Kyra Jones

KYRA JONES

"Eating is central to our lives," says Kyra Jones, a PhD Candidate from the University of Waterloo, and one of three recipients of joint funding from the Canadian Digestive Health Foundation (CDHF) and the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR) in 2011. "We eat every day and it is important to know and understand how the food we eat affects our health."

Kyra's research project aims to more fully understand the enzyme activities involved in the release of glucose from starch. Kyra explains that the last step of starch digestion is the release of individual glucose molecules into the small intestine. These molecules provide our bodies with the fuel we need to function. In individuals with digestive disorders, such as Type II diabetes and obesity, the uptake of too much glucose can be devastating. The resultant fluctuations in blood-glucose levels can have extensive effects on the body including heart, kidney, and eye disease.

Inhibitors that slow the digestion of starch and thus slow the uptake of glucose into the blood stream exist today. However, these inhibitors have a variety of unpleasant side effects and affect other enzymes involved in starch digestion.

The new research that Kyra is involved in is expected to lead to a better understanding of diet-associated disorders and, ultimately, the development of novel therapies for treating diet-related disorders.

"Increasing our understanding of digestive health through research is a very important endeavour," asserts Kyra. "It is an honour and a privilege to know that my research is recognized as important and valuable to the scientific community as well as the Canadian population. I feel encouraged and energized to have received the award from the CDHF and CIHR. I hope that my research will ultimately improve the quality of life of individuals suffering from diet-related diseases."