Author: pathwp

CanPath transforming data access to unlock its full potential to improve health

Posted on by pathwp

“New funding from Genome Canada will help CanPath build a cloud-based platform to equip researchers to understand the drivers of health and disease in Canada. Inside an unprecedented collection of health data from more than 330,000 Canadians are clues to understanding why people develop disease and how to prevent it. And a new project to improve how researchers access that data could lead to a future where Canadians get better, more personalized treatments for diseases like cancer.” CanPath is the “country’s largest population health study. Bringing together data from seven regional cohorts across 10 provinces, CanPath is a tremendous scientific resource of health, genomic and other data from about one in 100 Canadians. Now, CanPath is set to transform how it shares this data with researchers. Thanks to a $6.2 million grant from Genome Canada, CanPath is building a ‘trusted research environment,’ a secure cloud-based platform where researchers can access and analyze data all in one place.” ““This has the potential to be a game changer, both for CanPath’s long-term sustainability and the future of health research and healthcare in Canada,” says Dr. John McLaughlin, CanPath’s Executive Director and Professor of Epidemiology at the University of Toronto.” Full press release from the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research: https://oicr.on.ca/canpath-transforming-data-access-to-unlock-its-full-potential-to-improve-health/

ISBER Awards

Posted on by pathwp

Congratulations to our colleague, Dr. Peter Watson on the Award for Outstanding Achievement in Biobanking from the International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories!! We’re fortunate to work with Dr. Watson in his role with CanPath. Dr. Watson is the Director of Biobanking and Biospecimen Research Services, staff pathologist and senior scientist with BC Cancer. He is also a Professor of Pathology at the University of British Columbia and adjunct professor at the University of Victoria. Read more: https://www.isber.org/news/638153/ISBER-is-pleased-to-announce-the-2023-Award-Winners.htm  

Healthy Future Sask Recruitment

Posted on by pathwp

Our colleagues at Healthy Future Sask are recruiting participants! Healthy Future Sask creates a platform and resource for fostering research in cancer and chronic disease prevention in Saskatchewan. Healthy Future Sask is looking to engage with more than 7000 Saskatchewan residents between the ages of 30 and 74 to participate in the study. Participants will be asked to complete a health and lifestyle questionnaire, donate a biological sample (for example, blood or saliva), and have physical measurements taken on more than one occasion throughout the study. The information provided by volunteer participants will help researchers find out how lifestyle, genetics, and environment influence the health of future generations to come, helping us understand and potentially change tomorrow’s health together. Additional Information: https://healthyfuturesask.ca/  

IWH Speaker Series

Posted on by pathwp

Many thanks to the Institute of Work and Health (IWH) for having Atlantic PATH Research Director, Dr. Ellen Sweeney at their Speaker Series today! IWH is a leader in work injury & disability prevention research. An independent, not-for-profit organization, IWH conducts and shares actionable research to promote, protect and improve the health and safety of working people. Dr. Sweeney presented on CanPath and Atlantic PATH data holdings, as well as Atlantic PATH’s shift work research, job title coding by algorithm project, and prostate cancer research. Learn more: Institute of Work and Health www.iwh.on.ca Atlantic PATH: www.atlanticpath.ca CanPath: www.canpath.ca #OccupationalResearch #Work #Health #Cohort

CanPath Webinar: COVID-19 Findings

Posted on by pathwp

CanPath Webinar: Real-World Insights on COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness and Infection Risk Factors from CanPath’s SUPPORT-Canada Study May 30th, 12-1pmEST/1-2pmAST Register: https://canpath.ca/2023/04/hybrid-event-covid-19-vaccine-effectiveness-support-canada-study/ Join us for an in-depth analysis of COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness based on real-world data from the SUrveying Prospective Population cOhorts for COVID-19 pRevalence and ouTcomes in Canada’ (SUPPORT-Canada) study. Led by Victoria Kirsh, this webinar will provide an overview of the study population, data collection, and statistical models used to analyze risk factors for infection and vaccine effectiveness against the Omicron variant. You’ll learn about the importance of time since last vaccination as the most critical determinant of protection against infection, more so than the number of vaccinations. Dr. Kirsh will also discuss the benefits and drawbacks of different vaccines and booster shots, including the latest findings on bivalent vs. monovalent boosters. Don’t miss this opportunity to stay up-to-date on the latest research and insights into COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness. About the Presenter: Dr. Victoria Kirsh is the Scientific Associate at the Ontario Health Study, one of CanPath’s regional cohorts. Dr. Kirsh completed a Ph.D. in Epidemiology from Yale University, an M.Sc. in Epidemiology from the University of Toronto and a B.Sc. in Microbiology and Immunology from McGill University. She completed a fellowship at the U.S. National Cancer Institute, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics. She worked as an Assistant Professor at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, and as a Scientist at Cancer Care Ontario before joining the Ontario Health Study.

Genome BC’s Annual Genomics Forum – May 3, 2023

Posted on by pathwp

CanPath National Scientific Director, Dr. Philip Awadalla and BC Generations Scientific Director, Dr. Parveen Bhatti will be speaking in session 4, “All In: Using Large Population-Based Genomics Studies to Inform Patient Care.”  Wednesday, May 3rd: 3:00-4:30pm PST / 6:00-7:30EST / 7:00-8:30pmAST Registration: https://events.genomebc.ca/genomics-forum-2023/ Session Description: “Large population-based studies have taken place in several countries. Examples include All of Us (USA), 100,000 Genomes Project (UK) and Australian Genomics. This session will explore how these countries have made their project successful and how Canada can leverage already existing data and samples to have its own large cohort initiative — one that supports the development of disease screening, diagnostic, prevention and treatment, as well as inform public health policies for our diverse population.” Speakers: Zsuzsanna Hollander (Moderator) – Genome British Columbia Philip Awadalla (Presenter) – CanPath (Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow’s Health) Parveen Bhatti (Presenter) – BC Cancer Research Institute Anastasia Wise – All of Us Research Program, National Institutes of Health Tiffany Boughtwood – Australian Genomics About the Event: “Precision health care promises to target the right treatments to the right patients at the right time. And while genomics technologies have been used to effectively treat patients in health research for decades, thereby revolutionizing patient care, there are areas where these transformational technologies have not yet had a major impact. Join Genome BC on May 3, 2023, this year’s Annual Genomics Forum as we discuss the power and hurdles of integrating genomics into patient management and how we can ensure maximum value is derived from samples and patient data. Other countries have been leading the way in translational genomics research through initiatives such as “All of Us”, inviting one million people across the United States to help build one of the most diverse health databases in history. Australia Genomics has established a national collaboration supporting the translation of genomic research into clinical practice. And Genomics England’s initiative to sequence 100,000 genomes of patients affected by rare diseases or cancer is providing groundbreaking insights and continued findings into the role genomics can play in health care. Though efforts such as these have yet to materialize in Canada, can we leverage already existing biobanks and health data administration systems to make gains and fulfil the promise of precision health for Canadians? Let us learn how we can individually and collectively contribute to filling this gap while ensuring that research and health care advances are equitable to all.” https://events.genomebc.ca/genomics-forum-2023/

Investigating the Oral Microbiome in Retrospective and Prospective Cases of Prostate, Colon and Breast Cancer

Posted on by pathwp

Authors: Jacob Nearing, Vanessa DeClercq, Morgan Langille Journal: Nature Biofilms and Microbiomes Abstract: The human microbiome has been proposed as a potentially useful biomarker for several cancers. To examine this, we made use of salivary samples from the Atlantic Partnership for Tomorrow’s Health (PATH) project and Alberta’s Tomorrow Project (ATP). Sample selection was divided into both a retrospective and prospective case control design examining prostate, breast, and colon cancer. In total 89 retrospective and 260 prospective cancer cases were matched to non-cancer controls and saliva samples were sequenced using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. We found no significant differences in alpha diversity. All beta diversity measures were insignificant except for unweighted UniFrac profiles in retrospective breast cancer cases and weighted UniFrac, Bray-Curtis and Robust Atchinson’s distances in colon cancer after testing with age and sex adjusted MiRKAT models. Differential abundance (DA) analysis showed several taxa that were associated with previous cancer in all three groupings. Only one genus (Clostridia UCG-014) in breast cancer and one ASV (Fusobacterium periodonticum) in colon cancer was identified by more than one DA tool. In prospective cases three ASVs were associated with colon cancer, one ASV with breast cancer, and one ASV with prostate cancer. Random Forest classification showed low levels of signal in both study designs in breast and prostate cancer. Contrastingly, colon cancer did show signal in our retrospective analysis (AUC: 0.737) and in one of two prospective cohorts (AUC: 0.717). Our results indicate that it is unlikely that reliable microbial oral biomarkers for breast and prostate cancer exist. However, further research into the oral microbiome and colon cancer could be fruitful. doi: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41522-023-00391-7

New Microbiome Publication

Posted on by pathwp

Congratulations to our colleagues, Dr. Jacob Nearing, Dr. Vanessa DeClercq and Dr. Morgan Langille on their new microbiome publication!! “Investigating the Oral Microbiome in Retrospective and Prospective Cases of Prostate, Colon and Breast Cancer” utilizes saliva samples from Atlantic PATH and Alberta’s Tomorrow Project to consider potential biomarkers for cancer. Link to article in Nature Biofilms and Microbiomes: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41522-023-00391-7

Join us in Halifax — CCRA Call for Abstracts

Posted on by pathwp

The Canadian Cancer Research Conference provides an excellent opportunity to present research to the cancer community. Abstract submissions from the entire spectrum of research topics are welcome. Abstract submission for the 2023 Canadian Cancer Research Conference is now open.  Abstract submission deadline: Friday, June 9, 2023 at 11:59 PM (midnight) EDT Abstract submissions from the entire spectrum of cancer research topics are welcome. The online abstract submission process is bilingual. Abstract submissions will be accepted in both English and French. Abstracts will appear in the language of submission, and posters may be prepared and presented orally in the presenter’s language of choice. Please note all lightning and oral presenters must present in person at the 2023 CCRC in Halifax. Additional details: https://www.ccra-acrc.ca/conference/abstracts/  

Keynote Lecture

Posted on by pathwp

Atlantic PATH Scientific Director, Dr. Robin Urquhart was the key note speaker at the 8th annual Charbonneau Research Symposium. The Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute is based at the University of Calgary and brings together scientists and physicians to integrate research and care across disciplines – from understanding and preventing cancer, to transforming its detection and treatment, to improving life with and after cancer. The Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute Annual Research Symposium is a one day series of short lectures from principal investigators from across our different research streams. Dr. Urquhart presented on “Accelerating Change in the Cancer System: Dispatches from the Frontlines of Research and Practice.”