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Groundbreaking research is a breath of fresh air |
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While Alison eventually outgrew her asthma by age 20, Donald was not so fortunate. Emphysema slowly robbed the former rancher of his breath, and his life. Debilitating disease Typically robust, Donald enjoyed horseback riding, water-skiing
and cycling until the debilitating lung disease left him dependent
on an oxygen tank to breathe. Her grandfather’s experience, combined with evidence that only 20 per cent of smokers develop emphysema, sent Alison on a mission. As a Ph.D. student in UBC’s Experimental Medicine program, Alison, now 26, is using her boundless energy and passion to unlock the genetic basis of the disease. Her research has led her to St. Paul’s Hospital’s iCAPTUR4E Centre/McDonald Research Laboratories, which focuses on research into genetic and environmental causes of heart, lung and vascular disease. Genetic Connection There, Alison works under the guidance of Dr. Peter Paré, co-director of the Centre, and Dr. Andrew Sandford, a recent addition to the faculty and an expert in genetics. “It’s unusual for someone who hasn’t smoked to develop emphysema,” Dr. Paré says. “When you do see it, it suggests a strong genetic connection.” Emphysema is one of a group of lung disorders referred to as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and has no known cure. By tapping into the Centre’s unparalleled tissue registry, Alison is using state-of-the-art-imaging equipment to examine lung tissue samples. By comparing cells from people who have emphysema and others who don’t, she hopes to pinpoint specific gene mutations that predispose a person to the disease. Findings from this research could have far-reaching benefits. “If we prove that a specific genetic mutation increases a person’s risk for developing emphysema, it can lead to improved methods for early detection and new treatment therapies,” Alison explains. “It’s pretty exciting.” Alison’s work is leading edge material says Dr. Paré. While previous studies have shown there is a mutation in the gene that Alison is studying and that it might be important in this disease, she is taking it one step further. “Getting the cells from people with that mutation and some without it to see how they behave in a test tube is unique. I don’t think anyone else in the world is doing that.” According to Dr. Paré, this project is also a testament to one of St. Paul’s Hospital’s greatest assets – its people. “It draws on one of our major strengths and that is the close collaboration we have between surgeons, pathologists and clinicians,” he says. “That is very rare.” Like many of her colleagues, Alison is committed to easing the burden of emphysema so that the pain her grandfather suffered is a thing of the past. With that, we can all breathe a little easier. Palliative care expert publishes book Dr. David Kuhl, an internationally known palliative care physician
who works at St. Paul’s Hospital, has written a profound and
practical book about living with a terminal illness. |
The
devastating effects of respiratory disease hit close to home for
Alison Wallace. As a child, the West Vancouver native suffered from
asthma and for 10 years she witnessed her grandfather Donald struggle
with emphysema. |
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