Queen’s research into cancer, remote health care access, and the human brain will lead to new discovery, knowledge, and treatments thanks to funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Project Grant program. Announced last week by Minister of Health Ginette Petitpas Taylor, the CIHR Foundation and Project Grant programs are investing $378 million to support health research projects across the country.

“Building on areas of health research strength for Queen’s, this investment will drive health improvements, bolster our economy and create jobs for researchers and trainees,” says Kimberly Woodhouse, Interim Vice-Principal (Research).

Six Queen’s researchers received Project Grant funding, including Wendy Parulekar, Canada Cancer Trials Group Senior Investigator and oncologist.

Dr. Parulekar has been awarded $860,628 over six years for her work on the HN.10 trial study, which is investigating the potential benefits of the de-escalation of treatment for patients with tonsil cancer.

Oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is one of the most common forms of head and neck cancer. Although this type cancer is often associated with other risk factors, OPSCC related to human papillomavirus (HPV) infection has seen a dramatic increase globally. Radiotherapy is frequently used to cure patients with HPV-related OPSCC and is aimed at the tumour site and lymph nodes in the neck. The side effects of this treatment can be long lasting and distressing. Researchers are investigating whether radiotherapy to some of the lymph node areas can be safely omitted to decrease side effects without compromise of tumour control.

“Head and neck cancer is an uncommon tumour and collaborative research is needed to address important questions,” says Dr. Parulekar. “This trial will involve highly qualified treatment centres across Canada who have a track record of addressing important questions about the optimal treatment of head and neck cancer.”

Along with Dr. Parulekar, the following Queen’s researchers also received funding:

Peter Greer (Queen’s Cancer Research Institute) – $100,000 over one year. Dr. Greer is studying the enzyme calpain and its potential as a therapeutic target in breast cancer.

Janet Jull (Rehabilitation Therapy) – $191,251 over two years. In collaboration with community partners, Dr. Jull is field-testing the newly-developed Inuit shared decision making toolkit, “Not Deciding Alone,” to enhance Inuit participation in health decisions with health care providers in the far north.

Madhuri Koti (Biomedical and Molecular Sciences) – $765,000 over five years. In her research, Dr. Koti will explore the links between genetic features of ovarian tumours and the corresponding tumour immune landscape. Her research will also investigate how this knowledge can guide ovarian cancer patient selection for a novel chemo-immunotherapy.

Neil Magoski (Biomedical and Molecular Sciences) – $726,750 over five years. Dr. Magoski is using an invertebrate model to examine how nerve cells achieve long-term changes in electrical activity that initiate reproductive behaviour.

Steve Scott (Biomedical and Molecular Sciences) – $963,900 over five years and a second grant for $975,376 over five years. In the first of his two projects, Dr. Scott will be examining how sensory information is processed in the cerebral cortex during voluntary control. His second project will explore how disruption of regions in the cerebral cortex impacts our ability to control our motor actions.

For more information on the Project Grants program, visit the CIHR website.