Dr. Philip Awadalla, senior investigator at the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research and principal investigator for the Ontario Health Study, has been awarded $2 million by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). This grant will fund his study on the role of both genetics and the environment on the development of metabolic syndrome.
“There are currently no research projects at this scale looking at the genetic and environmental risk factors of metabolic syndrome or related aging-associated traits, which affects close to one quarter of Canada’s adult population,” says Dr. Awadalla. In order to conduct their research, he and his team will use data and samples from the Ontario Health Study, which is part of the larger Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow Project.
“This funding will allow us to tap into the vast data holdings of the Ontario Health Study to investigate the interplay among varying environmental exposures, aging, and epigenetic factors across Ontario and Canada,” he continues. “Ultimately, we hope to find new ways to better manage these conditions and other linked diseases such as cancer.”
Dr. Awadalla was one of eight recipients of funding from the CIHR. Each of the beneficiaries and their respective teams are working to better understand how genes and environmental factors contribute to the development of chronic conditions. The results could ultimately guide the development of new medical treatments and disease prevention strategies.
