Alberta Innovates- Health Solutions

Heritage researcher develops unique approach to confronting obesity epidemic

(Edmonton, AB) Tuesday March 22, 2005... Heritage researcher, Dr. Kim Raine investigates environmental and social causes of obesity. She hopes to develop health promotion strategies at the community and public policy levels to prevent obesity and promote healthy weights.

Dr. Raine examines how Edmonton's "foodscape" and environmental changes are contributing to the obesity epidemic in Canada. Social factors, such as income and education may also contribute, but the mechanisms are poorly understood. Even less is known about how to implement positive change. She is hoping to develop social change strategies to promote healthy weights and ultimately contribute to the advancement of knowledge, practice and policy. Dr. Raine's ground-breaking research has earned her funding from the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR). With the help of the Heritage Foundation, researchers like Dr. Raine are improving the health and quality of life of Albertans and people around the world.

Dr. Raine is one of 29 researchers in five faculties at the University of Alberta who have been offered AHFMR funding this year. AHFMR funding provides salaries, equipment, laboratory start-up, and other support for top health researchers in our province. Over the past 25 years, AHFMR has invested more than $800 million in health research in Alberta.

A photo opportunity with a researcher will be available

• Dr. Kim Raine is Director of the Centre for Health Promotion Studies, and a Professor of Community Nutrition at the University of Alberta.

• It is estimated that 10 to 25% of all teenagers and 20 to 50% of all adults in Canada have a weight problem.

• Dr. Kim Raine is one of 54 researchers around the province who was successful in AHFMR's 2005 senior personnel competition. She has been offered an award as a Health Senior Scholar. This year AHFMR is offering $40.7 million in grants to researchers at the universities of Alberta and Calgary.

• This year's competition includes successful applicants from a number of different University faculties including, Medicine and Dentistry, Science, Agriculture and Forestry and Home Economics, Nursing, and Arts

• With the implementation of these awards, AHFMR will have contributed in excess of $800 million to the medical research community in Alberta.

• The 2005 awards include 33 offers to researchers who have received previous Heritage support.

• Heritage investigators have earned international acclaim for their pioneering work in areas such as: heart attack therapy, islet transplantation for diabetics, nerve regeneration, the cell biology of cancer, drugs for viral infections, electrical therapy for paralysed people, vaccines, and better understanding and treatment of arthritis.

• Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR) currently provides funding for over 600 researchers and researchers in training at the Province's three main universities. The foundation supports a community of researchers who generate knowledge that improves the health and quality of life of Albertans and people throughout the world. AHFMR's commitment is to fund health research based on international standards of excellence and carried out by new and established investigators and researchers in training. Total AHFMR funding over 25 years is in excess of $800 million. For more information, visit www.ahfmr.ab.ca