Enable transformative research projects on Vancouver Island through the Emerge Stronger campaign

Understanding “breakthrough” episodes in patients with neuropathic pain: a community-based study of patient and healthcare impacts

Research led by: Dr. Michael Berger & Dr. John Kramer

People with neuropathic pain experience burning, stabbing, and aching in their hands and feet, making it difficult to walk, sleep, or sit comfortably. Even with medications to reduce symptoms, patients are likely to experience “breakthroughs” of pain, leading to frequent healthcare visits. This project aims to develop strategies to prevent breakthrough pain, improve quality of life, and reduce demand on the healthcare system.

$91,500 needed in community funding

Reducing overdose through innovation and lived experience

Research led by: Dr. Bruce Wallace

The toxic drug poisoning crisis continues to claim an increasing number of lives, leaving behind devastated families. Dr. Bruce Wallace is harnessing the power of drug-checking with the knowledge of lived experience of people who use illicit substances to stem the tide of opioid deaths aligned with Island Health’s harm reduction strategies. $90,000 needed in community funding

The impact of the ambitious research projects supported through this final phase of Emerge Stronger reaches beyond Vancouver Island. Together, we can help local visionaries challenge the status quo of how we deliver healthcare locally, nationally, and globally.

Reducing spasticity by harnessing the power of nitrogen instead of the world’s most deadly toxin

Research led by: Dr. Paul Winston

Spasticity is a disabling condition that affects hundreds of thousands of Canadians living with neurological disorders, including stroke, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, and brain injuries. Spasticity robs people of the use of their limbs, and can be deforming and painful. This team has developed a treatment to deepfreeze nerves with nitrogen gas using a tiny probe through the skin. The result is muscle relaxation, restored function for shoulders, arms, hands, and hips, knees, feet, and improved quality of life for many patients. $88,000 needed in community funding

Detecting respiratory pathogens in pneumonia patients to accelerate treatment and reduce costs

Research led by: Dr. Michael Chen & Dr. David Goodlett

Dr. Chen and Dr. Goodlett aim to develop a quick and affordable technique to identify respiratory pathogens (bacteria and fungi) in pneumonia patients. Currently, identifying pathogens can take a few days, and this project seeks to create a test that produces results in one hour. Rapid results can accelerate treatment and reduce costs, and could have an immense impact on survival and management for patients with sepsis (the body’s extreme and potentially life-threatening response to infection).

$93,000 needed in community funding

Learn about other projects you can support, such as Dr. Markus Sikkel’s cardiac research: victoriahf.ca/innovation