News Release

Research chair to improve the lives of organ transplant recipients

Grant and Award Announcement

University of Western Ontario

Research at The University of Western Ontario gave Pat Davis his life back.

After three failed kidney transplants between 1988 and 1993, the Wallaceburg father was told a fourth transplant was impossible. By 2006, he was at the point where he couldn't work anymore and was ready to give up on dialysis. But research advances offered Davis one last chance. Dr. Anthony Jevnikar, the Medical Director of Kidney Transplantation at London Health Sciences Centre's University Hospital tried a new, aggressive treatment to allow his immune system to accept a transplant. In November 2007, Davis received a kidney donated by his wife Donna. "Four months after surgery I was back at work. My life is grand. I'm as healthy as anyone I know."

Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at The University of Western Ontario today announced a new Clinical Research Chair in Transplantation to find ways to improve the outcomes of organ transplants for patients like Pat Davis. The $1.1 million Chair will fund research by Dr. Jevnikar, a professor in the Departments of Medicine, Surgery and Microbiology & Immunology at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry and Co-Director of the Multi Organ Transplant Program in London. He is also a clinician scientist with the Lawson Health Research Institute.

"Basic research forms the basis of all our advances in patient care," said Dr. Jevnikar. "By providing this funding, Wyeth, the CIHR and Western have clearly shown how important they believe translational research to be. The return on this investment will be measured not only in new research here, but in the lives of our patients with transplants."

Dr. Jevnikar and his team are looking at how and why organs and tissues are damaged during transplantation in order to find ways to extend the life of a transplanted organ. Despite current anti-rejection drugs, transplanted kidneys for instance, may last only 10 years in half of patients. He is also investigating new methods for producing anti-rejection therapies using genetically modified plants as production factories for drugs that can not be produced by conventional methods at affordable costs. "Canada needs to continue this important investment in research infrastructure and research teams, particularly in transplantation health, as more Canadians wait for life-saving transplants. We are proud of our work and sincerely grateful for this support," added Dr. Jevnikar.

"We are proud to partner with the CIHR and The University of Western Ontario on this Clinical Research Chair in Transplantation," said Dr. Neil Maresky, Vice-President, Scientific Affairs, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals. "We believe initiatives like this will lead to innovative treatments that will improve the lives of transplant patients in Canada, and around the world." The is one of five clinical research chairs in Canada currently being funded by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals through the CIHR/Rx&D Collaborative Research Program.

Dr. Jevnikar's Chair is a wonderful example of our strategy of funding the 'best minds' of Canadian research," observed Dr. Alain Beaudet, President of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. "His research into better techniques and drugs for organ transplantation offers great promise and I am sure that he will contribute significantly to the growing body of knowledge and expertise in this field, both in this country and internationally."

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