Six research projects receive $137,500 in funding: Vitalité Health Network congratulates the participating physicians and researchers

Moncton, October 20, 2020 – Vitalité Health Network wishes to congratulate the physicians and researchers as well as their colleagues at the Université de Moncton having received grants to conduct six separate research projects.

Five projects received $25,000 grants and one project received a $12,500 grant through the Programme de financement de recherche en santé DUO.  Each funding application was evaluated by a committee of three independent evaluators via a process similar to that employed by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. The funding for the projects originates from the research development program of the Centre de formation médicale du Nouveau-Brunswick.

The Network congratulates the following recipients for their health research work:

  • Dr. Nicole LeBlanc, Regional Chief of Staff and pediatrician, Prof. Vickie Plourde, of the Université de Moncton, and Dominique Basque, Vitalité Health Network Research Coordinator, for the project "Rétablissement post-commotionnel prolongé à l’enfance et l’adolescence : impact d’un système de dépistage précoce."
  • Dr. Mouna Ben Amor, genetics specialist at the Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont UHC, Prof. Gilles Robichaud, of the Université de Moncton, and Nicolas Crapoulet, PhD, clinical specialist in molecular genetics at the Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont UHC, for the project "Caractérisation fonctionnelle des variants d’ADN à signification inconnue."
  • Nancy Bulger, physiotherapist at the Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont UHC, Prof. Grant Handrigan, of the Université de Moncton, and Dr. Nadine Roy, family physician, for the project "Évaluation d’une intervention de physiothérapie préopératoire et postopératoire chez des patients bariatriques du CHUDGLD."
  • Dr. Ludivine Witkowski, neurology specialist at the Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont UHC, Prof. Pier Morin, of the Université de Moncton and Dr. Rodney Ouellette, President and Scientific Director of the Atlantic Cancer Research Institute, for the project "Investigation d’une signature moléculaire circulante chez les patients atteints de la maladie d’Alzheimer."
  • Dr. Pierre Beaucage, family physician, Prof. Anne-Marie Dion-Côté, of the Université de Moncton, and Fabien Lamaze, PhD, of the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research for the project "Syndrome coronarien et recherche de nouvelles mutations génomiques associés aux lipoprotéines : une étude familiale de la population acadienne."
  • Dr. Gabriel Girouard and Prof. Luc Boudreau, of the Université de Moncton, for the project "Les bactériophages : des antibiotiques naturels?"

Here are descriptions of the six research projects:

$25,000 grants

Rétablissement post-commotionnel prolongé à l'enfance et l'adolescence : impact d'un système de dépistage précoce

With mental and physical health being two separate but interrelated constructs, an interdisciplinary and multidimensional approach is required to study them. An emerging field of study involves the role of mental health in young people’s post-concussion recovery. This research project is designed to implement a brief, multidimensional and longitudinal evaluation based on data collected in the school setting on post-concussion recovery. This data will make it possible to draw a descriptive portrait of the progression of post-concussion symptoms, to assess the impact of the evaluation system on the speed at which young people return to learning, and to assess the satisfaction of young people and parents with this system.

Caractérisation fonctionnelle des variants d'ADN à signification inconnue

At present, for certain pathologies, molecular screening tests often lead to the detection of non-characterized mutations (or variants of unknown or uncertain significance / VUS). In this study, we are proposing the functional elucidation of certain VUS to determine their impact and role in cancer pathogenesis. In the wake of this study, not only will mutations be correlated to pathological processes (pathological variants) but clinicians will also be able to perform diagnostic and even therapeutic follow-up in patients with these mutations as part of precision medicine.

Évaluation d'une intervention de physiothérapie préopératoire et postopératoire chez des patients bariatriques du CHUDGLD

This project is designed to improve the outcomes of NB patients undergoing bariatric surgery at the Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Centre (DGLDUHC) over the period 2020 to 2022. The objective is to evaluate whether educational courses on the topic of physical activity, with emphasis on adult education principles (active learning context), will impact the overall activities that the bariatric surgery patients perform during their preoperative and postoperative phases.  Other elements such as functional status, quality of life, and pain will also be evaluated before and after the patients’ surgeries. The results related to functional status, quality of life, and pain will be correlated based on the amount of physical activity performed.

Investigation d'une signature moléculaire circulante chez les patients atteints de la maladie d'Alzheimer

Dementia is an individual and societal challenge. New Brunswick is particularly affected, with dementia currently affecting 12,000 to 14,000 people and with this number projected to double by 2038. The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease (AD), which involves memory disorders and cognitive decline leading to loss of independence. This disease is currently diagnosed based on an array of clinical and radiological data and on cerebrospinal fluid analysis after lumbar puncture. The diagnosis is long, difficult and invasive. Blood biomarkers that are simple to collect and offer diagnostic potential, such as extracellular vesicles (EVs) containing non-coding RNA and microRNA, could facilitate early diagnosis of AD. We are proposing to collect circulating samples from patients with AD and conduct molecular profiling to reveal non-coding RNA with diagnostic value.

Syndrome coronarien et recherche de nouvelles mutations génomiques associés aux lipoprotéines : une étude familiale de la population acadienne

Metabolic syndrome involves a constellation of often poorly understood inheritable and environmental risk factors that may be associated with the development of coronary disease. Given the relative genetic homogeneity of the Acadian population, it is noteworthy that many families are experiencing increasingly early onset of coronary syndrome. We are proposing to characterize the deleterious mutations by sampling related individuals presenting extreme phenotypes associated with coronary syndrome. Sequencing the whole exome will 1) identify and characterize these new mutations, 2) provide early diagnosis for family members age 5 years, for personalized medicine purposes, and 3) develop new biomarkers for the Acadian population that will personalize cardiovascular follow-up and health care. This study could also serve as a regional example of personalized medicine within a clinical practice and teaching context.

$12,500 grant

Bacteriophages: natural antibiotics?

The chance discovery of antibiotics early in the last century eclipsed a whole family of viruses, dubbed bacteriophages that are programmed to destroy bacteria. Bacteriophages are found throughout our environment, whether on our bodies, in the water or in the earth. Each bacterium has its own bacteriophage. The primary role of a bacteriophage is to destroy its target bacterium. The bacteriophage multiplies inside as it destroys its target bacterium and produces more viral particles. In this study, we want to compile a library of bacteriophages, certain of which can be tested for their effectiveness against resistant strains of bacteria such as Clostridium difficile or Staphylococcus aureus, for example. Bacteriophages could perhaps offer a solution to antibiotic failure.