One of the world’s foremost heart institutes is being built on the success of the heart transplant program
In this video interview, Dr. Dennis Modry, a leading cardiologist and heart transplant specialist, discusses the unique concept of the Alberta Heart Institute.
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada (PRWEB) June 29, 2005 -- In 1985, Dr. Modry
implemented Western Canada's first heart and lung transplantation program.
Today, the Capital Health Authority’s Heart and Lung Transplantation Program is
the largest and most successful in Canada, and one of the largest in North
America. The success of the Heart and Lung Transplant Program set the stage for
the implementation of the very successful Liver Transplantation Program, which
facilitated the subsequent development of the renowned Islet Cell Transplant
Program known as the Edmonton Protocol.
The longest survivors of the
cardiac transplant program have received their new heart almost 20 years ago.
“We’ve transplanted individuals from 12 hours of age to 79 years of age,
including the oldest person in the world to have had a transplant. So, I think
we have a record at both ends of the age spectrum … the youngest and the oldest”
says Modry. He expects that as the Alberta Heart Institute’s reputation grows
and its outcomes become better known, even more people will come to the
Institute.
The Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute is a new centre of
cardiac excellence dedicated to cardiology, cardiac surgery, transplants,
diagnostic testing, research and education. The Alberta Heart Institute’s
location is uniquely positioned to draw upon the interdisciplinary specialities
of the Stollery Children Hospital, the University of Alberta Hospital, and a the
new Alberta Cardiovascular Stroke Research Centre (ABACUS). The ABACUS will open
later this year, leading to the opening of the Mazankowski Alberta Heart
Institute in 2007. The Alberta Heart Institute will serve the Edmonton region,
Alberta, Western Canada, the Canadian North and many other regions as it is
being built with an excess capacity in mind.
With $156 million from the
Alberta government and more than $35 million in private donations raised through
a capital campaign, the Institute will cut waiting lists for heart treatment and
ensure access to leading edge technology. Dr. Modry emphasizes that this will
eventually lead to new research discoveries and will take us into the tomorrow.
The Institute has a major focus on prevention of heart diseases and the
development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. “We believe that
this concept will make the most dynamic heart institute in the world because we
will be able to transfer our research in prevention, in diagnostic and in
therapeutic immediately to clinical care” says Dr. Modry. “This will benefit
patients as they will be exposed not only to leading edge and state of the art
technologies, but will receive high degree of interdisciplinary clinical
care.”
Dr. Modry suggests that pretty much everything can be
transplanted, except “we’re not there with respect to brain, teeth, whole eyes…
but specifically, skin, bones, joints and limbs could be and have been
transplanted, even faces. Organs such as lungs, hearts, kidneys, liver,
intestine, heart valves and many other organs can be transplanted. We’re pretty
much recyclable.”
The mapping of the human genome has engendered a whole
new field of research focused toward gene therapy and rebuilding hearts. Dr.
Modry believes that at some point, we won’t need to place mechanical devices in
the heart as or even doing heart transplant in the future … “maybe it’s just
going to be a matter of gene therapy”.
It’s exciting to contemplate how
this institute will not just foster research, education and clinical care, but
will also be an economic engine for the region. It will attract a high degree of
skills and employment, and as it has been build for excess capacity, the
institute will be able to provide care for patients from Canada and other areas
of the world.
"It's a team work building on the success of the Capital
Health and the University of Alberta's cardiac programs” says Dr. Modry.
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/6/prweb255791.htm