Breathing easier with a healthy heart (5/9/2008)

Newborns who experience oxygen deprivation at birth or shortly after can sometimes be resuscitated after receiving supplemental oxygen. The problem is, however, that many then develop poor heart function and the reason is a mystery.

University of Alberta researcher and neonatologist Po-Yin Cheung wants to know whether it is the oxygen deprivation or the treatment that can lead to poor heart function and his research was one of 764 projects that will receive money from this year's announcement of $298 million from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

With funding from CIHR, Cheung has been investigating ways to reduce damage to the hearts of resuscitated oxygen-deprived newborns and will examine different ways of treating the oxygen deprivation without infants developing heart trouble.

"This funding from CIHR is very important because it will allow me to continue my work discovering novel ways to improve the recovery of babies born with oxygen-deprivation," he said.

Cheung, along with Luis and Oksana Delgado from Edmonton, whose 22-month-old son, Adrian, received medical care from Cheung when he suffered low oxygen and complications at birth, were on hand in Ottawa for the announcement. Using state-of-the-art resources and knowledge from his research, Cheung and his health-care team helped Adrian make a full recovery.

"The government of Canada is committed to investing in knowledge, science and innovation," said Tony Clement, federal minister of health, who announced the funding. "The research being supported with the funding announced today will help us address important health issues affecting Canadians such as cancer, heart disease and HIV/AIDS. I'm very pleased the Delgado family could be with us today. Their story provides a wonderful example of how health research is helping Canadians."

The 764 research projects funded underwent a rigorous peer-review process before being approved. The funded research projects will be carried out over periods of one to five years.

Note: This story has been adapted from a news release issued by the University of Alberta

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