Health Research Rising Stars Focus on Cancer Research, Youth Sports Participation
The first two New Brunswick Health Research Foundation (NBHRF) Rising Stars of 2018 are an innovative cancer researcher inspired by the possibility of saving lives and one whose work shows that kids who play more than one sport when they’re young are more likely to be physically active as they grow older.
Dr. Awanit Kumar, a post-doctoral researcher at the Atlantic Cancer Research Institute, is the primary author of a paper published in the Cell Communication and Signaling journal in November.
His work looked at the role of hyaluronic acid in cancer initiation and progression. Hyaluronic acid is a polysaccharide widely distributed in the body, but generally found outside the cells.
In the case of cancer patients, the acid is found in the cancer cells. The study sought to understand what the acid is doing inside the cells. Dr. Kumar said the study could have implications for cancer treatment down the road.
“Once we understand how this hyaluronic acid is working for the cancer initiation and progression, then we can go back and treat the cancer,” he said.
Dr. Kumar came to Canada from India six years ago with his wife and son. Originally from the state of Bihar, he completed his PhD in cellular and molecular biology at the Jawaharlal Nehru University in the capital city, New Delhi. He moved to Canada to conduct his post-doctoral research.
He developed an interest in research during his early years studying biotechnology as an undergraduate. That led him to cancer research, where there are still great gains to be made tackling the deadly disease.
“Cancer research is really a field that requires a lot of [work] to save lives of patients,” he said.
At the Atlantic Cancer Research Institute, Dr. Kumar is continuing his work on hyaluronic acid and is also involved in a project on liquid biopsy. The institute had patented a technology to isolate extracellular nanoparticles, which has the potential to make the diagnosis phase easier for patients.
“If someone is suspected of having cancer, they don’t need to go for the tissue biopsy, just for the body fluid like blood, urine, plasma, saliva. If patients are going for the tissue biopsy, people are hesitant to go because it is taking out the tissue and such, but getting the body fluids is not so invasive,” he said.
Dr. Kumar said the Rising Stars Award inspires him and his fellow researchers to persevere with their work.
“This is giving us feedback that, okay, we are doing good,” he says. “By getting this kind of award, definitely we’ll have more enthusiasm to do good research in the future.”
Moncton researcher studies youth participation in organized sports
Moncton-native and researcher François Gallant was recognized for his paper on childhood sports participation published by the Pediatrics Journal in November 2017.
The study tested theories on childhood sports by following kids that play various sports, only one sport and no sport at all from the age of 10 or 11 until they turn 14 or 15. It found that children in the younger age group who play many sports are more likely to be physically active when they turn 14 or 15.
The kids who play no sports at 10 or 11 are unlikely to have picked one up at 14 or 15. But there is also a 50/50 chance that children intensely involved in just one sport will have stopped playing entirely by the time they’re 15.
The children that are most likely to remain active at 15 are the ones that played many sports when they were younger, says Gallant.
I think my research highlights two important facts: If [kids] are not participating in at least one physical activity by 10-11, we need to do a better job to include as many kids as possible in a sport or physical activity.”
“And the other thing is that, if we want them to [be active in the long term], we need to let them play the most things they can early on,” he added.
The 25-year-old’s interest in children and sports stemmed from his years coaching kids to play handball, football and lacrosse.
As a Bachelor of Science student, Gallant was inspired by his mentor Michel Johnson, a professor at Université de Moncton’s School of Kinesiology and Leisure.
“He was pretty big in teaching me the ropes and getting me interested in science, and research mostly,” says Gallant. “He was a pretty big driving force behind me pursuing academia as a career option.”
Gallant completed his Master’s Degree in health sciences research last summer. He is now a researcher at the Centre de formation médicale Nouveau-Brunswick in Moncton
He hopes his work could help make more children become physically active, and healthier as a result.
“I don’t think we’re directly talking healthcare here, but I think we’re talking about the health of our children,” he says. “So hopefully if people read it and understand it, I think we’ll see more kids participating in a whole bunch of sports. And if so, then we’re increasing the chance that these children will be participating in physical activity in the long term.”
Once a month, from January to October, in the lead-up to the 6th Gala of Excellence in health research in November, the NBHRF will present $250 to the monthly Rising Star winners in each of the award categories (Master’s, Doctoral, Post-doctoral & Research Professional). All monthly winners will be showcased at the 6th Gala of Excellence in November 2018 and an Annual Winner will be announced.