medical research volunteer edmonton

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Help shape Alberta's medical future

If you’re a member of the public looking for information about clinical trials and participation opportunities in Alberta, visit the Be The Cure website.

What is a clinical trial?

At the centre of all medical advances, clinical trials are research studies involving people. New medications are researched extensively in a lab before they’re ready for clinical trial with human volunteers. Before a treatment may be used in clinical practice, it must undergo a rigorous process. This includes lab testing, clinical trials, and review and approval by regulatory health authorities.  

Clinical trials can test and evaluate treatments such as new medications, devices, diagnostics and procedures, and are the main way researchers discover if a treatment is safe and effective for humans. The various types of clinical trials include:

• Prevention trials that look at new ways to prevent illness
• Screening trials that help detect disease or conditions
• Treatment trials that test new types of treatments

No matter how promising a new drug, vaccine, or procedure looks when tested in a lab or on animals, it cannot be approved for general human use until it has been carefully evaluated through several phases of clinical study with volunteer participants.

Clinical trials, especially those involving new medications, require a series of steps called phases where participants are closely monitored throughout each phase so researchers can learn about new medications in a gradual and safe manner. Clinical trials are typically done in four phases or stages. Each phase has a specific goal where information is collected to build insights that support the next phase of the research process. The clinical trial only moves on to the next phase when the previous phase’s results are considered positive.

Testing for safety

Phase 1 trials involve testing the specific intervention being studied on human subjects (healthy participants) to establish the safe dose range and identify any potential side effects. These trials are short (typically two to three months) and generally involve 20 to 80 participants.

Does the treatment do what it is supposed to do?

A Phase 2 trial investigates the effects of the intervention being studied on participants who have the disease or condition that it relates to. This phase gathers information on side effects and typically takes one to two years to complete and more participants are involved than in Phase 1 trials.

How does the treatment compare?

Phase 3 trials confirm the effects of a treatment being studied and compare it with the usual treatment for a disease or condition the treatment was developed for. This phase gathers more information about the safety of the treatment, how well it works in the long-term, and how long its effects last. Phase 3 can vary in length depending on the disease or condition and usually involves 1,000 to 3,000 participants who have the disease or condition and are situated in  different regions of the world.

What happens in the long term?

Phase 4 trials are carried out after the treatment has received approval for use in Canada and is available to the public. This phase of the trial can also be called post-marketing trials and is used to compare the treatment to a competitor to explore additional patient demographics not studied in earlier phases, or for further study on side effects. This phase can also be used to determine if existing therapies should be replaced.

Why do we need clinical trials?

Clinical trials are crucial to determining cause and effect in human health. Clinical trials are important for discovering promising new treatments or new ways to use existing treatments for disease, as well as finding new ways to detect, diagnose, and reduce the chance of developing a disease. A clinical trial may look at how to improve life for people living with a life-threatening disease or chronic health problem, and can also assist in finding a disease early, sometimes before there are symptoms in order to prevent a health problem. Clinical trials help to answer questions around if a treatment works, if it works better than other treatments and if there are any side effects. Clinical trials help bring new treatments to market, provide research-based information, test safety and efficacy of treatments, and provide results that can be used to improve health and quality of life for many more participants.

Who can participate in clinical trials?

Clinical trials and observational studies are vital to disease research. Without volunteer participation in clinical trials, ground-breaking treatments would never make it to market. However, all clinical trials have guidelines about who may participate. Guidelines are based on age, type of disease, medical history, and current medical conditions. In order to protect people who might be harmed by participating in the study, you must meet the inclusion criteria specific to each clinical trial.

Participate in Research

Today’s treatments are available thanks to people who participated in research.

Reasons to Participate

Find a Study

Use the lists below or type in a keyword in the search field to identify a research study or clinical trial relevant to your health concern or interest.

Body Locations and Systems

Blood, heart and circulation (67).

• High Blood Pressure
• Peripheral Arterial Disease
• Blood Clots
• Blood Transfusion and Donation
• Eosinophilic Disorders
• Atherosclerosis
• Atrial Fibrillation
• Coronary Artery Disease
• Diabetic Heart Disease
• Heart Attack
• Heart Disease
• Heart Failure
• Pacemakers and Implantable Defribrillators
• Deep Vein Thrombosis

Bones, Joints and Muscles (25)

• Bone Diseases
• Bone Grafts
• Osteoporosis
• Osteoarthritis
• Psoriatic Arthritis
• Rheumatoid Arthritis

Brain and Nerves (93)

• Alzheimer's Disease
• Bipolar Disorder
• Huntington's Disease
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Neurologic Diseases
• Parkinson's Disease
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Spinal Cord Injury

Digestive System (31)

• Clostridium Difficile Infections
• Ulcerative Colitis
• Hepatitis B
• Hepatitis C
• Liver Diseases
• Crohn's Disease

Ear, Nose and Throat (1)

• Hearing Disorders and Deafness

Endocrine System (8)

• Diabetes - Type 1
• Diabetes - Type 2

Eyes and Vision (6)

• Macular Degeneration
• Macular Edema
• Vision Impairment and Blindness

Immune System (3)

• Ankylosing Spondylitis

Kidneys and Urinary System (19)

• Urinary Incontinence
• Urinary Tract Infections
• Diabetic Kidney Problems
• Kidney Disease
• Kidney Failure
• Kidney Stones
• Kidney Transplantation

Lungs and Breathing (30)

• Lung Cancer
• Pulmonary Embolism
• Pulmonary Fibrosis
• Pulmonary Hypertension
• Sleep Apnea Syndromes
• Smoking Cessation

Men's and Women's Health (27)

• Prostate Cancer
• Prostate Diseases
• Breast Cancer
• Cervical Cancer
• Endometriosis
• Ovarian Disorders
• Sexual Problems in Women
• Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Mouth and Teeth (1)

• Oral Cancer

Skin, Hair and Nails (18)

Diagnosis and therapy, diagnostic imaging (8).

• MRI Scans (7)

Rehabilitation Intervention (9)

• Assistive Devices (3)
• Stroke Rehabilitation (6)

Surgery and Rehabilitation (2)

• Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery (1)
• Critical Care (1)

Transplantation and Donation (6)

• Kidney Transplantation (4)
• Organ Transplantation (2)

Disorders and Conditions

Cancers (32).

• Acute Myeloid Leukemia (4)
• Bladder Cancers (1)
• Bone Cancer (1)
• Breast Cancer (2)
• Cervical Cancer (1)
• Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (1)
• Leukemia (3)
• Liver Cancer (3)
• Lung Cancer (1)
• Lymphoma (2)
• Melanoma (2)
• Multiple Myeloma (11)

Dementia (11)

• Dementia (4)
• Mild Cognitive Impairment (7)

Diabetes (11)

• Diabetes Complications (3)
• Diabetes Type 1 (2)
• Diabetes Type 2 (6)

Genetics (2)

• Metabolic Disorders (2)

Mental Health and Behaviour (27)

• Anxiety (1)
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (1)
• Bipolar Disorder (5)
• Depression (10)
• Mental Health (3)
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (1)
• Schizophrenia (6)

Metabolic Problems (3)

• Diabetes (2)
• Obesity (1)

Healthy Volunteers Needed

Healthy volunteers provide researchers with important health information for comparison with people with specific medical conditions.

Find Studies for Healthy Volunteers  

Participant Stories

People say yes to research for many reasons. Whether you are healthy or have a medical condition, there are opportunities to participate.

Finding renewed energy and health during perimenopause

Social and care networks support healthy aging

Better pharmacy care for the deaf community

Are you a VCHRI researcher?

Registering your research study into our database makes it easier for volunteers to find it.

Register a Research Study

• 1-833-448-3843 Make a call.
• [email protected] Drop us an email.
• We are located in Edmonton, Alberta

Medical research competition

About the uhf medical research competition.

The University Hospital Foundation has provided funding and support for the UHF Medical Research Competition (MRC) for more than 20 years. Through MRC, in collaboration with the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Alberta, UHF has funded a broad range of innovative and translational research.

UHF’s new strategic plan, Ignite 2030, challenges us to lead bold solutions to seemingly insurmountable problems and ignite new approaches and discoveries in health. This includes our approach to supporting research excellence, ensuring alignment with our overall strategic direction.

With this in mind, we are pausing the Medical Research Competition in 2022. This pause will allow UHF the opportunity to review its strategy for funding research within Ignite 2030. The review will include collaborative engagement and consultation with key stakeholders and partners. The expected outcome of this process is a renewed approach to funding medical research, better geared toward igniting innovative discoveries and transforming health.

Learn more about the areas that UHF supports.

$4.9 million in research funding from UHFMRC yielded $30.4 million in additional funding

152 research projects were funded and 61% generated at least one peer-reviewed publication

397 researchers have been funded with an average of 15 grants awarded annually

Dr. Ian Winship, Medical Research Competition Awardee

If you want to move closer to a cure for a complex disease like schizophrenia, you need new ideas. the grant from uhf allowed me to take the research in my lab in a whole new direction., 2021 award recipients.

In 2021, seventeen projects were funded out of a total of 42 submitted for a success rate of 40.5%.

Dr. Mahesh Kate Medicine

Remote Ischemic Conditioning with Novel Optical Sensor Feedback Device in Acute Ischemic Stroke

Dr. Angela Neufeld Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine

Use of Large Volume Autologous Whole Blood Therapy for Treating Cardiopulmonary Bypass-Induced Coagulopathy In High Risk Patients: A Randomized Control Trial

Dr. Sue Tsai Medical Microbiology and Immunology

Oxylipins as novel therapeutics to boost immuno-metabolism of life-saving total parenteral nutrition: a translational study

Dr. Angela Lau Medicine

How much do subclinical patients contribute to tuberculosis transmission?

Dr. Paul Jurasz Pharmacology

Monocyte-Platelet Aggregate Formation in Stroke

Dr. Stephanie Thompson Medicine

Lower limb complications in hemodialysis patients: the feasibility of using non-invasive measurements of vascular function to identify risk and response to treatment

Dr. Thomas Jeerakathil Medicine

Rapid clinical assessment of vertigo using non-invasive eye-tracking and markerless motion-tracking techniques

Dr. Martin Bouliane Surgery

Total versus Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement: A Feasibility Randomized Control Trial

Dr. Rhea Varughese Medicine

REVAMP: Remote Exercise program delivery using A Mobile phone application for patients with Pulmonary hypertension

Dr. Andrew Pepper Surgery

Customized humanized mouse model to advance cell therapies for Type 1 Diabetes

Dr. Darren Lau Medicine

A randomized trial of intermittently scanned CGM versus Usual care with Diabetes Education and feedback, in adults with type 2 diabetes (iCUDE)

Dr. Mahua Ghosh Medicine

Type 2 Diabetes in Women with and without Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: What is the evidence, risk and co-morbidities?

Dr. Kristi Baker Oncology

Activating CD8+ T cell-mediated anti-tumor immunity in colorectal cancer

Dr. Hadi Seikaly Surgery

Engineering Clinically Applicable Cartilage Grafts

Dr. Frank Hoentjen Medicine

Metabolomic profiles to assess colorectal cancer risk in patients with ulcerative colitis

Dr. Carrie Ye Medicine

Opportunistic bone densitometry using computed tomography scan in cancer patients taking immunotherapy: a translational pilot study in oncology

Dr. Karyne Rabey Surgery

Promoting musculoskeletal health with exercise to improve nerve regeneration following peripheral nerve injury

*Statistics on this page are from the 2009-2018 UHFMRC Impact Report

• Current Studies
• Medical Conditions
• Study Locations
• Health Blog
• Why JoinAStudy?

YOUR HEALTH

Learn to better manage your health with our health and wellness articles

RESEARCH STUDIES

Find a list of all clinical research studies currently seeking volunteers

JOIN THE COMMUNITY

Receive details on new clinical research studies and other health updates

Study Questionnaires

Complete a questionnaire for a condition that you or a loved one may have, and see if you (or they) might qualify for a clinical research study.

Take Our Study Questionnaire for ongoing clinical research studies

Canadian Health & Wellness

Health guides for various medical conditions; news articles about drug development and regulatory issues related to Health Canada and the FDA; and other health-related topics that we hope will be of interest to you.

Walking May Reduce the Feeling and Frequency of Back Pain

Us food and drug administration approves new pneumococcal vaccine, can the likelihood of peanut allergies be reduced, the fasting-like benefits of kombucha tea, the impact of healthcare privatization on quality of care: insights from 13 studies, study results – amgen posts promising results for psoriatic arthritis, women gain more cardiovascular health benefits from exercise in less time, prediabetics may benefit from taking cinnamon supplements, breakthrough discovery offers new avenues for lupus treatment, vegan diet’s rapid cardiovascular benefits: insights from stanford’s identical twin study, study results – merck reveal new pneumococcal vaccine, the importance of sport for a child’s development, study results – sanofi and regeneron make advance in copd research, dr. anil gupta wins 2022 ocfp award for excellence, an overview of crohn’s and colitis, joinastudy investigator dr. anil gupta dispels myths around rsv.

Why Join A Study?

JoinAStudy.ca is a website provided to you by a network of Canadian physicians who are making a commitment to the advancement of medicine through clinical research and by providing health information you can trust.

The JoinAStudy community consists of people who have already participated in a clinical research study with one of our physicians, or who have expressed an interest in participating in a study and/or receiving information on health-related news. Why not ‘Join’ us?

There are various reasons for participating in clinical research studies:

• to receive an investigational medication which may not otherwise be available for a medical condition
• to learn more about your medical condition and receive additional study-related medical attention
• to learn more about the clinical research process
• to contribute to a greater understanding of a medical condition and its potential future treatment for the benefit of others

I was very fortunate to participate in a clinical research study, not only because I have benefited from a new cholesterol-reducing drug, but also because of the relationship with the doctor’s office that developed out of the trial led to the early detection and treatment of a heart condition that might otherwise have been fatal in a few years.

I have participated in many asthma clinical research studies. You really feel like they [study staff] care about your health and they are there to provide support and suggestions regarding your health such as new drugs that may help you down the road. That is why I participate in these studies because I am always looking to improve my health.

The clinical trial I participated in was a very rewarding experience. The drug I was trailing was a positive for my condition. My provider of the study was very knowledgeable and extremely helpful. My appointments were always on time and conducted with the utmost care. A job well done.

Please note that these testimonials describe the experiences of a few study participants and may not accurately describe your experience.

AHS- Alberta Health Services

Who We Are •Alberta Health Services (AHS) is Canada’s first and largest provincewide, fully-integrated health system, responsible for delivering health services to the more than 4.3 million people living in Alberta, as well as to some residents of Saskatchewan, B.C. and the Northwest Territories. •Alberta Health Services (AHS) has more than 102,700 direct AHS employees (excluding Covenant Health staff) and over 11,700 staff working in AHS wholly-owned subsidiaries such as Alberta Precision Laboratories, Carewest and CapitalCare Group. We are also supported by over 14,100 volunteers and almost 11,600 physicians practicing in Alberta, more than 8,400 of whom are members of the AHS medical staff (physicians, dentists, podiatrists, oral and maxillofacial surgeons). •Students from Alberta’s universities and colleges, as well as from universities and colleges outside of Alberta, receive clinical education in AHS facilities and community locations. •106 acute care hospitals, five stand-alone psychiatric facilities, 8,483 acute care beds, 27,163 continuing care beds/spaces and 249 community palliative and hospice beds, 2,772 addiction and mental health beds plus equity partnership in 41 primary care networks. •Programs and services are offered at over 850 facilities throughout the province, including hospitals, clinics, continuing care facilities, cancer centres, mental health facilities and community health sites. •The province also has an extensive network of community-based services designed to assist Albertans maintain and/or improve health status.

If you are in an emergency, in crisis or need someone to talk to, there is help.

• Volunteer at CAMH

Make our cause your cause. Gain experience with clients or assist in a research capacity. Involve your workplace. Volunteers are essential to CAMH's mission.

• By Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Together, we choose hope

There are many reasons to volunteer with CAMH. Some people get involved simply to come together with others for a cause they believe in, others to gain valuable experience working with clients or helping with important research. But what motivates most people to volunteer is the chance to be part of the larger CAMH mission—We are dedicated to patient, family and community well-being. We improve access to integrated care, answer the most difficult questions about mental illness and remove barriers to belonging. Together, we choose hope.

Volunteer benefits

There are many ways to benefit from being a volunteer. Volunteering should be a positive experience for both you and the staff and patients at CAMH. 

Volunteering at CAMH would also let you gain valuable hands-on clinical and/or research experience in mental health and/or addictions.

A few other benefits include: 

- Social and professional networking

- Gain knowledge, new skills and valuable experience in a healthcare environment 

- Letters of reference (after completing the minimum commitment and/or upon supervisor approval)

Volunteer requirements

Volunteers at CAMH must meet certain requirements before being considered for a position.  Before applying, please ensure you read and understand what these requirements are.

• Must be 18 years of age or older
• Completed Police background check with Vulnerable sector screening 
• Must be Fully immunized/Fully vaccinated against COVID-19 with proof of vaccine passport 
• Provide proof of health screening that includes a two-step tuberculosis TB test completed  (tests must be completed within the year) 
• Two recent letters of professional reference  
• Able to commit to your volunteer role for 1 year 
• Must be able to contribute 1-4 hours once a week 
• Experience working vulnerable population(s) an asset

Please note, only those with the above completed will be invited for an interview.

Clinical & research volunteer faqs.

Read the descriptions above to decide which program you're best suited for, then  complete the appropriate application . Please only apply to one program at a time and wait for a reply from the coordinator before applying to the other.

Potential candidates will be contacted by a Volunteer Coordinator for an interview, followed by screening of character references and police reference check. If selected, the coordinator will schedule you to attend a mandatory training/orientation. After successful completion of training, you will have to get a TB test, attend a registration/orientation to go over volunteer expectations, and sign a confidentiality and service agreement. You must be able to make at least a one-year commitment.

You must be 19 years of age or over to apply and be able to make a minimum one year commitment.

Yes. All Volunteer Candidates must be fully vaccinated in order to volunteer at CAMH. Anyone not fully vaccinated will not be eligible to participate in CAMH Volunteer Resources assignments.

This depends on what your skills, interests and availability are and what positions we have available. We hold onto applications for six months, contacting volunteers when and if a suitable position comes up.

We prefer that you commit to one position for a minimum of six months before exploring other volunteer opportunities at CAMH.

Volunteers only work in areas where staff and patients have expressed a need for volunteer assistance and a staff member has agreed to supervise the volunteer.

Yes. We welcome volunteers over the age of 19.

Yes, you must have a Police reference check when volunteering at CAMH.

CAMH does offer student placements, but not through Volunteer Resources. Visit Clinical & Research Opportunities for Professionals in Training  for more information about student placements.

Corporate Volunteer Program FAQs

It helps you raise your community profile as a good corporate citizen and encourages networking among organizations. Volunteering also helps create a sense of social commitment and responsibility among employees. It builds team spirit and morale while improving productivity and job satisfaction.

One good way is to create a corporate volunteer committee. This empowers your employees to take ownership. You can invite speakers in to promote the values of volunteering and motivate employees to participate. You could even publish an article or write a post on the company blog.

Activities can include leading or helping with hospital-wide special or seasonal events, baking socials, sport challenges, adventure programs and site beautification projects.

Find out more about our Corporate Volunteer Program by contacting us by phone (416 535-8501 ext. 36238) or  email .  Fill out an application form  here . Or learn about our  Corporate Partnerships .

Please note: Due to the high volume of applicants, submitting an application does not guarantee a volunteer position at CAMH. Volunteers are carefully selected based on the program, patient needs, skills, experience and availability. Priority will go to applicants who meet the criteria according to the hospital’s needs.

Volunteers are here to enrich the patient experience through various recreational opportunities. Volunteer positions have limitations and do not include tasks that are to be fulfilled by trained healthcare professionals ex. Counseling, therapy etc. We are unable to provide positions that allow you to utilize your past/present medical expertise. 

Volunteer opportunities

Volunteering with a Clinical Program at CAMH is a great way for volunteers to gain front line exposure in a mental illness and addiction setting. Volunteers have the opportunity to engage and interact with patients in a wide array of settings, both at CAMH and in the community, and in a variety of activities based on patient needs. All positions require a minimum one-year commitment. 

Research Volunteers assist staff in obtaining information necessary for research projects. The departments in which volunteers work vary depending on the availability of the programs. Length of commitment is contingent upon the assignment and volunteers typically assist five to eight hours per week. The skills required for these positions include:

• knowledge of research methodology
• experience using SPSS (statistical software)
• some prior relevant research experience.

Suits Me Fine Program

Suits Me Fine is a clothing store for CAMH clients, where donated new and gently used clothing is available free of charge. The store offers essentials such as socks and undergarments, casual wear, and formal attire, which help clients feel good and prepare for important events, such as job interviews.

For more information regarding the Suits Me Fine Program please contact Norma McDowall. Email: [email protected] Phone: (416)535-8501 ext. 36010

Pet Therapy Program 

The volunteer (handler) goes through the same recruitment process as any person who has an interest in volunteering at CAMH. Once the volunteer is accepted, their dog is evaluated for four hours in an external dog certification process. When the dog is deemed suitable, they receive the official CAMH photo ID badge, lanyard and bandana, and are scheduled, with their owner, for visits.

Successful canine applicants:

• are at least one year old
• have basic obedience skills
• enjoy meeting people
• have a friendly, calm and gentle disposition
• are up to date on all vaccinations and in good health
• can commit, with their owner, to weekly visits for one year.

For more information regarding the Pet Therapy Program please contact Theresa Conforti.  Email: [email protected] Phone: Phone: (416)535-8501 ext. 32995

Mobile Library Cart 

The library cart goes to various units to provide patients a variety of resources such as book, magazines, movies and video games. 

For more information regarding the Mobile Library Cart please contact Sokhary Pao Email:  [email protected] Phone: Phone: (416)535-8501 ext.33074

Social support (Language specific) 

Volunteers provide social support by meeting a client once a week for one hour either onsite or in the community and they communicate in the language patients are most familiar with. Volunteer must be fluent in specified language.

• Hindi 
• Tamil  
• Spanish 
• Arabic 
• Portuguese 
• Mandarin 

Please indicate the language(s) you can speak in your volunteer application

Tutoring (Math, English, science, history etc.)

Get your whole company involved.

Find out more about our Corporate Partnerships program.

Testimonials

“I volunteer on an inpatient unit, I facilitate a yoga program for the patients. I enjoy coming in once a week to help the patients relax and enjoy a program that will benefit their wellness.” - Amy, yoga instructor

“ Why do I volunteer at CAMH? Easy question to answer! I want to support our clients who are working so hard to recover from the issues that are standing in their way of leading healthy and productive lives. My being there by their side may help build their hope for recovery that they so urgently require. My volunteering may help reduce the continued stigma that still persists against mental illness. My smile may brighten someone’s day! ” -  Carole, Client Library volunteer

Seeing the smiles on our clients' faces as they choose new outfits to wear and their self confidence as they walk the runway at the annual fashion show‎ have been the best experiences of volunteering at Suits Me Fine. Looking good is part of feeling good and I am privileged to help our clients feel good about themselves through their interactions with us. Candace Allman, Suits Me Fine volunteer 

"I volunteer at suit me fine for several years. There is no greater blessing than helping others to choose beautiful outfits whether it’s suits for men, or beautiful outfits for ladies, to see the happy and excited look at there faces. It’s a humbling experience for me inspiring others to look there best and feel great about themselves. A job well done. I have to add also working with Norma is also great easygoing, respectful and very considerate easy to talk with. I am glad to be able to help others and enjoying doing so." -  Yvonne, Suits Me Fine volunteer  

"Through interaction with Dr. Rehm I’ve learned the step by step process of creating, writing and submitting systematic reviews and meta -analysis. I enrolled in statistics classes to learn how to read and interpret statistical parts in the articles.  Overall, volunteering at the CAMH boosted my interest in research and enhanced knowledge in the scientific field. " -  Maya, Research volunteer

“Seeing the faces of everyone engaging with Theo is such a joy. When you see someone light up when they have time with him you just want to spend more time here.” -  Len & Theo (pictured below)

Latest News

Understanding vaccine hesitancy among transitional-aged youth with mental health concerns

Youth-led CAMH study will aid in efforts to encourage vaccination

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Below are actively recruiting clinical trials for Canada. Click on the closest city to find the research studies that are available in your area.

#108 3947 50a Avenue

#23, 4411-16th Avenue Nw

1 Centerpoint Drive, Suite 407, Ottawa

1 Centrepointe Drive, Suite 407, Ottawa

1-15243 91st Avenue-surrey

100 Mile House

10230 142 St Nw # 25, Edmonton

103 Hopital Drive, Room 1659, Saskatoon

1053 Carling Avenue, Room D715, 7th Floor, Ottawa

114-5790 University Avenue, Halifax

1280 Main Street West, Hamilton

1482 George Street, Sydney

1529 Cedar, Montrã©al

1529 Cedar, Montréal

1535 Dresden Row, Suite 208, Halifax

1620 Albion Road, Suite 106-etobicoke

1650 Cedar Avenue, Room L 7 107, Montreal

1929 Russell Road, Suite 226, Ottawa

2031 West 41st Avenue, Vancouver

204-18 Pine St., Kitchener

221-679 Davis Dr.newmarket

2211 Westbrook Mall, Vancouver

2269-1796 Summer St., Halifax

250 College Street Toronto

250 College Street, Toronto

259-1720 Howard Ave., Windsor

2780 Bur Oak Avenue, Markham

30 Bond Street, Toronto

30 Bond Street,suite 3007 - Shuter Wing, Toronto

3001 12th Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke

3001 12th Avenue North, Fleurimont

33 Russell Street Toronto

33 Russell Street, Toronto

331 Mountain Road, Moncton

3350 Hospital Drive Nw, Suite 1140, Calgary

339 Windermere Road

339 Windermere Road, London

3545 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver

359 Riverside, Suite 200 -sudbury

3801 University Street, Montreal

3840 St-urbain, Bur. 7-561, Montreal

3935 Kincaid Street, Vancouver

4101 Dewaney Avenue, Regina

423 Devonshire Ave., Suite 301-woodstock

4500 Oak Street, Vancouver

4896 Taschereau Blvd., Suite 250, Greenfield Park,

4896, Boul. Taschereau, Suite 250, Greenfield Park

501 Smyth Rd., Ottawa

5200, Rue Bã©langer East, Montreal H1t 1c9

5305 Boul. De L'assomption, Montreal

65 Sainte-anne, Price Building, 3rd Floor, Quebec

68 Robie Street Truro

7 Medical Centre, Pasqua Hospital, 4101 Dewdney Avenue, Regina

790 Bay Street, Suite 540 Toronto

Abbortsford

Abbotsford, Bc

Abbottsford

Ajax, Ontario

Ameherstburg

Amherstburg

Amherstview

Ancienne Lorette

Ask Contact

Baie-comeau

Baie-saint-paul

Barrie (2 Locations)

Bastien Neufchatel

Bay Roberts

Beaconsfield

Beaconsfield, Qc

Beauceville

Beaverlodge

Black Diamond

Blind River

Bloemfontein

Boehringer Ingelheim Investigational Site

Bonaventure

Borisbriand

Boucherville

Boulevard Laurier, S-745

Bowmanville

Bracebridge

Brampton, On

Brentwood Bay

Bridgewater

British Columbia

Burnaby, B.c.

Calgary (2 Locations)

Calgary Alberta

Calgary, Ab

Calgary, Edmonton

Campbell River

Campbellriver

Campbellton

Canal Flats

Cape Breton

Charlesbourg

Charlottetown

Chatam-kent

Chateauguay

Chemin Sainte-foy

Chinook Valley

Chomedey Laval

Chomedey-laval

Christian Island

Châteauguay

Cities In Canada

City Waterloo

Clarenville

Cohen Street, Saint-laurent, Montreal (quebec)

Collingwood

Conception Bay S

Conception Bay South

Connell 7, 76 Stuart Street, Kingston

Contrecoeur

Coquitlam, Bc

Corner Brook

Cote Du Palais

Cote-st-luc

Courcelette

Courtice, Ontario

Cowansville

Credit Valley

Crowsnest Pass

Côte Saint-luc

Decarie Montreal

Dolard Des Ormeaux

Dolbeau Mistassini

Dolbeau-mistassini

Dollard Des Ormeaux

Dollard Des-ormeaux

Dollard-des-ormeaux

Downsview Ontario

Downsview, Ontario

Drayton Valley

Drummondville

Drummondvilleqc

Drummonville

East Brampton

East Brockville

East Hamilton

East Missassauga

East Oshawa

Edmonton Ab

Edmonton N/a

Edmonton, Ab

Edmonton, Alberta

Elliot Lake

Etobicoke, Ontario M9r 4e1 Ca

Etobicoke, Toronto

Fleurimont,

Flying Dust First Nation

Forestville

Fort Langley

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Mississauga,

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Mississauga, Ontario

Mississauga, Toronto

Mississaugal

Mississaugu

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Montreal (2 Locations)

Montreal (quebec)

Montreal 2 Sites

Montreal N/a

Montreal Pq

Montreal Qc

Montreal Quebec

Montreal Saintjerome

Montreal, Pq

Montreal, Qc

Montreal, Quebec

Montreal-est

Montreal/quebec

Montrãƒâ©al

Montréal (québec)

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Improving access to heart-failure screening with saliva

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DENVER, Aug. 19, 2024 — Heart failure is a leading cause of death worldwide and is especially fatal for people who don’t have access to medical facilities. So, a team of researchers aims to bring heart failure screening from the lab to the home. Their point-of-care electrochemical biosensor prototype, which resembles a see-through lateral flow test for COVID-19, can measure levels of two biomarkers for heart failure in as little as 15 minutes from just a drop of saliva. 

Trey Pittman, a graduate student at Colorado State University, will present his team’s research at the fall meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS). ACS Fall 2024 is a hybrid meeting being held virtually and in person Aug. 18-22; it features about 10,000 presentations on a range of science topics.

Youtube ID: oo_h71ZHreQ

Watch a  Headline Science  YouTube Short about this research.

“Our device would be ideal for people who are at high risk for heart failure but have limited access to a hospital or a centralized lab,” says Pittman. “Working on this project to address health disparities in rural and low-resource areas really hits home for me because I’m from Mississippi, which has one of the highest mortality rates from heart failure in the United States,” he shares. 

Heart failure refers to weakened heart muscle that cannot pump enough oxygenated blood through the body. The current gold standard for heart failure screening is a blood test administered twice per year by a health care professional that measures levels of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), a protein that indicates the heart is working too hard. 

However, new developments in point-of-care devices may level the proverbial health care playing field with simple, at-home saliva tests. Such a test for heart failure screening could be administered by an individual to check on the health condition every few weeks instead of every six months, suggests Pittman. So far, widespread use of portable saliva tests for heart health has been limited by complicated manufacturing techniques and lack of relevant data beyond the presence or absence of a single biomarker. 

Pittman and colleagues took on these challenges and have promising results to share about an intuitive, low-cost biosensor prototype, which they call an electrochemical capillary-driven immunoassay (eCaDI). Charles Henry’s group at Colorado State University combined two of their previous innovations to create the handheld testing platform: a saliva microfluidic device and a biosensor for biomarker proteins Galectin-3 and S100A7. Collaborator Chamindie Punyadeera’s group at Griffith University in Australia, quantified levels of Galectin-3 and S100A7 in saliva that correlated to heart failure outcomes.

The heart failure eCaDI comprises five layers — like a club sandwich: Three layers of clear, flexible plastic held together with alternating layers of double-sided adhesive.

• The top layer of plastic has tiny, drilled holes for loading the saliva sample. 
• The middle plastic layer has laser-cut channels with squares of blotting paper at the end that draw saliva from the loading site through the channels. 
• Wedged between the outer plastic layers are glass fiber reagent pads containing compounds that react with the saliva and measure Galectin-3 and S100A7 when an electrical current is applied to the device. 
• The bottom layer of plastic has carbon ink electrodes screen printed on its surface. 
• Two electrodes, powered by tiny, wired clamps from an external source called a potentiostat, drive the chemical reaction that happens on the reagent pads. 

“The devices are very easy to assemble,” says Pittman. “In about 20 to 30 minutes, we can make five of them.” The eCaDI is single use, and the researchers estimate that each one costs about $3.00. The potentiostat, a small reusable power source, sells for about $20.  

In demonstrations, the researchers spiked standardized human saliva samples with levels of the two biomarkers that would indicate heart failure. Their results showed that the eCaDI accurately detected the amounts of Galectin-3 and S100A7 in the saliva. “These demos are a first step towards a robust and non-invasive electrochemical sensor for heart failure biomarkers,” says Pittman. In their next step, the team will test eCaDIs at Griffith University in human subject research trials with healthy individuals and those with heart failure. 

“This work may provide a starting point for new saliva testing platforms for other diseases,” Pittman shares. “It’s a technology that I think could end up helping a lot of people — especially the underserved — live longer, healthier lives.”

The research was funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health. 

Visit the ACS Fall 2024 program to learn more about this presentation, “Development of a microfluidic electrochemical biosensor for heart failure biomarkers in saliva,” and other science presentations. 

The American Chemical Society (ACS) is a nonprofit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. ACS’ mission is to advance the broader chemistry enterprise and its practitioners for the benefit of Earth and all its people. The Society is a global leader in promoting excellence in science education and providing access to chemistry-related information and research through its multiple research solutions, peer-reviewed journals, scientific conferences, eBooks and weekly news periodical Chemical & Engineering News . ACS journals are among the most cited, most trusted and most read within the scientific literature; however, ACS itself does not conduct chemical research. As a leader in scientific information solutions, its CAS division partners with global innovators to accelerate breakthroughs by curating, connecting and analyzing the world’s scientific knowledge. ACS’ main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.

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