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[news 2003
- 2004]
CIHR
funds novel Queen’s discoveries in cholesterol
control, lower back pain
For immediate release
April 20, 2004
KINGSTON, ON -- Two Queen’s University researchers
have received $100,000 each to further develop innovative
discoveries in the fields of cholesterol-related heart
disease and lower back injury.
The funding, from the Canadian Institutes of Health
Research Proof of Principal (PoP) program, was awarded
to Dr. Robert Kisilevsky (Department of Pathology) and
Dr. Joan Stevenson (Department of Physical and Health
Education). The Proof of Principle program provides
early-stage funding to advance promising inventions
and discoveries further along the commercial pipeline.
“We are delighted for our inventors,” says
Anne Vivian-Scott, Director of Commercial Development
at PARTEQ Innovations. “This funding is a strong
endorsement of both the quality and the potential of
these Queen’s-generated technologies.”
Dr. Kisilevsky will continue his research in cholesterol
metabolism and new compounds for the treatment of atherosclerosis.
He is an internationally recognized leader in the field
of amyloid research and inflammation.
“This year’s funding will build on our 2003
PoP grant, which enabled us to conduct studies into
the regulation of cellular cholesterol transport,”
Dr. Kisilevsky says. “With this additional funding
we look forward to advancing our research and developing
a novel therapy to treat atherosclerosis, the major
cause of coronary heart disease.”
Dr. Kisilevsky is one of the scientists whose work resulted
in the founding, by PARTEQ, of Neurochem Inc., a company
that is developing treatments for amyloid-based disorders
including Alzheimer’s disease.
PARTEQ developed a portfolio of patents around Dr. Kisilevsky’s
work that has formed the basis for a new company, AtheroChem
Inc. The company is managed by Robert Bender of ARGIL
Management, LLC, a firm that specializes in the development
of early stage life science opportunities.
Mr. Bender, who was CEO of Neurochem during its startup,
says, “It is a great pleasure to work with John
Molloy and his team at PARTEQ again. We are all very
excited by Dr. Kisilevsky’s new work and the opportunities
it offers. Our shared objective is to bring this innovative
technology to the prevention and treatment of a major
disease, and we appreciate the early assistance of CIHR."
Dr. Joan Stevenson and Ergonomics Research Group colleagues
Tim Bryant (Mechanical Engineering) and Linda McLean
(Rehabilitation Therapy) will work with PhD candidate
Mohammad Abdoli of the Ergonomics Research Group to
design, manufacture and test an external, wearable device
that would enable workers with lower back injury to
safely return to work sooner. Invented by Mr. Abdoli,
the Personal Lift Augmentation Device (PLAD) uses elastic
elements that act parallel to back muscles, allowing
workers to lift while transferring the forces on injured
back muscles to more powerful parts of the body, including
shoulders, pelvis and lower legs.
“We are excited about the next phase in this project,”
says Dr. Stevenson. “This funding gives us the
resources, not only to develop this novel device, but
to test it in a controlled, laboratory-based setting.”
Currently there are no effective devices for helping
workers with lower back injuries. Testing of working
prototypes to date has shown the Queen’s device
to be effective in reducing strain on lower back muscles;
PoP funding will allow the researchers to develop a
production-quality prototype and evaluate it for user
safety and acceptability.
Dr. Stevenson specializes in occupational biomechanics.
Her research projects have included development and
assessment of load carriage systems, evaluation and
prediction of lower back pain in industry, and the development
of improved ergonomics tools.
Contact:
Ms. Anne Vivian-Scott
Director, Commercial Development
PARTEQ Innovations
613. 533. 6000 ext. 75513
avivianscott@parteqinnovations.com
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