September 22, 2004 EDMONTON, Alberta -- New equipment at the Alberta Cardiovascular and Stroke Research Centre (ABACUS) will soon help researchers identify diagnostic proteins, or biomarkers, that create a disease fingerprint for common cardiovascular diseases before physical symptoms appear, potentially reducing patient risk and health care costs. The Honourable Anne McLellan, Deputy Prime Minister of Canada, on behalf of the Honourable Stephen Owen, Minister of Western Economic Diversification and Minister of State (Sport), today announced $640,000 in funding towards acquisition of a “protein chip” biomarker system, as well as a robotic arm that automates the system, that will be used in the study of cardiovascular diseases – the leading cause of death in Canadians. “Western Economic Diversification Canada continues to support leading-edge research in areas identified as an innovation priority,” said Minister McLellan. “By investing in this new technology, ABACUS will facilitate critical new research in the area of cardiovascular diseases. We are proud to support cooperative initiatives such as this with the University of Alberta and C apital Health that will improve diagnosis, create new business and job opportunities, and successfully retain highly skilled professionals in Western Canada.” "Western Economic Diversification Canada’s support for this new protein chip technology has added an important new dimension to the study of cardiovascular disease at the University of Alberta,“ said Dr. Tom Marrie, University of Alberta Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry. "Dr. Archer has done a remarkable job of assembling an outstanding research team and, with the support of Capital Health, the infrastructure necessary to study vascular diseases from the subcellular level, which can be translated to the treatment of the cardiac patient.” “This technology will eventually have a profound impact on the health outcomes of patients who access cardiac care at the Alberta Heart Institute,” said Dr. Stephen Archer, Heart and Stroke Chair in Cardiovascular Research and Chief of Cardiology at the University of Alberta Hospital, Capital Health. “Quicker, more accurate disease detection and diagnosis will provide patients with an opportunity to implement healthy lifestyle changes to avoid illness, or in cases where illness has begun, allow physicians to recommend proper medical procedures sooner.” The identification of abnormal proteins has three benefits: understanding protein abnormalities can explain the cause of a disease and allow disease classification or diagnosis; abnormal protein levels or structure can be used to diagnose a normal change in condition within the body, and differential levels of protein can help distinguish diseases which may have similar symptoms (such as pneumonia and heart failure); and the protein level measured from a simple blood or urine test, can tell researchers about the state of the disease (progression, remission, etc.) or the response to therapy. ABACUS, a joint initiative of Capital Health and the University of Alberta, is being developed as a centre of excellence in the prevention and treatment of heart disease through services, research and education. The centre is expected to open in 2005 at the Alberta Heart Institute, which will provide expanded, state-of-the-art space and equipment for patients, and support a broad network of cardiovascular research, patient care and health professional training. WD is a catalyst for the advancement of new technologies in Western Canada. Projects such as the satellite biomarker discovery unit lead to the commercialization of groundbreaking ideas and create new jobs in innovative industries. Federal funding for this project was provided for in the March 2004 federal budget. - 30 - For additional information, contact: Donna Kinley A/Communications Manager Western Economic Diversification Canada Edmonton, Alberta (780) 495-6892 Toll-Free No.: 1-888-338-WEST (9378) E-mail: donna.kinley@wd.gc.ca Web site: www.wd.gc.ca Renée Gillen Press Secretary Office of the Minister of Western Economic Diversification (613) 954-1110 Michael Robb Director, Public Affairs Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry University of Alberta (780) 492-0647 Web site: www.med.ualberta.ca Bobbi Klettke Public Affairs Officer Capital Health (780) 407-1567 www.cha.ab.ca
