research & innovation

DSM’s Research and Innovation Program aims to foster the talents of our staff as well as develop solutions and direction for diagnostic imaging services and laboratory medicine within Manitoba. This year’s worthy recipients were selected on the basis that their research projects have a great potential to positively impact patient care.

Elizabeth Spriggs - Development of a diagnostic chip for the Hutterite population

Due to a founder effect, there are a number of genetic disorders over-represented or unique to the Hutterite population. Dr. Beth Spriggs and her co-investigators, Barbara Triggs-Raine, Tamara Dyck and Cheryl Greenberg, plan to design and validate a DNA-based chip that will simultaneously detect these multiple mutations that are over-represented in the Hutterite population. The goal is to provide the Hutterites with the option of carrier testing.The team will work in collaboration with Asper Biotech to develop this test.

Darryl Oble - Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assay for the diagnosis of malignant melanoma

Dr. Darryl Oble proposes to improve the diagnostic accuracy of pigmented skin lesions using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) strategies. The diagnosis of pigmented lesions is one of the most challenging aspects of anatomical pathology.  Recent advances in molecular pathology have uncovered a genetic signature for malignant melanoma, which can be harnessed by pathologist’s using the FISH technique to arrive at more precise diagnoses thereby improving patient care in Manitoba. Dr. Oble and his team will begin trials in the coming months following validation of the assay at the Health Sciences Center.

Kanchana Manickam - Rapid molecular detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) and rifampin resistance respiratory samples

In this study, Dr. Manickam proposes toevaluate a newly approved automated molecular system, GeneXpert, for testing of clinical samples from TB patients. This system detects the presence of M.tuberculosis in the clinical specimen and also defines whether the organism is resistant to Rifampin.The test is simple to perform and the result is available in 90 minutes.The World Health Organization has recently approved this system for use under field conditions in resource limited countries.Dr.Manickam will be assessing its suitability for use in rural Manitoba. If found suitable, it is anticipated that thismethodof testing has the potential to greatly reduce the turnaround time for diagnosis of tuberculosis, not only within Winnipeg, but also in the rural areas of Manitoba, such as Thompson and Brandon since the test can be done on site.

Michael Cossoy - Validation of serum S100B as a surrogate marker for disease activity in multiple sclerosis

Currently, monitoring disease activity in patients with multiple sclerosis requires a combination of clinical history, neurological examination, and MRI scans with gadolinium contrast.Dr. Cossoy, in collaboration with Dr. Blake McClarty is investigating the correlation of levels of a protein in the blood with gadolinium-enhancing lesions in MRI scans..This discovery could lead to a cost-effective method of detecting disease activity which is more accessible and which will allow for more regular monitoring. If successful, Dr. Cossoy hopes to employ this test to improve the detection of relapses and monitor response to multiple sclerosis therapies, leading to substantial improvements in patient care.

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