CANet, partners fund over $14 million in arrhythmia research

London, ON, February 16, 2018 — The Cardiac Arrhythmia Network of Canada (CANet) and its partners are pleased to announce funding of 10 research grants totaling over $4.4 million with an additional $10 million in matching funds.
With this funding cycle, CANet continues to grow in scale and scope. The introduction of a dedicated Social Sciences competition advances CANet’s mandate to integrate the work of the social sciences and humanities better. CANet’s Commercialization Grant has further leveraged the investments of the NCE program surpassing CANet’s goal of securing an additional $40M in partner research contributions.
“With firm commitments from Canadian partners, our inclusion of patients throughout our research process, and our mandate to remain solutions-driven, our latest round of research proposals have been funded. We look forward to the outcomes and impacts of this critical research that will improve patient care,” said Dr. Anthony Tang, CEO and Scientific Director of CANet. “We are grateful to our partners for providing the matching funds to help advance this important research.”
Arrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation, syncope, and other common heart rhythm disturbances affect millions of Canadians resulting in unexpected early deaths and reduced quality of life. Arrhythmias are projected to be the leading cause of death in Canada by 2020.
Summaries for each of the CANet-funded projects are available at https://canetinc.ca/our-work/funded-projects-programs/
Listed below are the ten projects funded:
Strategic Research Grant

• Improving the care and survival for prehospital SCD victims via transformative changes to 911 ambulance communication – assisted CPR instructions and the development of innovative technology
  – Dr. Christian Vaillancourt, The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
• Decreasing hospital admissions from the emergency department for acute atrial fibrillation
  – Dr. Ian Steill, The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
• Surviving cardiac arrest: managing ventricular arrhythmias (VANISH 2)
  – Dr. John Sapp, QEII Health Sciences Centre
• Remote patient management for cardiac implantable electronic devices (RPC-CIED)
  – Dr. Ratika Parkash, Dalhousie University

Major Industry-Partnered Research Grant

• Resynchronization for ambulatory heart failure trial – LV Endocardial approach (RAFT-LVENDO)
  – Dr. Jaimie Manlucu, Western University

Social Sciences Grant

• Predictors of perceived self-efficacy and empowerment in patients at increased risk of sudden unexpected cardiac arrest and their caregivers
  – Dr. Colette M. Seifer, University of Manitoba
• Mapping the arrhythmia patient journey
  – Dr. Mary Runte, University of Lethbridge

Commercialization Grant

• Catheter contact-force controller for cardiac ablation therapy
  – Dr. Maria Drangova, Western University
• Catheter-based imaging tools for characterization of myocardial ablation lesions
  – Dr. Brian Courtney, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre / Sunnybrook Research Institute
• Project Babelfish: A transcutaneous physiologic sensor for home and clinical use
  – Dr. Robert S. Sheldon, University of Calgary

 
About Cardiac Arrhythmia Network of Canada (CANet)
The Cardiac Arrhythmia Network of Canada (CANet) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to transforming Canada’s arrhythmia health care system through integrated trans-disciplinary research and development. The network’s strategy is to invent, prove, and implement innovative solutions to enable patients to take ownership and co-manage their arrhythmia health.
CANet is funded by the federal government’s Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE), Canada’s flagship science and technology program and housed at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at Western University.
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