Download Alberta researchers get to the heart of cardiac research

July 13, 2011
Alberta researchers get to the heart of cardiac research
Libin Cardiovascular Institute to lead international clinical study
Calgary... Alberta is spearheading an international study to determine if an implantable
cardioverter defibrillator can prevent death from serious heart rhythm problems in those patients
who’ve survived a heart attack. Heart disease is a leading cause of death in Canada and the
fastest growing disease worldwide.
Dr. Derek Exner, of the Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta at the Faculty of Medicine of the
University of Calgary, leads the study, which is based on his past research (REFINE Study). Dr.
Exner and colleagues developed a method to identify patients at high risk of serious heart rhythm
problems after a heart attack. The institute will be the Clinical Coordinating Centre for the study
and will gather patient data from 16 sites in Canada, the United States and Europe during an
initial, two-year pilot phase.
The Alberta government, Western Economic Diversification Canada through the Western
Economic Partnership Agreement, Medtronic Inc., GE Healthcare, the University of Calgary and
other partners are providing $16.8 million to support the pilot phase of the project. The study may
eventually grow to include 75 sites worldwide with a total investment of over $40 million.
“This is an important study with the potential to save thousands of lives,” said Greg Weadick,
Minister of Alberta Advanced Education and Technology. “The fact that it’s happening here in
Alberta is proof that our province is quickly becoming a global hub for innovation and research.
We have the tools and the talent to attract partners like GE and Medtronic.”
“Our Government is proud to be a part of this exciting project,” said Rob Anders, Member of
Parliament for Calgary West, on behalf of the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for
Western Economic Diversification. “This is a great example of how we can promote life-saving
innovations, while growing our economy by bringing new products and applications to market.”
“Sudden death is a major cause of death in Canada and around the world. Research to identify
those at risk and methods to prevent death from heart rhythm problems are vital. This study may
change how we manage patients after a heart attack and has the potential to save thousands of
lives each and every year. It is an honor to be leading such an important study,” said Dr. Exner, a
heart rhythm specialist, Professor in the Departments of Cardiac Science, Medicine and
Community Health Sciences at the Faculty of Medicine.
“Medtronic is committed to principled collaboration among members of academia, government
and industry to better address the unmet needs of heart patients,” said Marshall Stanton, M.D.,
vice president of clinical research for the Cardiac and Vascular Group at Medtronic. “This kind of
clinical research is critical to the development of innovative technology and treatment approaches
that can help transform the lives of the growing heart disease population worldwide.”
“In collaboration with leading industry, academic and government organizations, GE Healthcare is
making its diagnostic cardiology innovations available to investigators worldwide for this
important study,” said Peter Robertson, vice president and general manager of GE Healthcare
Canada. “Helping clinicians detect underlying heart conditions is part of GE’s Healthymagination
commitment in providing better health to more people around the world.”
Support from Alberta and Canada is through the Western Economic Partnership Agreement, a
joint program to enhance diversification of the Alberta economy through shared investments in
technology commercialization, business productivity and competitiveness, trade and investment,
and value added processing.
-30Backgrounder: Alberta to host international cardiac study
Editor’s Note: B-roll is available on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/ucalgarymedicine
Media inquiries may be directed to:
Kim Capstick, Communications Director
Advanced Education and Technology
780-422-1562
To call toll free within Alberta dial 310-0000.
Donna Kinley, Manager, Communications
Western Economic Diversification Canada
780-495-6892
Sarah Triantafillou, Communications Manager
GE Healthcare
905-567-2121
Cell: 905-301-3815
[email protected]
Rebecca Hayne, Global Public Relations
Manager
GE Healthcare
414-721-3871
Cell: 414-248-1542
[email protected]
Jordanna Heller, Director, Communications &
Media Relations
University of Calgary Faculty of Medicine
403-220-2431
July 13, 2011
Alberta to host international cardiac study
Project details
Patients from up to 75 experienced clinical sites in Canada, the United States, Europe and Japan
will be enrolled in the study. The Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta, University of Calgary, is
the Clinical Coordinating Centre and the Montreal Heart Institute is the Data Coordinating Centre
. An international executive committee of recognized leaders in arrhythmia clinical trials has
designed this study and will oversee the trial. An independent Data and Safety Monitoring
Committee will provide additional, independent oversight. To assess feasibility, the study will
begin as a pilot at 16 sites in the United States, Canada and Europe. If feasibility is demonstrated
(enrollment and site activation), enrollment will expand to all 75 sites in September 2012.
Sudden cardiac arrest is a sudden, abrupt loss of heart function - it is not a heart attack
(myocardial infarction), which is caused by a blocked vessel leading to loss of blood supply to a
portion of the heart muscle. Instead, most sudden cardiac arrest episodes are caused by the
rapid and/or chaotic activity of the heart known as ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation.
These are abnormalities of the heart’s electrical conduction system.
Cardiac arrest is reversible in most victims if it’s treated within minutes, but the only effective
treatment is the delivery of an electrical shock, either with an automated external defibrillator, or
with a stopwatch-sized implantable defibrillator. Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs)
have been proven to be 98 percent effective in treating dangerously fast ventricular arrhythmias
that can lead to sudden cardiac arrest.
ICDs devices are tiny, battery-powered computers that are implanted under the skin, and
connected to the heart via leads. These tiny wires carry signals from the heart to the device, and
carry electrical impulses from the device to the heart. The third part of the system is an external
computer located in the doctor’s office or clinic that is used to program the device, as well as
retrieve information from the device about the patient’s condition and device status that will assist
in treating the disorder.
Project Partners
Alberta Advanced Education and Technology
In collaboration with Campus Alberta and Alberta Innovates partners, Advanced Education and
Technology strives to build a prosperous province through a dynamic and integrated learning and
innovation system built on a foundation of highly skilled people in support of a knowledge-based
economy and society in Alberta.
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Western Economic Diversification Canada works with the provinces, industry associations, and
communities to promote the development and diversification of the western economy,
coordinates federal economic activities in the West and advances the interests of western
Canadians in national decision making.
Medtronic
Medtronic, Inc. (www.medtronic.com), headquartered in Minneapolis, is the global leader in
medical technology - alleviating pain, restoring health, and extending life for millions of people
around the world.
GE Healthcare
GE Healthcare provides transformational medical technologies and services that are shaping a
new age of patient care. Their broad expertise in medical imaging and information technologies,
medical diagnostics, patient monitoring systems, drug discovery, biopharmaceutical
manufacturing technologies, performance improvement and performance solutions services help
their customers to deliver better care to more people around the world at a lower cost. In addition,
they partner with healthcare leaders, striving to leverage the global policy change necessary to
implement a successful shift to sustainable healthcare systems.
Our “healthymagination” vision for the future invites the world to join us on our journey as we
continuously develop innovations focused on reducing costs, increasing access and improving
quality around the world. Headquartered in the United Kingdom, GE Healthcare is a unit of
General Electric Company (NYSE: GE). Worldwide, GE Healthcare employees are committed to
serving healthcare professionals and their patients in more than 100 countries. For more
information about GE Healthcare, visit their website at www.gehealthcare.com
University of Calgary, Faculty of Medicine
UCalgary’s Faculty of Medicine is a national leader in health research with an international
reputation for excellence and innovation in health care research, education and delivery. They
train the next generation of health practitioners and move new treatments and diagnostic
techniques from the laboratory bench to the hospital bedside, improving patient care. For more
information visit http://medicine.ucalgary.ca.
Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta
The Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta provides superb education and training of health care
professionals, world class treatment, using state-of-the-art technology, increased access to
cardiac services through innovative use of technologies such as telehealth, research programs in
cardiovascular basic science, biomedical engineering, clinical science, population health
research, and the relationships among them.
For over 30 years the institute has been at the forefront of cardiac electrophysiology research,
education and care delivery. The envelope of medical science knowledge has been expanded by
responding to the gap between basic biomedical science and healthcare innovation by reinforcing
translational science including the execution of clinical trials such as those led by Dr. Derek
Exner. For more information, visit www.LibinInstitute.org.
Western Economic Partnership Agreement
The Canada-Alberta Western Economic Partnership Agreement targets joint strategic priorities
where Canada and Alberta work together and with other interested stakeholders to help create
innovative, entrepreneurial and sustainable communities.
Canada-Alberta Joint WEPA Priorities:
Technology Commercialization - Create and/or grow the knowledge-based economy in
Alberta by commercializing new products, technologies and services into domestic and
international markets.
Business Productivity and Competitiveness - Strengthen small business development,
growth and competitiveness in the global economy.
Trade and Investment - Expand access to international markets and investments.
Value-Added Processing - Increase revenues of traditional industries by adopting new
technologies and processes that transform low value outputs into high value products.
Project Funding (pilot phase)
Total funding for the pilot phase of the project is $16.8 million. This includes:
$1 million from the Government of Alberta;
$788,000 from Western Economic Diversification Canada,;
$1.5 million from the Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta at the University of Calgary
and its donors; and,
additional support from both GE Healthcare and Medtronic Inc..
-30Media inquiries may be directed to:
Kim Capstick, Communications Director
Advanced Education and Technology
780-422-1562
To call toll free within Alberta dial 310-0000.
Donna Kinley, Manager, Communications
Western Economic Diversification Canada
780-495-6892
Sarah Triantafillou, Communications Manager
GE Healthcare
905-567-2121
Cell: 905-301-3815
[email protected]
Rebecca Hayne, Global Public Relations
Manager
GE Healthcare
414-721-3871
Cell: 414-248-1542
[email protected]
Jordanna Heller, Director, Communications &
Media Relations
University of Calgary Faculty of Medicine
403-220-2431
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