LONDON, Ontario – The contributions of The W. Garfield Weston Foundation and the late Mrs. Miriam Burnett, a woman passionately dedicated to research, particularly involving probiotic therapies, has set the stage for greatness in London. Dr. Peter Cadieux, a young scientist at Lawson Health Research Institute (Lawson) has been selected the inaugural Miriam Burnett Research Chair in Urological Sciences, the first of its kind in Canada.
“I plan to use my research knowledge and experience to bring together several key, clinically-relevant research areas including bacterial infections, bladder cancer and probiotics,” says Cadieux. “Currently, our research group has collaborations with basic scientists, clinicians and industrial partners both nationally and internationally, and through this position I seek to expand this network to further our research goals.”
Dr. Cadieux’s research background includes work on prostate cancer, probiotics, device-related urinary tract infections, bacterial biofilms and kidney stone disease. As Chair, he plans to focus his research on two major areas: bacterial biofilms in urology and the role of microbes in bladder cancer development, prevention and treatment. “Both areas will have a solid probiotic component to them as well”, adds Cadieux. “Numerous studies have already demonstrated the ability of probiotic organisms to inhibit pathogenic biofilms and prevent bladder tumour recurrence, and we plan to identify specific mechanisms involved in these health benefits.”
An Alternate Approach
Despite millions of dollars and several decades of research targeted at their prevention and elimination, infections due to bacterial biofilms remain the major cause of urological device failure. Many strategies have been aimed at improving device design and composition, as well as the application of anti-fouling and antimicrobial coatings, but have been largely dodged by microbes and their numerous attachment, host invasion and resistence strategies. In collaboration with Drs. Hassan Razvi, John Denstedt and Gregor Reid, Dr. Cadieux’s laboratory has investigated several of these biofilm prevention strategies and determined that a multi-faceted approach is likely the key to success. Over the next several years as Chair, Cadieux will continue this work, focusing on identifying novel bacterial genes critical for biofilm formation and the ability of probiotic organisms and their secreted factors to disrupt existing biofilms. This work will not only benefit the urological field, but can be applied to numerous other biofilm-related infections, such as those involving orthopaedic implants, burns and cystic fibrosis.
Bladder Cancer – “Stopping it in its (urinary) tracts”
Risk factors for bladder cancer include long term toxin exposure (ie. smoking) and persistent inflammation, with chronic bacterial infections believed to play a critical role in a portion of cases. Interestingly, the consumption of probiotics has been shown in several international studies to significantly prevent tumour recurrence in treated patients, possibly due to anti-inflammatory effects from factors secreted by the probiotic organisms. Cadieux’s lab is using sensitive DNA-based techniques to look for potential bacterial pathogens in bladder tumour biopsies and plans to identify factors from probiotic strains that can reduce bladder inflammation and potentially prevent tumour formation.
“We are so pleased to have my aunt, Mrs. Miriam Burnett’s name associated with such a promising investment in research. With dedicated young minds engaged in our laboratories, there is no limit to what can be accomplished within our lifetime,” concludes Mr. Geordie Dalglish, Chairman of The W. Garfield Weston Foundation.
This research is funded through the St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation.
In addition to being named The Miriam Burnett Research Chair in Urological Sciences, Cadieux has already received a great deal of recognition for his past academic achievements. He was awarded a Post Doctoral Fellowship from the American Urological Association Foundation in 2006 to work on developing a probiotic for the treatment and prevention of kidney stone disease. He was the first Canadian to ever receive this Fellowship and was awarded a Graduate Scholar Award at its conclusion. During his PhD studies, he was awarded a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Canada Graduate Scholarship as well as the John Charles Polanyi Prize in Physiology and Medicine, presented to him by the King and Queen of Sweden.
Dr. Cadieux is an Assistant Professor in the Departments of Surgery (Division of Urology) and Microbiology and Immunology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, and a Scientist at Lawson Health Research Institute.
About Lawson Health Research Institute
As the research institute of London Health Sciences Centre and St. Joseph's Health Care, London, and working in partnership with The University of Western Ontario, Lawson Health Research Institute is committed to furthering scientific knowledge to advance health care around
the world.
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Melissa Beilhartz, Communications Consultant
Lawson Health Research Institute
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