

Jon Meddings, MDDean, Faculty of Medicine

University of Calgary

Another academic year is well upon us.

Nephrology research: changing the way we view and treat kidney diseaseBy Kathryn Kazoleas

life-threatening health consequences

requiring long-term dialysis or even

a kidney transplant.

Nephrology research at the

University of Calgary’s Faculty of Medicine

covers a large range of areas including

pathophysiology, health economics,

health services research and clinical trials.

The university has also played a key role

in bringing together targeted research

groups such as the Interdisciplinary

Chronic Disease Collaboration (ICDC)

and the Alberta Kidney Disease Network

(AKDN). These researchers, led by

Drs. Brenda Hemmelgarn and Braden

Manns at the University of Calgary,

and Dr. Marcello Tonelli at the University

of Alberta, are dedicated to improving

the lives of those living with, or at risk

of developing, chronic diseases such

as kidney disease.

With multiple research projects and

studies published in high impact journals

such as The New England Journal of

Medicine and The Lancet, the University

of Calgary’s nephrology group is helping

to the change the way we view and

treat kidney disease.

APPROXIMATELY 10 PER CENT of Canadians

are affected by kidney diseases and

disorders and while many of these

conditions are treatable, the need for

new interventions and understanding

is ongoing.

Kidneys play a vital role in the

regulatory systems in our bodies. They

regulate blood pressure and electrolytes,

the excretion of toxins and absorption

of nutrients. There are several diseases

and disorders that can affect the kidneys,

and when they do, these systems are

compromised, potentially leading to

Nephrology [nuh-frol-uh-jee] noun the branch of medicine concerned with the kidneys.

Message from the Dean

MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN MEDICINE.UCALGARY.CA/MAGAZINE

As this summer’s devastating floods are

still front of mind for so many Albertans,

I was very proud to see how our university

united. In the aftermath of this crisis,

our faculty members, staff and students

came together as volunteers and to

collectively donate nearly $7,000 to the

Red Cross relief effort, as well as hundreds

of pounds of food to the Campus Food

Bank. For those still struggling, I’m hopeful

things will soon return to normal or

as close to as possible.

As an institution, we’re still working

hard to achieve our Eyes High strategic

goals. As we move closer to hitting

that mark, and in support of our newly

developed medicine research priorities,

we are enthusiastically preparing to open

an important dialogue regarding our

own Faculty of Medicine strategic plan.

With an anticipated launch date of June

2014, this new plan will more definitively

reflect our growing investment in the bold

and enterprising research, and teaching

professionals who are central to our

continued development.

Our success as a Faculty remains

invariably tied to our community, within

our walls and beyond. With tremendous

gratitude, we recently received a very

generous gift from Dianne and Irving

Kipnes to fund lymphedema research—

a condition that often results from cancer

treatment. This $5-million gift will fund

a state-of-the-art lymphatic imaging suite,

support the recruitment of new researchers,

and aid in educational development

in this area.

We are also looking ahead with great

anticipation to spring 2014 when we plan

to open the Advanced Technical Skills

Simulation Lab (ATSSL). This cutting-edge

facility will provide health-care professionals

throughout Alberta with access to

advanced training in a variety of medical

procedures. This initiative wouldn’t

be possible without the generous

philanthropic efforts of its many donors.

The ATSSL is a priority project for the

Faculty of Medicine, and while we are

close to reaching our fundraising goal,

we still have a ways to go. I would

encourage those interested in finding

out more about the project to contact

our Senior Associate Dean of Education,

Jocelyn Lockyer, at [email protected].

Another important date on the

education front is approaching as well

—the deadline for an exciting new

undergraduate award offered through

the Faculty. The Leaders in Health

Sciences Scholarship will provide a select

few incoming students to the Bachelor

of Health Sciences program with $60,000

to fund their four-year degree, as well

as assured admission into our medical

school if they meet program criteria.

The driving force behind the award is

to encourage the development of the

next generation of physician scientists —

medical doctors who also work to

advance research. We’re all eager for the

first intake of these students next fall.

I want to conclude this message by

acknowledging an extremely important

occasion that took place this September.

Every two years our students and faculty

pay their respects and offer their gratitude

to the families of those who chose to

donate their bodies to medical education

through our internment ceremony.

The ceremony is always very moving,

and on behalf of our medical school,

I once again offer my heartfelt appreciation

to all of these families. In helping to train

and to educate our future physicians,

the immense value of this gift cannot

be overstated.

Thanks for reading, and I hope you

enjoy this fall issue of our magazine.

Jon Meddings, MDDean, Faculty of Medicine

University of Calgary

Another academic year is well upon us.

Nephrology research: changing the way we view and treat kidney diseaseBy Kathryn Kazoleas

life-threatening health consequences

requiring long-term dialysis or even

a kidney transplant.

Nephrology research at the

University of Calgary’s Faculty of Medicine

covers a large range of areas including

pathophysiology, health economics,

health services research and clinical trials.

The university has also played a key role

in bringing together targeted research

groups such as the Interdisciplinary

Chronic Disease Collaboration (ICDC)

and the Alberta Kidney Disease Network

(AKDN). These researchers, led by

Drs. Brenda Hemmelgarn and Braden

Manns at the University of Calgary,

and Dr. Marcello Tonelli at the University

of Alberta, are dedicated to improving

the lives of those living with, or at risk

of developing, chronic diseases such

as kidney disease.

With multiple research projects and

studies published in high impact journals

such as The New England Journal of

Medicine and The Lancet, the University

of Calgary’s nephrology group is helping

to the change the way we view and

treat kidney disease.

APPROXIMATELY 10 PER CENT of Canadians

are affected by kidney diseases and

disorders and while many of these

conditions are treatable, the need for

new interventions and understanding

is ongoing.

Kidneys play a vital role in the

regulatory systems in our bodies. They

regulate blood pressure and electrolytes,

the excretion of toxins and absorption

of nutrients. There are several diseases

and disorders that can affect the kidneys,

and when they do, these systems are

compromised, potentially leading to

Nephrology [nuh-frol-uh-jee] noun the branch of medicine concerned with the kidneys.

Dr. Matthew James

The incidence of acute kidney injury—

a condition characterized by a rapid

loss of kidney function—has increased

five-fold over the last two decades.

While it can affect anybody, the majority

of those affected develop acute kidney

injury in the hospital following episodes

of low blood pressure or infection,

surgery, imaging procedures with contrast

dyes, and drug exposure. Dr. Matthew

James’ research focuses on understanding

how to minimize the risks of acute kidney

injury, and how to improve care for those

who do develop its complications.

“Unfortunately, acute kidney injury often

strikes when people are at their sickest,”

Dr. Sofia Ahmed

Dr. Sofia Ahmed’s research focuses

on the renin-angiotension system

(RAS)—a hormone system that regulates

how much salt our body holds onto.

An overactive RAS causes the body

to retain too much salt, which can be

particularly hard on the kidneys and

increase blood pressure. Although some

medications used to treat kidney disease

block the RAS, in some cases, the

disease progresses, causing the loss

of kidney function over time.

Having observed this challenge

among her patients, Ahmed decided

to further focus her research on non-

traditional risk factors that may influence

the RAS to make it more active. For the

past few years, she has conducted and

published several studies investigating

the relationship between both vitamin D

and high fructose diets and measures

of cardiovascular risk in people with and

without kidney disease. She hopes the

findings will offer physicians concrete

evidence regarding how to advise and

treat their nephrology patients.

Vitamin D: By conducting studies

amongst both healthy individuals and

those affected by kidney disease,

Ahmed is trying to find out if vitamin D

has a direct influence on the outcomes

of kidney disease. In two recent studies

published in Clinical and Experimental

Hypertension and Nutrients, Ahmed’s

team discovered that individuals with

higher vitamin D levels were more likely

05UCALGARY MEDICINE FALL 2013MEDICINE.UCALGARY.CA/MAGAZINE

he says. “It makes the management

of many medical and surgical problems

more complex and lengthens the time

people spend in hospital. It is a reversible

condition but it is increasingly recognized

to be associated with long-term

health effects.”

Currently, James is using existing

clinical and laboratory data to explore

who is at risk of acute kidney injury, how

management is changed after kidney

injury is identified, and which individuals

are at risk for long-term complications.

Through the Alberta Kidney Disease

Network, he and his research team use

a unique repository of laboratory and

administrative health data collected from

across the province to facilitate this

work. Combining clinical information with

common laboratory tests allows James

and his team to identify ways to predict

who is at high risk of acute kidney injury

and its complications, including the need

for dialysis. New data linkages to electronic

hospital records also allows James and

his research teams to study how patients

who develop acute kidney injury are

cared for, such as changes in the testing

and medications they receive.

“Although acute kidney injury is

common, its impact can be reduced by

good clinical care,” says James. “Identifying

individuals at risk or alerting health-care

providers to the onset of acute kidney

injury could allow us to act sooner

to avoid its most severe consequences.

Early recognition of those who will develop

long-term complications of kidney injury

might help us target our care to those

in greatest need. However, we don t yet

know how effective these strategies

would be.”

Evaluating barriers and facilitators

to care for people with kidney injury is

a fundamental component of James

current work. In the future, this information

could be used to design interventions

to improve care for people with acute

kidney injury.

Dr. Matthew James is an assistant professor in the

departments of medicine and community health

sciences and a member of the university’s Institute

for Public Health and Libin Cardiovascular Institute

of Alberta. He is supported by a KRESCENT

New Investigator award and by Alberta Innovates –

Health Solutions.

to have less stiff arteries and a cardiac

nervous system that was better able to

withstand stress. These factors could

potentially lower the risk of cardiovascular

disease—a common comorbidity in

patients with kidney disease.

“Some of my patients don’t mind

taking vitamin D supplements but some

of them will see it as being yet another

tablet to add to their medications, so if

they don’t have to take it, they don’t want

to. Knowing this will be helpful either way.

We just want to know what the answer is.”

Fructose: High fructose corn syrup is a

sweetener found in many packaged food

and drink items such as pop. Sugar intake

has increased dramatically over the last

30 years, so Ahmed’s team is investigating

whether a high fructose diet influences

the RAS.

The kidney diet is one of the most

restrictive of all medical diets because

in addition to restricting potassium,

phosphate and protein, patients also

often have other conditions, such as

diabetes, that will limit their diet even

further. Ahmed says some of her patients

tell her they’re actually afraid to eat.

“This will be helpful to know so I will

be able to tell my patients, ‘yes this is

harmful to your kidneys or no it’s not.’”

Dr. Sofia Ahmed is an associate professor in

the Department of Medicine and the Division

of Nephrology as well as a member of the Libin

Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta. She is funded

by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research

and Alberta Innovates – Health Solutions.

that allows them to identify their

strengths and weaknesses and target

limited resources to the areas that

require attention.

We started thinking through how

you could tie data collection to the

process of care and to the things people

are actually doing in everyday practice

to help them improve. By tying data

collection and reporting to process

metrics, we can provide programs with

actionable intelligence that facilitate a

targeted approach to quality improvement

rather than taking a shotgun approach

to fixing complex problems.”

Home dialysis therapies: A common

theme throughout his research in different

health systems was the interest to grow

home dialysis populations, specifically

peritoneal dialysis. Peritoneal dialysis uses

the abdomen as a filter, as an alternative

to hemodialysis which removes blood from

the blood stream to filter out toxins through

a machine before returning it to the body.

Equivalent to hemodialysis in terms of

outcomes, peritoneal dialysis can be done

in the home by the patient or caregiver,

thereby reducing strain on the health-care

system as well as that of the patient.

Approximately 75 per cent of kidney

patients qualify for peritoneal dialysis.

Quinn’s team is conducting a systematic

review to understand what interventions

are available to increase the safe and

effective utilization of home therapies.

Vascular access: Arterio-venous fistulas

are currently the preferred form of vascular

access in hemodialysis and are actively

promoted by guideline committees

and governments. However, there is a

lack of high-quality evidence to inform

decision-making in this area. Quinn

recently received CIHR funding to explore

it further. He and his team are planning

a pilot randomized controlled trial

to address this question.

Dr. Robert Quinn is an assistant professor in the

sciences, and is a member of the university’s Institute

for Public Health.

RESEARCH

rising stars in nephrology research

Three Some of my patients don’t mind taking vitamin D supplements but some of them will see it as being yet another tablet to add to their medications.

Although acute kidney injury is common, its impact can be reduced by good clinical care.

It’s not enough to just collect good data and feed it back to people.

Dr. Robert Quinn

Cost is an important consideration

in the health-care paradigm, and

treating kidney disease is expensive.

The demand for accountability in terms

of health care and finances is increasing.

Interested in the outcomes of dialysis

and other therapies used to treat kidney

disease, Dr. Robert Quinn has been

involved in a number of projects focusing

on the collection of high-quality data

to measure performance, as well as the

identification of strategies to improve

the clinical care of these patients.

Measuring performance in health care:

Quinn and his team developed the Dialysis

Measurement Analysis and Reporting

system (DMAR), a web-based data

collection platform. Currently implemented

in three provinces, the database tracks

the outcomes of approximately 20 per

cent of the incident dialysis population in

Canada. By focusing on a relatively small

population that consumes a large amount

of resources, the DMAR provides a

manageable and effective way to observe

what is being done well, and what is not,

as well as identifying opportunities

to improve the efficiency of care.

“It’s not enough to just collect good

data and feed it back to people,” he says.

“You have to provide them with information

Dr. Matthew James

The incidence of acute kidney injury—

a condition characterized by a rapid

loss of kidney function—has increased

five-fold over the last two decades.

While it can affect anybody, the majority

of those affected develop acute kidney

injury in the hospital following episodes

of low blood pressure or infection,

surgery, imaging procedures with contrast

dyes, and drug exposure. Dr. Matthew

James’ research focuses on understanding

how to minimize the risks of acute kidney

injury, and how to improve care for those

who do develop its complications.

“Unfortunately, acute kidney injury often

strikes when people are at their sickest,”

Dr. Sofia Ahmed

Dr. Sofia Ahmed’s research focuses

on the renin-angiotension system

(RAS)—a hormone system that regulates

how much salt our body holds onto.

An overactive RAS causes the body

to retain too much salt, which can be

particularly hard on the kidneys and

increase blood pressure. Although some

medications used to treat kidney disease

block the RAS, in some cases, the

disease progresses, causing the loss

of kidney function over time.

Having observed this challenge

among her patients, Ahmed decided

to further focus her research on non-

traditional risk factors that may influence

the RAS to make it more active. For the

past few years, she has conducted and

published several studies investigating

the relationship between both vitamin D

and high fructose diets and measures

of cardiovascular risk in people with and

without kidney disease. She hopes the

findings will offer physicians concrete

evidence regarding how to advise and

treat their nephrology patients.

Vitamin D: By conducting studies

amongst both healthy individuals and

those affected by kidney disease,

Ahmed is trying to find out if vitamin D

has a direct influence on the outcomes

of kidney disease. In two recent studies

published in Clinical and Experimental

Hypertension and Nutrients, Ahmed’s

team discovered that individuals with

higher vitamin D levels were more likely

05UCALGARY MEDICINE FALL 2013MEDICINE.UCALGARY.CA/MAGAZINE

he says. “It makes the management

of many medical and surgical problems

more complex and lengthens the time

people spend in hospital. It is a reversible

condition but it is increasingly recognized

to be associated with long-term

health effects.”

Currently, James is using existing

clinical and laboratory data to explore

who is at risk of acute kidney injury, how

management is changed after kidney

injury is identified, and which individuals

are at risk for long-term complications.

Through the Alberta Kidney Disease

Network, he and his research team use

a unique repository of laboratory and

administrative health data collected from

across the province to facilitate this

work. Combining clinical information with

common laboratory tests allows James

and his team to identify ways to predict

who is at high risk of acute kidney injury

and its complications, including the need

for dialysis. New data linkages to electronic

hospital records also allows James and

his research teams to study how patients

who develop acute kidney injury are

cared for, such as changes in the testing

and medications they receive.

“Although acute kidney injury is

common, its impact can be reduced by

good clinical care,” says James. “Identifying

individuals at risk or alerting health-care

providers to the onset of acute kidney

injury could allow us to act sooner

to avoid its most severe consequences.

Early recognition of those who will develop

long-term complications of kidney injury

might help us target our care to those

in greatest need. However, we don t yet

know how effective these strategies

would be.”

Evaluating barriers and facilitators

to care for people with kidney injury is

a fundamental component of James

current work. In the future, this information

could be used to design interventions

to improve care for people with acute

kidney injury.

Dr. Matthew James is an assistant professor in the

sciences and a member of the university’s Institute

for Public Health and Libin Cardiovascular Institute

of Alberta. He is supported by a KRESCENT

New Investigator award and by Alberta Innovates –

Health Solutions.

to have less stiff arteries and a cardiac

nervous system that was better able to

withstand stress. These factors could

potentially lower the risk of cardiovascular

disease—a common comorbidity in

patients with kidney disease.

“Some of my patients don’t mind

taking vitamin D supplements but some

of them will see it as being yet another

tablet to add to their medications, so if

they don’t have to take it, they don’t want

to. Knowing this will be helpful either way.

We just want to know what the answer is.”

Fructose: High fructose corn syrup is a

sweetener found in many packaged food

and drink items such as pop. Sugar intake

has increased dramatically over the last

30 years, so Ahmed’s team is investigating

whether a high fructose diet influences

the RAS.

The kidney diet is one of the most

restrictive of all medical diets because

in addition to restricting potassium,

phosphate and protein, patients also

often have other conditions, such as

diabetes, that will limit their diet even

further. Ahmed says some of her patients

tell her they’re actually afraid to eat.

“This will be helpful to know so I will

be able to tell my patients, ‘yes this is

harmful to your kidneys or no it’s not.’”

Dr. Sofia Ahmed is an associate professor in

the Department of Medicine and the Division

of Nephrology as well as a member of the Libin

Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta. She is funded

by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research

and Alberta Innovates – Health Solutions.

that allows them to identify their

strengths and weaknesses and target

limited resources to the areas that

require attention.

We started thinking through how

you could tie data collection to the

process of care and to the things people

are actually doing in everyday practice

to help them improve. By tying data

collection and reporting to process

metrics, we can provide programs with

actionable intelligence that facilitate a

targeted approach to quality improvement

rather than taking a shotgun approach

to fixing complex problems.”

Home dialysis therapies: A common

theme throughout his research in different

health systems was the interest to grow

home dialysis populations, specifically

peritoneal dialysis. Peritoneal dialysis uses

the abdomen as a filter, as an alternative

to hemodialysis which removes blood from

the blood stream to filter out toxins through

a machine before returning it to the body.

Equivalent to hemodialysis in terms of

outcomes, peritoneal dialysis can be done

in the home by the patient or caregiver,

thereby reducing strain on the health-care

system as well as that of the patient.

Approximately 75 per cent of kidney

patients qualify for peritoneal dialysis.

Quinn’s team is conducting a systematic

review to understand what interventions

are available to increase the safe and

effective utilization of home therapies.

Vascular access: Arterio-venous fistulas

are currently the preferred form of vascular

access in hemodialysis and are actively

promoted by guideline committees

and governments. However, there is a

lack of high-quality evidence to inform

decision-making in this area. Quinn

recently received CIHR funding to explore

it further. He and his team are planning

a pilot randomized controlled trial

to address this question.

Dr. Robert Quinn is an assistant professor in the

sciences, and is a member of the university’s Institute

for Public Health.

RESEARCH

rising stars in nephrology research

Three Some of my patients don’t mind taking vitamin D supplements but some of them will see it as being yet another tablet to add to their medications.

Although acute kidney injury is common, its impact can be reduced by good clinical care.

It’s not enough to just collect good data and feed it back to people.

Dr. Robert Quinn

Cost is an important consideration

in the health-care paradigm, and

treating kidney disease is expensive.

The demand for accountability in terms

of health care and finances is increasing.

Interested in the outcomes of dialysis

and other therapies used to treat kidney

disease, Dr. Robert Quinn has been

involved in a number of projects focusing

on the collection of high-quality data

to measure performance, as well as the

identification of strategies to improve

the clinical care of these patients.

Measuring performance in health care:

Quinn and his team developed the Dialysis

Measurement Analysis and Reporting

system (DMAR), a web-based data

collection platform. Currently implemented

in three provinces, the database tracks

the outcomes of approximately 20 per

cent of the incident dialysis population in

Canada. By focusing on a relatively small

population that consumes a large amount

of resources, the DMAR provides a

manageable and effective way to observe

what is being done well, and what is not,

as well as identifying opportunities

to improve the efficiency of care.

“It’s not enough to just collect good

data and feed it back to people,” he says.

“You have to provide them with information

philanthropy Friendship fuelling

UCALGARY MEDICINE FALL 2013MEDICINE.UCALGARY.CA/MAGAZINE PHILANTHROPY 07

That number includes Clark’s husband,

Paul, who was diagnosed with the disease

in 2007 at the age of 57. A simple cough

the couple thought might be bronchitis

led to the life-changing diagnosis. Joining

forces with Longstaff when mutual friend

Peggy Valentine was also diagnosed with

lung cancer, the two determined women

vowed they would do something to

change the landscape of lung cancer

in their community.

“Bev and I made a commitment prior

to Peggy’s death that we would make

something happen,” says Clark.

“We were very determined that we

would do something, or try to do some-

thing, to advance lung cancer research,”

adds Longstaff.

Together they’ve helped the vision of

a lung cancer research program capable

of improving patient outcomes become a

reality with the Lung Cancer Translational

Research Initiative at the University of

Calgary.

While her husband was undergoing

treatment at the Tom Baker Cancer

Centre, Clark discovered just how modest

the funding for lung cancer research was

in comparison to other types of cancer.

She also discovered just how leading-

edge that research was in spite of that

shortcoming. After Paul died in April 2010,

she made fundraising for lung cancer

research a priority. Along with Longstaff,

Peggy’s husband Peter Valentine and

clinician researchers Dr. Don Morris and

Dr. Gwyn Bebb, Clark helped launch the

research initiative. It strives to become

a leading voice in lung cancer research,

following a roadmap similar to the highly

successful Calgary Stroke Program, now

regarded as one of the best of its kind

in the country.

“It’s pretty amazing what these guys

can do with so little money. They’re just so

dedicated, so committed, and they work

like crazy,” Longstaff says of the clinicians

and researchers involved. “They’re amazing

human beings. With a little help from the

community, they can do anything.”

Focusing on prevention, care and

even policy, those involved in the initiative

—from basic scientists to researchers,

epidemiologists and clinician researchers

—have accomplished a great deal in a

short period of time, but feel they’ve

barely scratched the surface of possibilities.

New equipment has been acquired

in the past year, giving researchers access

to cutting-edge technology. Dr. Alain

Tremblay, associate professor in the

Division of Respiratory Medicine, is

focused on early lung cancer detection

and screening, which is a key component

of treatment. Only about one in six

patients survive more than five years,

but with early treatment, before the

cancer spreads outside the air passages,

the five-year survival rate climbs to

more than 77 per cent.

The Glans-Look Database—an

extensive collection of outcome data

and tissue samples of lung cancer

patients—now contains 10 years of

detailed lung cancer related information

and is beginning to offer answers

regarding how patient management

affects outcomes.

Bebb, an associate professor

in the Department of Oncology, is

researching targeted therapies, while

Morris, also an associate professor, is

making strides in his tumour research.

He’s seeking ways to make cancer-killing

viruses more effective by focusing on

the microenvironment that protects

tumours from being seen by the immune

system. By utilizing a drug already used

to treat kidney cancer, which decreases

the numbers of a specific cell that hide

the tumour, Morris says it’s more likely for

the injected virus to successfully attack

the tumour. Approval for a clinical

trial to test this strategy in lung cancer

patients is the next step for his work.

Funded by Mavis Clark, The Paul

Clark Fellowship in Lung Cancer was

awarded for the first time in 2012,

allowing oncologist Dr. Allison Black

to outline new strategies for treatment.

Aaron Goodarzi, PhD, an assistant

professor in the departments of

biochemistry and molecular biology, and

oncology is examining how exposure to

radon—a naturally occurring radioactive

air contaminant—leads to lung cancers

(more on pages 8 – 9).

“We need to be looking at prevention

strategies,” says Morris. “Fifteen percent

of patients have never smoked or are

remote smokers. What’s the biology

behind it?”

Both Clark and Longstaff are confident

that the work being done now will offer

more time with loved ones for those

affected by lung cancer in the future.

“Paul and I had great days, we just didn’t

have enough good years,” says Clark.

“Hopefully other people will have many

great days, and many good years ahead

of them if we can unlock the mysteries

behind lung cancer research.

“I know that Bev feels the same way.”

DUE TO TRAGIC EVENTS in their lives, the

two dedicated philanthropic volunteers

have learned more than they ever thought

possible about each other and lung

cancer—the terrible disease that claimed

their loved ones.

More people die each year from lung

cancer—the cause of 27 per cent of

Canadian cancer deaths—than from

breast, prostate and colorectal cancers

combined. Many still believe lung cancer

only affects smokers; however, while

smokers have a higher risk of developing

the disease, more than 15 percent of those

diagnosed have never smoked, and that

number is rising.

The friendship betweenMavis Clark and Bev Longstaff began under unlikely and unpredictable circumstances, but has evolved into an effective partnership between the strong-willed Calgarians and their community.

Bev and I made a commitment prior to Peggy’s death that we would make something happen.

-Mavis Clark

We were very determined that we would do something, or try to do something, to advance lung cancer research.

-Bev Longstaff

Did you know? Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in Alberta.

Bev Longstaff (left) with Mavis Clark (right).

By Steve Macfarlane

philanthropy Friendship fuelling

UCALGARY MEDICINE FALL 2013MEDICINE.UCALGARY.CA/MAGAZINE PHILANTHROPY 07

That number includes Clark’s husband,

Paul, who was diagnosed with the disease

in 2007 at the age of 57. A simple cough

the couple thought might be bronchitis

led to the life-changing diagnosis. Joining

forces with Longstaff when mutual friend

Peggy Valentine was also diagnosed with

lung cancer, the two determined women

vowed they would do something to

change the landscape of lung cancer

in their community.

“Bev and I made a commitment prior

to Peggy’s death that we would make

something happen,” says Clark.

“We were very determined that we

would do something, or try to do some-

thing, to advance lung cancer research,”

adds Longstaff.

Together they’ve helped the vision of

a lung cancer research program capable

of improving patient outcomes become a

reality with the Lung Cancer Translational

Research Initiative at the University of

Calgary.

While her husband was undergoing

treatment at the Tom Baker Cancer

Centre, Clark discovered just how modest

the funding for lung cancer research was

in comparison to other types of cancer.

She also discovered just how leading-

edge that research was in spite of that

shortcoming. After Paul died in April 2010,

she made fundraising for lung cancer

research a priority. Along with Longstaff,

Peggy’s husband Peter Valentine and

clinician researchers Dr. Don Morris and

Dr. Gwyn Bebb, Clark helped launch the

research initiative. It strives to become

a leading voice in lung cancer research,

following a roadmap similar to the highly

successful Calgary Stroke Program, now

regarded as one of the best of its kind

in the country.

“It’s pretty amazing what these guys

can do with so little money. They’re just so

dedicated, so committed, and they work

like crazy,” Longstaff says of the clinicians

and researchers involved. “They’re amazing

human beings. With a little help from the

community, they can do anything.”

Focusing on prevention, care and

even policy, those involved in the initiative

—from basic scientists to researchers,

epidemiologists and clinician researchers

—have accomplished a great deal in a

short period of time, but feel they’ve

barely scratched the surface of possibilities.

New equipment has been acquired

in the past year, giving researchers access

to cutting-edge technology. Dr. Alain

Tremblay, associate professor in the

Division of Respiratory Medicine, is

focused on early lung cancer detection

and screening, which is a key component

of treatment. Only about one in six

patients survive more than five years,

but with early treatment, before the

cancer spreads outside the air passages,

the five-year survival rate climbs to

more than 77 per cent.

The Glans-Look Database—an

extensive collection of outcome data

and tissue samples of lung cancer

patients—now contains 10 years of

detailed lung cancer related information

and is beginning to offer answers

regarding how patient management

affects outcomes.

Bebb, an associate professor

in the Department of Oncology, is

researching targeted therapies, while

Morris, also an associate professor, is

making strides in his tumour research.

He’s seeking ways to make cancer-killing

viruses more effective by focusing on

the microenvironment that protects

tumours from being seen by the immune

system. By utilizing a drug already used

to treat kidney cancer, which decreases

the numbers of a specific cell that hide

the tumour, Morris says it’s more likely for

the injected virus to successfully attack

the tumour. Approval for a clinical

trial to test this strategy in lung cancer

patients is the next step for his work.

Funded by Mavis Clark, The Paul

Clark Fellowship in Lung Cancer was

awarded for the first time in 2012,

allowing oncologist Dr. Allison Black

to outline new strategies for treatment.

Aaron Goodarzi, PhD, an assistant

professor in the departments of

biochemistry and molecular biology, and

oncology is examining how exposure to

radon—a naturally occurring radioactive

air contaminant—leads to lung cancers

(more on pages 8 – 9).

“We need to be looking at prevention

strategies,” says Morris. “Fifteen percent

of patients have never smoked or are

remote smokers. What’s the biology

behind it?”

Both Clark and Longstaff are confident

that the work being done now will offer

more time with loved ones for those

affected by lung cancer in the future.

“Paul and I had great days, we just didn’t

have enough good years,” says Clark.

“Hopefully other people will have many

great days, and many good years ahead

of them if we can unlock the mysteries

behind lung cancer research.

“I know that Bev feels the same way.”

DUE TO TRAGIC EVENTS in their lives, the

two dedicated philanthropic volunteers

have learned more than they ever thought

possible about each other and lung

cancer—the terrible disease that claimed

their loved ones.

More people die each year from lung

cancer—the cause of 27 per cent of

Canadian cancer deaths—than from

breast, prostate and colorectal cancers

combined. Many still believe lung cancer

only affects smokers; however, while

smokers have a higher risk of developing

the disease, more than 15 percent of those

diagnosed have never smoked, and that

number is rising.

The friendship betweenMavis Clark and Bev Longstaff began under unlikely and unpredictable circumstances, but has evolved into an effective partnership between the strong-willed Calgarians and their community.

Bev and I made a commitment prior to Peggy’s death that we would make something happen.

-Mavis Clark

We were very determined that we would do something, or try to do something, to advance lung cancer research.

-Bev Longstaff

Did you know? Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in Alberta.

Bev Longstaff (left) with Mavis Clark (right).

By Steve Macfarlane

Only a small number of homes in

Canada test for radon, but a recent Health

Canada survey showed that depending

on the region, between four and 44

per cent of Canadian homes have levels

well above the minimum safe guidelines.

The highest levels were found within

Prairie and Maritime health regions.

Collectively, Calgary and Edmonton

have a population of over two million

yet only 160 homes between those cities

were tested for radon by Health Canada

in a 2007-2009 survey. With his team,

Goodarzi hopes to map household radon

levels in these major Alberta population

centres to determine communities most

at risk. “Radon-induced lung cancer

represents a very expensive to treat and

most often lethal disease, but one that

is realistically preventable,” he says.

The first line of defence for concerned

homeowners is to buy a simple and

inexpensive test to measure radon levels

in their homes. In the event that remediation

is required, this too can be simple, costing

between $1,000 and $4,000—a relatively

minor expensive compared to most

serious home renovations or alterations.

“The cost of testing and remediating

a home weighed against not getting

lung cancer—it’s worth it. Lung cancer

is a killer,” says Goodarzi.

UCALGARY MEDICINE FALL 2013 09MEDICINE.UCALGARY.CA/MAGAZINE

lthough smoking remains the

primary cause of lung cancer

in the country, many Canadians

may be unaware that a colourless and

odourless radioactive gas that is the

leading cause of non-smoking related

lung cancer may be lurking in their homes.

Last year, 25,528 Canadians were

diagnosed with costly to treat and

potentially fatal lung cancer. Four to 16

per cent* of new lung cancer cases each

year are estimated or known to be

attributable directly to the radioactive

gas radon.

Naturally emerging from soil, radon

gas can accumulate within the home,

with the highest levels accumulating in

basements. Scientists say exposure to

the radiation emitted by radon gas can

cause instabilities in DNA, a fundamental

cause of human aging as well as a driving

force of cancer development.

Aaron Goodarzi, PhD, a University

of Calgary and Southern Alberta Cancer

Research Institute researcher is exploring

several initiatives to help understand

and eradicate radon-induced cancer in

Alberta. In March of this year, he was

named the Canada Research Chair in

Genome Damage and Instability Disease.

Goodarzi examines human diseases

caused by radiation exposure. His

laboratory is exploring genetic risk

factors for radiation-induced cancer,

as well as novel methods of detecting

radiation exposure and sensitivity in

people. Since the most frequent mode

of radiation exposure for most humans

occurs via inhalation of radon gas,

Goodarzi is particularly interested

in understanding how radon triggers

lung cancer.

“Many Canadians may not be aware

that the breakdown and erroneous

repair of their own DNA, simply as a

consequence of living in a certain

location, will drive them towards a greater

chance of cancer or premature aging,”

says Goodarzi. “Individuals living in one

of the many hundreds of thousands of

Canadian households with high radon

gas levels, for example, will be exposed

to dramatically more radiation-induced

DNA damage and thus are at serious risk

of lung cancer, even if they have never

smoked a cigarette in their life.”

RESEARCH

Aaron Goodarzi is an assistant professor in the departments of biochemistry and molecular biology, and oncology

Radon gas explored by cancer researcher

By Marta Cyperling

University of Calgary gets new Canada Research Chair

DID YOU KNOW?

Some Home Depot stores carry radon testing kits, or a variety of companies may be found online by searching for ‘radon testing’ on Google. When choosing a testing company ensure they are C-NRPP certified. In Calgary, a local CNRPP certified company is RadonWest (radonwest.com).

* Official statistics provided by the WHO,

US EPA, Health Canada and the scientific

community at large averaging out specific

variables such as gender and regional

smoking habits.

As part of the CRC, Aaron Goodarzi will

receive $500,000 over five years for his

research. He holds one of 71 Canadian

Research Chairs at the University of Calgary.

Only a small number of homes in

Canada test for radon, but a recent Health

Canada survey showed that depending

on the region, between four and 44

per cent of Canadian homes have levels

well above the minimum safe guidelines.

The highest levels were found within

Prairie and Maritime health regions.

Collectively, Calgary and Edmonton

have a population of over two million

yet only 160 homes between those cities

were tested for radon by Health Canada

in a 2007-2009 survey. With his team,

Goodarzi hopes to map household radon

levels in these major Alberta population

centres to determine communities most

at risk. “Radon-induced lung cancer

represents a very expensive to treat and

most often lethal disease, but one that

is realistically preventable,” he says.

The first line of defence for concerned

homeowners is to buy a simple and

inexpensive test to measure radon levels

in their homes. In the event that remediation

is required, this too can be simple, costing

between $1,000 and $4,000—a relatively

minor expensive compared to most

serious home renovations or alterations.

“The cost of testing and remediating

a home weighed against not getting

lung cancer—it’s worth it. Lung cancer

is a killer,” says Goodarzi.

UCALGARY MEDICINE FALL 2013 09MEDICINE.UCALGARY.CA/MAGAZINE

lthough smoking remains the

primary cause of lung cancer

in the country, many Canadians

may be unaware that a colourless and

odourless radioactive gas that is the

leading cause of non-smoking related

lung cancer may be lurking in their homes.

Last year, 25,528 Canadians were

diagnosed with costly to treat and

potentially fatal lung cancer. Four to 16

per cent* of new lung cancer cases each

year are estimated or known to be

attributable directly to the radioactive

gas radon.

Naturally emerging from soil, radon

gas can accumulate within the home,

with the highest levels accumulating in

basements. Scientists say exposure to

the radiation emitted by radon gas can

cause instabilities in DNA, a fundamental

cause of human aging as well as a driving

force of cancer development.

Aaron Goodarzi, PhD, a University

of Calgary and Southern Alberta Cancer

Research Institute researcher is exploring

several initiatives to help understand

and eradicate radon-induced cancer in

Alberta. In March of this year, he was

named the Canada Research Chair in

Genome Damage and Instability Disease.

Goodarzi examines human diseases

caused by radiation exposure. His

laboratory is exploring genetic risk

factors for radiation-induced cancer,

as well as novel methods of detecting

radiation exposure and sensitivity in

people. Since the most frequent mode

of radiation exposure for most humans

occurs via inhalation of radon gas,

Goodarzi is particularly interested

in understanding how radon triggers

lung cancer.

“Many Canadians may not be aware

that the breakdown and erroneous

repair of their own DNA, simply as a

consequence of living in a certain

location, will drive them towards a greater

chance of cancer or premature aging,”

says Goodarzi. “Individuals living in one

of the many hundreds of thousands of

Canadian households with high radon

gas levels, for example, will be exposed

to dramatically more radiation-induced

DNA damage and thus are at serious risk

of lung cancer, even if they have never

smoked a cigarette in their life.”

RESEARCH

Aaron Goodarzi is an assistant professor in the departments of biochemistry and molecular biology, and oncology

Radon gas explored by cancer researcher

By Marta Cyperling

University of Calgary gets new Canada Research Chair

DID YOU KNOW?

Some Home Depot stores carry radon testing kits, or a variety of companies may be found online by searching for ‘radon testing’ on Google. When choosing a testing company ensure they are C-NRPP certified. In Calgary, a local CNRPP certified company is RadonWest (radonwest.com).

* Official statistics provided by the WHO,

US EPA, Health Canada and the scientific

community at large averaging out specific

variables such as gender and regional

smoking habits.

As part of the CRC, Aaron Goodarzi will

receive $500,000 over five years for his

research. He holds one of 71 Canadian

Research Chairs at the University of Calgary.

A fly’s eye view inside the

lab By Kathryn Kazoleas

UCALGARY MEDICINE FALL 2013 11

A pest in your kitchen but perfectly suited for science.

IT WAS AT the turn of the twentieth century

when Thomas Morgan, an American

embryologist and evolutionary biologist,

first began using Drosophila melanogaster,

more commonly known as the fruit fly,

to study genetics. After approximately

two years of cross-breeding experiments,

Morgan observed a mutant white-eyed

male fly in the species that typically bears

dark red eyes. Upon breeding the male

with a red-eyed female, the offspring

appeared normal; however, the next

generation hatched all white-eyed males,

but only red-eyed females. Morgan

correctly hypothesized that it was related

to the genetic factor that determined

sex, thus the mutation became known

as white—the first known X-linked

recessive mutation. Subsequent genetic

studies led Morgan to conclude that

genes resided on chromosomes (a coiled

piece of DNA)—a major breakthrough in

genetics for which he received the Nobel

Award in Physiology or Medicine in 1933.

Fast forward over 100 years and fruit flies

are still widely regarded in the science

community as a model system for studying

genetics in basic research. While genetics

remains the dominant reason for studying

these insects, scientists have used them

to study everything from behavioural

traits, limb development, aging, and

diseases such as cancer and diabetes.

Size: Mature females are approximately

2.5 mm. Males are slightly smaller.

Lifespan: Maturation from the time

of hatching is 10 days. Their entire

lifespan can be approximately

30–60 days in optimal conditions.

10 DAYS 30 DAYS 60 DAYS

2.5 MM

MEDICINE.UCALGARY.CA/MAGAZINE RESEARCH

A fly’s eye view inside the

lab By Kathryn Kazoleas

A pest in your kitchen but perfectly suited for science.

IT WAS AT the turn of the twentieth century

when Thomas Morgan, an American

embryologist and evolutionary biologist,

first began using Drosophila melanogaster,

more commonly known as the fruit fly,

to study genetics. After approximately

two years of cross-breeding experiments,

Morgan observed a mutant white-eyed

male fly in the species that typically bears

dark red eyes. Upon breeding the male

with a red-eyed female, the offspring

appeared normal; however, the next

generation hatched all white-eyed males,

but only red-eyed females. Morgan

correctly hypothesized that it was related

to the genetic factor that determined

sex, thus the mutation became known

as white—the first known X-linked

recessive mutation. Subsequent genetic

studies led Morgan to conclude that

genes resided on chromosomes (a coiled

piece of DNA)—a major breakthrough in

genetics for which he received the Nobel

Award in Physiology or Medicine in 1933.

Fast forward over 100 years and fruit flies

are still widely regarded in the science

community as a model system for studying

genetics in basic research. While genetics

remains the dominant reason for studying

these insects, scientists have used them

to study everything from behavioural

traits, limb development, aging, and

diseases such as cancer and diabetes.

Size: Mature females are approximately

2.5 mm. Males are slightly smaller.

Lifespan: Maturation from the time

of hatching is 10 days. Their entire

lifespan can be approximately

30–60 days in optimal conditions.

10 DAYS 30 DAYS 60 DAYS

2.5 MM

MEDICINE.UCALGARY.CA/MAGAZINE RESEARCH

Did youknow?

Why fruit flies?

Where do they come

Human relevance

Fly fact:Both fruit flies and humans have the gene tinman (called Nkx2.5

in humans) which tells cells to develop as heart tissue. Flies lacking the tinman

gene have no hearts. Defects in the human gene cause congenital heart

defects in newborns.

13 UCALGARY MEDICINE FALL 2013MEDICINE.UCALGARY.CA/MAGAZINE RESEARCH

William Brook, PhD

Associate Professor, Department of Biochemistry

and Molecular Biology

Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute

William Brook uses fruit flies to understand

how cells make decisions in limb and heart

development. Using the gene Tbx20—

a gene first discovered in his lab that

regulates the expression of other genes—

his team is researching the genetic steps

it takes for cells to differentiate from one

another. All embryonic cells start out

exactly the same but are programmed

to differentiate over time into different

tissues. Brook’s lab is trying to understand

how cells are instructed to become different

using the fly limb and heart as models.

It’s hypothesized that Tbx20 acts like a

genetic switch and thereby coordinates

several other genetic processes and cell

signals by turning groups of genes on or

off. When Tbx20 is on, cells differentiate

in a completely different way than when

Tbx20 is off. By using genetic approaches,

his lab is modifying parts of this genetic

switch and getting various outcomes,

subsequently leading to an understanding

of how this process works.

Savraj Grewal, PhD

Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry

Southern Alberta Cancer Research Institute

Savraj Grewal’s lab is interested in using

the fruit fly to identify genes that control

how cells grow and multiply. These fly

genes are similar to human growth genes

and, in particular, to genes that become

mutated and deregulated in cancer.

Therefore, the fly provides a simple model

system to study genetic events that lead

to tumour formation. Grewal is particularly

interested in the insulin and insulin-like

growth factor (IGF) pathway. Over-

activation of this pathway can drive the

growth of various tumours such as those

found in the brain and breast. Flies have

seven types of insulins that work much

like that of human IGFs—to regulate

metabolism and growth. Grewal is

trying to figure out how insulins control

growth and how the IGF pathway may

be targeted in cancer therapy.

Savraj Grewal is supported by

Alberta Innovates - Health Solutions.

Approximately 60 to 80

per cent of human genes

have either an identical or a

similar version in the fruit fly

and many known genes that

cause diseases such as cancer

in humans are found in flies

as well. Of equal importance

is the fact that cell-signalling

pathways—the ways that

cells communicate with each

other—are also nearly identical

between humans and fruit flies.

Because of their ability to

manipulate and mutate the

genes of fruit flies, scientists

are able to observe the

outcome of manipulating these

cell-signalling pathways on

various physiological processes.

In doing so, they are able to

gain a greater understanding

of how these processes work

in humans.

Because of their small

size, their short lifespan

and the relatively low cost

to obtain and house, fruit flies

are used in many medical and

science labs around the world.

Considered a simple yet

powerful system in which to

study and manipulate the

genome, scientists often

regard fruit flies as a good

intermediate between the

simple biology of a bacterial

cell, and the complicated

physiology of vertebrates.

Scientists are able to turn

genes on and off to essentially

create flies that are purpose

built to study any cellular or

biological process.

While some fruit fly stock

centers do exist in

various parts of the world, the

majority of fruit flies are bred

by the scientists themselves.

Large collections of the insects,

often in the thousands, are

kept in the labs. Because the

fly research community is

well known for sharing their

resources, it’s not uncommon

for the flies to be shipped to

other labs around the world.

The fruit flies used in labs

are the same ones you might

bring home with your fruit

from the grocery store.

Fruit flies are found worldwide.

Where there are humans, there

are fruit flies.

Fruit flies are anesthetized

when scientists examine them.

This is done by exposing them

to carbon dioxide. After the

effects wear off, they are

able to carry on as normal.

Research at the University of Calgary

Fruit fly larvae.

Looking at fruit fly larvae

under a microscope.

Did youknow?

Why fruit flies?

Where do they come

Human relevance

Fly fact:Both fruit flies and humans have the gene tinman (called Nkx2.5

in humans) which tells cells to develop as heart tissue. Flies lacking the tinman

gene have no hearts. Defects in the human gene cause congenital heart

defects in newborns.

13 UCALGARY MEDICINE FALL 2013MEDICINE.UCALGARY.CA/MAGAZINE RESEARCH

William Brook, PhD

Associate Professor, Department of Biochemistry

William Brook uses fruit flies to understand

how cells make decisions in limb and heart

development. Using the gene Tbx20—

a gene first discovered in his lab that

regulates the expression of other genes—

his team is researching the genetic steps

it takes for cells to differentiate from one

another. All embryonic cells start out

exactly the same but are programmed

to differentiate over time into different

tissues. Brook’s lab is trying to understand

how cells are instructed to become different

using the fly limb and heart as models.

It’s hypothesized that Tbx20 acts like a

genetic switch and thereby coordinates

several other genetic processes and cell

signals by turning groups of genes on or

off. When Tbx20 is on, cells differentiate

in a completely different way than when

Tbx20 is off. By using genetic approaches,

his lab is modifying parts of this genetic

switch and getting various outcomes,

subsequently leading to an understanding

of how this process works.

Savraj Grewal, PhD

Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry

Southern Alberta Cancer Research Institute

Savraj Grewal’s lab is interested in using

the fruit fly to identify genes that control

how cells grow and multiply. These fly

genes are similar to human growth genes

and, in particular, to genes that become

mutated and deregulated in cancer.

Therefore, the fly provides a simple model

system to study genetic events that lead

to tumour formation. Grewal is particularly

interested in the insulin and insulin-like

growth factor (IGF) pathway. Over-

activation of this pathway can drive the

growth of various tumours such as those

found in the brain and breast. Flies have

seven types of insulins that work much

like that of human IGFs—to regulate

metabolism and growth. Grewal is

trying to figure out how insulins control

growth and how the IGF pathway may

be targeted in cancer therapy.

Savraj Grewal is supported by

Alberta Innovates - Health Solutions.

Approximately 60 to 80

per cent of human genes

have either an identical or a

similar version in the fruit fly

and many known genes that

cause diseases such as cancer

in humans are found in flies

as well. Of equal importance

is the fact that cell-signalling

pathways—the ways that

cells communicate with each

other—are also nearly identical

between humans and fruit flies.

Because of their ability to

manipulate and mutate the

genes of fruit flies, scientists

are able to observe the

outcome of manipulating these

cell-signalling pathways on

various physiological processes.

In doing so, they are able to

gain a greater understanding

of how these processes work

in humans.

Because of their small

size, their short lifespan

and the relatively low cost

to obtain and house, fruit flies

are used in many medical and

science labs around the world.

Considered a simple yet

powerful system in which to

study and manipulate the

genome, scientists often

regard fruit flies as a good

intermediate between the

simple biology of a bacterial

cell, and the complicated

physiology of vertebrates.

Scientists are able to turn

genes on and off to essentially

create flies that are purpose

built to study any cellular or

biological process.

While some fruit fly stock

centers do exist in

various parts of the world, the

majority of fruit flies are bred

by the scientists themselves.

Large collections of the insects,

often in the thousands, are

kept in the labs. Because the

fly research community is

well known for sharing their

resources, it’s not uncommon

for the flies to be shipped to

other labs around the world.

The fruit flies used in labs

are the same ones you might

bring home with your fruit

from the grocery store.

Fruit flies are found worldwide.

Where there are humans, there

are fruit flies.

Fruit flies are anesthetized

when scientists examine them.

This is done by exposing them

to carbon dioxide. After the

effects wear off, they are

able to carry on as normal.

Research at the University of Calgary

Fruit fly larvae.

Looking at fruit fly larvae

under a microscope.

What is the gut?15MEDICINE.UCALGARY.CA/MAGAZINE

As the organ of digestion,

the gut converts food into the

nutrients and energy sources

that are required for life.

IRRITABLE BOWEL

SYNDROME (IBS) A disorder

of gut sensation and function,

this condition affects

approximately 10 per cent

of the population.

INFLAMMATORY

BOWEL DISEASE (IBD) With

a high prevalence in Canada

(approximately 1/160 Canadians

are affected), IBD includes

Crohn’s disease and ulcerative

colitis. This chronic condition,

for which there is no cure,

affects many young adults

as well as those who are older.

ULCER DISEASE Most

commonly due to a bacterial

infection with Helicobacter

pylori, stomach ulcers can be

largely cured with antibiotics.

Severe cases in the elderly

can be fatal due to blood loss.

RESEARCH 15 UCALGARY MEDICINE FALL 2013

COLON CANCER Early stages

are often asymptomatic,

but when caught early, colon

cancer is highly treatable.

Promising approaches to

treatment and screening

methods are currently available.

GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX

More commonly known

as acid reflux, this is acid-

induced heartburn.

DIVERTICULITIS A condition

that occurs when weak

pouches within the bowel

wall are formed, leading to

infection and inflammation.

CELIAC DISEASE An autoimmune

disorder of the gut caused

by a reaction to certain grain

proteins, notably from wheat.

This sensation is due to

nervous changes that are

transmitted from the brain

to the gut, altering normal

movement, secretion

and blood flow in the gut,

because of the release of

stress hormones. When you

experience an altered state

of mind such as anxiety, the

brain adapts and some people

become aware of various

movements of the gut that

wouldn’t normally be felt.

#1 If you do not eat, your

stomach will shrink to

some degree. Your stomach

and the rest of the gut are

muscles; so if you don’t use

them, they will shrink, much

like the other muscles in your

body. A good example of this

is hibernating animals. When

an animal goes into hibernation

and doesn’t eat, its gut shrinks

down to save energy.

#2 Approximately 2/3

of the body’s immune

system is in the gut. This is to

protect the body from various

pathogens that may enter the

body through food sources.

Additionally, food becomes

dangerous as it’s digested,

with the potential to release

harmful antigens into the

body that could cause illness.

The immune system protects

the body from these antigens;

however, in some cases, the

immune system is unable

to do so, resulting in some

autoimmune disorders such

as celiac disease.

The gut or gastrointestinal tract is the organ of digestion. It is essentially

a tube that runs from the mouth down through the intestines, to the anus.

It is served by accessory organs, such as the liver and gall bladder, that

perform various roles to aid in the digestion process.

Legend:

#3 The gut is the largest

endocrine organ in

the body. It releases hormones

which act as signalling

molecules to guide and

direct many bodily functions.

For instance, ghrelin is the

hormone released from the

stomach to inform the body

when it’s hungry. Ghrelin levels

will increase approximately

three times a day: before

breakfast, lunch and dinner.

#4 There are as many

neurons in the gut

as there are in the spinal

cord. These neurons control

digestion and coordinate

defence. One of the most

important parts of the

digestive process that nerves

regulate is the coordinated

movement of gut contents.

—This information was provided by

Keith Sharkey, PhD, a professor in

the Department of Physiology and

Pharmacology as well as a member

of the university’s Hotchkiss Brain

Institute and Snyder Institute for

Chronic Diseases. Sharkey’s research

focuses on understanding how

nerves and neural elements, called

glial cells, regulate gut function and

how they are affected in various

gastrointestinal diseases. He has also

conducted studies on gut signalling

to the brain as well as those to

understand the control of vomiting.

a Liver

b Gall bladder

c Stomach

d Large intestine

e Small intestine

f Cecum

g Appendix

h Rectum

i Anus

What are some of the most common illnesses of the gut?

What does it do? Did you know?

Why do you get butterflies in your stomach when you get nervous?

What is the gut?15MEDICINE.UCALGARY.CA/MAGAZINE

As the organ of digestion,

the gut converts food into the

nutrients and energy sources

that are required for life.

IRRITABLE BOWEL

SYNDROME (IBS) A disorder

of gut sensation and function,

this condition affects

of the population.

INFLAMMATORY

BOWEL DISEASE (IBD) With

a high prevalence in Canada

(approximately 1/160 Canadians

are affected), IBD includes

Crohn’s disease and ulcerative

colitis. This chronic condition,

for which there is no cure,

affects many young adults

as well as those who are older.

ULCER DISEASE Most

commonly due to a bacterial

infection with Helicobacter

pylori, stomach ulcers can be

largely cured with antibiotics.

Severe cases in the elderly

can be fatal due to blood loss.

RESEARCH 15 UCALGARY MEDICINE FALL 2013

COLON CANCER Early stages

are often asymptomatic,

but when caught early, colon

cancer is highly treatable.

Promising approaches to

treatment and screening

methods are currently available.

GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX

More commonly known

as acid reflux, this is acid-

induced heartburn.

DIVERTICULITIS A condition

that occurs when weak

pouches within the bowel

wall are formed, leading to

infection and inflammation.

CELIAC DISEASE An autoimmune

disorder of the gut caused

by a reaction to certain grain

proteins, notably from wheat.

This sensation is due to

nervous changes that are

transmitted from the brain

to the gut, altering normal

movement, secretion

and blood flow in the gut,

because of the release of

stress hormones. When you

experience an altered state

of mind such as anxiety, the

brain adapts and some people

become aware of various

movements of the gut that

wouldn’t normally be felt.

#1 If you do not eat, your

stomach will shrink to

some degree. Your stomach

and the rest of the gut are

muscles; so if you don’t use

them, they will shrink, much

like the other muscles in your

body. A good example of this

is hibernating animals. When

an animal goes into hibernation

and doesn’t eat, its gut shrinks

down to save energy.

#2 Approximately 2/3

of the body’s immune

system is in the gut. This is to

protect the body from various

pathogens that may enter the

body through food sources.

Additionally, food becomes

dangerous as it’s digested,

with the potential to release

harmful antigens into the

body that could cause illness.

The immune system protects

the body from these antigens;

however, in some cases, the

immune system is unable

to do so, resulting in some

autoimmune disorders such

as celiac disease.

The gut or gastrointestinal tract is the organ of digestion. It is essentially

a tube that runs from the mouth down through the intestines, to the anus.

It is served by accessory organs, such as the liver and gall bladder, that

perform various roles to aid in the digestion process.

Legend:

#3 The gut is the largest

endocrine organ in

the body. It releases hormones

which act as signalling

molecules to guide and

direct many bodily functions.

For instance, ghrelin is the

hormone released from the

stomach to inform the body

when it’s hungry. Ghrelin levels

will increase approximately

three times a day: before

breakfast, lunch and dinner.

#4 There are as many

neurons in the gut

as there are in the spinal

cord. These neurons control

digestion and coordinate

defence. One of the most

important parts of the

digestive process that nerves

regulate is the coordinated

movement of gut contents.

—This information was provided by

Keith Sharkey, PhD, a professor in

Pharmacology as well as a member

of the university’s Hotchkiss Brain

Institute and Snyder Institute for

Chronic Diseases. Sharkey’s research

focuses on understanding how

nerves and neural elements, called

glial cells, regulate gut function and

how they are affected in various

gastrointestinal diseases. He has also

conducted studies on gut signalling

to the brain as well as those to

understand the control of vomiting.

a Liver

b Gall bladder

c Stomach

d Large intestine

e Small intestine

f Cecum

g Appendix

h Rectum

i Anus

What are some of the most common illnesses of the gut?

What does it do? Did you know?

Why do you get butterflies in your stomach when you get nervous?

16 EDUCATION

co-author documents and employ

a variety of methodologies to aid in

efficient and productive research. While

Wolbring locates conferences and journals

for the students, they do the heavy lifting.

For instance, one student presented at

39 online conferences in 2012. Many of

the peer reviewed academic papers are

published open access and downloaded

an average of 300 times.

This season, the students are also

organizing the second annual INSPIRe

(International Network of Student

Perspectives in Research) conference

and will be presenting at a symposium

in the United Kingdom.

“Collaboration gets them further than

competition,” he says. “And that’s about

so much more than academics.”

Gregor Wolbring is an associate professor in

the Department of Community Health Sciences

and the Community Rehabilitation and Disability

Studies program. More about the group can be

found at medicine.ucalgary.ca/crds.

Jesse Hendrikse, an adjunct professor in the

Department of Community Health Sciences, is the

first faculty supervisor to have joined the pack.

(Above) Gregor Wolbring (front row, left),

with members of the pack.

Welcome to the PackBy Colleen Biondi

If University of Calgary undergraduate and graduate students are looking for a unique opportunity to collaborate with like-minded individuals and build a robust academic portfolio, they might want to consider joining the pack.

SINCE 2010, the Wolb-Pack—an

interdisciplinary research team currently

composed of undergraduate and graduate

students from the faculties of medicine,

science, arts and kinesiology—has been

meeting once a week. They utilize

their collaborative research model to

discuss contemporary issues, plan and

execute research projects, write papers

and prepare podcasts for submission

to a wide variety of peer reviewed

journals and conferences.

With projects grounded in the

framework of ableism and disability studies,

the team’s academic work reflects the

research and personal interests of the

students, including topics such as bioethics,

medical anthropology, models and

determinants of health, climate change,

sustainability, sports and therapeutic

enhancement technologies such as social

robots and brain-computer interfaces.

Gregor Wolbring, PhD, the group’s

founder and a member of the university’s

Institute for Public Health, says the pack

gives students a place to belong, to learn

about themselves and the opportunity

to make a difference within the context

of others.

“It is about building identity as a group,”

says Wolbring.

When it comes to the research, the

Wolb-Pack’s emphasis is on maximizing

resources. Students mentor one another,

THE UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY’S Student

Run Clinic (SRC) opened in January

2010 to engage medical students in the

provision of medical care for Calgary’s

underserved and homeless populations.

Under the supervision of a physician

preceptor, first- and second-year students

work at the clinic one evening per week,

assessing and creating care plans for

patients seeking medical care. While the

opportunity has proven invaluable from

an educational stand point, to date, little

information has been gathered regarding

the overall impact the clinic is having on

the community.

A recent study has shown that the

SRC has the potential to meet several

needs of the city’s homeless population,

and despite barriers to providing a wider

spectrum of health services, it is effective

and well received by patients, stakeholders

and fellow health-care providers.

“Individuals experiencing homelessness

generally have poorer health outcomes,

and poorer access to care than the

general population,” says lead author,

Dr. David Campbell, an internal medicine

resident and PhD candidate in the

Department of Community Health

Sciences, as well as one of the initial

medical students involved in starting up

the clinic. “The complexities of providing

medical care to those who are homeless

in an urban setting are challenging,

and we wanted to know if Calgary’s SRC

may be an effective tool to help meet

these needs.”

The study involved collecting

qualitative data from students, faculty

members, agency directors and clients

through interviews. Overall, findings

suggested that the Calgary SRC has the

potential to play an important role in the

primary health-care needs of Calgary’s

homeless population.

“Further research is needed to examine

what works best in Canadian SRCs and

why,” says Campbell. “This will facilitate

optimal planning and maximal benefits

to the communities where SRCs operate.”

Student run clinic beneficial: study

17 ALUMNI

Alumnus takes skills overseasBy Leigh Hurst

SINCE 2001, Dr. R. Bruce Lampard, MD

‘94 (Peccary), has dedicated his service

to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF),

also known as Doctors Without Borders.

Currently, he is the president of MSF-

Canada and has served on their board

since 2009.

Established in 1971 by a small group

of French physicians, MSF now employs

approximately 30,000 staff situated in

countries around the world. Working

under their mandate to provide emergency

relief in countries that have little or no

medical infrastructure, their involvement

and investment in a region may continue

for several years once the initial, urgent

need is met. MSF also provides services

to areas exposed to violent conditions.

“MSF is like few other organizations,

in working independently at the grassroots

level to meet the direct needs of people

in crisis. To be a part of that, to use my

time and skills to the betterment of other

human beings caught in a dire situation,

is truly gratifying,” Lampard says.

His first field physician role with MSF

was in 2001 at a 70 bed rural medical-

nutritional hospital in South Sudan.

“It was clearly an eye-opening experience,”

he says. “On-call seven days a week, dealing

with medical problems I had never heard

of, sharing my hut with an iguana—it was

challenging. But the needs we were able

to address and the team I was fortunate

enough to work with, both international

and Sudanese, made my time there

incredibly positive.”

Subsequent experiences with MSF

have taken Lampard to Nigeria, Afghanistan,

Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo,

Chad and Somalia. His roles have included

establishing primary health and nutritional

programs for refugees, providing medical

and technical support to hospitals

and providing primary health-care

centre supervision.

“My desire to get involved in humanitarian

work certainly had its roots in Calgary,

partly through inspirational visiting

speakers to the medical school but also

through medical staff already involved

in overseas work.”

After completing his medical degree

and residency in general internal medicine

and emergency medicine at the University

of Calgary, Lampard went on to complete

a Masters of International and Public

Affairs at Columbia University in New York.

While his contributions to MSF

often take him out of Canada to practice

medicine, he is an active emergency

medicine physician at Toronto’s University

Health Network.

What is a peccary?

A peccary is a medium sized mammal

found in southwestern North America

and in Central and South America. It

bears a strong resemblance to a pig.

The University of Calgary’s Faculty of

Medicine began formally naming its MD

classes after animals in 1975 when a pro-

fessor became frustrated with his class

and called them “a bunch of turkeys”.

The name stuck and so did the tradition,

with each medical class naming the

class behind them.

My desire to get involved in humanitarian work certainly had its roots in Calgary, partly through inspirational visiting speakers to the medical school...

Dr. R. Bruce Lampard’s work with

Doctors Without Borders has taken

him around the world.

16 EDUCATION

co-author documents and employ

a variety of methodologies to aid in

efficient and productive research. While

Wolbring locates conferences and journals

for the students, they do the heavy lifting.

For instance, one student presented at

39 online conferences in 2012. Many of

the peer reviewed academic papers are

published open access and downloaded

an average of 300 times.

This season, the students are also

organizing the second annual INSPIRe

(International Network of Student

Perspectives in Research) conference

and will be presenting at a symposium

in the United Kingdom.

“Collaboration gets them further than

competition,” he says. “And that’s about

so much more than academics.”

Gregor Wolbring is an associate professor in

the Department of Community Health Sciences

and the Community Rehabilitation and Disability

Studies program. More about the group can be

found at medicine.ucalgary.ca/crds.

Jesse Hendrikse, an adjunct professor in the

Department of Community Health Sciences, is the

first faculty supervisor to have joined the pack.

(Above) Gregor Wolbring (front row, left),

with members of the pack.

Welcome to the PackBy Colleen Biondi

If University of Calgary undergraduate and graduate students are looking for a unique opportunity to collaborate with like-minded individuals and build a robust academic portfolio, they might want to consider joining the pack.

SINCE 2010, the Wolb-Pack—an

interdisciplinary research team currently

composed of undergraduate and graduate

students from the faculties of medicine,

science, arts and kinesiology—has been

meeting once a week. They utilize

their collaborative research model to

discuss contemporary issues, plan and

execute research projects, write papers

and prepare podcasts for submission

to a wide variety of peer reviewed

journals and conferences.

With projects grounded in the

framework of ableism and disability studies,

the team’s academic work reflects the

research and personal interests of the

students, including topics such as bioethics,

medical anthropology, models and

determinants of health, climate change,

sustainability, sports and therapeutic

enhancement technologies such as social

robots and brain-computer interfaces.

Gregor Wolbring, PhD, the group’s

founder and a member of the university’s

Institute for Public Health, says the pack

gives students a place to belong, to learn

about themselves and the opportunity

to make a difference within the context

of others.

“It is about building identity as a group,”

says Wolbring.

When it comes to the research, the

Wolb-Pack’s emphasis is on maximizing

resources. Students mentor one another,

THE UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY’S Student

Run Clinic (SRC) opened in January

2010 to engage medical students in the

provision of medical care for Calgary’s

underserved and homeless populations.

Under the supervision of a physician

preceptor, first- and second-year students

work at the clinic one evening per week,

assessing and creating care plans for

patients seeking medical care. While the

opportunity has proven invaluable from

an educational stand point, to date, little

information has been gathered regarding

the overall impact the clinic is having on

the community.

A recent study has shown that the

SRC has the potential to meet several

needs of the city’s homeless population,

and despite barriers to providing a wider

spectrum of health services, it is effective

and well received by patients, stakeholders

and fellow health-care providers.

“Individuals experiencing homelessness

generally have poorer health outcomes,

and poorer access to care than the

general population,” says lead author,

Dr. David Campbell, an internal medicine

resident and PhD candidate in the

Department of Community Health

Sciences, as well as one of the initial

medical students involved in starting up

the clinic. “The complexities of providing

medical care to those who are homeless

in an urban setting are challenging,

and we wanted to know if Calgary’s SRC

may be an effective tool to help meet

these needs.”

The study involved collecting

qualitative data from students, faculty

members, agency directors and clients

through interviews. Overall, findings

suggested that the Calgary SRC has the

potential to play an important role in the

primary health-care needs of Calgary’s

homeless population.

“Further research is needed to examine

what works best in Canadian SRCs and

why,” says Campbell. “This will facilitate

optimal planning and maximal benefits

to the communities where SRCs operate.”

Student run clinic beneficial: study

17 ALUMNI

Alumnus takes skills overseasBy Leigh Hurst

SINCE 2001, Dr. R. Bruce Lampard, MD

‘94 (Peccary), has dedicated his service

to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF),

also known as Doctors Without Borders.

Currently, he is the president of MSF-

Canada and has served on their board

since 2009.

Established in 1971 by a small group

of French physicians, MSF now employs

approximately 30,000 staff situated in

countries around the world. Working

under their mandate to provide emergency

relief in countries that have little or no

medical infrastructure, their involvement

and investment in a region may continue

for several years once the initial, urgent

need is met. MSF also provides services

to areas exposed to violent conditions.

“MSF is like few other organizations,

in working independently at the grassroots

level to meet the direct needs of people

in crisis. To be a part of that, to use my

time and skills to the betterment of other

human beings caught in a dire situation,

is truly gratifying,” Lampard says.

His first field physician role with MSF

was in 2001 at a 70 bed rural medical-

nutritional hospital in South Sudan.

“It was clearly an eye-opening experience,”

he says. “On-call seven days a week, dealing

with medical problems I had never heard

of, sharing my hut with an iguana—it was

challenging. But the needs we were able

to address and the team I was fortunate

enough to work with, both international

and Sudanese, made my time there

incredibly positive.”

Subsequent experiences with MSF

have taken Lampard to Nigeria, Afghanistan,

Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo,

Chad and Somalia. His roles have included

establishing primary health and nutritional

programs for refugees, providing medical

and technical support to hospitals

and providing primary health-care

centre supervision.

“My desire to get involved in humanitarian

work certainly had its roots in Calgary,

partly through inspirational visiting

speakers to the medical school but also

through medical staff already involved

in overseas work.”

After completing his medical degree

and residency in general internal medicine

and emergency medicine at the University

of Calgary, Lampard went on to complete

a Masters of International and Public

Affairs at Columbia University in New York.

While his contributions to MSF

often take him out of Canada to practice

medicine, he is an active emergency

medicine physician at Toronto’s University

Health Network.

What is a peccary?

A peccary is a medium sized mammal

found in southwestern North America

and in Central and South America. It

bears a strong resemblance to a pig.

Medicine began formally naming its MD

classes after animals in 1975 when a pro-

fessor became frustrated with his class

and called them “a bunch of turkeys”.

The name stuck and so did the tradition,

with each medical class naming the

class behind them.

My desire to get involved in humanitarian work certainly had its roots in Calgary, partly through inspirational visiting speakers to the medical school...

Dr. R. Bruce Lampard’s work with

Doctors Without Borders has taken

him around the world.

UCALGARY MEDICINE FALL 2013 1904 MEDICINE.UCALGARY.CA/MAGAZINE SERVICE TO SOCIETY

What were your main duties as president of the Heart Rhythm Society?As president, I oversaw the activities of

HRS. We have four major strategic areas:

education, research, health policy, and

patients and caregivers. I oversaw strategic

governance and operational activities

of the society to maintain a focus on

our strategic priorities. The highlight of

our year is our annual Scientific Sessions

which was held in Denver in early May.

Former president Bill Clinton was

our plenary speaker—the title of his

presentation was ‘Embracing our

Global Humanity’. The theatre, which

had capacity for close to 6,000

people, was totally filled.

What was meeting Bill Clinton like?It was an incredible experience meeting

him. James Youngblood (CEO of HRS)

and I greeted him when he arrived.

We had a 10-minute conversation before

his presentation where he very intensely

talked about health-care issues. He made

a comment about an article that had been

published in The New York Times that

day which prompted an engaged debate

in the room. He is incredibly bright and

knowledgeable about health care and all

the issues. In his formal presentation, he

also talked about health-care reform and

challenged us as physicians to be part

of the solution, not part of the problem.

Q&A with Dr. Anne M. Gillis By Lynda Sea Professor of medicine reflects on her past year as president of the Heart Rhythm SocietyDr. Anne M. Gillis, a professor in the Department of Medicine and a member of the University of Calgary’s Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta, is only the second non-American to be selected as president of the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS). In May, she completed her one-year term as president at the Washington-based organization. HRS is the international leader in science, education and advocacy for cardiac arrhythmia professionals and patients. It represents some 5,800 medical, health-care and science professionals from 72 countries who specialize in cardiac rhythm disorders.

What were the highlights of your term as HRS President?One of the real achievements this

year was our first publication of a truly

global consensus document that we

led with the European Heart Rhythm

Association (EHRA) and the Asia

Pacific Heart Rhythm Society (APHRS).

The topic addressed the diagnoses

and management of patients with

inherited arrhythmia syndromes.

The success of this document reflects

the globalization of heart rhythm

societies and their willingness

to work together. This past year

I invested considerable time

strengthening relationships with

other international societies and

other organizations that have an

interest in heart rhythm disorders.

Our big audacious goal is to

end death and suffering due to

heart rhythm disorders. As an

organization predominantly

based in North America, we

cannot achieve that goal

without global partnership.

How did your roles at the University of Calgary and HRS complement one another?One of our strategic goal areas at HRS

is research. Until about a year ago, believe

it or not, HRS had never had a research

committee. I oversaw the implementation

of the research committee. My research

profile and focus at the University of

Calgary led me to identify this as an

important priority. I have been involved

with leadership at different levels here at

the university and all of those experiences

helped me to develop skills to be an

effective leader and chair of committees.

Did anything unexpected occur during your year? No matter what, every year, there are

always issues whether it’s a drug, a device

or a health policy issue that raises concern.

This year, there was one defibrillator

lead that had been subject to a health

advisory the year before I assumed the

presidency. This past year there was an

update on the lead performance which

generated lots of questions about patient

management. In response, we conducted

educational webinars to inform our

members on how best to deal with the

information and to appropriately manage

patients in an attempt to calm people

to not overreact and not over-treat.

What were your biggest challenges this year?The most challenging event that

happened to me in the year occurred

in the last six weeks of my presidency.

This consensus document we released

at HRS’ Scientific Sessions almost didn’t

get approved. With the assistance of the

executive committee and writing group,

I exercised my leadership to expedite

the approval cycles and succeeded in

getting the document approved in time

for presentation at our annual meeting.

Much attention has been paid to you being one of the few female presidents and only the second international president at HRS. Did this pressure you in any way?I am HRS’s fourth female president.

I think that no one really knew what

to expect in terms of how I would

deal with health policy issues that

are predominantly focused on

health-care change in the U.S. I think

I pleasantly surprised most people in

how knowledgeable I was about health

policy, how engaged I was and that

I could address our members on these

issues. The health-care landscape is

changing around the world; these

issues aren’t unique to the U.S. I was

determined to demonstrate that an

international president could be a

very successful, effective leader of

our society.

UCALGARY MEDICINE FALL 2013 1904 MEDICINE.UCALGARY.CA/MAGAZINE SERVICE TO SOCIETY

What were your main duties as president of the Heart Rhythm Society?As president, I oversaw the activities of

HRS. We have four major strategic areas:

education, research, health policy, and

patients and caregivers. I oversaw strategic

governance and operational activities

of the society to maintain a focus on

our strategic priorities. The highlight of

our year is our annual Scientific Sessions

which was held in Denver in early May.

Former president Bill Clinton was

our plenary speaker—the title of his

presentation was ‘Embracing our

Global Humanity’. The theatre, which

had capacity for close to 6,000

people, was totally filled.

What was meeting Bill Clinton like?It was an incredible experience meeting

him. James Youngblood (CEO of HRS)

and I greeted him when he arrived.

We had a 10-minute conversation before

his presentation where he very intensely

talked about health-care issues. He made

a comment about an article that had been

published in The New York Times that

day which prompted an engaged debate

in the room. He is incredibly bright and

knowledgeable about health care and all

the issues. In his formal presentation, he

also talked about health-care reform and

challenged us as physicians to be part

of the solution, not part of the problem.

Q&A with Dr. Anne M. Gillis By Lynda Sea Professor of medicine reflects on her past year as president of the Heart Rhythm SocietyDr. Anne M. Gillis, a professor in the Department of Medicine and a member of the University of Calgary’s Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta, is only the second non-American to be selected as president of the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS). In May, she completed her one-year term as president at the Washington-based organization. HRS is the international leader in science, education and advocacy for cardiac arrhythmia professionals and patients. It represents some 5,800 medical, health-care and science professionals from 72 countries who specialize in cardiac rhythm disorders.

What were the highlights of your term as HRS President?One of the real achievements this

year was our first publication of a truly

global consensus document that we

led with the European Heart Rhythm

Association (EHRA) and the Asia

Pacific Heart Rhythm Society (APHRS).

The topic addressed the diagnoses

and management of patients with

inherited arrhythmia syndromes.

The success of this document reflects

the globalization of heart rhythm

societies and their willingness

to work together. This past year

I invested considerable time

strengthening relationships with

other international societies and

other organizations that have an

interest in heart rhythm disorders.

Our big audacious goal is to

end death and suffering due to

heart rhythm disorders. As an

organization predominantly

based in North America, we

cannot achieve that goal

without global partnership.

How did your roles at the University of Calgary and HRS complement one another?One of our strategic goal areas at HRS

is research. Until about a year ago, believe

it or not, HRS had never had a research

committee. I oversaw the implementation

of the research committee. My research

profile and focus at the University of

Calgary led me to identify this as an

important priority. I have been involved

with leadership at different levels here at

the university and all of those experiences

helped me to develop skills to be an

effective leader and chair of committees.

Did anything unexpected occur during your year? No matter what, every year, there are

always issues whether it’s a drug, a device

or a health policy issue that raises concern.

This year, there was one defibrillator

lead that had been subject to a health

advisory the year before I assumed the

presidency. This past year there was an

update on the lead performance which

generated lots of questions about patient

management. In response, we conducted

educational webinars to inform our

members on how best to deal with the

information and to appropriately manage

patients in an attempt to calm people

to not overreact and not over-treat.

What were your biggest challenges this year?The most challenging event that

happened to me in the year occurred

in the last six weeks of my presidency.

This consensus document we released

at HRS’ Scientific Sessions almost didn’t

get approved. With the assistance of the

executive committee and writing group,

I exercised my leadership to expedite

the approval cycles and succeeded in

getting the document approved in time

for presentation at our annual meeting.

Much attention has been paid to you being one of the few female presidents and only the second international president at HRS. Did this pressure you in any way?I am HRS’s fourth female president.

I think that no one really knew what

to expect in terms of how I would

deal with health policy issues that

are predominantly focused on

health-care change in the U.S. I think

I pleasantly surprised most people in

how knowledgeable I was about health

policy, how engaged I was and that

I could address our members on these

issues. The health-care landscape is

changing around the world; these

issues aren’t unique to the U.S. I was

determined to demonstrate that an

international president could be a

very successful, effective leader of

our society.

Dr. Julie Lauzon is one of only a handful of genetic bioethicists

in Alberta. She obtained her medical degree at the University

of Ottawa. She moved to Calgary in 2001 to begin her medical

genetics residency at the University of Calgary and then completed

a Masters of Health Science in Bioethics at the Joint Centre for

Bioethics at the University of Toronto. Lauzon is now a clinical assistant

professor in the Department of Medical Genetics. She is also the

Chair of the Education, Ethics and Public Policy Committee with the

Canadian College of Medical Genetics and a member of the Conjoint

Health Research Ethics Board at the Faculty of Medicine.

Profiling a geneticist By Laura Herperger

PROFESSION

LOCATION

OTHER INTERESTS

Dr. Julie Lauzon

Clinical geneticist and ethicist

Alberta Children’s Hospital, Calgary

Former national ice dancer and coach

04 MEDICINE.UCALGARY.CA/MAGAZINE SERVICE TO SOCIETY

What intrigued you about becoming a bioethicist / geneticist? Entering into medical school, I was

interested in paediatrics but when

I was in school, I was really fascinated

by genetics—the building blocks of

life. I liked learning about embryology

and what caused normal and abnormal

development in humans and I also

like interacting with patients and

their families. An important role for a

geneticist is to try to explain in a very

sensitive way this complex information

about human biology and have the

information understood—often treating

children who are quite ill. We know the

science, but people and communities

live in a cultural and spiritual environment

so we have to mesh this scientific

information into the daily life of people

from many different backgrounds.

As such, we can encounter ethical

dilemmas between patients, their

families and their health-care providers

who each have their own understanding

of genetics in the context of their

own beliefs.

What is a typical day like for you?My schedule changes from day to day.

First of all, I see a lot of patients who are

seeking genetic testing. I spend many

hours trying to understand their specific

genetic condition by reading about the

case in publications, collaborating with

specialists internationally and by speaking

with my colleagues. Another big part of

my day comprises my academic activities.

I teach several classes in medical ethics

to undergraduates and post-graduate

students. It is interesting to reach students

at an early stage in their career and

introduce the concepts of ethics into

the curriculum.

How did your career develop? I became interested in bioethics midway

through my residency. I was fortunate

to have the support of my department

to pursue this interest and integrate it

into my busy clinical practice. Currently,

the university’s Alberta Children’s Hospital

Research Institute (ACHRI) is creating

a genomics facility with advanced next

generation sequencers and a team

of geneticists and bioinformaticians.

All of us in genetics are learning

together about how this technology

can bring personalized medicine to

patients. I am able to collaborate

with researchers and partners across

the country and around the world to

identify more genes responsible for

a wide spectrum of rare paediatric

disorders. It is a powerful technology

which needs to be treated with great

responsibility. As such, I hope to

bring an ethical lens to the building

of clinical genomics programs.

On most days when you are in clinic, what is the greatest challenge you face? We have a powerful technology,

but we don’t have the complete

understanding yet of what it is providing.

We don’t have all the answers—we are

only at the beginning of the genomics

era. The greatest challenge is telling

a patient that we just don’t know yet.

Above and beyond this, it can also be

challenging trying to explain to people

something as complex as a genome.

Where do you think genomics will be 10 years from now? Genetics is like a bitter-sweet pill.

It provides some answers, but few

cures. It’s the first step in finding

answers but not the last. It raises

ethical questions which haven’t been

answered. I hope that in 10 years,

Canadians will have pursued the

conversation around these ethical

questions, and the science will have

advanced further to allow for

many more discoveries, giving more

to patients than just an understanding.

What would you say to anybody interested in pursuing a career in genetics? I did not start out in medicine thinking

I would be a geneticist; now I am

so grateful that I’m in this field. I have

learned that everyone is touched

by genetics: your grandparents,

your children, your community. It will

dominate the next century of medicine.

There are not enough professionals in

this field today to meet the demand.

What information is crucial for Albertans to have about genetic testing? It is very important for a patient to

be counselled on genetics. The patient

needs to know what he/she will obtain

from the test and what happens after

the testing. With genomic testing

today, the door is open to everything

in a person’s biological background.

So you many find out something you

don’t necessarily want to know. There’s

also a possibility that we as geneticists

won’t know what the information means

or only what it partially means. We may

not have all the answers because the

technology provides more information

today than we have the ability to

understand. But it all must be handled

in a responsible way. In the U.S., recent

guidelines on reporting genetic test

results for genomic tests required

physicians to reveal everything they

know to patients upon genetic testing,

whether they want to know about all

genetic conditions or not. But in other

places, geneticists limit the analysis of

the genomic test to certain conditions

which makes it easier for the patient

to absorb and understand. Patients

should also learn about who is making

these decisions about which results

are disclosed. Is it the lab, physician,

geneticist or is it the patient making

the decisions.

D I D Y O U K N O W ?

If you unwind all the DNA in the human body, the strand would reach the moon and back 6,000 times.

The cost of an entire genome test has gone from $95 million in 2001 to $6,000 today.

M I S C O N C E P T I O N S A B O U T G E N O M I C S

Can anyone have a genetic cancer test like

Angelina Jolie? The answer is both yes and

no. A referral is necessary by a family doctor

based on the patient’s personal and family risk

factors. If there are risk factors present, the

doctor can make a request for a test looking

for specific cancer gene variants.

Are the commercial genetic tests you find

online just as good? There are a variety

of different genetic tests that you can access

on the Internet, to test for specific genetic

diseases such as cystic fibrosis, or for ancestry

testing. Some tests look at conditions such

as obesity, diabetes, asthma and dementia,

and these conditions are only partially related

to genetics. The results from these tests are

limited because they give only a percentage

chance for acquiring a condition. Many

of these conditions are also influenced by

environmental and other lifestyle factors. For exclusive online content visit us at medicine.ucalgary.ca/magazine