Bioactive peptides derived from food proteins show potential for improving human health. One of such promising peptides is a short tripeptide IRW (made of three amino acids). This is a feasibility study designed to assess the acute effect of IRW for the management of high sugar and blood pressure. Participants will undergo 4 consecutive treatments of 1 day each (randomly), during which they will consume a standardized breakfast with a smoothie containing a protein powder. Each treatment will be separated by a minimum of 1-week. Participants in the healthy control group will undergo 1 treatment only (one day).

The purpose of this study is to learn whether there are changes in the blood in stroke that can be used as biomarkers to aid in stroke diagnosis, and provide insight to the biology of stroke. Molecules in the blood are being assessed in patients with stroke and compared to persons who are healthy or who have other medical or neurological diseases that mimic stroke. The goal is to see if we can improve stroke diagnosis using a person’s blood, and gain insight to changes in the blood that could improve stroke treatment and prevention.

We want to understand why spasticity develops in cerebral palsy. Spasticity is involuntary contractions that make voluntary contractions more difficult. Spasticity may also produced stiffer muscles. We are examining if the neurons in the spinal cord respond to inputs from the brain differently compared to typically developing children and when during development may this occur. This information will help us to develop new treatment strategies for spasticity in cerebral palsy.

Vaping has become common in Canada. There is little information regarding its safety despite its wide use. We will test how two sessions of vaping affects inflammation in the lung. We will test people who vape regularly and those who have never vaped to see if the lung inflammation is different between these groups. We will avoid vaping liquids that have nicotine in them since that is highly addictive.

WCHRI is collaborating with the Healthy Infants and Children’s Clinical Research Program (HICCUP) to develop a registry of healthy children and families in Alberta who are willing to take part in pediatric health studies. Healthy participants play an important role in health research and the discovery of the causes and treatment of childhood illnesses. HICCUP provides: - researchers and investigators with ready, systematic access to healthy controls for their studies. - participants with a sense of pride in knowing that they have positively contributed to child and community health in Alberta.

COMPASS-ND is an observational study of people with various types of mild cognitive complaints, people with Parkinson's disease, as well as healthy people. The study collects clinical, neuropsychological, and MRI imaging data as well as blood, saliva, and urine samples. Willing participants may undergo additional tests including: a take home sleep study, fecal sample collection, and brain donation. Annual telephone checks will be conducted and the baseline procedures will be repeated after 2 years. The major goals of the study are: To learn about who is at risk of developing dementia To determine how early dementia can be detected To find out what tests are most effective at detecting dementia http://ccna-ccnv.ca/compass-nd-study/

We would like to compare eating habits and patterns of females with and without Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). PCOS is a hormonal disorder that impacts about 10% of females and is associated with eating disorders, mental illness, and diabetes. Our overarching goal is to improve the knowledge of health care professionals and patients with PCOS, and improve the health care system to screen and treat disordered eating.

Left bundle branch block (LBBB) is one of the most common complications after patients having the transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). However, there is no specific guidelines for management of patients with new onset LBBB. The purpose of the study is to determine which clinical management approach has better clinical outcomes to treat a LBBB after TAVI. This study will look at an electrophysiology-based monitoring approach or a follow-up with 30-day transcutaneous cardiac monitor. Participants will be assigned by chance to one of the two methods and then be followed up at 1 month, 3 month, and 12 month by phone or on-site. 

Hypertensive disorders are the most common medical complication of pregnancy.  It is important to detect hypertensive disorders of pregnancy as early intervention and monitoring can help to reduce both maternal and fetal health risks.   Regular blood pressure (BP) monitoring is required to diagnose hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.  We plan to use home blood pressure monitoring through an app that our research group has developed to determine the threshold level of home blood pressure that may predict pregnancy complications. We hope that finding this threshold will provide early detection an allow for early intervention that may prevent or minimize risks to pregnant women and their babies.  

Congenital heart disease (CHD), the most common birth defect, is present in nearly 1% of the population. CHD patients are associated with intense resource utilization and premature death in adulthood. The risk of premature death is linked with reduced exercise capacity, physical activity, and health-related quality of life, all findings noted in youth with CHD. We propose a randomized crossover clinical trial of a home-based high intensity interval training (HIIT) program using a video game-linked bicycle (MedBIKE™) for 10 to 18 year olds with repaired moderate-complex CHD.