In the Heart of Hamilton is a Researcher Saving Lives One Breath at a Time: Dr. Martin Kolb
International research by Dr. Martin Kolb, in partnership with McMaster University and the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, has helped to develop the world’s first treatments for the management of IPF, a fatal disease in which irreversible lung scarring makes it difficult for patients to breathe properly.
Starting in 2018, Dr. Kolb will be the first North American to serve as Editor-in-Chief of the European Respiratory Journal, where he will be responsible for shaping the future direction of the Journal, and highlights the esteem held by the international community for the level of research excellence seen at St Joseph’s.
A Researcher Saving Lives One Breath at a Time – Dr. Martin Kolb
New Tool for Cystic Fibrosis Patients: Dr. Jeremy Hirota
Congratulations to Dr. Jeremy Hirota who has been awarded a New Investigator Research Grant sponsored by the SickKids Foundation and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. This grant is to help create a new precision medicine tool for cystic fibrosis patients.
New Investigator Research Grant – Dr. Jeremy Hirota
Polanyi Prize-winner setting her sights on targeted asthma treatment: Sarah Svenningsen
Congratulations to post-doctoral fellow Sarah Svenningsen who is one of this year’s prestigious Polanyi Prize winners.
Polanyi Prize Winner – Sarah Svenningsen
Study finds asthma and food allergies predictable at age one: Dr. Malcolm Sears
Children at one year old who have eczema or atopic dermatitis (AD) and are sensitized to an allergen are seven times more likely than other infants to develop asthma, and significantly more likely to have a food allergy by age three.
Article – Study finds asthma and food allergies predictable at age one
Ten McMaster researchers awarded Canada Research Chairs: Dr. Jeremy Hirota
Congratulations to Dr. Jeremy Hirota who was awarded Canada Research Chair in Respiratory Mucosal Immunology. Five members of the Faculty of Health Sciences are among 10 McMaster researchers to be recognized as leaders in their fields. Altogether they have been awarded $8.6 million from the Canada Research Chairs (CRC) Program to further their work, improve Canada’s international competitiveness, and train the next generation of leaders.
Ten McMaster Researchers Awarded Canada Research Chairs
Innovator 2017 – Summer Edition: Exploring How Antibiotics and Probiotics Affect Behaviour: Dr. Paul Forsythe
Drs. John Bienenstock and Paul Forsythe investigate the effects that gut bacteria have on the brain.
Exploring How Antibiotics and Probiotics Affect Behaviour
European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology Congress 2017: Dr. Manali Mukherjee
Dr. Manali Mukherjee, one of our post-doctoral fellows, won the best poster and abstract award in the session on Autoimmune Mechanisms at the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology Congress which took place in Helsinki, Finland from June 17-21, 2017. Congratulations Dr. Mukherjee!
2017 Phyllis Gretzky Memorial Golf Classic in Support of Critical Lung Health Research
Dr.’s Nathan Hambly, Martin Kolb, Mark Inman, and Ciaran Scallan participated in the 2017 Phyllis Gretzky Memorial Golf Classic in support of critical lung health research, sponsored by The Lung Association.
Study Finds Delayed Food Introduction Increases Risk of Sensitization: Dr. Malcolm Sears
Delaying the introduction of potentially allergenic foods until after a baby’s first year may increase the likelihood of a food allergy later on, according to new findings from the Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development (CHILD) Study.
The research, published in Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, found that infants who avoided cow’s milk products, egg and peanut during the first year of life were more likely to be sensitized to these foods at age one.
“Food sensitization early in life is associated with an increased risk of wheeze, asthma, eczema and allergic rhinitis in later childhood,” said Dr. Malcolm Sears, co-director of the CHILD Study and a professor of medicine at McMaster University.
Study Finds Delayed Food Introduction Increases Risk of Sensitization
New Drug Could Help People with Asthma Come Off Steroid Treatment: Dr. Parameswaran Nair
New research led by Dr. Parameswaran Nair has found a biologic that may reduce the need of steroid-based medications for patients with severe asthma – improving their quality of life.
Many patients who suffer from severe asthma take steroid-based medications – such as prednisone – to control their symptoms. But these types of medications carry with them a risk of long-term side effects, such as headaches, nausea, sleep problems and weight gain. This new trial found that giving patients with severe asthma a biologic called Benralizumab reduced their use of steroid-based medications by up to 75%.
New Medicine Shows Potential to Reduce Oral Steroid Use
2017 Frederick Hargreave Clinical Research Award: Sarah Svenningsen
Sarah Svenningsen was awarded the 2017 Frederick Hargreave Clinical Research Award for outstanding poster presentation at the Annual CTS Poster Competition at the ATS Conference in Washington, D.C. on May 20, 2017. Sarah has done us all proud by bringing home this award. This is a tremendous achievement. Congratulations Sarah!!!
2017 Frederick Hargreave Clinical Research Award – Sarah Svenningsen
Innovator 2017, Spring Edition: Meet Dr. Jeremy Hirota
2017 Around the Bay Road Race
Congratulations to Team Firestone who once again participated in the Around the Bay Race which took place on Sunday, March 26, 2017. All funds raised support the compassionate patient care and ground breaking research here at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton. Thank you to everyone who supported the Team!
2017 Around the Bay Fundraising
On Wednesday, March 22, 2017, Team Firestone had a very successful day of fundraising for the 2017 Around the Bay Road Race. Numerous faculty, students, staff, and even patients participated by selling samosa’s and running/walking on a treadmill for 5 hours, totaling 54km and raising $2,486.00 to go towards respiratory research here at Firestone.
Giants in Chest Medicine: Dr. Paul O’Bryne
Dr. Paul O’Bryne shares his personal & professional journey in this interview for Giants of Chest Medicine.
Dr. Malcolm Sears, Dunedin Study featured in documentary series
AllerGen Research Leader Dr. Malcolm Sears is featured in a 2016 documentary series chronicling the lives of 1,037 people born in Dunedin, New Zealand during 1972-73. Episode 4: Dirt is Good, Dirt Poor is Bad features interviews with Dr. Sears and reveals how excessive cleanliness affects asthma and allergies, how poverty gets under the skin to cause lifelong damage, the physical effects of social isolation, and how mental illness and Alzheimer’s can be predicted by looking at the back of an eye. Please find below the link to the episode. Congratulations Dr. Sears!
Dunedin Study featured in Documentary Series: Dr. Malcolm Sears