Transformational Giving: River Philip Foundation gives $2.5 million to Dalhousie medical research projects
October 2, 2024
Faculty of medicine researchers will be able to test the ability of blueberries, exercise and protein to reduce frailty and improve cardiovascular health, and develop a remote pregnancy monitoring system to reduce preterm birth, thanks to a $2.5-million gift from the River Philip Foundation.
The gift established two grant programs, the Transformational Medical Research Grants, and Sustaining Excellence Grants. The Transformational grants are designed to fuel groundbreaking research on the cusp of making a significant impact for the people of this region and beyond.
The Sustaining Excellence Grants are intended to support earlier stage researchers and new research projects as they scale up to qualify for major national research grants.
In 2024 this generous investment will support two Transformational Grants and six Sustaining Excellence Grants.
“Traditionally, River Philip has supported hospitals and universities,” says Deborah Shaffner, a trustee with the family Foundation. “This is a way to direct money more significantly to things that are important to the Foundation that could really transform medicine, rather than going to a hospital or a piece of equipment. It was an idea for us to see if we could really make a difference.”
The Bragg family established the River Philip Foundation in 2005, to support and improve the quality of life in rural communities, primarily in Atlantic Canada, and to make transformative change.
Dr. Ken Rockwood, Dr. Susan Howlett, Dr. Leah Cahill and Dr. Scott Grandy received one of the two transformational research grants of $1 million to launch their STRONG study. The year-long, randomized controlled trial will test the effects of protein, blueberries and strength training on reducing frailty and improving heart health in adults aged 65-85.
One group of trial participants will receive protein supplementation, blueberries, and strength training with a personal trainer for a year, while the second group will receive standard treatment and educational materials.
The researchers will monitor all participants for changes in blood pressure, lipid profile, glucose levels, and inflammatory marker, as well as their degree of frailty, using the Canadian Frailty Index that Dr. Rockwood developed. The team will also monitor changes in physical fitness, dietary habits, hand grip strength, and quality of life.
Frailty, heart health linked
Frailty can lead to cardiovascular disease, and “overall frailty makes cardiovascular disease worse,” Dr. Rockwood wrote in the grant application. He hopes this study will interrupt the cycle for participants.
Previous studies have demonstrated the benefits of protein to repair muscle and improve heart health, of blueberries to lower blood pressure and oxidative stress, and of strength training to improve muscle mass and insulin sensitivity.
None of the previous studies, however, have lasted a year and combined all three of these factors to reduce overall frailty and improve cardiovascular function, says Dr. Howlett.
“This could be a real game-changer,” she says. “It’s the idea that if you target the aging mechanisms and try to give them a fighting chance, then you are less likely to get these diseases, because your body is going to be a less hospitable place for diseases to thrive.”
The researchers will continue to track participants’ heart health and frailty for a full year after the program concludes, to analyze data for longer-term impacts.
“This is an outstanding opportunity for us to do something really great for the older adults in the province of Nova Scotia and we would never have been able to do this without the funding,” Dr. Howlett says.
“Our group is really deeply grateful for the faith and enthusiasm River Philip has shown in the project, and we will work really hard to deliver the promising results we expect to see.”
If the research teams gets the positive results they expect to see, they’d like to roll out the program to larger numbers of older adults in Nova Scotia.
Preventing preterm birth
The second $1-million grant will go to Dr. Tobias Kollmann, Professor of Microbiology & Immunology and Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Dalhousie, and Dr. Nima Aghaeepour, Associate Professor and Vice- Chair for Research (Data Science) at Stanford University.
They are conducting a proof-of-concept study to test remote home pregnancy monitoring. Using wearable devices, they will create a system that would alert healthcare practitioners to potential complications such as the risk of stillbirth or preterm labour for women in rural and remote communities in Nova Scotia, PEI and New Brunswick. Often, these women do not have easy access to prenatal care.
The team will assess the results of the remote monitoring system against traditional pregnancy monitoring that involves blood sampling and other more invasive methods.
The River Philip grant is critical because it will provide the researchers with information about whether this system is feasible, Dr. Kollmann says.
If the team proves the non-invasive remote monitoring system is as reliable as more conventional, invasive monitoring at alerting health-care practitioners so they can intervene to prevent preterm births or stillbirths, this project will lead to a larger trial, he hopes Without this first pilot, however, the larger study can’t happen, Dr. Kollmann says.
“Often, that’s the seed money that is lacking,” he adds. “We’re very grateful to the River Philip Foundation for recognizing the importance of this work and providing us with the funds to begin these investigations.”
The researchers participated in a competitive review process to secure the awards, which the Faculty of Medicine Medical Research Development Office led. The review committee and the River Philip Foundation selected the projects based on merit and their alignment with the Foundation’s priorities.
Dr. Susan Moffatt-Bruce, DalMed ’94, is the President of the Lahey Hospital and Medical Center in Burlington, MA. She is an advisor on
the River Philip Foundation’s medical committee.
These projects have the potential to affect patients who suffer from diseases that impact [Atlantic Canada] communities where healthcare
access and inequities continue to exist,” Dr. Moffatt-Bruce says.
As a medical administrator and a Dalhousie graduate, she emphasizes the importance of giving back and the value of philanthropy.
“In healthcare research, resources are extremely finite, “ Dr. Moffatt-Bruce says. “We are so grateful to philanthropists like the River Philip Foundation so that we can continue to make progress in medical research. Their generosity enables transformative research that leads to transformative care.”
The Foundation is setting up a similar program to donate to other universities as well, based on the process developed with Dalhousie, Ms.
Shaffner says.
