Tag: Health Research

Conference of Atlantic Medical Students (CoAMS)

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Atlantic PATH is pleased to be represented at the Conference of Atlantic Medical Students (CoAMS) on April 27th at Dalhousie University. This conference seeks to facilitate student networking to build a strong community environment among Atlantic medical students that will promote knowledge sharing and future collaboration. To accomplish this, a series of medical talks and workshops are offered to students by a variety of health care professionals and related professions. Megan Smith, B.Eng., is a Dalhousie University medical student and will present a poster highlighting her Research In Medicine (RIM) work, “Examining the Effects of Isolation on SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Levels During the Early Pandemic: A Retrospective Analysis of Self-Reported Survey and Serology Data.”  Atlantic PATH’s Research Director, Dr. Ellen Sweeney is pleased to be a judge at CoAMS for the medical students’ oral presentations. Thank you to the CoAMS organizing committee for the invitation.

CanPath is Hiring: Research Operations Manager

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Join the CanPath team as the new Research Operations Manager at the University of Toronto. Deadline: September 22, 2023. “CanPath is Canada’s largest population health cohort and a national platform for population-level health research. CanPath is studying the biology, behaviours and environments of Canadians to learn more about the causes of chronic disease and cancer for the good of our country and people around the world. As the CanPath Research Operations Manager, you will be integral to maximizing research funding, which includes conducting detailed analysis and applying and interpreting relevant policies. You will be responsible for directing the activities of a group of staff and therefore will be working together to drive CanPath’s objectives. Using your analytical, communication and problem-solving skills, you will support and collaborate with a diverse set of stakeholders and partners in applying and interpreting policies and procedures, policy issues, and drafting contracts and agreements.” Details: https://jobs.utoronto.ca/job/Toronto-CanPath-Research-Operations-Manager-ON/573838317/  

CH&E Seminar Series – Dr. Kelvin Fong (Sept 2023)

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We are looking forward to attend our colleague, Dr. Kelvin Fong’s presentation in the Dalhousie University Department of Community Health and Epidemiology‘s Seminar Series on September 13th at 12pm AST (11am EST). Dr. Fong’s presentation is entitled, “How does the Environment Contribute to Health in Atlantic Canada?”  Dr. Fong is an assistant professor at Dalhousie University in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences and cross-appointed in Community Health and Epidemiology. In 2022, they established the Laboratory for Environmental Assessment and Population Health (LEAPH), which focuses on environmental health disparities. For more information, including how to attend the seminar, please refer to: https://events.dal.ca/event/2364-champe-seminar-series.

Melanoma Risk in Atlantic Canada

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New work from Dr. Ivan Litvinov and Dr. François Lagacé  at McGill University includes Atlantic PATH participants and highlights why Atlantic Canadians are at higher risk for developing melanoma (skin cancer). The SunFit project conducted focus groups in 22 communities across Atlantic Canada.  Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island have the highest rates of melanoma in the country, while rates in New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador are in line with the Canadian average. The team compared UV exposure and relevant behavioural factors and found that higher-income participants had an increased risk, but that participants with a lower income were more likely to work outdoors and experience occupational sun exposure which increases their risk of developing melanoma. Further, females had less sun exposure and higher rates of sunscreen use compared to males. Additional information: Dr. Litvinov was interviewed on CBC’s Maritime Noon. “N.S. and P.E.I. have higher rats of skin cancer than national average. Here’s why.” August 22, 2023. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/maritimes-skin-cancer-national-average-1.6943582?cmp=rss) McGill University News Room. “Why men, wealthy people and maritime residents are more likely to develop skin cancer.” August 22, 2023.  https://www.mcgill.ca/newsroom/channels/news/why-men-wealthy-people-and-maritime-residents-are-more-likely-develop-skin-cancer-349697 Chronicle Herald article. “Dermatologist probes skin cancer rates.” September 7, 2023.  https://saltwire.pressreader.com/article/281552295441450    

New Publication – Skin Cancer & Atlantic Canada

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Atlantic PATH participants were invited to participate in the SunFit study led by Dr. Ivan Litvinov at McGill University. A new publication focuses on assessing skin cancer risk factors, sun safety behaviours and melanoma concern in Atlantic Canada. Melanoma skin cancer can largely be prevented through education, sun protection, screening, and public health campaigns. However, incidence rates have been increasing and the highest age-standardized incidence rates in Canada found in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island (27.66 and 30.94 cases per 100,000, respectively). In contrast, Newfoundland and Labrador and New Brunswick have rates below or comparable to the Canadian average (16.63 and 19.99 per 100,000, respectively). The SunFit study found that participants in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island had higher overall rates of sun exposure, as well as the greatest percentage of the skin type with a predisposition to burn. The findings of the study suggest that increased sun exposure, rather than lack of awareness or use of sun protection, may be driving the higher rates of melanoma in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island compared to Newfoundland and Labrador. The Sun Fit project continues to expand this work to other Canadian regions.

Pan-Canadian Cancer Data Strategy

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The Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) and Canadian Partnership Against Cancer (CPAC) have launched the Pan-Canadian Cancer Data Strategy that will guide efforts to enhance the collection, integration and use of cancer data. “CPAC and CCS have worked with various partners, including provincial and territorial cancer agencies and programs, healthcare organizations, First Nations, Inuit and Métis partners, researchers, policymakers and people with lived cancer experience to create a cancer-specific data strategy that includes: a framework to guide the mission, vision, values and success factors for improvements in cancer data three priorities for action and investment including: improving the efficiency, timeliness and quality of data capture and access enhancing linkages to current data filling gaps in current data collection and availability a section on the importance of First Nations, Inuit and Métis data sovereignty, with examples of First Nations, Inuit and Métis-led efforts to improve data and data governance.” CanPath, and its seven regional cohorts including Atlantic PATH, are proud to be represented in the new Pan-Canadian Cancer Data Strategy.  We’re committed to filling gaps in data on risk factors to guide cancer prevention efforts.  CPAC Press Release: https://www.partnershipagainstcancer.ca/about-us/corporate-resources-publications/pan-canadian-cancer-data-strategy/

CBC News Article

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A Dalhousie University and McMaster University led project is highlighted in a recent CBC article. The New Frontiers in Research Fund supported research is focused on disparities in cancer incidence and outcomes in a Black Nova Scotian community (Shelburne, Nova Scotia). This research is truly interdisciplinary, incorporating natural and social sciences to consider the role of environmental, biological, genetic, socioeconomic, and lifestyle factors with the high cancer incidence and mortality in this community. Atlantic PATH will act as a comparison population using data and biological samples from Nova Scotia participants. Additional details about this project and the new Nova Scotia Environmental Racism Panel in the CBC Article by Josefa Cameron (July 2, 2023): https://bit.ly/44dw9cu

#PlaidForDad2023

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#PlaidForDad2023 — Prostate Cancer Awareness and Research Atlantic PATH welcomes our youngest team member(!) and continues the Plaid for Dad tradition raising awareness about prostate cancer in Canada. We have ongoing research on prostate cancer exploring environmental exposure to arsenic and cancer risk using toxicological and machine learning methods. This research stream has received and benefitted from funding from Nova Scotia Health, the Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute, Prostate Cancer Canada, the Canadian Cancer Society, and the New Frontiers in Research Fund.  Related publications to date include: Keltie, E., Hood, K., Cui, Y., Sweeney, E., Ilie, G., Adishesh, A., Dummer, T.J.B., Bharti, V., Kim, J.S. (2022). Arsenic speciation and metallomics profiling of human toenails as a biomarker to assess prostate cancer cases: Atlantic PATH cohort study. Frontiers in Public Health, 10.  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9301242/ Hood, K., Sweeney, E., Ilie, G., Keltie, E., Kim, J.S. (2023). Toenail arsenic species and metallome profiles associated with breast, cervical, prostate, and skin cancer prevalence in the Atlantic Partnership for Tomorrow’s Health cohort. Frontiers in Public Health, Environmental Health and Exposome.  https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1148283/full Smith, N., Keltie, E., Sweeney, E., Weerasinghe, S., MacPherson, K., Kim, J.S. (2022). Toenail speciation biomarkers in arsenic-releated disease: a feasibility study for investigating the association between arsenic expsosure and chronic disease. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 232. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651322001099 We have also conducted research on the mental health of prostate cancer survivors compared to those with no history of cancer and those with types of cancer. This work was supported by funding from the Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute. Publications to date include: Ilie, G., Rutledge, R., Sweeney, E. (2020). Anxiety and depression symptoms in adult males in Atlantic Canada with or without a lifetime history of prostate cancer. Psycho-Oncology. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/pon.5244 Ilie, G., Rutledge, R., Sweeney, E. (2021). An examination of the role of socioeconomic status in the relationship between depression and prostate cancer survivorship in a population-based sample of men from Atlantic Canada. Oncology, 99(4). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33486485/ Ilie, G., Rutledge, R., Sweeney, E. (2021). Post-Treatment Adverse Health Correlates among Prostate Cancer Survivors in a Sample of Men Residing in Atlantic Canada. Current Oncology, 28(4). https://www.mdpi.com/1718-7729/28/4/246  

New Toxicology Publication

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Congratulations to Kalli Hood and team on their new publication in Frontiers in Public Health! Kalli’s Master’s research found an association between a history of cancer and arsenic speciation/metallome exposure in the Atlantic PATH cohort. This work is part of our larger focus on environment and cancer, and establishing toenails as an important biomarker representing ~18 months of exposure. Kalli is now working on her PhD focused on drinking water quality in the Department of Civil and Resource Engineering at Dalhousie University.  

Most CanPath study participants had infection-acquired antibodies but few suspected COVID-19

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Dr. Victoria Kirsh presented at a CanPath webinar this week to present results from the SUPPORT-Canada study, funded by the federal COVID-19 Immunity Task Force (CITF). Data and blood spot samples were used from 22,300 participants from Atlantic PATH, CARTaGENE, the Ontario Health Study, Manitoba Tomorrow Project, Alberta’s Tomorrow Project, and BC Generations. Key findings include: 62% of participants had a COVID-19 infection based on anti-N measured antibody levels. Among those, 86% did not suspect they had ever had COVID-19. 95% of the COVID-19 infections were observed during the Omicron period. Risk of infection was increased among younger individuals, males, essential workers, and those who travelled. Participants with a reported COVID-19 infection reported symptoms from mild to severe, but few required hospitalization. The effectiveness of full or booster vaccination in preventing COVID-19 Omicron infection is short-term, only lasting 4 months. Time since last dose is a more important determinant of protection against infection than the number of doses. Antibody levels are correlates of vaccine-induced protection. Prior COVID-19 infection protects against reinfection for 8 months. The CanPath SUPPORT-Canada study has provided important findings related to the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccines and infections. With only 4 months of protection, these findings suggest that booster campaigns could be strategically used to rapidly boost immunity before upcoming waves of infection. Further, the longitudinal nature of CanPath participants ensures that we have a nationally representative population that can be followed for years to come (e.g., impact of Long COVID, future vaccinations, etc.). Link to recorded webinar: To come Link to webinar slide deck: https://www.covid19immunitytaskforce.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/canpath-webinar-may-2023.pdf Link to CITF’s post: https://www.covid19immunitytaskforce.ca/most-canpath-study-participants-had-infection-acquired-antibodies-but-few-suspected-covid-19/