An Interview with Aggie Black Director of Health Services & Clinical Research and Knowledge Translation, Aggie Black is no stranger to the world of research. As a leader in practice-based research programming at Providence Health Care, Aggie knows the value of investing in organ donation and transplant science to improve patient care. Recently, Aggie embarked...
Offering Support and Connection to Patients Seeking Kidney Transplantation with Christina Schellenberg and Jody Max Christina Schellenberg and Jody Max are two health care practitioners at St. Paul’s Hospital who are passionate about improving the overall health journey for patients living with end-stage renal disease and facing transplant. For many patients with kidney failure, transplantation...
“I remember each and every one of the patients that I have been lucky enough to look after – I learn something from every patient that I have cared for.” – Dr. Kathryn Armstrong In honor of heart month, we had the opportunity to catch up with BC Children’s Hospital pediatric cardiologist Dr. Kathryn Armstrong....
Tailoring Post-Transplant Care for Recipients: Why Research Matters with Dr. Sara Belga For the past three years, TRF has partnered with Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI) to fund highly rated transplant-focused research projects through the Team Grant program. These $30,000 awards seek to answer research questions that matter to patients, while addressing key areas...
Improving Viral Management for Pediatric Transplant Recipients: Renewing Hope Through Research with Dr. Karina Top Pediatric transplant recipients do not currently receive certain vaccines post-transplant as experts have deemed the live vaccines (including chicken pox, measles, mumps and rubella) to be a potential risk of infection. This leaves those children completely vulnerable in case of...
The transplanting of an organ is a complex undertaking, where the generous and selfless decision of one individual and family has the potential to transform the life of another person through the gift of donation. For 21-year-old Naomi Lee, a recent lifesaving heart transplant not only ended her struggle with end-stage heart failure, but it...
Cindy Luo is passionate about seeking answers that help improve the transplant experience for patients in the transplant program at Vancouver General Hospital. As a past Research Challenge winner for her project on anti-fungal prophylactic use in lung recipients and her most recent Team Grant project that explores a more personalized approach to medication, Cindy...
Recently, we had the opportunity to interview kidney transplant recipient and patient advocate, Bet Tuason. Bet’s powerful voice brings awareness to the issues affecting individuals living with complex chronic health needs. Using his diverse experience as a transplant recipient and kidney patient, Bet works tirelessly to empower his community through advocacy, partnership, and volunteer activities....
Christine Kapeluck For Christine Kapeluck, transplantation has been truly transformative. At just 18 months old, she was diagnosed with Wilms tumour, a type of kidney cancer that, despite its rareness, is also highly treatable if caught early. Luckily for Christine, removal of the affected kidney rendered her cancer free and she went on to live...