To mark this achievement, members from the BHI research community gathered to learn about the exciting new research in brain-heart health. The research community had the opportunity to recognize and celebrate the three teams that were successful in receiving the and the 12 teams that received the . These funds will enable researchers to build momentum, foster collaboration and advance integrated brain-heart research. The newly funded projects will be led by researchers across BHI partner institutions, including the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, The Ottawa Hospital, The Institute of Mental Health Research (The Royal), among others. The event not only provided an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the funded projects, but to build relationships, and network amongst peers.
The projects funded by the BHI cover all areas of research – from bench to bedside. Scientific research will investigate the role of neuroinflammation in brain heart diseases, model how blockages in blood vessels can affect cognition, and create prediction and risk models for early detection of mental, neurological and heart conditions. Clinical projects will use novel interventions such as music therapy to improve mental health and cardiac symptoms in patients. In addition, sleep, psychological interventions and exercise training will be investigated, with a spotlight on women, and patients who have had a concussion, stroke, or irregular heart rhythms.
Overall, the goal of these projects is to shape the future of brain-heart research with a focus on connecting patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers. All the 15 funded projects are being co-led with patient partners, to accelerate the impact of research beyond the scientific community. The perspective from a patient partner below, emphasizes the impact that these projects aim to achieve through collaborations within research.
“I am excited to be a patient partner in the study “PREDIGT3.0 - Early Parkinson's Detection Through Multi-Modal Screening”, an office-based screening test.
I have nine years experience living well with Parkinsons disease (PD). I am active within the Parkinsons community, and I am a former family physician. This allows me to bring a unique insight to the team. With the incidence of PD rising, it is even more important to have a simple sensitive, office-based screening test for the early detection of PD to permit earlier intervention and education for those newly diagnosed. It will be an invaluable tool to enable primary care practitioners to confidently make the diagnosis and initiate treatment without confirmation from a neurologist, often after a lengthy wait.
My experience will be valuable particularly later in the implementation and dissemination period involving education of primary care practitioners and the preparation of information packages for the newly diagnosed to better self-manage their disease.” - Jane Batten, Patient Partner
Collectively, these projects aim to advance new areas of high-impact integrated brain-heart research and foster the development of relationships between researchers, patients and other knowledge users for years to come. To learn more about these exciting projects, visit our website here.
